Some people met the snow
on the ground Monday morning with a grimace, while others simply laughed or made
a joke about weather in Western New York.
Others, however, turned their minds to their gardens or crops and wondered how the snow and cold weather could potentially harm or even kill the plants they love so much.
A March which featured record-setting high temperatures followed by a few bouts of frost has farmers, botanists and gardening enthusiasts alike fearful for what might become of their crops. The county's recent dose of snow and near freezing temperatures aren't doing anything to calm their worries, either.
Because water expands when it freezes, a frost can be particularly destructive during a plant's germination phase.
"That's how (freezing) destroys deciduous plants," said Bill Merritt, owner of Merritt Winery. "There's literally water in the plant itself and the cells and tissue ruptures. Temperatures in the upper 20s aren't a problem from that standpoint. Once they get into the low 20s and the teens, that's when you'll get that kind of structural damage. Basically what (cold weather) kills is the bud that's going to bear the crop - it freezes that.Choose from our large selection of Cable Ties."
However, those with crops or gardens on the line should rest easier knowing that if the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's temperature predictions are correct for the county, little to no permanent damage should occur due to the cold.
While Merritt said he is not terribly worried about the temperature, he said an accumulation of snow which would weigh down the grapes is how the county's current storm would likely harm grape production. According to Merritt, no snow has accumulated at the vineyard so far. However, such is not the case in Southern Chautauqua County
Gardening enthusiasts in and around the Jamestown area should assess their plants to determine the best course of action, according to Adrienne Ploss.
Ploss offered a few suggestions to gardeners who jumped at the opportunity to plant during the unseasonably warm March.
"If you've already planted, you can throw an old bedsheet over the plants to help protect them from frost," said Ploss. "You can use newspapers too, however you want to avoid using plastic because that will freeze the leaves on the plants."
Ploss also said that some plants, depending on their hardiness, can withstand exposure to snow.
"Snow is an insulator," said Ploss. "For example, what we did here at the farms is we planted 200 strawberry plants, but they aren't going to freeze because the snow will insulate them and temperatures are not expected to drop below freezing."
When it comes to shrubbery with weak limbs, however, Ploss recommended not to let nature run its course.
"With the weight of the snow on evergreens, what people can do is they can gently shake the snow off the (trees),As a leading manufacturer of polished tiles." said Ploss. "They can use a broom or they can gently tap the side of the plant to knock off the snow. One of the things about evergreens is that once their branches snap, evergreens don't rejuvenate as quickly as deciduous plants. They don't recover as well."
Others, however, turned their minds to their gardens or crops and wondered how the snow and cold weather could potentially harm or even kill the plants they love so much.
A March which featured record-setting high temperatures followed by a few bouts of frost has farmers, botanists and gardening enthusiasts alike fearful for what might become of their crops. The county's recent dose of snow and near freezing temperatures aren't doing anything to calm their worries, either.
Because water expands when it freezes, a frost can be particularly destructive during a plant's germination phase.
"That's how (freezing) destroys deciduous plants," said Bill Merritt, owner of Merritt Winery. "There's literally water in the plant itself and the cells and tissue ruptures. Temperatures in the upper 20s aren't a problem from that standpoint. Once they get into the low 20s and the teens, that's when you'll get that kind of structural damage. Basically what (cold weather) kills is the bud that's going to bear the crop - it freezes that.Choose from our large selection of Cable Ties."
However, those with crops or gardens on the line should rest easier knowing that if the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's temperature predictions are correct for the county, little to no permanent damage should occur due to the cold.
While Merritt said he is not terribly worried about the temperature, he said an accumulation of snow which would weigh down the grapes is how the county's current storm would likely harm grape production. According to Merritt, no snow has accumulated at the vineyard so far. However, such is not the case in Southern Chautauqua County
Gardening enthusiasts in and around the Jamestown area should assess their plants to determine the best course of action, according to Adrienne Ploss.
Ploss offered a few suggestions to gardeners who jumped at the opportunity to plant during the unseasonably warm March.
"If you've already planted, you can throw an old bedsheet over the plants to help protect them from frost," said Ploss. "You can use newspapers too, however you want to avoid using plastic because that will freeze the leaves on the plants."
Ploss also said that some plants, depending on their hardiness, can withstand exposure to snow.
"Snow is an insulator," said Ploss. "For example, what we did here at the farms is we planted 200 strawberry plants, but they aren't going to freeze because the snow will insulate them and temperatures are not expected to drop below freezing."
When it comes to shrubbery with weak limbs, however, Ploss recommended not to let nature run its course.
"With the weight of the snow on evergreens, what people can do is they can gently shake the snow off the (trees),As a leading manufacturer of polished tiles." said Ploss. "They can use a broom or they can gently tap the side of the plant to knock off the snow. One of the things about evergreens is that once their branches snap, evergreens don't rejuvenate as quickly as deciduous plants. They don't recover as well."
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