‘Under cover’ gardening
Who would have thought we would be having such a long cold spell in Southwest Florida this month? Last year, February temperatures were in the 50s for seven nights for the entire month with two other nights in the mid-40s. One of the 40s was on Feb. 14. I wonder if Mother Nature is deliberately making Valentine’s nights especially cozy for us?
This weather is not quoting statistics from the local weather stations. I am known as a “keeper” and have loads of information lying about, useful or not. I was drawn to weather watch and stats as soon as I moved down here. I never loved the hurricane season that much but did like to chart the storms as they came and went.
As a gardener, I like to look back and see what last year’s monthly temperatures were in order to remember what I planted when and maybe be able to blame the weather for some of the mistakes I made. That kind of information keeping also helped me understand that Mother Nature is just as fickle down here as she is up North when it comes to good weather for the various holidays. It is still either too hot, too cold, too wet or too dry. I am not counting the winds.
I am willing to agree a little nip in the air is OK by me and some of my orchids, however we are not happy about seven nights in a row in the low 40s. That cold air is very dry with dew points way too low for potted plants and soil gardening. Anyone who enjoys a long cold spell here is not a real gardener. “Under cover” at my house this week are orchids, (actually in cover) a large desert rose, too large to be moved, begonias and some beautiful pink petunias. Geraniums are tolerating this cold spell so far, however a whole week will put them on hold and there will be a lot of curly brown leaves that can be pinched off without much actual damage to the plant. No cutting of any plants or trees just yet.
Croton bushes will show some damage, losing their beautiful bright color – do not trim just yet. Ixora bushes are holding up well; devil’s backbone looks faded already but will bounce back when it warms up and I can trim them. They always need a good trimming in the spring anyway. Small young palms and newly planted landscape plants may not fare well.
Do not do trimming and cutting of anything until about the end of March. You will be doing harm with every cut as an open wound will not tolerate this much cold.
You can cover up potted veggies and plants with old sheets, or make newspaper tents held together with clothespins. It does become a chore with the newspaper tents when you have to put them on and take them off for several days in a row.
Remember to cover about dinner time and remove cover in the morning to let the sun warm the soil. Do not water more often or feed plants. You are just trying to keep the root system moist. Water in the morning and let the sun warm the soil.
You may lose a few plants but, hey, that is what gardening is all about. Spring will be along soon enough and things can be replaced with new colors and varieties. Take some time off, cover the landscape and yourself and check out some local activities: lots of farmers markets, arts and craft events, see a movie. The afternoons are sunny and the beaches will not be as crowded now. When was the last time you walked on a cool beach?
Happy non-gardening till we meet again.
H.I. Jean Shields is past president of the Garden Club of Cape Coral.