Do you want to grow Erica in Pennsylvania, but don’t know when to plant them?
Planting erica is not as easy as it seems.
Here’s why:
- Erica are not able to survive frost or cold weather under 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
So if you plant them outside too early in the fall they will die. And if you plant them too late, your erica won’t produce a bloom.
Today, I’m going to teach you the ideal time to plant erica in Pennsylvania:
- To Learn More About HOW to Grow Erica, Check Out This GUIDE!
When to Plant Erica in Pennsylvania
As you may have already guessed, you need to pay very close attention to your local weather in the fall. Specifically, you are going to need to watch when the last frost occurs.
In general, when there hasn’t been a frost for two weeks, you are SAFE to plant your erica outside in Pennsylvania!
For your reference, I have created this table for average frost dates for most major cities in Pennsylvania. If your city is not listed below you can find its Last & First Frost Dates HERE.
Pennsylvania Last & First Frost Dates
Unfortunately, Mother Nature plays cruel tricks on us every year.
It should be noted that the above dates are just averages.
There are years when the last frost comes MUCH later. Sometimes, the last frost happens much earlier and you can get your erica planted outside in Pennsylvania much quicker.
Like I said before, you need to be very diligent in checking your local weather.
So what happens if a frost comes AFTER you plant your erica?
When you know a frost is coming you need to take action.
- If erica are in pots, bring them inside
- If erica are in the ground, cover them in burlap and hope they survive
Also, make sure not to plant your erica in your garden too late.
- Planting erica too late will cause small blooms or even worse, no blooms.
When Should You Start Your Erica Seeds Indoors?
Depending on the type of erica, it takes roughly 30 to 60 days to grow erica from seed indoors and then transplant them to your garden. And then another 2 years to bloom!
For a specific date that you should start erica seeds indoors you should:
- Find the last average frost date HERE
- And then subtract 30 days from it
Not only this, but I recommend again paying close attention to your local weather report.
It should also be noted that the best technique for bringing your erica plants outside is to introduce them (in their pots) outside for an hour. And then increase the amount of time they spend outside each day by an hour until they have been outside for 8 hours.
This will “harden” your erica plant, increasing its chances of fighting off diseases, insects, droughts, and wet conditions.
If you want to learn WHEN to plant ANY Flower in Pennsylvania, head over to HERE and just type in the flower you want to grow.
