Conditions
require a little bit of self control
Planting in mushy soil is never a good idea – the soil
compaction negates any early advantage.
Likewise soil temperature should be in the 50’s.
Unless you are a frog, the forecast is not sunny:
|
|
High
|
Low
|
precip
|
Forecast
|
Avg. Hi
|
Avg. Lo
|
|
56°
|
47°
|
0.47 in
|
 Cool with rain at times
|
69°
|
46°
|
|
|
62°
|
48°
|
0.15 in
|
 Warmer with a stray
shower |
69°
|
47°
|
|
|
65°
|
43°
|
0.01 in
|
 A morning shower;
clearing |
70°
|
47°
|
|
|
68°
|
50°
|
0.02 in
|
 Increasing cloudiness |
70°
|
47°
|
|
|
71°
|
57°
|
0.9 in
|
 Couple of thunderstorms
|
70°
|
48°
|
|
|
72°
|
55°
|
0.05 in
|
 A t-storm in the
afternoon |
70°
|
48°
|
|
|
66°
|
48°
|
0.84 in
|
A shower and t-storm
around |
71°
|
48°
|
|
|
72°
|
49°
|
0 in
|
 A couple of showers
possible |
71°
|
49°
|
|
|
72°
|
49°
|
0.29 in
|
Periods of rain |
71°
|
49°
|
|
|
76°
|
50°
|
0 in
|
A blend of sun and
clouds |
72°
|
49°
|
|
|
72°
|
49°
|
0.64 in
|
Mostly cloudy |
72°
|
50°
|
|
|
80°
|
57°
|
0.08 in
|
 Warmer with spotty
showers |
72°
|
50°
|
|
|
78°
|
54°
|
0 in
|
Rather cloudy |
72°
|
50°
|
|
|
85°
|
59°
|
0.56 in
|
A thunderstorm possible
|
72°
|
51°
|
|
|
76°
|
52°
|
0.87 in
|
A shower and t-storm
around |
73°
|
51°
|
|
|
73°
|
52°
|
0.44 in
|
Couple of thunderstorms
|
73°
|
51°
|
|
|
74°
|
52°
|
0 in
|
Episodes of sunshine |
73°
|
52°
|
|
|
75°
|
51°
|
0 in
|
 Sunny |
74°
|
52°
|
Greens and the cold weather crops are certainly OK to have in
by now ( and thrive in this cool rain), but your warm weather squash and beans
and of course tomatos demand better conditions.
We have a great deal of sympathy for those with GADD
(gardening attention deficit disorder) so we offer some experimental ideas
which do and do not work (depending upon who is telling the story):
- Cover the soil with dark cloth or black plastic and let the sun warm and dry the soil before planting – this is a lot of work and beware of slugs
- Try containers first and then transplant – a lot of work but should help.
- Try products like ‘wall o’ water’ that are specifically designed for earlybirds
- Buy plugs for some of your vegetables – expensive, but give an early crop
In our view it is best to wait (looks like until 17 May). The essential element is ‘degree days’ and
they get stronger and stronger as May rolls out.
