Spring is closer each day

Spring keeps getting closer each day.  A couple
days of 80' lows in the mid 50 but then we get
more DRIP;  and cooler temps that we like for
the warm season veggies.

If you have protection or covers, go ahead and plant. 
Some people use walls of water;  jugs of water; 
black plastic.

Also, check the soil temps, they should be in tge 60's
before planting the warm season plants.


Vinegar traps for SWD; and pheromone traps for the
codling moth.

Waiting for spring

We are still waiting for spring to show up.  So
far we have had a mix of weather and it looks like
a mix of weather for a while longer.  Lows are
getting into the 40's now.

So at this rate, warm season veggies can be planted soon.
Looks like the first of May will be a good time to put
the warm season veggies out into the garden.

May is the month that we see how well, or not; the bees
were able to pollinate the different tree fruits.  Around
May 15th, is the time to thin or remove excess apples,
peaches, and apricots, so the rest will size up.  Thinning
means removing usually 3 or 4 small apples (fruit) per spur
or group of fruit.

USDA Crop Weather

Wet and rainy.

The warm and wet is bring on the wet diseases- 
especially scab on apples and pears and yellow
rust on local raspberries.

OSU has sitings of both the spotted wing drosophila
and brown mor. stink bug already and we don't
even have any fruit out yet. 

Strawberry growers
be aware this year for early infestations. 

Go to:  OSU SWD    for good information.

More mediocre weather

The weather still is mediocre.
Highs from 53-73, getting nice.
Lows - 38 cold, to 43, still too cold for the warm
season veggies.  Highs are still cool for planting with 
a week away from being May.

Coast was wet with moist days for the nest
 two days, then sun and cloudy.

The moist is going to cause more rust on raspberries; 
apple and pear scab with the warm and wet weather.

Continue to plant and/or replant cole crops.

Warm veggies -OK if you have a cold frame or
clouch or way to keep the soil drier.

Take advantage of any weather breaks and garden.

Tree fruits crops still looking good other than the
increase in fungus issues.

Typical spring

More spring weather.
Be glad for the rain, as the reservoirs are filling nicely. 

After taking a quick trip to California, Lake Shasta is
the lowest we have seen it in years.  Oregon reservoirs
are continuing to fill with the spring weather.

In February after a trip to Pristina, Kosovo, their rain
water reservoir had no rain in 6 months.

Cole crops continue to be planted during the dry periods.

This week, wett-ish, with 53-57 high (cool) and lows 37-48. 
Next week it will be cloudy with highs in the 70's and lows in
the low 40's so still cool for any warm season crops
with out protection.

Remember when planting plants for indoors., they need to be taken
out side for short periods to prepare  them for moving outside. 
Typically move outside for 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, and
then when warm enough leave out over night before
transplanting into the garden area.

Some good news

The rain is needed as the soils were getting dry.
It looks like a light rain soi it won't cause soggy soils.


NOTICE:  If you any water containers that have the
winter rains in them, check for mosquito larvae.  I
found mosquito larvae in buckets I have been saving in
case the electricity went off for longer than a few hours.

If the water has mosquito larvae, place Dunks (Bt) in
the water;or cover the water with a light covering
of vegetable oil to suffocate the larvae; or empty all of
the container, buckets, large cans; gutters;etc.

More plant problems

Rust is showing up on uncut grass and on grass seed plants.
Cut and fertilize.

Boxwoods are showing spots; yellow, brown and red spots.
Damage has already happened.

Raspberries are getting the yellow leaf rust already.
Thin out vines for good air circulation.

Pears are getting the coastal cedar rust on the pear blooms.
Infection has already happened.

Insects out

OSU is saying that the spotted wing drosophila 

and the new brown marmorated stink bug   

are both out!

Weather repeat

Highs 73 to 59 degrees.  Lows down in the 43-41
degrees.  However, the evening temps are cold with
cold winds coming out of the north, for two nights
now.  Cold AM temps, especially with the clear skies. 

New plantings will need protection.  More wet weather
expected next Friday thru Tuesday.  This week looks
warmer and few clouds.

Continue to plant pollen plants to feed the mason,
bumble and honey bees, pollen plants will help
many of the good predator insects.

Tree fruits still blooming and still look very good.

Keep the weeds under control, the are growing very well.

Keep the lawns mowed as they are growing very vigorously.

Continue to plant

Rain tonight and then good weather for  a week,
followed by more rain.

Hi temps in the 63-71 degrees and lows in the 35-40
degrees, so still not warm enough for warm season veggies. 
If you are in a hurry, place a good compost thermometer
in the soil and check to see how warm the soil is.  If between
50-60, good for the cole crops.  Once the soil temp reaches
a consistent 60 degrees, time for the warm season plants.

Peaches, near done.  Cherries, prunes/plums full bloom; 
pears - pre white or just about blooming. 
Apples showing what is called pre pink, which means the
blooms are showing a little of the pink bloom.

Plant

Other than the next two days of rainy weather; 
it looks like it is time again to plant some more of
the cole or cool season weather plants.

Peaches - near done blooming;  cherries - full bloom;
apples are pushing to near pink stage;  prunes/plum -
nearing full bloom;  pears - near bloom.  All of the
blooms are very close this year which may mean the
fruit will be close when they ripen but we still have
months before they ripen.

Warm season plants - I wouldn't plant yet, AM
temps are still around 36-40.

This week

Wet weather with some sun.  Soil in many
places is still   wet or damp.  Temps are rising
to over 60 degrees,   with the wet weather this
means more   diseases - mildew, scab and
early rust.  Dry weather will stop the cycle.   

Good bloom, concern over enough dry   periods
for good bee  and pollinators   getting to the blooms.   

Garlic looks like it skated by this winter   with little
to no damage to the plants.