Seedling Status 5-19-2016

In general, seedlings can't be planted in the ground until approximately June 6th. I can put them out earlier depending on the long range weather forecast. There is generally a cold snap that hits mid to late May. It lasts 2 days and after that the coast is clear.

I start to harden the seedlings by bringing them out on above freezing days. The optimal days are cloudy to allow the seedlings to adjust to natural light. I bring them out the first few days for only an hour. Then I increase the outdoor exposure time an hour every couple of days. I keep them out of direct sunlight for a couple of weeks. They are brought in every night for the first couple of weeks because there is potential for high winds here in May. I use a piece of insulation board as a wind break.

It takes time to transfer 60 flats in/out every day for a month. But it is worth it. By planting time, the seedlings are adjusted and ready for the ground.

Example of local weather in mid May see this post in 2013:  25F (-3.8C) Last Night - Covered My Precious Hops And Peonies - 05-14-2013

Or this post about May 17, 2016:  http://backyardorganicgardener.blogspot.com/2016/12/snow-flurries-on-5172016-and-status-of.html

And planting time-to-plant rules I follow: When Do I Plant

Coleus tray

Snow Flurries On 5/17/2016 And Status Of Perennials

The garden is located in upstate New York where it can snow sparingly until mid June. In general, I watch the weather and usually plant the seedlings after June 7th.

To learn about Hardiness Zone go to the post:Know Your Hardiness Zone

In this quick video you can see the snow flurries, coneflowers, rudbeckia in the beds, and the bluebells in the center.

This video shoes the snow flurries, coneflowers, rudbeckia in the beds, and the iris in the foreground. 

Status of the Mt. Hood hop bines. 

To learn more about growing hops in the garden go here: Oregon State Hops For The Gardener

When Do I Plant?

When i first moved to upstate New York, I asked the simple question: When do I plant?  In a previous post I talked about getting information from traditional resources. I'll list all of the bits of information I received and then what I, years later, do.

When can I put plants out?

• Plants can go out after May 15th
• You can put them out on Memorial day
• The first week of June

When is the last snow?

• May 1st
• May 15th

And then I met a little old lady that told me she saw snow, as a child, on June 12th.

Know Your Hardiness Zone

The first thing you need to know to plan a successful garden is your Hardiness Zone. It tells you the lowest  expected temperature your location will see in a given year.  It is a key variable for plant selection.  I live in Zone 5a. But it also close to 4b.  That means that the lowest expected temperature can be -20F.  The lowest recorded temperature I’ve seen in my garden is -17F. I have expensive data recorders. I will discuss them in a future blog.

Find any plant catalogue on the Internet and you will see references to Hardiness next to each plant.  Tropical plants can’t grow in cold climates.  Simple, isn’t it?

Here is the official interactive 2012 USDA Hardiness Zone Map website link. 

http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/#

Go there and follow the instructions. You should be able to get your zone.

Now for the check:

Contact (search on the Internet for contact or email address) the following people in your area and ask them to tell you your Hardiness Zone (be specific when providing your location). 

• Local Ag Extension (State University agriculture school knowledgeable about your specific location
• Local Garden Club
• Local nurseries
• Local Farmers

Did everybody give you the same answer?  I hope so, because some locations can be tricky. Take your time getting this information. If there is a difference of opinion, refer back to your Ag Extension contact and resolve it with them.  I like “belts and suspenders” for the important stuff.  Plus you get to develop contacts in your new endeavor. 

Why do I make a big deal out of this? I need specific information on "cold" temperatures. A -5F difference in expected lowest zone temperature is important to me. It may not  be a big deal to you. 

Good luck finding your Hardiness Zone. It is a big, first step for plant selection.