Planting time is finally here

We have passed our last average frost date, the days are rapidly getting longer, the earth has rotated to where the sun is getting brighter and most all living things are ready for a big spring growth spurt!

Many of you have been making fun of me for encouraging you to be patient and wait to plant this year, but historically that was the right advice. This is a year the early birds won! They actually got away with planting 3 or 4 weeks early as we have gone weeks without a hard freeze or even a killing frost.

Now even the most conservative and cautious Oklahoma gardeners should historically be safe to plant our tomatoes, peppers, petunias, begonias and impatiens. There are a few real hot weather crops that normally would do best if you wait to plant them until May 1 or after, such as caladiums, sweet potatoes and many tropical plants. But this year, who knows? You may be OK even if you planted those weeks ago.

This is the challenge and joy that faces all farmers and gardeners. We get to deal with lots of factors beyond our control. We try to make wise decisions and then hope and pray for the best while trying to assist Mother Nature with a little watering, trimming, weeding and mulching to improve our crop results.

Now that it is planting time, the quicker you plant means more growing season your plants can take advantage of, more spring rains they can enjoy and put to use, and more cool spring weather they can enjoy and grow with before the challenges of summer heat. Besides planting, this is a good time to feed your trees, shrubs, lawn and other plants if you have not already fed your plants this season. You will want to mulch your flower beds with some type of bark or hulls before the summer heat, and the sooner you do that after planting, means less weeding and less extra watering.