Have we reached the point where you are safe to plant new pieces in your yard and garden?
Pickett County Extension Agent Billy Garrett said by the end of this week, you should be good to go. But Garrett said you still have to be mindful of chilly nights across the region.
“There’s some people who got some stuff in their garden already. But like I said, there are still going to be some cold spells that are going to happen” Garrett said. “So, we’re not out of the woods just yet. I mean, people can go ahead and start planting, but they are just going to have to be cautious of the cold spells.”
Garrett said, all too often people get overzealous and plant at the first sign of nice March weather. Garrett said that often causes plants to die. For people that wait all the way until May, the will have to wait a little longer to see their yield, but they ensure garden plants stay out of harms way.
For those who do decide to plant early, Garrett said to cover smaller, exposed plants with old bed sheets, and avoid plastic coverings that can overheat in the sun.
Besides the cold, farmers and horticulturists need to be mindful of precipitation, Garrett said.
“If it were to turn off dry, If it were too… you know, we not getting the normal spring rains that we get, then that can affect it greatly,” Garrett said.
Without water, Garrett said the seeds will fail to germinate and plants will end up dead or stunted. During this time of year, Garrett said the amount of water each plant can vary, along with the toughness. Those with a larger garden need to be careful to allocate their water resources accordingly.
“They all need some [water],” Garrett said. “Some of them need a lot, some of them just need a little. When they were made, the good Lord made them pretty heart for the most part. Most of these plants can survive, even if we stress them.”
Despite the tricky timing of it all, Garrett said people should get give gardening a try — even for the first time, and recommended getting outside and enjoying nature during the springtime. He said it can be rewarding to eat food that has been hand-cultivated from the ground up.
“Just get out in the garden and have fun. Get out there and enjoy it. Grow something,” Garrett said.