Although it seems paradoxical to talk about storms when it’s over 35 degrees outside, they still happen. If we look at the last few years, we will find that, when there was a heatwave in the south, storms were announced in the center of the country. So, if you live in such an area, it’s good to know what to do in your garden before a storm. We are talking about a clever trick that the most skilled gardeners know and apply.
Learn about the clever trick that the most skilled gardeners use
You’d think that the sun is a gardener’s best friend, which may be true at times, but gardeners also make use of a day or two of cloudy weather and rain during the summer season. The reason is simple: these are sowing and planting days.
As most gardeners well know, seeds, no matter what kind, have different needs. Some seeds prefer light, others sprout in the dark. Some seeds need cold stratification, others prefer to be soaked before being sown.
But almost all kinds of seeds need a few simple conditions to germinate. To provide them the best chances, keep the soil between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and keep the seeds moist.
This is not complicated in April or May, for example, but planting outdoors in the heat of the summer is a different story, because maintaining constant soil moisture is difficult. When it comes to crops like carrots, moisture is essential.
A few days of rain will provide moisture to the seeds
In this case we are talking about regular rains, not torrential rains, which will blow or wash away the seeds. A few days of moderate rain will saturate the soil, giving the seeds cover for a few days after the rain stops.
For this reason, watching the weather forecast for the next rainy days will help guide you on when to put the seeds in the ground.
Transplanting even the healthiest seedlings is still a shock to the plant. They need a little time to recover before being exposed to the harsh summer sun, which will stress them even more.
What to do in the garden before a storm
Sowing seeds just before or during cloudy days is the perfect solution, and it is even better if there is a little rain. Again, we’re not talking about a cyclone, just a regular summer rain. It also doesn’t have to take long.
Even 24 hours is enough to help your new seeds settle in the soil and be ready to face the harsh light of a new day. In the height of summer, many weeks go by without a cloud in the sky, but the sowing must go on nevertheless.
If you’re growing plants from seeds, the answer is simple: sow the seeds indoors, and then plant them out. If you must plant outside, you can maintain moisture by covering the soil.
For carrot seeds, it is routine to cover the soil with a wet burlap bag or even a sheet of soaked cardboard. You need to keep the soil moist continuously until the seeds actually germinate. Otherwise, consider shade cloth and consistent watering a few times a day, as you would with grass seeds.