In the Garden with Pat Rubin

Bee garden writer Pat Rubin writes about everything that grows, from flowers and trees to vegetables and lawns. Pat volunteered for several years as a Placer County Master Gardener and has written about gardening for many national and regional publications. In addition to gardening, she spends time raising and showing miniature horses and miniature donkeys.

In the Garden will include news, events, advice and other gardening tidbits. Pat will also answer reader questions.

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May 4, 2007

The unpredictable weather

After a gorgeous start to spring we’re back to gray days, rainy nights. Friends who put potted tomatoes outside are bringing them back into the kitchen or greenhouse. All in all, though, said Bob Hamm, who runs the AIDS benefit plant sales, most things are ahead of schedule.

Fred Hoffman said the wind has been harder on his young plants than the rain. “I have hustled back into the greenhouse all the tomato and pepper pants that are still in three-inch pots. There are about 90 of them. It’s not the rain that is the concern; it’s the wind. Besides drying out those pots prematurely, gusts of wind tend to knock over those top-heavy plants, especially.” Hoffman notes soil temperatures are still between 65-70 degrees, which is ok for transplanting he said, but plants won’t really take off until the soil temp hits 70. The warm weather will be upon us soon enough, I know, so I’ll be happy that Mother Nature is watering of the garden for me a bit longer.

“Both the cool season and warm season crops can handle this weather,” Hoffman said. “But when we get several 90-degree days in a row, it’s goodbye snow peas and spinach.”

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