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Wi

We are having a late winter like we've never had here in central WI. As I type this it's snowing and we have 18" of snow on the ground. This is 18" of old hard and dense snow / ice.

Our snowmobile trails here have been open this late 2 times in history. As I type this I see no way we will close the trails any sooner than next Thursday the 21st. That will be a record.

Last year it was pushing 80 degrees this time and I could have EASILY done patch work (which had also never happened).

Maybe this is the good Lord's hint to take a year off! LOL.

In the meantime I'm 100% huge grins putting miles on the snowmobiles :)

3/14/2013 9:48:22 AM

Wi

And yes I suppose that is the official start to sandbagging season?

3/14/2013 9:48:53 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Champ,

I agree, prior to the GPC convention in Vegas, COlorado Front Range didnt get 4" of snow at once ALL, signZ of severe drought plagued us. ChipZ of Sulphur still laid yellow and perfect upon the WiZzzy patch..still waiting to be drenched in....until...February 14... ValentineZ day changed all, in town...the snow started to fall....

10" on the ground while WiZzzy waZ in Vegas...we got stranded another two dayZ aZ planeZ where out of position :) ;) More SNOW diverted again after we did finally catch the next flight out....

SNOW continued to fall.....we are catching up fast.....BUT melting even faster...Last weekend...SNOW...

TodayZ temp.... 70.. by the weekend we will threaten again an 100 year old record for warmth...BUT
The 10 year solar cycle is starting its climb back towardZ...more moisture...

You got champ... better weather is heading our weigh.....BIGGER weightZ aZ well......
GrowZem BIG....

3/14/2013 10:00:14 AM

Northern Cambria, Pa.

On the plus side, the buds on the fruit trees are being held back for a change.

3/14/2013 10:08:30 AM

[email protected]

This has been the Best winter ever here. average snow fall but little to no cold weather. Coldest all winter was minus 20 F. and there were only 4 or 5 days of that. Minus 40 is the norm. Yesterday was 54 degrees F. Ground in the greenhouses never froze all winter and the doors were all open.

3/14/2013 10:35:02 AM

cracks in my yard finally are gone
il be removing snow from patch to get mine going wont be first time hopefully cold summer for a change

3/14/2013 11:29:07 AM

Cameron

Blew 8" of snow off one of the patches yesterday. It will be a while before we're working on the garden.

On the bright side the Maple sap is running now & we have @ 3 gallons of syrup so far. Boy's is it ever good.
Jane & Phil

3/14/2013 12:06:35 PM

Stanwood, Washington

We never had a winter here. Zero Snow and baybe 2-3 days below freezing. Right now we are in and endless cycle of rainstorms coming in off of the Pacific with Temps in the mid 50s.

3/14/2013 4:35:06 PM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

We had a very confused winter it wuold be 60°one minut then 35 the next. For one week it would drop & rise 30 ° several times a day.last year we were a month a head the weather wud be what it usually wud be the next month.but its dragging oooooooonnnnnnnnn!!!!!! This year.maybe will have a mild summer tho

3/14/2013 5:44:48 PM

Kaukauna, Wisconsin

Compost is so frozen that I will have to break it loose with a backhoe. Had to get a bag of soil from the store.

3/14/2013 6:04:54 PM

Colorado

We went from winter to spring today.I did see the jet stream is hanging just south of minnesota(go gophers).What did the woodchuck say this year?

3/14/2013 6:13:16 PM

Joliet, IL

The snow is gone here way south of you Joe, but the soil temp will remain chilly here to long for my liking. Last year was 81 at this point and didn't worry much. I just ordered soil warming cables and extra clamps. Havent needed cables since maybe 7 years ago. It ain't fun looking at a yellow green mottled prize winning genetic plant.

That being said....lets in midwest share our cold spring advice.
1. Put hoops up earlier. Dry and heat....move out of way....remediate growing under hoop....then maybe do mini hoop inside other hoop with 4 foot diameter. Cables will help maintain.

2. Cold soil and tilled in winter rye is corn seed maggot food. Use a stirrup hoe or weedwacker and cut the rye and remove only where the hoops are going.

3.save money for the wattage in the cottage electric bill.

4. Check your long term trending weather reports. The more the better. Then plan you seed starting date accordingly. Plants will get in gear when it warms up either way. A week to hold back may be necessary. Or you can keep potting up bigger but I hate too many transplants. Either way it will be a delicate dance. You can always ammend rest of patch as that time presents itself.

5. It doesn't hurt to ammend planting holes with diatomaceous earth and granular merit. And then use old 10" plastic pots...cut the bottoms off. Slit on the side and collar your transplants. Corn seed maggots transverse laterally in top 3 inches of soil. Push barriers down to 5 inches deep and remove after 5 days. Trapped in soil along a barrier and merrit will do it.

3/14/2013 7:14:49 PM

Citrus Heights, CA

Nice and sunny here. 78 degrees. Cover crop four feet high. Could use some rain though.

3/14/2013 8:17:22 PM

South East

snow? what is that?

3/14/2013 8:34:08 PM

Billerica,Massachusetts

patch is still covered here, but march is normally a snowy month anyway

3/14/2013 8:43:48 PM

Deerfield, Michigan

Great info Shazzy.

3/14/2013 8:46:00 PM

Linden, Mi.,

1st day of Spring is the 20th and we are to get 2 to 3" of snow Friday and again Tuesday.

That damn wood chuck, I didn't think he knew what he was doing :o)

3/14/2013 9:51:41 PM

Lloydminster/AB

Eddy, up the road north here, we have had the toughest winter ever! Snow started in mid October and hasn't stopped yet. Have forecast lows of -20 C this week and am presently under a heavy snowfall warning. Still have 2.5' of snow and nothing has melted yet. The sun is melting some of the snow on the roads but it's going to take a long long time to melt the fields. under the snow there is 3-4" of ice. It's nasty.

3/14/2013 10:22:05 PM

Lloydminster/AB

Oh and Chris, yes I was thinking this is a sign for a year off too...

3/14/2013 10:23:50 PM

Muddy Waters

Seems like a mild winter to me,snow fall was low.temps about normal.In the north some years we don't see spring till May. 2 years ago it was June before we got any sun & warmth.I grew my 260 that year never give up Chris.There's a reason for the season.

3/15/2013 7:40:01 AM

Johnston, Iowa

Mild winter, but not to the like last winter. Dug around in my patch yesterday, and only a little frost left in the ground. Hopefully won't have another drought this year.

3/15/2013 10:51:56 AM

[email protected]

Don
My brother lives up there and he claimed the same as you.
crazy how it can be so different and we're not that far away

3/15/2013 11:09:42 AM

Central Minnesota

I am sure the guys growing in Alaska are laughing at this discussion right about now. Eh Dale? I am reasonably sure my cover crop is not growing well under the 2.5 feet of snow covering my patch right now, especially since two of those feet are solid ice. Feels good to complain a little though, even as it snows right now and schools are closed for the day.

3/15/2013 11:35:28 AM

Hampstead, NC 28443

Cold spring and summer for Minnesota means great summer for Iowa. :)

3/15/2013 10:14:37 PM