What Do You Get When You Cross a Snowman With A Shark?… Frost Bite!
Our first Lumby and District Public Market was an interesting day to say the least. We had rain, hail, wind and thankfully intermittent sunshine. It was cold over all but it was so nice to see some of our regular clients and so wonderful to meet so many new arrivals to our area and from so many different places.
I know everyone is ready to start putting in their garden. However this has been one of the coolest springs I can remember and last year many people lost their plants to frost just around this time. Supposedly this is the 4th cooler spring on record and even I lost a few plants to frost in my greenhouse and this has never happened so I am advising people to hold off putting sensitive plants outside at this time. The night time temperatures are on the cool side and Friday it is only forecast to be 2 degrees and that will mean frost in many parts of this area. Saturday looks like a pleasantly warm day and the evening temperatures are much better but I will still be wearing my thermal underwear to the market.
The traditional planting time for this area is the long weekend in May but there are several plants that you can start or transplant at this time of year. Spinach, Kale, Lettuce and Peas are all cool weather crops and can be started now or transplanted from plugs. I would not put Tomatoes, Squash plants and definitely not cucumber outside now, all these types of bedding plants on my table at the market were unhappy by the short period of time they were outside and they are hardened off. Seeds such as Carrots, Beets and other root crops should be okay now especially if you can put row covers over them as the sensitive roots could be harmed if you live in an area where there is still a chance of frost.
Your yard may have more protection than some others depending on where you live and other factors which you may be aware of. Beans should not be planted yet as they require a soil temperature of 60 degrees otherwise the seed may just rot in the ground, I have not even started them in my greenhouse. Trees, Shrubs and other perennial plants are well planted at this time of the year when heat stress and the usual spring rains will be of benefit. It’s nice to see more leaves on the trees and so many blossoms on some of the fruit trees and the beautiful blossoms of the Tulip and Daffodil. Grape vines still look as if they did not survive the winter but I know that they still need some time to show some life.
Many of the usual garden pests have not been so evident thus far due this cooler weather other than the lovely young lady that works for me being stung in the face by a wasp. I will be diligently watching for them now as they are one of my most feared and disliked pests even though in the spring they tend to stick to a protein diet that includes many of the destructive bugs that can invade your home, garden and greenhouse including whitefly and aphids. I hope you all had a wonderful Mother’s Day!
Happy Gardening
Samantha Nason
BS Ranch & Greenhouses
250 547 6567 • samanthanason@hotmail.com
