Frost Gambling

April 7th, 2010

Set out a tender perilla too soon and this is the frosty result.

   We’re getting spoiled by this extended warm spell, which is a nice payback for the cold winter and back-to-back February snow dumpings. But don’t get petunia fever. We’re probably not done with frost yet.

   In an average year, urban areas around Harrisburg are done with killing frost by April 20. The all-time latest killing-frost date is May 11. And areas out in the country and up in the hills north of the city have been frosted out as late as Memorial Day.

   I’ve seen temperatures nosedive around here as much as 60 degrees in one day’s time. Just because it’s 60s, 70s and near 80 now doesn’t mean it won’t be in the 20s a few weeks from now.

   Go ahead and plant trees, perennials, grasses, cool-season veggies and even a few of the cold-hardier annuals such as pansies, violas, dianthus, dusty miller and snapdragons. But I’m not gambling on the peppers, zinnias, marigolds and such until at least early May. That’s when I’ll check the forecast, and if it’s looking to stay above freezing in the 10-day outlook, I’ll take the leap then.