Will My Vegetables Germinate In This Cold Weather?
How can a plant seeds when I can’t even see my garden!
Like many people, I am hoping to start planting some seeds in my garden shortly – but the ground is frozen, and under about 3 inches of snow!
I also have some plants that I want to tend to as well, but they are still covered in the white stuff!
It has been several weeks now since I have been able to even think about getting back out into the garden to check on things already out there and getting ready for the new seasons crops and plants.
Just before the ‘big freeze’ there was a period of wet weather, and primroses, daisies and buttercups were all flowering in my garden at the end of November – I dread to think what they will look like when this snow all melts – and whether they will have the energy to flower again by March!
Problems In The Garden:
Well, I should be out there pruning back some of last years branches and shoots as well as clearing old leaves but that is going to have to wait - as is turning the compost! I tried to do this before the new year, but it was too heavy with all the snow, and then clearing it a bit actually melted the snow turning it into a huge pile of slush – washing away some of the nutrients I had packed inside!
The thought of digging out the beds for the early potatoes is not sounding too appealing either – and I have been putting off adding the manure as I can’t face driving all the way to the stable yard in this terrible weather. My driveway is still snowed in – so I am sure the access to a private yard won’t be faring much better!
The weight of the snow on my greenhouse has moved some of the panes downwards into the gutters leaving gaps in the roof – and I noticed a new crack in one. I can’t attempt to slide them back into place when the temperatures are so low as I may well end up cracking another! And my footing isn’t going to be the best!
My ceramic water butt has all but frozen over, so I am relying on my plastic one on the other side of the garden to keep things going. I have had to completely rearrange my porch and spare room window sill to take on all of my early seeds and delicate plants.
Cold Weather Gardening Tips:
There are however, a few things you can do to take the edge off the worst of the weather for your seedlings and garden plants, and they include making things warmer (or not as cold as usual), changing varieties and changing locations.
Use a mulch to keep the ground from freezing. If you have built up a nice layer of mulch (possibly using the leaves that you are only just starting to clear up), the actual earth your plants are going to be sown in will be just that little bit warmer than the ‘new’ surface, which should help them start out.
Use heat lamps or heat pads if the temperature is too low for your plants to get started. I have just begun to use a low level low-energy heat pad in my porch where I can have many plants resting part on it and therefore giving them that extra warmth they are not yet getting from the sun!
Sow less seeds at a time to increase your chances of germination. By only sowing a few seeds every few days, you are staggering your growth needs and therefore giving each seed more of a chance to do well.
If you sow 50 seeds at the same time they will all need care and attention – and heating – at the same time almost guaranteeing a heavy loss if conditions don’t improve. Whereas sowing only 5 every 3rd day or so will mean that each batch will get 100% of your attention as it grows. The first 5 will be nice a warm and germinating before you move them aside to start the next batch. This also means that your flowers or vegetables won’t all flower and fruit at the same time – perfect for a longer season!
Change varieties to make the most of the cold. There are many varieties of flowers and vegetables that will do better in these cold and wet conditions (when the snow melts there is going to be a lot of water in the ground). Make sure that you use these instead of particularly fussy varieties that are going to take up a lot of your time and energy growing – if they don’t fail you.
The Next Few Months:
The weather isn’t looking like it’s going to get much warmer over the next few weeks – so be prepared for a hard time through to February.
And, if your garden plants aren’t doing so well, then why not consider planting some wildflower seed this year. By selecting native and local wild flowers for your garden – you will be giving them the best start in life. They are hardy little things and will no doubt look great in the spring – just as they will carpet your local woods and parks in the wild.
Nature has a way of getting things moving – and plants that have evolved for years to live in your area will be no exception. They need little help to grow, will suit your garden perfectly and will attract plenty of birds and insects for the summer!