Hunter Ward

May 12, 2020

WNC Gardners The Time To Plant Is Now

Hunter Ward

May 12, 2020

Finally I can make this post! It does appear that frosts have subsided until the Fall and it is now safe to put in your tender veggies without having to cover them. Temperatures this morning were in the upper 30’s, and this will likely be one of the last times this May that we see temps in the 30’s. Veggies like tomatoes, cucumbers, and beans are now safe to transplant or plant seeds. This weekend temperatures will support planting of things like watermelon & cantaloupe as we push into the mid 80’s on Sunday. Soil temperatures will quickly rise and the growing season will kick off quickly. Below you can see the most recent European model temperature spread.

Euro 10 Day Temperature Spread Courtesy of Weathermodels.com

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Heat Returns

The heat will finally return to begin this weekend, and it doesn’t appear as though it will subside either. We may have cool downs to look forward to over the next 5 months, but the chance for freezes greatly diminishes. Temperatures this weekend could push into the upper 80’s and that will really increase soil temperatures. Let’s take a look at the most recent GFS model run with special eye on the long range where temps go close to 90 degrees.

GFS 10 Day Temperature Spread Courtesy of Weathermodels.com

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Cooler Weather Remain Until Wednesday

Overcast skies will keep the area much cooler tomorrow, but you still should be ok to begin planting your plants today since a frost is not expected. Temperatures will only push close to 50 degrees tomorrow, but after that warmer afternoons are in store. Below you can see the most recent GFS model showing temperatures for tomorrow.

GFS Temperature Spread Courtesy of Weathermodels.com

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High Heat Expected Sunday

Sunday will be a day where it feels like summer-time around WNC. I expect temperatures to push into the mid to upper 80’s with plenty of sunshine. It will be a great day to get outside for a hike, or to work in your garden! Scattered showers can also not be ruled out on Friday & Saturday or Monday & Tuesday either of next week, but these will be driven by daytime sunlight. Below you can see the projected temperatures for Sunday afternoon per the GFS.

GFS Sunday High Temps Courtesy of Weathermodels.com

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What To Plant?

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Hunter Ward

May 3, 2020

May Frost Likely For WNC, Hold Off On Planting Sensitive Vegetables

Hunter Ward

May 3, 2020

Wow, it’s hard to believe that I am writing about an extended freeze in May here for the mountains of WNC, but here we are, and it has happened before. Two shots of cold will be what I am watching for, and you will certainly need to find that frost protection over the next few days to get your plants ready. We are several days out from when these frontal passages look to move through, so things can certainly change.. but all major global long range models have WNC dipping down below freezing for several nights beginning this weekend.

Model Data

At this point in time I focus on what models like the GFS, Euro, & Canadian show. I have been watching this cool down for several days with some fear, because I know the effect it will have on crops. So bear with me as I forecast this cool down and prepare you for all aspects of the two systems over the next 10 days. Below you can see the GFS model and what it projects temperature-wise for early next Saturday morning.

GFS Temperatures Saturday Morning Courtesy of Weathermodels.com

As mentioned above, I like to see what various models show, so I will walk you through my progression. Next up we will evaluate what the European model shows at the exact same time frame next Saturday morning.

Euro Temps Courtesy of Weathermodels.com

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And then one more for comparison is the Canadian model depicted below.

Canadian Model Courtesy of Pivotalweather.com

Is This Normal?

No… this is not normal for WNC. In fact our last freeze last Spring happened in early April and normal temperatures for next week would be in the 50’s for the morning. Perfect weather to plant all of your tender crops usually… but not this year. If you have them in the ground already, consider contacting a local gardening store like L.O.T.U.S for frost protection fabric. Below I have a neat map that shows the temperature departure from normal projected by the GFS for Saturday morning of next weekend. Thats right, some locations could be 30 degrees below normal next Saturday morning. Temperatures will stay 20 degrees below normal all day Saturday, and it looks to be a not so great Mothers Day weekend unfortunately.

Temperature Anomaly Map Courtesy of Weathermodels.com

High Elevation Snow Likely Again

Another round of high elevation snow is already showing up with the backside cold that will be moving through on Saturday. I expect snow showers to break out along the NC/TN border for elevations above 4000’ late Friday night or early Saturday morning. Harsh winds will also accompany this front, and this will likely cause tree damage in locations where snow begins to accumulate. A few flakes can even not be ruled out in elevations below 3000’. I am watching this system very closely, it could potentially bring some surprise flakes even down into some populated valleys. We are still several days out so I will have plenty more information and updates coming your way regarding this front. Below you can see that the GFS is already showing accumulating snowfall possible through Saturday afternoon in those high elevations. I will need short range model data to get the best handle on the upper level low and its progression, but the fact that long range models are already indicating this possibility is disturbing in my opinion.

