The peaches are in bloom, the aroma of flowers fills the air – spring has sprung.
But, how can that be?
It’s only January.
The calendar says it’s winter, but our gardens are acting like it is spring.
With temperatures 15 degrees to 20 degrees above average for this time of the year, it’s easy for plants, and for us, too, to be tricked by Mother Nature.
It’s all due to this unusually strong El Niño pattern.
(Courtesy of Whitney Elmore)
Warm soil and air temperatures have conned normally fall blooming plants into blooming longer. And, spring blooming plants are flowering way before normal.
Flowerbeds are jumping, cold season veggies are lagging, and trees are budding out.
While it’s not necessarily “good” for plants, most will endure — and in the long run they won’t be harmed.
However, the consequences of a mild to non-existent winter for our plants will most likely result in less than vibrant color displays and reduced flowering in spring and summer.
Plants are using their stored food reserves to bloom now, which will cause them to be sluggish later on. But, plants will restore and replenish food reserves in summer, so we should experience a more normal blooming pattern starting next fall — if the weather cooperates.
But, just because the plants will most likely survive to bloom again doesn’t mean we shouldn’t help them along.
Since the plants are currently very active, keep watering, if necessary, as you would in the spring.
Since we are in the dry season, actively growing plants will need supplemental irrigation.
Don’t rush to prune out-of-season plants. Pruning triggers all sorts of hormonal responses, which tell plants to grow.
Telling a plant to grow succulent and vulnerable tissue, when some sort of winter weather in inevitable, is a sure way to harm tender tissue when that cold finally arrives.
The same goes for fertilizers – don’t fertilize, which also stimulates growth.
All we can do is gently help them through the unusual weather and prepare them for summer.
For now, enjoy the warm temperatures while they last.
By Whitney Elmore
Dr. Whitney Elmore, UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension Director and Urban Horticulture Agent III.
Published January 6, 2016