Like so many popular ornamental plants, geraniums (Pelargonium) are not native to us, but come from the hot and rather dry climate of Southeast Africa. As a result, the popular balcony flowers tolerate neither rainy nor cold weather, so that the question of the optimal planting time arises.
Geraniums should only go outside after the ice saints
Geraniums do not tolerate frost
During the vegetation period, the temperatures should not fall below 10 °C, otherwise the geraniums will stop growing - and with them their flowering. However, a brief drop in temperature is not a problem as long as there is no frost. Night frost that occurs late in spring in particular can quickly lead to the death of the sensitive plants.
When to plant geraniums?
For this reason, geraniums should only be placed outdoors after the icy saints, as the likelihood of night frosts drops rapidly from this point on. The "Ice Saints" refer to a series of Christian saints who have their feast days in mid-May and which conclude with "cold Sophie" on May 15th. It is a centuries-old peasant rule that is still used today. So the best time to bring geraniums outside is between mid and late May, depending on the weather forecast for your area.
Harden geraniums gradually?
However, you don't have to wait until the end of May before you can put your geraniums on the balcony. If the weather is good - temperatures above 10 °C and sunshine - this is possible as early as April, although the plants should then be brought indoors overnight. If you want to be on the safe side, don't hang up the balcony boxes (€109.00) with the geraniums right away, but first place them on a warm house wall directly in the sun.
tips
Don't wait that long to get your geraniums out of hibernation - this should be done by March at the latest.