After a late blast of cool weather, things are finally heating up, just in time for local gardeners.
Shea Doherty, operations manager at Our Farm Greenhouses, says many gardeners are now eager to get their warm-season crops in the ground.
A shift in temperatures
“That plus 30 was too hot and then it just chilled right on down with the rain,” Doherty notes. “Now is the time to start because the long forecast looks amazing.”
He says gardeners have already begun picking up warm-weather vegetables like tomatoes, melons and peppers.
“They've already got their carrots and peas and onions in the garden, and now they're coming for those warm crops,” Doherty adds.
Caution for overnight lows
While the daytime highs look promising, Doherty mentions that overnight temperatures still need watching.
Definitely I would like hold off on the tomatoes and the melons, peppers as well because those guys are frost tolerant or even chill tolerant,” he explained.
He recommends waiting a few more days to avoid unnecessary plant stress.
“We like to keep it around plus 8 as a low for those [plants],” Doherty continues.
For those who do plant early, Doherty says there’s a simple fix if the mercury dips.
“Throw a 5-gallon pail over top of them, because they'll be small enough still at that point,” he remarks. “That 5-gallon pail at that plus 4 is going to actually save them from that frost.”
Getting a head start
Despite the recent temperature swings, Doherty says things are actually running a bit ahead of the usual schedule.
“Usually I don't plant tomatoes and melons until the 5th of June," he noted.
But with current conditions, he's feeling confident.
“With the warm weather forecast looking right now, I'm actually going to take the chance and plant now,” Doherty adds. “We're actually two weeks ahead of schedule the way it's looking.”
Pest concerns and prevention
Doherty notes there haven't been many early insect issues, thanks to the inconsistent spring temperatures.
“I haven't noticed the early flea beetles, which has been really nice,” he says. “Now they might end up coming still...as the weather begins to warm up.”
Migrating insects like flea beetles can pose risks to crops like canola, broccoli, and cabbage. Still, cooler temperatures and hungry birds have helped keep things in check.
“They seemed to start to just fall off because there wasn't enough food for them,” Doherty remarks. “With the mass migration of birds, they've been just cleaning that stuff up really nicely right now.”
He recommends gardeners still take basic precautions.
“Use some product on your garden just to keep it in control,” he notes.
Tips for container gardening
Doherty also offers a key piece of advice for those planting in pots or on patios.
“One of the biggest things that I have noticed...is they're taking garden soil and putting it into their hanging baskets and garden pots,” he says.
That, he explains, can cause problems.
“Black Earth, as it's called or garden soil, it begins to compress every time you water it and without the worms and the beetles and all those other things working the soil, it becomes hard packed,” Doherty continues.
His recommendation is simple.
“Buy a potting soil mix. It'll save your plants, and it'll give you better production,” he adds.
As the weather continues to improve, Doherty says the time to plant is now.
“Spring’s here now, we got our rain, we're good to roll,” he remarks.