Sometimes those Ithaca winters feel interminable, and especially if you're enjoying the outdoor activities, summers here seem to pass in the blink of an eye. Most years it seems that once it warms up, autumn is once again on our doorstep, ready to usher in the icy winds of winter. Horticulturally speaking, Central New York falls into zone 5, which boasts one of the shorter growing seasons on the map. Our last spring frost takes place in the last week of May, and our first autumn frost occurs in the early weeks of October. Nighttime temperatures, however, often don't get above the frost range until as late as early June! With such a short growing season and unpredictable Central New York weather, there really is no time for dilly dallying! Read on to discover what types of plants work well in our climate, as well as a few tips to growing success in Central New York.

Heavenly-smelling Butterfly Bush, a shrubby perennial flowering plant, with oregano, rosemary, and lemon balm in the background. All photos by Kelly Lindsay.

Hardy plants are a key ingredient to any Central New York garden. A hardy plant is defined as one that can tolerate extremes, most commonly in temperature and moisture. Tender perennials and tropical plants, those native to southern climates, tend not to fare so well under the sometimes radical conditions we encounter in early summer (such as a surprise frost in the middle of July). Hardy plants stand a better chance of surviving and thriving in our gardens. To protect themselves from environmental extremes, hardy plants have evolved chemical and physical defense mechanisms Secondary (woody) growth, for example, protects delicate herbaceous material from being "frostbitten," or the plant equivalent. Examples of hardy plants are geraniums, marigolds, chrysanthemums, most perennials, and most other plants with secondary growth.

Most plants do well with southern to south-western exposures. Ithaca is notoriously cloudy, and the more sunlight sun-loving plants receive, the better! I've been very successful in growing most herbs and vegetables in a south-western exposure. Shade-loving plants, such as impatiens, fuchsias and begonias, tend to grow well in eastern exposures, and are also well-suited to Central New York's mild summer temperatures.

A basket of large and healthy vegetables (grape tomatoes, cayenne pepper, sweet pepper, and green peppers) surrounded by oversized cucumbers!

Once the growing season begins, it is important to fertilize plants for fast, sturdy growth. Using a commercial fertilizer ensures plants are getting nutrients they need: nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and trace elements. Slow-release fertilizer works well here, especially with all the rain we've had this summer! A slow-release fertilizer comes in pellet form and "releases" nutrients each time plants are watered. Speaking personally, I have only had to fertilize once this season with incredible results: two-foot-long cucumbers, foot-long sweet peppers and tomato plants that grow a couple inches a day. Pretty soon, my patio tomato will be a tomato patio!

Pests and diseases complicate the growing season, leading to setbacks and frustration for commercial and home gardeners alike. With such a short growing season, minimizing damage from pests and diseases is vital. Slugs, pillbugs, aphids, mealy bugs, whiteflies, cabbage butterflies, and other insect pests can cause serious damage to both ornamental and crop plants. Controlling insect pests is a touchy subject; the use of chemical pesticides is controversial among farmers and environmental activists who promote integrated pest management (IPM), a management method that involves the employment of non-chemical methods to control pests. I myself prefer using non-chemical means of controlling insect pests, whether through manual removal (e.g. "slug flinging") or natural plant pairing. Basil and nasturtium, for example, attract aphids. I plant basil next to my tomato plants every year to deter them from destroying the tomatoes. Granted, that means fewer basil martinis, but a nice bowl of gazpacho can be much more satisfying on a warm summer day. Minimizing pest damage through the least environmentally destructive means eliminates another variable in an already variable-ridden endeavor.

Powdery mildew (the white speckling) on a squash plant.

Diseases and other cultural problems, such as fungus, rot, and powdery mildew, are other unwanted growing season complications. Cool, wet conditions are the cause of most fungus and mildew problems, conditions that are prevalent during a typical Ithaca spring or early summer. Soil-borne fungus is a tough problem to get rid of, but a relatively easy one to prevent. It is important to remove dead, rotting material from the soil surface, and allow plants to nearly dry out between waterings to prevent root and crown rot. I suggest the use of gloves to do this. There is nothing worse than pulling a rotting plant out of the ground bare-handed, unless of course you are engaging in slug flinging.

An important key to Central New York gardening success is to actually sit back and enjoy the season. From the day the garden is planted in late April (or whenever the snow finally stops falling) to the harvesting of the last fruits, vegetables and flowers, don't forget to literally stop and smell the roses! Otherwise, there's no point to all of the hard work put into the garden in the first place. Seasoned Central New York gardeners like myself have learned over the years that our growing season is fleeting, but it's what we do with the time we have that is the important factor. That said, I think I will go enjoy a basil martini and a bowl of gazpacho out on my tomato patio.