Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

gwl-g - RE: [gwl-g] Phenology Notes

gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: gardenwriters-on-gardening

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: "Fran Gustman" <fgustman@juno.com>
  • To: "gardenwriters-on-gardening" <gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: RE: [gwl-g] Phenology Notes
  • Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2005 23:16:44 -0500

You can get the information on GDD and how they relate to insects from the extension service in MA.
 
Fran
-----Original Message-----
From: gwl-g-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:gwl-g-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org]On Behalf Of KTCopsey@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2005 9:37 PM
To: gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [gwl-g] Phenology Notes

In a message dated 1/4/2005 5:15:29 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, Hamptongar@aol.com writes:
I think that instead of going by the imprecise method of frost free dates and forsythia blooms etc., etc...gardeners should be learning how to use GDD's or grower degree days.  Most states, through their extension offices or land grand college have published lists or are working on lists that cover diseases, weed germination, insect emergence...all based on precise GDD information
I took a look at the first Google site that came up with GDD.  I think I understood what it was saying and its relevance (ok, I did, but it took a few moments to get my brain round the equation and I have dealt with it before).  However, it is/was geared to serious growers and farmers/researchers - not the average homeowner.  Rings around the moon, moon phases and wooly caterpillars, the Farmers Almanac and bloom times have been around for generations and are not going to go away soon. They were also built on non-technical knowledge that has held true for many generations of successful gardeners.   Add to that,  the GDD (online) is only done on a regional site, so unless you have recorded your thermometer reading everyday (max and min) you might not be able to gauge your own GDD for a specific need - ie when to plant peas, potatoes or basil, or when lace bugs, June bugs etc are due to visit.  In some counties the GDD will vary considerably from mountain slopes to urban areas - not to mention the soil types and moisture retention. 
 
So as a tool for academics, serious growers and farmers - it is a useful tool.  For writers it might be too - we can use them to forewarn bugs etc.  However, I doubt that the average urban backyard gardener would be motivated to use it more than for a curiosity.  I would be interested to see how it correlates with forsythia, or when you cannot 'squeeze the water out of the soil' etc. and when butterflies arrive. 
 
Kate Copsey
Garden Writer
Herbs, Historic Gardens
Pittsburgh, PA



Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page