Gardening Guide

The Best Plants to Buy at the Nursery Right Now

A seasonal guide to selecting thriving specimens for spring and early summer gardens across different growing zones.

Visiting your local nursery during spring and early summer presents an opportunity to acquire plants at their most vigorous stage, ready to establish strong root systems before the heat of midsummer arrives. The best plants to buy at the nursery right now vary depending on your geographic location and USDA hardiness zone, but certain categories consistently perform well when purchased during this active growing season. Understanding what to look for when selecting nursery stock can make the difference between a thriving garden and one that struggles to establish itself throughout the coming months.

Spring Favorites

Flowering Perennials for Long-Term Garden Impact

Perennial plants represent some of the most valuable purchases gardeners can make at nurseries during spring, as these specimens will return year after year with proper care. Coneflowers, known botanically as Echinacea, are widely available at nurseries from late April through June and are prized for their drought tolerance once established. Black-eyed Susans, or Rudbeckia, share similar characteristics and are native to much of North America, making them well-suited to local growing conditions across many regions. Daylilies in their various cultivars appear at nurseries in containers ready for immediate transplanting, and their adaptability to different soil conditions makes them reliable choices for gardeners of varying experience levels.

Salvia varieties, including both annual and perennial types, attract pollinators throughout the growing season and are typically available in full bloom at spring nurseries, allowing buyers to verify flower color before purchase. Russian sage, though not actually a sage, offers similar benefits with its silvery foliage and blue flower spikes that persist from midsummer through fall. When selecting flowering perennials, examining the root system by gently sliding the plant from its container can reveal whether the specimen is healthy or potentially root-bound from sitting too long in nursery stock.

What to Look for in Healthy Nursery Plants

Examine foliage for signs of pest damage, yellowing, or wilting. Check that roots are white or light tan rather than brown or mushy. Look for plants that appear proportionate to their container size, neither overly leggy nor severely root-bound. Soil should be moist but not waterlogged, and there should be no mold or mushrooms growing on the soil surface.

Vegetable Garden Essentials

Tomato Plants and Warm-Season Vegetable Starts

Nurseries stock their largest selection of vegetable transplants during spring, with tomato plants being among the most sought-after items for home gardeners. Tomato transplants are typically ready for outdoor planting once nighttime temperatures consistently remain above fifty degrees Fahrenheit, which occurs in late spring for most of the continental United States. Nurseries offer both determinate varieties, which grow to a set height and produce fruit within a concentrated period, and indeterminate types that continue growing and producing throughout the season. Popular varieties such as Early Girl, Better Boy, and Celebrity are commonly available, along with heirloom options including Brandywine and Cherokee Purple.

Pepper plants, including both sweet bell peppers and hot varieties, share similar planting timing requirements with tomatoes and are available at nurseries alongside them. Eggplant transplants are another warm-season option that benefits from the head start that nursery transplants provide compared to direct seeding. Squash and cucumber plants, while easily grown from seed, are sometimes purchased as transplants by gardeners with shorter growing seasons or those seeking faster harvests. Selecting vegetable transplants that are stocky rather than tall and leggy typically indicates healthier specimens that will establish more quickly in garden soil.

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