Dandelions in the meadow.
I was admiring our dandelions today and was reminded of the indicator plants around telling me that I’m getting behind in the garden. Phenology uses indicator plants to help gardeners gauge how the season is progressing. Each plant makes bets about the weather when it buds, leafs out, or oppens its blossoms, and they’re much better predictors than we are. So phenology studies the conditions each plant uses to predict proper planting time. I’ve been collecting sayings about planting for a long time now. A lot of these are sayings you sometimes hear from the “old timers” or find in old almanacs. Each year is a little different, and each area has its own perfect indicators so you’ll need to use your own best judgement in applying my list below (which is in NO way complete). I just use these to help keep myself from getting too far behind sort of as reminders for what I should be getting done week by week throughout the spring.
I sometimes use Project Bud Burst to get dates on plants for my area in previous years or even for the current year. It helps keep track of planting indicators across the country. It’s a joint effort among observers and a really neat resource for planting and climate information. If you don’t have some of the indicator plants you find mentioned in phrenology planting guides, you can check with Project Bud Burst to see when certain stages have been reached by those plants in your area that year.
Plant Out:
- Plant tomatoes when Lilly of the Valley blooms, daylilies bloom, or when dogwoods are in peak bloom
- Plant out seedlings of peppers, melons, and eggplant when the bearded irises bloom.
- Plant peas, potatoes, and salad crops when the forsythia and dandelions bloom.
- Plant beets, carrots, cole crops, lettuce, peas, and spinach when the lilacs get their first leaves.
- When lilac flowers fade, plant cucumbers and squash.
- Plant beans, cucumbers, and squash when the lilac is in full bloom.
- Seed morning glories when maple leaves reach their full size.
- Plant corn when apple blossoms begin to fall or late varieties of daffodils bloom.
Watch Out!!!
- Tent caterpillars emerge when the crabapples flower.
- Squash vine borer eggs are laid when the chicory flowers.
- Gypsy moths hatch when the shadbush (Juneberry) flowers.
- Mexican bean beetles emerge when the foxgloves open.
- Japanese beetles arrive when the morning glories start to climb.
- Grasshoppers hatch when the common purple lilac blooms.
