Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: The “new normal” in Spring frost dates
Just over a week ago we had 83 degrees in southern Minnesota. What? That’s crazy business right there!
Of course last year on this very date, we had 8 inches of snow where I live.
So what’s the deal?
Our “average” frost date has been May 15th in zone 4 for a long time, but according to Dr. Mark Seeley, University of Minnesota professor emeritus and meteorologist, we can expect new normals in the last spring frost date for Minnesota. Further, he said, in the last 20 years, April 20th was the average date for the last frost in zone 4!
The years 2019-2020 still need to be added to the new historical data (1991-2020) that will come out later this year, he continued that “we can see that the new median spring last frost date is shifting much closer to April 20.”
Oh that’s incredible news for gardeners anxious to begin planting!
Does that mean you should rush out and start planting now? Nope! Hold up a minute. Warm season vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, squash, eggplant and beans need nights that are consistently above 50°F. The soil needs to warm up.
For cool season vegetables such as lettuce, carrots, cabbage and kale grow well in cool temperatures BUT, I would still give it another week.
I tell you, I’m REALLY looking forward to fresh tomatoes. I have always waited until Memorial Day weekend but I think, depending on temps, I just might adjust my thinking!
