Mazza's corn is ready in Colchester, blueberry farms are open early, and in Monkton at Norris Berry Farm, owner Norma Norris reported that the conditions this year have been excellent for her strawberry and raspberry fruit production. She went on to add that the fields are full of eager berry pickers who are not daunted by brief rain showers.

Every spring we have a change in temperature that warms everything as summer advances. Typically the temperatures spike and drop, but sage Vermont gardeners know not to plant until all danger of frost has passed. Most seasoned gardeners know that the date for the last frost in their garden varies.

This year our early spring was not without later consequences. The extended warm weather gave us early lilacs, apple blooms, and my own black walnuts budded early (again) as well. The lilacs were more glorious than ever. The sweet apple blossoms were too darned early and I knew all too well what that meant. Late snow came and we had a hail storm to boot. Snow will break branches off from leafy trees and hail storms injure tender young apples.

As for my black walnuts? They have the same fate as last year. I have not seen a single one start to form. Local lore says that if the budding leaves of the butternut or black walnut are the size of a mouse's ear by June 1, all danger of frost has passed and it is time to plant. The fruiting buds for the nuts were lost to a below-freezing night, as well as to chipmunks and red squirrels who dined al fresco on the tree. Nuts! However, no nuts for me again this year.
The extended spring warming spell, followed by a hard freeze, killed the tiny apples that were forming on trees. The hardest-hit varieties were Macintosh, Red Mac, Summer Treat, Paula Red, Jersey Mac, and Gala. Varieties like Delicious (both red and yellow), Northern Spy, Keepsake, Fuji, and Arkansas Black (to name a few) are later varieties that may have fared better. Look online for local orchard crop results a bit closer to the fall apple season.

Some plants get exhausted and reach the end of the life cycle during the summer rather than at season's end. Zucchini and cucumber plants that begin looking gnarly should be removed and placed in the compost area. Enjoy what is ready now and plant a second crop of what you like. Avoid sweet corn or anything that requires a "90 day 'till harvest" notation on the seed package. Bean, squash, basil, cucumber and peas can reach maturity before fall frost if you opt to re-plant now. By all means, plant second crops of any summer squash, string beans, basil, carrots and beets (root crops). Even kale, broccoli and cabbage can provide a second planting and deliver a good harvest by season's end. I plant snow peas and sugar snap peas in August. Season extenders of Remay (non-woven white polyester fabric) can be draped over plants to guard against the blaze of the sun and will keep flea beetles away from lettuce and cabbage-like plants. Water and air move freely through the pores of the cloth, and a single Remay purchase serves gardeners for years.

I cannot predict the weather, and even the weather folks with their fancy measuring instruments and computers are never right 100 percent of the time. Does the early spring mean an early fall? It's hard to know, but I am not planning to plant a citrus orchard any time soon. I will stick with apples, raspberries, and strawberries. My rhubarb and horseradish have never failed me. When they do, I will start to suspect something big.

Learning from my neighbor and my job

I had a neighbor some years ago, George Safford, who was a strong influence on me. Safford was a prolific gardener who documented everything about his plantings year to year. He recorded plant yields, growing success with a specific seed company, and the company's responses to his inquiries. He kept seed catalogs and noted the accuracy of the data. I found his information important and valuable. (My dad often mused that if Safford planted horse manure, he could grow a horse.)

For the three years prior to the year 2000, Safford noted that temperatures had been above 32 degrees since April 15. This meant several things: no killing frost, early season crops would be ready sooner, and even tender annuals were able to flourish earlier than Memorial Day. From Safford I learned that when the garden is your own (or my own) only the weather sets work and planting schedules.

Safford's influence encouraged me to learn about trees and my knowledge is the best gift I can give to the earth. When I am doing a tree give-away, grafting, or teaching about apple trees, I am inspired by Safford. I miss him almost as much as I miss my dad. How 'bout them apples?
Mary Houle is a master gardener, master composter, certified Square Foot Gardener instructor, and SOUL graduate. Houle completed the UVM master gardener training 10 years ago and recently completed the UVM Extension Master Gardener certification process again. Additionally, she completed a six-hour training program and exam to qualify as a First Detector related to plant health issues.