How does your garden grow?

It’s been a difficult spring for gardeners and farmers alike. The average temperatures for the month of May were very consistently 2.5 degrees below normal. The greatest departure occurred on Prince Edward Island where the mean average temperature was a full 3 degrees below normal – that is significant.

Since we rolled over into June, we’ve had a little more heat, but the wind and the nights have been cool. Frost warnings were in effect last weekend and again on Monday and Tuesday. Tuesday morning, the official temperature in Sydney at 3 a.m. was 0. It was also 0 in Wreckhouse, N.L. Keeping in mind these temperatures are measured 1.5 metres above the ground, it was likely even colder at ground level.

So, is your garden in yet? Many of us have been hesitant to plant outside; perhaps memories of the killing frost last June have been holding us back a little.

I grew up in Ontario and it was always quite safe to plant after the May long weekend. Shortly after I moved to Atlantic Canada – more than 20 years ago – I started to hear people say it was not wise to put out delicate plants until after the full moon in June!

That seems late, but based on last year’s killing frost it might be wise to wait. On June 3 and 4, 2018, many maritime communities were hit with a devastating frost. The full moon date: June 28.

I recently dug out an old newspaper clipping that recounted a widespread late June frost in 1918 in southeastern New Brunswick. The first thing I did was check the calendar: The frost came on June 19 and 20. The full moon – you guessed it – was after that, on June 24!

If you’ve been holding off, your wait is almost over; this year, the June full moon is on Monday – the Full Strawberry Moon.

Not everyone believes in weather folklore. I do; it’s proven to be accurate too many times not to.