I saw my first potato coming up yesterday. Some years I don't even plant them 'til St. Paddy's day. Tonight and the next couple of nights temps are expected to be at or near freezing. I don't have much out yet but will cover what I have. Plum and pear trees are in full bloom. I don't know if a frost will affect their crops.
I thought that where you live is warmer? Is this just a rare occurance? Maybe I'm out if touch living in CA., but now that I think about I do remember snow even in late April in the Midwest. Good luck!
Our peach trees are just starting to get little pink buds, and we are supposed to be down to 33 on Sunday night; so it will be a good chance of frost here, too. So far, everything is in containers, and we will just bring everything back inside later this afternoon. The whole weekend is supposed to be only in the 50's during the day, and in the 30's at night. All of the roses are starting to leaf out, even the ones which didn't look so good last summer, and I am hoping that this year will be a better year for roses. I got two new ones at the dollar store, and one is a Pink Peace Climber; which should look beautiful along the front fence. The raspberries and blackberries are leafing out, and the blueberries are starting to show signs of that, too. Strawberries are trying to blossom; so maybe this year we will have some fruit, at least a little bit. No sign of asparagus coming up yet. What about your asparagus, @Sheldon Scott ?
Wow, I guess I'd better check my weather forecast, as well. I know my mom's area's been under threat of a Nor'easter, but I didn't realize the cold weather was going to reach AR and AL. I honestly would be happy for some colder, or at least cooler, weather here, even if it's only 50s. I've had to have the AC on the past few days, and it's too soon for that, at least in my mind.
Oh Ruby, from where I sit , below average sounds wonderful. Cool weather is great! If we start getting into the 90's at this time of the year... it will be over 100 by summer. ...and that usually means hot and dry ..ugh!!
We're supposed to have snow again Sunday and Monday. Actually, it was snowing all day today but not very hard. This weekend, we're supposed to have plowable snow. We won't be planting anything for a while yet.
I agree with @Bonnie Thomas, below average works for me. When I first moved down here back in the 80s, I loved the hot weather. After a heat stroke, and with the addition of some medical conditions, I don't tolerate it nearly as well as I used to, and I really dread the coming Summer. It seems each one gets worse. If nothing else, at least we have a few days respite from the heat. The front started blowing in last evening, but I haven't seen anything severe yet. I can hear the wind blowing out there, and was up in the middle of the night when the rain came through. I always loved the surprise late in the season snow when I was up in New England, especially when it meant a day off work, since mushing to work in the snow was always messy.
@Diane Lane, I can't take the heat either. If you love the surprise late season snow, hop a plane to CT now, because snow is predicted for tomorrow afternoon!
I am thankful that we are somewhere in the middle of those two extremes here in Alabama. I lived in the north long enough to not want to experience a snowy winter anymore, and I am also sure that too much heat would not be much better, although I do like that you can grow things that would freeze out here. Every year, I have bought a mandevilla and it grows fine all summer. I know they freeze in the winter, and bring it inside; but it doesn't make it in the pot inside either. I also can't get rhubarb to grow here, and it thrives in the northern climates. So, I guess there will always be benefits and disadvantages no matter where you live. This seems to be a good compromise for me though.
Well, it is warm again today. The tomatoes in the aerogarden are ready to be transplanted, and I am going to put them all in larger containers and set them out in the greenhouse for now. The greenhouse gets afternoon sun in the spring, and then the trees in the lot behind us will shade it once the trees get all leafed out. How did you potatoes make out with the frost, @Sheldon Scott ? Are you setting out any other starts (like tomatoes and peppers, etc) yet, or are you waiting before you do that ? Since mine are going to be mostly in containers; I can set some out in the back yard where it is sunny, and then move them to the greenhouse if we get a bad storm or even another freeze. My little dinosaur kale have sprouted, and are almost an ince tall now. They are in containers, at least for the time being, and then I can transplant them around the yard once they get a little larger. Is anyone else besides us and Sheldon growing a garden this year ?
The peppers and tomatoes have been potted and put in the greenhouse. The peppers are really getting big. I did put some cucumbers in the garden and covered them on frosty nights but all but one died and the one doesn't look good. The cabbage and broccoli are still looking good.