Gardeners and farmers alike are keeping a keen eye on thermometers, hoping that the recent cold spell goes away by Thursday afternoon. Winds near 30 mph kept temperatures from plummeting into the 20s Tuesday night, but lighter winds tonight may allow temperatures to come close to damaging newly planted gardens and flowers, according to Jeff Stewart of the National Weather Service in Blacksburg. Light winds allow for radiational cooling near the surface, Stewart said. Summer-like temperatures last week caused many to get an early start on planting gardens and flowers, according to Stan Aylor, of Aylor's Farm Store in Forest. We also tell people who plant early that they need to be ready to bring them in and maybe not put things in the ground until the cold spell is over.
People tend to jump the season anyway.
The last average frost day is April 15, and that's just an average. Annuals such as impatiens, geraniums, salvia and vinca and tender trees like Japanese maples could be frostbitten. Perennial plants like daffodils, pansies, hostas and tulips are more apt to making it through unscathed. Customers at Aylor's and Taylor Brothers on Graves Mill Road expressed concern about the temperatures. Flowers and vegetables recently planted or sprouting ahead of normal growth rates might be damaged without proper precautions, according to Pat Bower, garden center manager at Taylor Brothers.