As soon as the first warm and sunny days of the year lure people outside, balcony gardeners and other plant lovers also want to bring their summer flowers outdoors and bring color into the still monotonous nature. However, you shouldn't be too impatient, because geraniums (Pelargonium) - like many other summer and balcony flowers - should be protected from cold temperatures.
When are geraniums allowed outdoors?
Geraniums should only be put outside after the ice saints, i.e. mid to late May, to protect them from late frosts. Watch the weather forecast and bring the plants indoors at night when temperatures are low.
Beware of late frosts
The “geraniums”, botanically correctly labeled as pelargoniums, originally come from the rather hot and dry climes of southeast Africa, where they are of course exposed to completely different living conditions than here. The heat-loving plants stop growing at temperatures below 10 °C, and even light frost can mean death for the sensitive plants. Geraniums absolutely cannot tolerate frost and should therefore not be put on the balcony or in the garden too early.
Best planting date: After the Ice Saints
According to an old farmer's rule, summer flowers should only be brought outside after the Ice Saints. The Ice Saints mark a climatic singularity in which, after the first warm days, it gets really cold again around mid-May - although this rule must be applied with caution these days. According to the calendar, the Ice Saints end on May 15th with the “Cold Sophie”, but climatically only at the end of May. So keep a close eye on the weather forecast and bring the plants indoors overnight as a precaution.
Planting geraniums in the garden?
Due to their sensitivity, geraniums are more commonly known as balcony or pot plants, but they can also be planted directly in the garden - provided they are in the right location. However, the flowers cannot overwinter there and must be dug up again by mid-October at the latest and prepared for hibernation. The easiest way to do this is to bury the geraniums and their planter in the garden - a clay pot or other natural material is best suited for this. When digging in the fall, there is a higher chance of getting the plants out of the ground safely.
Tip
If you live in a region with a favorable climate and mild winters, you can easily overwinter your geraniums outdoors in a hole in the ground that is at least 80 centimeters deep. Pad the pit with leaves and straw for additional insulation.
