By Charlie Nardozzi

For gardeners in the South, fall is the time to switch gears. While northern gardeners are pulling out plants in preparation for freezing temperatures, southern gardeners can plant pansies, violas, and other hardy annuals to provide color from winter to early spring.

Variety selection is the key to best color and performance. Based on trials of more than 250 varieties of annuals at the University of Georgia's Trial Gardens in Athens, some top choices for winter color emerged. Plants were evaluated every two weeks for flower and foliage quality, flowering consistency, and weather damage. The winners overwintered well, didn't stretch (reach for the sun), and flowered most prolifically.

These pansy, viola, and dianthus varieties flowered right through the grayest winter days: 'Clear Sky Primrose', 'Baby Bingo Denim', and 'Wink Red and Yellow', pansies; 'Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow' and Sorbet and Velour series violas; and 'First Love' and 'Ideal Rose' dianthus.

'Red Feather', an ornamental kale with red-and-purple leaves, was judged the best of the 15 ornamental kale and cabbage varieties grown.

All plants performed best set out in full sun in early to mid-October, and planted 10 to 12 inches apart in raised beds. (If starting indoors, sow seed eight weeks earlier.) Flowering started in late fall and continued through winter as long as air temperatures stayed above 40° F. These varieties would grow well for gardeners in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 and warmer, from the East Coast to the Mississippi River.

For more information on the University of Georgia's flower trials, check its Web site: www.uga.edu/ugatrial. Plants are widely available.

About Charlie Nardozzi
Thumb of 2020-06-04/Trish/0723fdCharlie Nardozzi is an award winning, nationally recognized garden writer, speaker, radio, and television personality. He has worked for more than 30 years bringing expert gardening information to home gardeners through radio, television, talks, tours, on-line, and the printed page. Charlie delights in making gardening information simple, easy, fun and accessible to everyone. He's the author of 6 books, has three radio shows in New England and a TV show. He leads Garden Tours around the world and consults with organizations and companies about gardening programs. See more about him at Gardening With Charlie.
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