Mid-Atlantic Gardening Guide

The mid-Atlantic region is a narrow swath spanning the area between Toronto and Ottawa down to New York City and Washington, D.C. In the U.S., it includes most of New York State (except parts of the Northeast), Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, eastern parts of Ohio and the northernmost parts of Virginia and West Virginia.  It spans USDA zones 3 to 7 and AHS heat zones 3 to 6.

The mid-Atlantic isn't as cold during the winter as New England and is hotter in summer. Along the coast, the humidity can climb very high, making the height of summer extremely uncomfortable. As you move westward, the humidity drops to a more comfortable level. One thing you can count on in this region is water, and lots of it. (Sometimes a little too much, as recent floods have demonstrated.) Thunderstorms in the summer and lake effect snow or Nor'Easters in winter drop plenty of precipitation in this area.

The length of the growing season varies; in lower zone areas like Albany, it's roughly May to September but in Baltimore and other warmer areas it might last from April into November.

Almost all annuals will do well in the mid-Atlantic. Make sure that any potted plants get plenty of water, since the hot summers can wilt plants within days. In cooler areas you should probably hold off planting until Memorial Day, but zones 6 and 7 (especially along the coast) can probably plant earlier. Many annuals, like hollyhocks  and sunflowers,  will happily reseed themselves.

As in New England, perennials that need cold winters to thrive will do well in the mid-Atlantic.  Try hardy perennials like bleeding hearts,  astilbe,  rose bushes,  lilacs,  daylilies,  irises  and bulb flowers. (Try alliums  for a change of pace from tulips  and daffodils. )

Vegetable gardening in the mid-Atlantic is suitable for most crops. Cool season crops like peas,  lettuces  and radishes  can be harvested in spring and often in the fall as well. Although the summer is short in some areas, you can probably manage tomatoes  and summer squash  even in Albany. Melons  and sweet potatoes,  which need a longer growing season, may need extra help ripening but often a cold frame is all you need. Sweet corn,  peppers,  eggplant  and other annual crops will do well. Once introduced, blackberry  and raspberry bushes  will produce for years.

A few ruby-throated hummingbirds might visit a hummingbird garden, but that's about all you're likely to see in the mid-Atlantic. You're better off with a butterfly garden  -- monarchs, tiger swallowtails (pictured), painted ladies and others will spend hours flitting from flower to flower.

You can feed the birds year-round in the mid-Atlantic. In the summer, try attracting bluebirds with mealworms,  orioles with oranges,  and goldfinches with thistle seed.  Black oil sunflower seed  will attract many species year-round. In the winter, supplement it with energy-rich suet  and watch the chickadees and woodpeckers flock to your yard!

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