GFS Snowfall Map Courtesy of Weathermodels.com

Long Range Warm Up?

It doesn’t look likely in the next 10 days, but when the flip does switch I expect us to go to 90’s very quickly. Normal highs for WNC in May are in the 80s so highs in the 50’s-60’s will just damage plant cycles and delay harvests. Below you can see what the GFS shows in the very long range as a morning low 10 days out. Yes this can certainly change, but the fact that it isn’t shows 50’s-60’s is very concerning and is certainly an indicator that we will stay below average. No worries though, stick with AshevilleWX and I will let you know when it is safe to get all of your plants into the ground!

GFS Temperatures For Morning of May 12… Courtesy of Weathermodels.com

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Hunter Ward

April 11, 2020

What Vegetables To Plant Early In Spring In The Mountains of WNC

Hunter Ward

April 11, 2020

As Winter weans from the area, and signs of Spring begin to show.. I for one begin to eagerly await beginning my garden. This excitement though can quickly be dampened by a late season frost if one doesn’t set out the correct types of plants initially. So, when does the last frost typically occur around WNC? And what should you plant before this to take advantage of the warm early Spring days? All of that and more will be answered below!

Onions

Onions are one of the most hardy vegetables that grow in Zone 6b, and can withstand a somewhat harsh early or late frost. Onion sets or bulbs can be placed in the soil as early as late February around WNC where they will begin to take root and thrive. Since the bulb is below ground, it is much less susceptible to frozen temperatures and therefore very frost resistant. After the bulb has set, they are also heat tolerate and can easily withstand daily temperatures exceeding 75 degrees. A good rule of thumb is that when the temperature pushes above 20 degrees, your onions should be safe from the cold weather. In the AshevilleWX garden, onions were the first thing that I set out.

Potatoes

Potatoes are another great early vegetable to start, but they are a bit more susceptible to frost compared to the hardy onion. I like to take potatoes with eyes developed on them and turn them into new growth. Some don’t advise this, but I think it is wasteful to let store bought potatoes go to waste. So, as a select group of potatoes develops eyes, I begin to slice them up carefully. The key is to keep 2 eyes to each slice of potato. Therefore, even if one eye doesn’t develop, you have a chance for the other one too.

Next you want to let them sit for a day or two before you plant your cut up potatoes. This is considered the hardening off process. Now to plant your potatoes. Frost can kill new leaves that have sprouted above ground, but your potato below ground should be protected and produce new shoots if old ones are killed. Take your potato and place it 6”-8” in the ground with nice compost soil all around. This depth is why potatoes are less susceptible to frost compared to some other plants. I like to plant potatoes 2-3 weeks before the last typical frost, and your shoots will begin to show up right around the last frost date.

Broccoli

Broccoli is another hardy veggie that can withstand a late season frost or the initial cold spells of winter. Typically you can grow two crops of broccoli each year, setting your first plants out 2-3 weeks before the last frost of the year, and then replanting in August of September. I like to grow a few various varieties of broccoli and this year Sow True Seed hooked me up with broccoli Raab seeds, Waltham 29! Broccoli can tolerate temperatures as low as 26 degrees, so it is safe to have it planted when those pesky late frosts do occur. To begin my seeds, I like to get pellet pads that expand when water is added to them. After adding the water, I gently push in 2-3 seeds into each pod. In 3-4 days you will begin to see sprouts. Begin introducing the new seedlings to daytime light, either with an indoor setup or by taking the plants outside for several hours each day. Be careful leaving new plants in direct sunlight though because excessive sun can kill infant plants.

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Celery

One of the more difficult vegetables to grow is celery in my opinion. I have found that it is very hard to get the plant to start from seed, especially because it resides on the surface during germination. So, if you push celery seeds into your soil, they will struggle to sprout. This year, I have finally succeeded in getting celery to sprout indoors. In the next couple of days I will be setting the spouts out in their new garden space. Some caution must be taken though because young celery plants do not do well in temperatures below 30 degrees. A mature celery plant can certainly withstand a frost, but a hard frost will likely kill an infant celery plant if it not properly covered.

