Springtime

[sherrardk]

In the gardening calendar, when would it be 'early Spring'? Thanks.

[kineton1]

For which country and area?

[sherrardk]

For the UK (Hereford).

[Twirls]

I'd say first couple of weeks of March but officially first day of Spring is 21st March

[tamborine]

About now as plants are blooming & birds nest building.

[sherrardk]

Thank you.

[carlton23]

When the Blackthorn blooms.

[Prudie]

They say frosts don't stop until the blackthorn finishes blooming.

[Hermit]

Interesting idea about the blackthorn. Does anyone else have any ideas about which flowers would be a good indicator. I've got snowdrops out at last (weeks after my mother who is about 400 miles further south) so it must mean the soil is starting to warm up but what flowers would indicate that it was warm enough for early sowing of peas etc? Snowdrops, daffs, tulips? It has to be easy ones for me to recognise them. I'm ashamed to admit I wouldn't recognise blackthorn.

[carlton23]

Hermit, you must plant Daffodils etc in Sept-Nov.

[woofgang]

sherrard what are you wanting to do?

[Prudie]

Hermit you probably know it but don't realise. It's the white blossom all over the bare hedgerows (not out yet). It's actually what sloes come from so gives you a good idea where to pick in autumn (if you make sloe gin).

[boxtops]

It's easy to confuse blackthorn with may (hawthorn) but blackthorn comes on bare branches.

[sherrardk]

Hi woofgang, it's only to plant some seeds (indoors) that the kids got in their Christmas stockings.

[woofgang]

seeds of what? its not the planting time its what happens next. If they are going outside then they can't really be out till May, so plant middish march, if they are grown indoors on the windowsill or in a greenhouse then if you have a bright sunny place, they could go in now.....

[Clanad]

If I may... "Spring" as relates to garden planting is more readily determined by soil temperature (at least here in the U.S.) Soil temperature should be measured at 3 to 4 inches... any good thermometer can be used and should be taken over about a 4 day period and then the tempeatures averaged.

Cool season vegetables that can grow when the soil temperature is down to 40 degrees Fahrenheit include lettuce, kale, parsnips, peas, radishes and spinach. Cool season vegetables that can grow when the soil temperature is down to 50 degrees Fahrenheit include Chinese cabbage, onions, potatoes, Swiss chard and turnips. Cool season vegetables that can grow when the soil temperature is down to 50 degrees Fahrenheit include asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots and cauliflower.

Warm season tcrops require near 65 to 70 degrees (F)... including tomatoes and cucumbers... beans can be grown at 60 degrees but won't survive a sudden late frost... (Source: University of Nebraska Agronomy).

[albaqwerty]

excuse the interruption, it's nice to see you on Clanad x

[Clanad]

Thanks alba... gone for several days... Think Spring! (it's gonna be a high of +6 (F) here today with 18 inches of snow on the ground!