When can frost-sensitive plants be put back outside?

Container plants are a lovely addition to the garden.

They often give your garden an exotic or summery touch. Just think of Citrus, Musa, Bougainvillea, or Mandevilla.

The downside of container plants is that they can't withstand our winters. They're too cold—or, more often than not, too wet—for many of these plants.

This means that container plants need to be brought indoors in the winter. Therefore, it’s best not to plant them directly in the ground, but rather in pots. If necessary, you can use a plastic inner pot so you can easily bring the plant indoors when it gets colder.

When can frost-sensitive plants be put back outside?

Although you can start taking your container plants outside on nice (warmer) days as early as March or April to help them adjust, the nights are still too cold.

Starting in mid-May, once the risk of (night) frost is virtually over, your potted plants can stay outside and no longer need to be brought inside at night.

A common mnemonic is that frost-sensitive plants can be put back outside after the Ice Saints. That’s from May 11 to May 15.

Although frost is almost never a problem after mid-May, it is, of course, important to take precautions in case it is forecast.