Nature's Signals
Mother Nature sends a lot of signals to gardeners
Mother Nature sends an lot of signals to us that we should to pay better attention to. Not all that long ago it was the only way that farmers and vegetable gardeners had to know when to do what in the garden. They planned garden activities based on the birds, bugs and plants. The science of these signals is known as phenology. You have probably heard gardeners mention “it’s time to prune the roses when the forsythia bloom” and chalked it up to old wives tales and garden lore. But there is absolutely science behind it all, or at least most of it.
Certainly you have noticed for example, experienced gardeners planting their gardens well ahead of the “safe to plant date” issued by your local garden center. You steadfastly wait for the date to plant but discover that the experienced gardener who pays no attention to the rules has well established plants by the time you turn your soil over. You may often wonder, how on earth could that gardener know it wouldn’t frost again or is it just luck?
In most cases it is not luck at all. That gardener was watching for certain signals from Mother Nature to know when to plant. Of course research and experience also told that gardener which plants are most tolerant of cold nights and could be planted early. But nature gives a lot of signals primarily by using native plants as indicators. There are no guarantees that the indicators will always be right, Mother Nature can be fickle. Early or last spring can destroy the best of calendar plans, but gardener’s phenology is fairly reliable. Plants are intimately in tune with nature’s calendar.
Here are a number of natures signals to gardeners that seem to pretty reliable. No forsythia in your area? Look for another plant in the listing that is an indicator.
When the soil thaws and dries it is time to:
plant spinach and radishes
When the forsythia or daffodils bloom it is time to:
prune rosebushes
plant the peas
apply pre-emergent weed control
When the peepers (Pseudacris crucifer, tiny frogs) peep it is time to:
plant the peas
When the crocus begin to flower it is time to:
prune rosebushes
plant seed for the most frost tolerant plants
When the tulips and daffodils bloom it is time to:
plant seed for slightly frost tolerant plants
When the aspens open their leaves it is time to:
plant frost hardy annuals like pansies
When the plum and peach trees bloom it is time to:
plant hardy cool season crops crops
When the crab apples bloom it is time to:
Check for tent caterpillars
When the first dandelion blooms it is time to:
plant the potatoes
When the lilac opens its first leaves it is time to:
plant cool season crops like lettuce, beets, peas, broccoli, carrots and onions
Before the lilac opens its flower buds it is time to:
apply pre-emergent weed control
plant cucumber seeds
When the iris and daylilies bloom it is time to:
set out the melon, pepper and eggplant transplants
plant the pepper plants, eggplant and melons
When the lilac is in full bloom it is time to:
plant beans, cucumbers and squash
When the lilac blooms fade it is time to:
plant cucumbers
When the lily-of-the-valley are in full bloom it is time to:
plant tomatoes
When the apple blossoms drop it is time to:
plant tomatoes
plant potatoes
plant corn
fe rtilize the lawn
When the oak leaves first open up it is time to:
plant beans
When the dandelions go to seed it is time to:
plant warm season annuals like petunias
When the oak leaves are the size of a squirrel’s ear it it time to:
plant seed corn
pl ant warm season annuals and crops
When the maple leaves begin to open it is time to:
plant perennials
When maple leaves are fully opened it is time to:
seed morning glories
When the grape vines show new growth it is time to:
plant tender perennials and annuals
When the chicory flowers open it is time to:
check for squash vine borers
When the shadbush flowers it is time to:
check for gypsy moths
When foxglove blooms it it is time to:
check for mexican bean beatles
When the Canada thistle blooms it is time to:
protect fruit from apple maggot
When the morning glory starts to climb it is time to:
check for the arrival of Japanese beetles
When the fall mock orange is in full bloom it is time to:
plant cabbage for spring
When the wild rocket blooms it is time to:
check for cabbage root maggots
There are some gardeners who plan gardening activities based on the phases of the moon, known as lunar planting, astrological gardening, etc. Historically some farmers used lunar phases to guide their planting. Personally, I can only keep track of just so much. And as a gardener I am much more in tune with the plants than the moon.
Be careful which plants you take your signals from though, a hybrid daffodil or lilac may not always follow Mother Nature’s rules! And of course micro-climates such as urban heat islands or shade can alter even a native plant’s timetable. If you start paying attention to the signals, you will learn which plants are the most reliable indicators in your area and your gardens. Even the native plants will alter their schedules based on droughts, unusual rainy periods, extreme heat, etc. But perhaps if the native plants have altered their schedule, you should be following their lead?