Be Prepared for Cold Snaps!

Flower buds, such as these blueberry blossoms, are more sensitive to frost than dormant stems and roots. At this time of the year gardeners should be on the lookout for cold snaps and prepared to cover tender blossoms and new transplants. (Picture by Bill Cline, NCSU, Dept. of Plant Pathology).

Thankfully the arctic cold our area experienced in December and January has been replaced with more seasonable temperatures. Recent mild weather has encouraged buds to swell and may have some gardeners anxious to start planting. But we are not out of the woods yet. Pender County is typically not frost free until mid April, and tender summer vegetables and flowers like tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, vinca, and marigolds should not be set out for at least another five weeks. Gardeners also need to be prepared for sudden cold snaps that could damage delicate flower buds and new growth on shrubs and recent transplants.  

Learn more! Read the rest of the story on Pender County Cooperative Extension's website: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+119.