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Re: What to Plant When

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <clfornari@mail.com

> The problem with this is that it is so very regionally specific. The right 
> time to plant in coastal Massachusetts is far >different than forty miles 
> inland, for example.

As it happens, I'm doing a MG seminar tomorrow on just this subject. And the 
problem, C.L., is even worse than you suggest. My last frost date in spring 
and first frost date in fall are two to three weeks different from my 
neighbor 150 yards down the hill. To my advantage in both cases. Even within 
my own small yard there are differences.

The problem is that so many gardeners want a hard and fast rule. Live in 
this town, your average last frost is May 17th. Even without going into the 
difficulties of "average", this is inadequate.  Gardeners need to be cajoled 
into observing their own conditions over time. Or asking a neighbor who has.

Then there is the problem of the charts. Tomatoes seeded indoors need eight 
weeks to transplant size a week after after that average last frost date. 
OK, is that in a commercial greenhouse or in your house under grow lights or 
on a windowsill? And what is your house temperature?

I don't like charts and rules -- or zone maps for that matter -- because 
they are so unforgiving of specific conditions. Sure, they are all a 
starting point, but I believe our task as garden writers is to point out the 
inadequacies and prompt gardeners to observe and think.

My two cents. I guess it's up to a dime now.

D 

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