Winter weather

I had the opportunity to do a pruning
class in Albany for about 30 people.
It was raining cats and dogs until I
drove into Grampa's Farm in Crabtree
the rain stopped. Then the wind started
to blow. On the way back, more rain, lot
of rain. Then off to Seaside to do a tree
fruit and pruning class for Master Gardeners.
More wind, more rain...heavy rain, then snow,
then near white out, then more rain. Crazy
weather. So much for recommending
planting veg crops March 1st.

Spring ??

Daffodils - tight bud.
Tulips - up 6-8 inches.
Garlic - 6-8 inches tall.
Roses - 3 inches of new growth.
Grapes - just about ready to
break, buds swelling.
Snow, sleet, rain, cold and
sun shine all in a few hours.

Plan - planting season

Time to get ready the growing, get your gardening
plan ready, get your fruit trees and berries in
the ground, get the soil ready, start your transplants.
In 6 more days it will be March and by then we
should be off and planting. Word is that it will
be cooler and/or cold for the next five nights,
with one night below 30 degrees.

Spring - another day closer

Rain and then sun, how cruel.
The soil needs a LOT more water
to fill the soil profile. We still need a
LOT more snow in the mountains.
Moss is going crazy in lawns - due to
shade, acid soil, wet and compact soils.
Grass is starting to grow.
If the weather holds, do some soil
prep, forking, spading, roto-tilling.
Found a lot of powdery mildew in my
greenhouse that had a fan going
all winter...too wet and cold.

Rain

More rain today.
Hopefully more snow in the
mountains, which we need it.
Garlic is growing well, but actually
it is very slow compared to
previously year. It should be
about 8 inches tall..

Coming soon

If we are watching the calendar, Monday
February 20th is Presidents Day and for
some people it is time to plant peas,
either sweet peas or edible peas.
I was on the coast teaching Master
Gardeners and the willow were
blooming, plus camellias, early daffodils,
so spring is coming.

Patiently waiting

Patiently waiting for spring.
It is coming very quickly.
Typically the cold weather is over.
Time to prune roses to 6 inches.

Can't wait

Another good day, one day closer
to planting. Start the cole crops
indoors, so you will have transplants
on 45-60 days.
More weed control.
Time to look at the lawn and see
if it needs to be mowed.
Collect milk jugs, paint them black,
fill with rain water, and when planting
tomatoes, place two milk jug around
each plant to increase soil and air temps.

Feb. 11

Time is coming to starting tilling or
getting the raised beds/garden ready
for gardening. According to the plants,
spring is coming quickly. Try and
wait until after Feb. 15 (4 days) to start
planting. This is when historically
the hard freezes are over. Let's try and wait
until March 1st before planting peas.

Winter Thursday

Continue ordering seeds.
More wet weather on its way.
Time to take gardening classes to
help improve your gardening skills.
Be careful when using both 3 legged
and 4 legged ladders. Don't use a three
legged ladder on slick porches;
use mainly on softer soil.
Don't get into a hurry.

:) :) :) :)

Great weather continues.
Plants progressing. Per previous
years, we are really on a very normal
time schedule.
Work the garden soil a little
before the next rain.
Use dormant oil on peaches, plum/prune
as their buds are really expanding to
suffocate mites, aphids and scale.

Beautiful weather

We are so spoiled with this great weather.
It could WAIT five more weeks
and then it can turn warmer.
Garlic really growing, as are the other bulbs.
Blueberries and "haskap"- honeysuckle -
pushing fruiting buds.
Lawns still on the rest.
Weeds are pushing.
What are other people seeing?

More good weather

Time to do some minor tilling, for small
areas, use a garden fork to loosen the soil.
Add lots of good compost, up to 6 inches
and mix with the local soils.
Still good pruning weather.
A lot of plants breaking the ground
cover, and breaking bud.
Plant signs say winter is near to being
over, but we need cold weather to
keep the plants from growing too
much before March 15.