Last year at this time.......

[samthedog]

Last year at this time the Illinois Dept of Ag said the 4 inch bare soil temp in Champaign IL. was about 55 F. This year it is 34 degrees. Go
Figure....


Before the last 9" snow, my soil worked fairly well (it was in a raised bed). I planted onions, spinach, lettuce and beets late last week. Last year's Rhubarb was just thinking of waking up. I have broccoli that is about 2-3" tall with 2-3 true leaves under lights in the basement. Tomotoes and Peppers are just starting to form true leaves under the lights.

We have picked up a good bit of moisture over the past month, I hope everybody gets some nice pre-season rain and planting season goes well.

 

[897tgigvib]

Strange how this year so many folks across the country are suffering from late season frosts, cold, snow, and winter in general. But right here near the lake I have had no frost for well over a month.

2 years ago we had a light snow June 3rd that quickly melted, and the summer breezes began June 8th. 2011.

Last year, 2012, there was a touch of light snow April 19th, planted Peas 24 and 25 April, and our summer breeze pattern commenced May 8th.

This year, 2013, the last frost was around the end of February, so far, planted Peas March 16th, and I do not think we'll have another frost. Coldest it's been since 1 March is 35. I do not yet feel that summer breeze yet though. Mornings are misty over the lake. Breeze direction has not yet shifted, but the cold is done.

Meantime, most of the country north of zone 8 or so has cold air and snow, and 34 degree soil. Hoodat in San Diego of course has tomato and quinoa blooming.

=====

Wonder how the weather is today on the south part of Greenland.

 

[catjac1975]

The early spring last year was probably worse than a late spring. All my blueberry blossoms got hit with frost because they bloomed too early. I think the local peach crop was poor too.

 

[Carol Dee]

We had the same experiance as catjac. No cherries and few apples and pears becasue the buds and early blooms go frozen. But DH remembers planting potoates well before Good Friday. The ground is much too cold and still frozen several inches down. No planrting this Good Friday. Last year it was near 80's degrees very early and we had a terrible HOT dought summer. Sure hope the rains and snows we have been getting give the ground water supplies some refreshing.

 

[so lucky]

I, too am hoping that the late spring means we won't have such a long hot summer. The fruit orchards here had poor quality fruit due to the drought and heat. And the strong dry winds just completed the picture. Now this summer, well, if it doesn't get hot till June, maybe we will have only 3 months of really hot weather, instead of the 5 months, last year. Ahh, hope springs eternal!

 

[bj taylor]

late freeze here. lost my potatoes, half of my tomatoes, all my peppers. ugh. at least my new chicks are fine.

 

[so lucky]

late freeze here. lost my potatoes, half of my tomatoes, all my peppers. ugh. at least my new chicks are fine.

So sorry you lost all those plants, bj. Did you grow them from seed? I guess you can go buy more, but after repeating that a while, the thrill is gone!

 

[OkChickens]

late freeze here. lost my potatoes, half of my tomatoes, all my peppers. ugh. at least my new chicks are fine.

I lost all of my potatoes as well earner this week. Lucky a local farm store had seed potatoes on sale for 0.39 a lb. the regular us 0.79lb I think. What type of potatoes do you grow?

Nate

 

[digitS']

My potatoes are burned by frost every 4 years or so. It'll be about half the plants are showing above ground and those will turn black. I've never covered them.

They come back. I'm not sure if I've noticed a problem with the crop later.

You know, an eye can make a number of sprouts. It is using energy stored in the tuber to grow them so it can't be helpful but I don't think a frost needs to be the end of the potato growing for you. Could be wrong - I can imagine that if the plants are really up and growing, a frost kill could just take too much from the plant for it to start growing again.

Steve

 

[vfem]

Last year was such a tease...

...this year is just a B$%^&