Are we all confused???

[allotmentlady]

Is it just me or do others agree?

After Easter I normally start with my spuds, then start regular sowings of everything and all seems to be fine but this year with Easter being in March, I feel so confused like I am behind, when really I am not...........

I am going to plant my spuds halfway through April and not worry about sowings as they will all catch up. It seems a lot of folk are losing seedlings cos of the frosty nights etc.........are we rushing ahead becuase of the weird time of Easter?

Or is it me going mad? lol

[Alison C]

Im always confused.
I think this year feels like its going faster than others and yet it still feels like winter. I think Im just having a wierd year full stop I think the last year of a degree will do that to you.

[kirsty b]

Last year I felt sooo behind compared to the more experienced grapes, but so far this year I have sowed very little as I'm worried that the weather would damage my babies. I'm going to finish getting the spuds out this week, then start my seed sowing properly at the weekend when I have the time to devote to it and not ironing.

[Headfry]

There seems to be lots of pressure on sowing early....I go by how the earth feels and looks.
But you are so right with the early Easter! it just does not feel right.

[Flummery]

I go by the time of year and the weather. You can feel in your bones that it's cold. If you don't like it outside, neither will your little plants!

[moggssue]

Im just confused full stop!! I feel as tho I should alsorts sprouting, especially since some of the seed packets say ideal for early crops etc - not gonna happen me thinks!>

[Newbie]

This time last year we were just moving into our house & the weather was gorgeous for a good few weeks. A year on and the sunshine is nowhere to be seen & snow, frost, hail etc are still pelting down regularly! I felt well behind last year as i was only just creating my veg plot by this time, and although its tempting to be putting stuff in the ground now what with everyone else sowing/planting etc, i think its just too darn cold to venture out!

[SueA]

I'm just confused permanently!
It has been odd though with the early Easter although time always seems to run away from me at seed sowing & I think I'm on top of it only to realise I've forgotten something. I put my seed potatoes in a couple of weeks ago & then got a bit worried when we had snow, hail etc. but I've decided they should be alright as they are in various tubs & pots & were fairly sheltered.

[Headfry]

Sorry but, they say that this summer will be colder than last and weter too. It's all down to la nina, she brings the cold weather (el nino brings hot weather.)
I am trying hard to think of ways to protect my tomato plants from cold and wet!!

[kethry]

hmmm. not so sure about the cold summer ahead of us.. long term predictions for the summer indicate a warm wet one.. not as wet as last year, just "wetter than normal" and "warmer than normal", but won't break any records.

metcheck.com has more info if you wish.

keth
xx

[Gauckwin]

I'm constantly confused, its an age thing - well that's may excuse and it get me out of lots of bother, so I'm sticking to it.

MG

[BarleySugar]

Having the Easter weekend, and then 2 weeks to the school 'Easter Hols', now called the Spring Break was strange, but it does mean I get approx the same 2 weeks for gardening, interspersed with marking A level units, as last year.
However I was reading my diary for last year, and found I planted my toms into their final pots on 23/3. This year they are still making the nightly trip indoors. It got down to -1 in the greenhouse last night. I had also planted cues and runner beans by now last year, but they are still in their packets at the moment. Another point, we had 4 weeks without rain here last year, but it made up for it later in the year.

[Headfry]

Kethry, thats better I will stick with your version, I hate cold summers.
I guess we will have to watch out for the dreaded blight again this year :-(

[Mikey]

Am I right in thinking this is the earliest date for the next 100 or so years, and in 2011 will be one of the latest in history. Ignoring easter and plan around your locallity, and microclimate, along with the forecast, this is always a better judge than a moving arbitary date each year.

[carlseawolf]

According to some older person the last time it snowed in my town in april was in 1976 and that was one of the hottest summers on record , and they also said the weather pattern is about the same as in 1976.