Oh Seedcorn

[so lucky]

Did you say in a post recently that the first weeks of May is predicted to bring a cold spell? Was that on the farm weather report? I'm wondering how widespread that will be, and how cold. I missed the Farm Show on our local TV this morning. Just wondering if I need to wait before I put out much tender vegetation.

 

[Ridgerunner]

You have to remember that Seed is up in the frozen north. What he considers a cold spell would be devastating to us.

I checked my 10-day forecast. It only goes to the first two days of May and they are a bit cooler. Overnight lows get all the way down to the upper 40's. I've already put my cherry tomato out next to the garden gate so I can munch on tomatoes as I pass this summer and plan to have most of my tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and some corn planted by then if I can. There are some rain chances that might interfere with that but they are not tremendously high. I planted some beans to see if the ground was warm enough for them three days ago so they have not come up yet but a neighbor told me yesterday her beans came up great. I think it's time to get going but I'll hold off starting Bluejay's beans until I get those beans to come up.

I've been eating asparagus, radishes and green onions for a while. I had my first turnip greens last night, the first bok choi was a week ago. The lettuce, chard, and kale is practically ready. I've already hilled my potatoes once and it's about time to hill them a second time, probably today since we might get some rain Monday night. I want to keep up with hilling the potatoes, I've been known to get behind on that, especially if it sets in wet. I have a cauliflower that bolted early, not going to be much of a head on that one, hopefully the others will hold off and do better. Yesterday I noticed a broccoli was just starting to head. That's early too but at least broccoli suckers out and keeps growing new heads. I'm OK with broccoli being early. And I have my second batch of chicks this year hatching in the incubator as I type this.

On the down side my peaches and plums bloomed so early a frost got them so I don't expect any fruit from them this year. But I finally got to a point on the apples with blossom drop that I could spray them yesterday with that fruit tree spray (Malathion, Seven, and Captan mix) without killing the pollinators. Looks like the trees will be covered with apples. I'll have to do some serious thinning.

There are some things that will do better for Seed way up there that just can't handle our summers but I'm OK where I am.

 

[digitS']

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/forecasts/

The ag services are down in the weeds serious about weather conditions. Did you know that you can buy insurance based on growing degree days for the year ahead?

NOAA gives you below average - equal chance - above average, on the maps linked above. Then, you just need to know your local averages.

Those averages are on your local weather pages. For some reason, I usually look back at the year before and see where things were. The average temperatures and precipitation numbers are on those pages, also. I feel kind of grounded reflecting on what happened just 12 months ago. It's quite the opposite of looking at extreme records, which I lived through but often remember nothing more than, "yeah, I was cold during some of that time." "It was hot!" And, "I wonder if that was when I got the pickup stuck and had to call the tow truck?"

Steve

 

[seedcorn]

For me, it is suppose to be colder than normal BUT the night lows are the 40's. So my tender plants are planted in garden having to tough it out. It's also suppose to rain every week so I planted when ground was fit. I use a weather program that predicts trends and not actual weather. They are less accurate on day to day than The Weather Channel on phone.

 

[seedcorn]

Just checked for Jefferson City, MO. Last 2 weeks of April warmer than normal. May colder than normal except for except for last 3 days of second and third week of May-warmer than normal. Calling for some rain, every week of May. First 3 days of June, warmer than normal, rest of month cooler. First 9 days of July, warmer, rest of month cooler. But your cooler is our warmer.......... Your cooler September is 70's and 80's..... Tough to be you.

 

[majorcatfish]

dang life is good below the 35th parallel line......

 

[baymule]

@seedcorn what is this weather predictor that you use???

 

[majorcatfish]

@baymule
left.... jelly
right.... below the 35th

thats the weather predictor ...... my prediction is we be going back for another basket tomorrow....yummmm

 

[Nyboy]

Those strawberries look good

 

[seedcorn]

Weathertrend360. Owner developed long range forecast for military. Now Private. Trends they are OK on but close weather, there are better-like stick your head out window and look.