Planting time is coming!
In the next two to four weeks areas across the Eastern Carolinas will reach the average date of their final freeze of the season. In general, this date comes earliest close to the coast, and comes later farther inland. Areas close to the Pee Dee river also have earlier last frost dates than areas away from the river.
This date is a great tool to use when deciding when to plant tender garden plants. You should wait to plant any plants that will die in freezing weather until two weeks after the average last frost date for your area. Some more tropical plants should wait even longer than that.
In my garden, my winter garden of garlic, onions, shallots, cabbage and collard greens are still growing. I planted some veggies that will tolerate cold weather in February, including peas, radishes and carrots. The peas and radishes came through the unusual cold we had last week with no problems, but I did lose some of the carrots. I have started planting some squash that will have problems if it freezes again, but I have so many seeds, I don’t mind re-seeding. I am going to wait to plant tomatoes and cucumbers until April first, and will likely wait on peppers for another week or two after that… they don’t grow when it’s cold anyway.
Bottom line, keep in mind the average last freeze date for your area when deciding when to plant. Also remember how unusually cold it was this winter, and how these cold snaps just keep coming. This year may not be the year to try to get those tomatoes in the ground a little early.
Happy planting!
Posted by
on 03/11 at 08:58 PM
