Cheyenne, Wyo. –
Transcribed from video
Wyoming has been experiencing drought conditions over the last several months, but recent rain and snowfall has caused our spring plants and trees to bloom. Now I came here to the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens and spoke with an expert on what you should keep in mind as you plant during our wet season.
“What we are doing with our plants is a process called hardening off, where we will move them outside for a period throughout one day, and then the next day we will move them out for a few more hours than the first day.”
As we are now in late May, it is now time to start preparing your plants for the outdoors.
Due to Wyoming’s harsh growing conditions, one popular growing technique is the hardening-off process. This is where you put your plants outdoors for periods of time each day.
Horticulturist Aria Jones says this process will give you plants the time to adapt to Wyoming’s unique outdoor climate.
“The biggest tip that I would offer is the hardening off process. It really helps the plants’ roots and leaves get acclimated to the temperatures and the harsh wind, and sun, and low humidity of Wyoming.”
Another thing to keep in mind over the next month is outdoor temperatures. The average last freeze in Cheyenne and Casper typically comes in mid to late May, but can even be as late as June.
It’s important to have a way to protect your plants from freezing temperatures if you plan to get an early start on your garden.
“So I think the biggest mistake I see from people is getting too comfortable in that warm weather and not remembering the past years where we have always had a freeze pretty late in May.”
For most of Wyoming, the wettest months of the year are typically the months of May and June, so be sure to be prepared, as planting season is nearly here. Reporting from Cheyenne because local matters, I’m Alex Searl, Wyoming News Now.
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