Homestead mailing list

[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

On Apr 12, 2008, at 8:01 AM, Marie McHarry wrote:

> I wish I'd written down the date last year -- and the many years
> before -- when trees put out leaves, but this year seems incredibly
> slow. We've had some warm weather, but nothing is growing except grass
> and some weeds and those not so much. The next two days are forecast
> to be cold and miserable: wind (25+ mph), rain, etc. Woe, woe, woe...

Those who do not keep a gardening journal are destined for lessons  
needing to be relearned in senior years.

You are fortunate, I wish spring had been delayed here. Much plant  
damage here is caused by late frosts. Trees bud out, blossom, set  
fruit, and blam! I will soon know if the two heartnut trees in the  
front yard will this year thrive with only strong pruning of the top  
branches that were killed by a late, hard freeze last year.

Small plants, like tomatoes, are easily covered. Trees are another  
matter. Once again I am reminded that while they are much shorter- 
lived, dwarf fruit trees are far more easily covered when freezing  
weather threatens buds.

April 20th is our typical date when one can stop worrying about late  
frosts. We have this year had mid-seventies days. Most nights have  
been in the forties. Tomorrow morning is forecast to be in the mid- 
twenties.