The Snow is Melting!
After our record breaking year of snow fall we are finally seeing signs of spring. Thankfully the snow is melting at a slow pace and the rivers and streams have kept with their banks for the most part. People are still fighting with muddy driveways. Sap is running & syrup is boiling. Spring bulbs located next to heated basements are showing their green leaves. And my well just poked up through the snow this past week.
A reminder to let your garden spot dry out before you try tilling. A ball of soil formed with your hands should not hold its shape when you open your hands. If it stay together it is too wet to till. Spend your time tuning up the rototiller, sharpening your garden tools and treating the wooden handles of your tools.
Different crops require different minimum temperatures to germinate. On the next page is a chart showing the affect of temperature on time to germinate. The longer the seed takes to germinate the greater the chance that the seed will fail. You can buy a soil thermometer or inexpensive meat thermometer (don’t use it in the kitchen after it’s been in the garden) to measure the soil temperature. Be sure to measure the temperature six inches deep since the temperature at the top of the soil will fluctuate.
Source: Harrington, J. F. & P. A. Mines, Vegetable Seed Germination, California Agriculture Extension Leaflet, 1954.
|
Days for Seed to Emerge at Different Temperatures (Degrees F) |
|||||||||
|
|
32o |
41o |
50o |
59o |
68o |
77o |
86o |
95o |
104o |
|
Bean, Snap |
0 |
0 |
0 |
31 |
18 |
7 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
|
Cabbage |
0 |
0 |
15 |
9 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
|
Carrot |
0 |
51 |
17 |
10 |
7 |
6 |
6 |
9 |
0 |
|
Corn |
0 |
0 |
22 |
12 |
7 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
0 |
|
Cucumber |
0 |
0 |
0 |
12 |
6 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
|
Lettuce |
50 |
15 |
7 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
Pea |
0 |
36 |
14 |
9 |
8 |
6 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
|
Pepper |
0 |
0 |
0 |
25 |
13 |
8 |
8 |
9 |
0 |
|
Spinach |
62 |
23 |
12 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
|
Tomato |
0 |
0 |
43 |
14 |
8 |
6 |
6 |
9 |
0 |
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Last Modified:
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