friday's gardenings

Here is a {hopefully} helpful answer to your questions, Jaci!

Chicago is a zone 5. Seattle is a zone 8. Which means you will be moving somewhere significantly colder! But you probably already knew that. Coldest temperatures in Chicago average between -10 and -20' F in the winter. Brr!! Here is a zone map of Illinois, since I'm not sure exactly where you are moving to.

There are still a lot of plants that are labeled zone 5. Peaches, for one. If you go to a nursery there, they will only sell plants that can grow there, and will have a lot of advice for your particular area. Some may only be indoor plants there, that you could grow outdoors here. Here is a link to a list of zone 5 plants. (all you that live in Utah and western Idaho, this list will apply to you as well. Click here to enter your zip code if you don't know your zone; the link is on the left sidebar) And you don't have to stick to just zone 5 plants. Any plant under zone 5 (4,3,2, and 1) you can grow there as well.

Your growing season will be shorter, so things to help extend that, especially if you are planting veggies, will be a good idea. Like raised beds, or gardening in pots.

You can plant bulbs anytime, as long as the ground isn't frozen. So up until the end of October, maybe even into the second week of November. So you'll have to do it pretty quickly once you get there! If that's not possible, you could try forcing them in the spring. Just put them in a dark container, in a dark place in your fridge over the winter and plant them as soon as the ground thaws in spring. Also, some nurseries sell bulbs already vernalized*, so they are ready to bloom when you buy them. Which is exactly what you would be doing by storing them in your fridge over the winter. Just in case you don't have time to plant. :)

I will definitely miss you and your sweet family. The boys will miss you too! They talked about staying at your house for days. I wish you all the best in your new place!