Plant away

Weather getting better, with lows just below 45 and highs in the 70s.
Good weather for the warm season plants, no rain so continue to plant away.

Figs trees - frozen to the ground.

Freeze damage - Tajikistan, Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky from the cold weather.

Better weather

The next few days are perfect for planting the warm
season plants, temps in the 47-60 degrees.  This weekends
looks damp, so protect the apples and pears from scab
AGAIN.  Followed by more great weather 47 lows to
77 highs.

Cole (cool season) crops doing well but say some bolting
already.  Bummer. 

Strawberries and blueberries - still looking good and the
weather and lots of bees mean a good crop.  After pollination,
wait for about 2-4 weeks and by then the June drop will happen.
We will then see how good the crops will be.  Tree fruits
seems to lighter this year.

Still lots of bugs and lots of fungus issues on tree fruits,
berries and other plants.  Good aeration or go to:
PNWPEST.org to look up the PNW Plant Disease handbook
what can be used to reduce fungus problems.

Weather

This week: as advertised, SUMMER. Temps will jump

 into the breaking-a-sweat range, especially all  mid-week.

 Overnight lows will cool enough to allow for opening a

window & sleeping well. By the weekend, temps will lower,

 and the chance for some scattered showers increases, as

westerly winds usher in a cooler air mass. Not a total rain-out,

just the normal drip & drab.

 Week of May 19-23 continues to look dry and notably cooler

 than the week ahead. Actually, it will be comfortable, although

a bit breezy, as the onshore flow will pick up by mid-week.

 Rufus

Weekly hints

Weather still weird, but typical
spring weather.
Tree fruits - starting to see some
pollination failures due to the wet wet weather.

Still waiting for good warm season veggie planting temps.

Cole crops doing well.

Strawberries, blueberries - nicely blooming.

Next week

Next week the weather breaks and we have the
right weather for planting warm season veggies
 around Tuesday.  This week end, a bit of rain and
 then good weather for almost a week.

The morning temps stay at or above 50 degrees
which is still a bit cool but OK

Protection of plants by using Remay row cover, walls
of water, filled milk jug  for the warm season plants.

Apple and pear crop - looks down. Coastal cedar rust
is affecting most pears in the valley this year with
orange rust on the fruit or spots on the leaves.

Still waiting for spring

More warm days, cool mornings; some sunny
days and some drippy days for the next 10 days. 
It is time  to plant!  We must be patient.  In 
2009, 2010 and 2011, we didn't even get into
our gardens until the first of July, each of those
years.

The insects really like this weather.

Be aware of ants, termites, aphids, radish root
maggots, bill bugs, asparagus beetles and codling
moth is expected to show up any day now. 
Place pheromone traps out int he orchards ASAP.

The continued wet and warm - increases the scab
on apples and pears.  Protective sprays are import. 
Call your local Master Gardner program for
control options.

Insect - O.u.t-side!!

Insects have gone crazy the last week.  If you
have been reading the Gardening Hints FBook site
 there has been a continual list going on.  Here is
just a partial list of insects to be aware of that have
 "invaded" other gardens so far:

large and small ant flights
termite flights  Ants and termite have flights
         twice a year, spring and fall.
radish maggot - radishes
bill bugs - radishes
asparagus beetles - asparagus plants

First flight of codling moths attacking apples and pears
 is 21 days after full apple and pear bloom, which is  right
about now.  Place store pheromone or home made
pheromone in the orchard ASAP.