I'm in Z8 sometimes it's more like Z7, plants like Geraniums and other tender things I wait until all signs of frost are gone, rule of thumb in my area, is May 24, if we are having a warm Spring, Easter weekend.

A......

Ouch, May 24? Anyone else having troubles waiting that long? I'm so impatient. :P

Martin

Up here on Vancouver Island in April we usually get sudden Hail storms, they might be short but can do a lot of damage. The nursery I used to work in, this was many years ago, didn't even bring tender things in until May. The holding area for these was a lath house, I can remember a time when I had to wash Hail off the Petunias with a hose, to stop them from getting frosted. I've seen lettuce shredded to ribbons. Up here if one ventures to take a chance planting early, and I do sometimes, I cover the tender stuff with Remay cloth.

A......

Where are you at Martin? The last frost date for Seattle is traditionally May 1, April 15 for some warmer pockets or if you can take some risks like Aftermidnight mentioned.
- Tom

Oh, thanks Tom. Sorry I forgot to say that I'm in Salem, Oregon. I wonder what a good date would be for here. Where did you get that info for Seattle? I suppose I could use that date, and feel safe.

Thanks,
Martin

Martin, if you just have a few things, Hot Caps work, Tom is right, find out the last frost date for your area and to be on the safe side, it wouldn't hurt to cover things for a week or two.

A......