Early Spring
May. 6th, 2010 02:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pen_gruntSpring began in March here in MN, and hasn't let up since. I would be remiss if I implied in any way that I didn't enjoy the fortuitous--if very premature--warmth.
But early spring has its dangers. For one, the sudden heat instead of the slow, gradual upclimb has made my tulips lanky and overgrown-looking (with weaker blooms).
And for two, it makes the most rational gal into a gardening idiot.
I used to work at a plant nursery for several years in high school and getting into college. EVERY year, they would force-ship delicate plants in the spring; petunias and impatiens, marigolds, dianthus, moss rose, basil, and the lot. Every year, customers would ask me (in early April) when they could start to plant.
"The University of Minnesota lists the average last date of frost as May 15th," was my standard, matter-o-fact answer. No elaboration. Sure, most years it warmed before then, and even mid-late April plantings were safe--but it was always a risk. The immaculately-manicured, stay-at-home, suburban specimens huffed and puffed their pouty, lipsticked, middle of the day lips and snatched up flats of gorgeous, raised-in-Georgia-thusfar impatiens. They wanted them NOW damn it. Come hell or low pressure.
Inevitably, then, there would be a cold snap and they would bring the frost-blackened plants back to me. "They just died. They must be poor quality. I want a refund/exchange."
Lady, I can't keep giving you plants in perpetuity just so you can kill them off by planting them and re-planting them too early. May 15th is the "safe" day. Anything before then is iffy.
But this year. Oh, this year I forgot all my matter-o-fact warnings and stern looks, and I started planting delicate things the week before last.
Well, we might get some snow flurries on Friday. Nothing serious, but the tender, cold-averse, fully leafed out, raised-in-Georgia-till-now raspberry bushes will definitely not like this. Not at all.
Sheesh.
May 15th. Why couldn't I wait just a few more days...
But early spring has its dangers. For one, the sudden heat instead of the slow, gradual upclimb has made my tulips lanky and overgrown-looking (with weaker blooms).
And for two, it makes the most rational gal into a gardening idiot.
I used to work at a plant nursery for several years in high school and getting into college. EVERY year, they would force-ship delicate plants in the spring; petunias and impatiens, marigolds, dianthus, moss rose, basil, and the lot. Every year, customers would ask me (in early April) when they could start to plant.
"The University of Minnesota lists the average last date of frost as May 15th," was my standard, matter-o-fact answer. No elaboration. Sure, most years it warmed before then, and even mid-late April plantings were safe--but it was always a risk. The immaculately-manicured, stay-at-home, suburban specimens huffed and puffed their pouty, lipsticked, middle of the day lips and snatched up flats of gorgeous, raised-in-Georgia-thusfar impatiens. They wanted them NOW damn it. Come hell or low pressure.
Inevitably, then, there would be a cold snap and they would bring the frost-blackened plants back to me. "They just died. They must be poor quality. I want a refund/exchange."
Lady, I can't keep giving you plants in perpetuity just so you can kill them off by planting them and re-planting them too early. May 15th is the "safe" day. Anything before then is iffy.
But this year. Oh, this year I forgot all my matter-o-fact warnings and stern looks, and I started planting delicate things the week before last.
Well, we might get some snow flurries on Friday. Nothing serious, but the tender, cold-averse, fully leafed out, raised-in-Georgia-till-now raspberry bushes will definitely not like this. Not at all.
Sheesh.
May 15th. Why couldn't I wait just a few more days...
