Growing Season Off and Running

It’s always a crap shoot in northwest Wisconsin as to when Spring has actually taken hold and if Winter’s grip has been sufficiently loosened to allow for outdoor gardening activities. Like, can I start putting in plants now?

The answer to that question today in the last week of April is “yes”, sort of. The 10-day forecast has grown more reliable over time and it is not blinking red, though it does show a couple of 32 degree nights right at the end of April. But not all 32 degree nights are equal: the real issue is for how long does it stay at 32 degrees? As in how many hours? For that, you need to estimate, guess and generally kneel and pray.

Long and short, the Spring of ’26 has been a little all over the place, hot and cool, rain and snow, but not really “cold” — not killer cold. Perfect planting weather for trees and shrubs and perennials. And in the vegetable garden, some herbs and brassicas. But, that’s it right now. Another two weeks and yes, the gloves will come off (or, better, get put on) and even the most discerning Wisconsin gardener can hit the beds hard. Just not yet.

In the mean time, the bare root tree and shrub sale is in its last week. And people have shown up and carried very nice specimens home for planting. And, there is still some very hardy, very high quality material left. As always, the best gardeners start with trees, shrubs and perennials and work their way toward the less hardy plants as May emerges. Alas, Wisconsinites hope for an easy, warm Spring but in the end, we settle for what we get, which is about the same as always: a season of great promise emerging in fits and starts, beautiful but also fierce and unpredictable. Be prudent out there.