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Peas

Peas are another great early season thriver which can withstand temperatures as low as 28 degrees while germinating. Once the roots have set though the plant can survive temperatures as low as 19 degrees! That would mean that in some years if you started your peas inside, you could set them out in late February around WNC! I like to sow peas directly into the ground, and this year I will be growing a Sow True Seed variety of grey dwarf peas. One important item to note when planting peas, is that they will need some sort of trellis to support their growth. Without, they will not produce nearly as many peas. So, when I begin talking about the last deep freeze each year, it is time for you to begin to think about planting your peas!

Lettuce

Lettuce can withstand an early frost and still thrive shortly after in the mountains of WNC. While temperatures below 32 degrees will stunt the growth of lettuce, they will not immediately kill it. A prolonged period of below 32 degrees temps will certainly damage a lettuce plant, but temperatures will need to dip into the mid 20’s for that to occur.

Kale

Last but not least is a very popular veggie around Asheville, and it happens to be hardy like most of the folks of Asheville as well. Kale can withstand temperatures as low as 10 degrees! In fact, kale becomes softer when it is affected by below freezing temperatures. This also makes it resistant to insects because it can thrive when they die off. This year I will be growing Curly Kale in the AshevilleWX garden as seen below.

Carrots

Last but not least are the every hardy carrots. Frost tolerant up to 20 degrees, carrots will thrive when other veggies are dying out. This year I will be going Tendersweet & Danvers 126 carrots! For WNC folks, these should already be in the ground, and can go in as early as February each year!

Share Your Tips With Me!

I would love to hear your gardening tips for the mountains of WNC. Send me an email at Hunter@Ashevillewx.com and your comments could be featured in the next article!

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Hunter Ward

March 28, 2020

Caution To WNC Gardeners, Frost Possible During Early April

Hunter Ward

March 28, 2020

It is that time of the year where trees begin to leaf out and your green thumb begins to grow. The anticipation of watching a garden grow and flourish awaits you, but when is the right time to set out your warm season veggies in order to avoid a frost? Each year timing is crucial for WNC gardeners, and a lapse in patiences can quickly alter the initial look of your landscape. Looking ahead to April of 2020, a cooler start appears to be likely. Therefore, a delay in setting out certain vegetables like tomatoes will need to be taken. Below I will detail out what veggies you can already put into the ground, and what you should just be starting now in your starter pods indoors.

What Plants To Start In Late March In WNC Zone 6b

As a gardener, you can use plant hardiness zone maps to determine which plants to set out/plant at which time of the year. Asheville is considered to be in zone 6b, and is what I have created my planting map off of. For Asheville, the average low temperature is only between 0 degrees and -5 degrees.. making it somewhat of a decent area to grow most types of plants. For locations above 3500’ in elevation, you would be in zone 6a which is a slightly cooler climate. Vegetables and fruits that thrive in warmer weather tend to do a bit better in the valleys compared to higher elevations in WNC.

Things to start in late March would include Broccoli, Onions, Lettuce, Potatoes, Carrots, & Cauliflower. These hardy veggies are frost tolerant, and can survive temperatures that dip below freezing, though a hard freeze late will certain affect them. A great resource for local seeds is Sow True Seed located in Downtown Asheville. I purchased several early season crop seeds from them, and they are always so helpful!! Currently they are closed to the public due to COVID-19, but you can get your seed orders fulfilled through the mail!

Broccoli Raab Provided By Sow True Seed of Asheville, NC

What Do Models Show Regarding Temps For The First Week of April?

A cold start to April appears to be in store, and that is unfortunate for many who are wanting to begin warm season vegetables while at home. Most models show at least one more freeze in early April as cold air spills in from Canada. This leads me to caution gardeners about beginning crops that do not withstand cold temperatures. I know it may be tempting to buy the tomatoes and squash plants that are already started at the Hardware store, but just know that if you don’t bring those in beginning on Tuesday night, they will likely die. Below you can see the most recent European model temperature forecast for the next 10 days. Notice how several mornings dip into the low 30’s at the Asheville Airport. These temperatures will be even cooler at some higher elevation locations.

What To Plant?

I have created a guide for you on what to plant and when in WNC! There are some variabilities with this, but in general this should give you a good idea on when to begin and set plants out.

Next Trellis Talk

On the next trellis talk we will be discussing how to prepare your garden for the season, and methods of weed control that can prove to limit the overall effort it takes to produce a bountiful crop. Join me then!

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