GREEN BAY (WLUK) — Warm afternoons and sunny weekends have some Northeast Wisconsin gardeners eager to get planting, but chilly nights are keeping many on alert as May continues.
“For Northeast Wisconsin, the general rule of thumb is to wait until Memorial Day weekend to start planting,” said Jamie Hemenway, owner of Roots on 9th in Green Bay. “The days might be warm, but the nights get really chilly. Our Memorial Day is just a safe bet and that’s where we always stand, especially with veggies and stuff like that, that doesn’t wanna see the cold.”
Hemenway said this time last year, May started off much warmer. “This year, nighttime temperatures are a lot colder. We’re kind of behind because we’re not able to move stuff outside and everything in here is just jam packed.”
So far this month, overnight temperatures are running about 10 degrees below average. The average last spring freeze typically happens during the first week of May, meaning the colder nights this year are not unusual for the region.
Plants like petunias, geraniums and vegetables may thrive in warm, sunny daytime conditions, but cold nights can be a problem. For most plants, when temperatures drop into the 30s, it’s best to cover them or bring them inside.
“It’s on everybody’s mind and we’re just reminding them, if you buy it, just keep an eye on those nighttime temperatures,” Hemenway said.
The cooler start to May hasn’t slowed down Mother’s Day weekend business at Roots on 9th. “Oh my gosh, I haven’t counted yet, but we’re probably well up over a hundred. It’s the busiest weekend of the year for us. So the flower shop is very busy, but also the greenhouses are rocking and rolling,” Hemenway said.
Even for those picking up flowers for mom this Mother’s Day weekend, Hemenway said there’s no need to rush into planting a full garden.
“Wait, just wait til the ground warms up. People always think that they’re gonna get ahead, but until that ground temperature warms up, vegetables and stuff don’t really grow anyways,” Hemenway said.
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