Using Phenology in the Garden- Plant by Nature's Signs

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Resources for those interested in beginning their own phenological record keeping: www.usanpn.org/usa-national-p... www.usanpn.org/natures_notebook budburst.org/ For Ohio specifically: www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/gdd/

[@keithschneider6348]

What a great an knowledgeable young lady. I struggle with gardening and I learn I don't have my crap together. Jenna you are a gift from above.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you!!

[@abdullahaldoory7985]

Thank you very much for this great informative video.

[@teahcrew]

I just found you a couple weeks ago and I have been thoroughly enjoying learning from you. I have an associates degree in horticulture and was a national master gardener through the state of Ohio. But this is the first time I have ever heard of phenology! I am so excited to learn something new at my age! Thank you for being on KZbin!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

What a wonderful compliment- thank you so much, Teah!

[@CJ_536]

Excellent video with some great tips. I do something similar when I'm planting any perennials - sometimes it's as simple as paying attention to what the plant itself is already doing! For example, when landscaping for a flower garden, if the hostas plants are already pushing up through the ground, I figure it's safe enough to plant a new one. If the lilies are already partway leafing out then it is probably safe to plant more lilies (although their buds are frost-tender, so having a bucket handy for emergency late frosts is helpful). Another key one is roses. Nurseries, especially box stores, have their roses available WAY too early. A rose that isn't well established will not make it through a sudden freeze and the stems can die and rot in late frosts. So I watch the roses already in the ground. Once they start to leaf out, then I know it is safe to plant a new rose. Or rhubarb - if they start trying to flower (in my yard), then it's likely time for a last spinach planting. I'm still learning these signs, but I only started seriously gardening about 7 years ago, and a move interrupted me for a couple years - and now I'm learning a whole new climate and soil. It really comes down to paying attention and keeping a gardening journal, as you point out. And these signs can be SO much more reliable than a website, which is only estimating. The oak tree has more "immediate" knowledge.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Yes, yes, yes! Love this! And I think you hit the nail on the head- what it all ultimately comes down to is being mindful & observant of your environment. This simple skill alone can help one become so much more successful in the garden. Thank you for sharing your experience, Chere'! Take care & enjoy the remainder of your weekend!

[@perfectlessons]

Fantastic video! Thank you!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

You are welcome, Debi. Glad you liked it!

[@violal1480]

Great information like always!! Thank you for sharing.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

You are welcome!

[@Alocarloxoct24]

Thanks for this very useful information👍👍👍

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

You are most welcome. Take care!

[@GypsyoftheSun]

Great information and right up my alley! Saw my first Robin today and was so excited! Insects are also extremely useful in their behavior. Thank you for bringing some old yet new again knowledge 🤓😁☀️

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

You're welcome! I really enjoyed researching for this video-- it's a fascinating concept!

[@boonskyler]

You make garden become more interesting. Thanks 🙏

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you, I'm glad you think so! Take care & have a wonderful week!

[@CBsGreenhouseandGarden]

That was some awesome information Mrs. Jenna. So many things a book can not show or teach but mother nature will shonuff always be the key factor to let you know when it is time to Git-R-Done! Stay safe my friend and hope you have a great rest of the week!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you! Absolutely agree- it's always wise to let Mother Nature be your guide & teacher. You have a wonderful week as well!

[@ArkansasWoodcutter]

I am working to learn to the signs here in my area and planting other indicator plants in my area. My grandparents did uses these indicators for planting, but also the almanac and mine phases. Reading the moon to know when to water etc. I’m just into my first year of trying to learn and follow this. Still learning

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Arkansas Woodcutter very cool! I’m learning about the moon phases too- I have an experiment going on right now where I planted crops (peas & lettuce) on optimal and barren days and I’m tracking their progress. Do you recall any of the signs your grandparents commonly used?

[@jennyumm89]

Thank you for this video! I have been so confused lately. Most of my seed packets say to plant out in feb-march, but its still very cold here in SE Texas (currently 40f at 10am) . Spring comes a lot later here than it used to.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

You are so welcome!

[@jodieh4739]

Great video! I teach at a nature school and taught my class about Phenology wheels and we tracked things for the month of March. But I never connected it to gardening like this!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

How cool that you are teaching your class about this!!

[@jodieh4739]

@@GrowfullywithJenna It's a unique charter program based on Forest School, most popular in parts of Europe. It's an amazing way for kids to be outside, learn to love nature, and learn the endless lessons the natural world gives us. It's how I wish school had been for me and even my own kids.

[@geoffoutdoors]

This is great, I tap my maple trees for maple syrup production usually when the Hoot Owls come back around as they are the first to mate in Spring. Its all very true about nature's signs (as God intended). Cheers for the vid, eh!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Very cool- thanks for sharing that sign, I'll have to use that next year as we tap our maples each year. Take care!

[@addysbeeandgarden320]

My dad told me when I was little that the first Robin brings spring. I look out for them every year. Who knew?

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

My parents always told us that as well 😄

[@JulesGardening]

Very educational, and interesting. I watch my honeysuckle actually for my summer plantings, but also consult my ten day weather forecast looking for the lows. So, right now, I am holding back on planting some cuke and bean seeds for just a few more days because of overnight lows. And the same thing for my main tomato crop. As an aside, I did notice a lot of volunteer peppers coming in right now, which seems early. Not sure what to make of that. We also have 4 volunteer tomatoes about 3-4 inches and 8 pumpkins coming in most of which are well on their way to a healthy year. Not sure what to make of those either. That is, they are popping up as volunteers early, when conventional wisdom (temperatures) recommend NOT planting seeds yet. Fascinating they are so early this year. Any ideas? Warm March maybe?

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I've heard from a few other folks that they're seeing things earlier this year than in the past. We had a relatively warm March, but now April seems to be cooling down. And you're spot on- it's important to not only watch nature's indicators (the honeysuckle), but to watch the weather forecast as well! In my opinion the volunteers can't be trusted (at least not as an indicator for the best time to plant your 'intentional' crops)! Since things like pumpkins, tomatoes and peppers are annual and not native to your environment, they, to put it bluntly, don't have any sense! At least not when it comes to when they should be germinating and growing. As soon as it reaches their ideal temperature they're going to germinate, whether it's the middle of March or the middle of August. So a warm March could certainly be to blame.

[@JulesGardening]

@@GrowfullywithJenna That makes a lot of sense. Thanks Jenna. We have one more lower than 40 night coming. Might as well cover a few volunteers just in case. Thank you for your advice! I do appreciate it.

[@ShadezofYay]

I love that hat! Where’d you get it if you don’t mind me asking

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thanks- I got it from our local Tractor Supply Co. store

[@xse-qb2vv]

😊👍

[@xse-qb2vv]

Drinking fresh Stinging Nettle Tea with lemon balm n lil honey.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

That sounds delightful!

[@garyburner4362]

In a word...spring...

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Yes, though you can read the signs through all the seasons!

[@allenbidulka8030]

Not always true about dandelions blooming because i had them bloom in march. The ground is still frozen

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you for stopping by! You are correct- not every indicator plant will be reliable in every growing location. Thus the importance of observing and deducing which plants are reliable in your area. Dandelions are a good early spring planting indicator in my growing locale, but there are other plants which will work better for you depending on your location and climate. I'd love to hear which plants DO work as reliable indicators for you.

[@jumadifaris5295]

good...let's support each other

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Jumadi Faris thanks, we can do that!

[@jumadifaris5295]

@@GrowfullywithJenna same, you're welcome. good luck

[@OldReddingFarm]

it would be good to be told when to weed, better to not have to weed any more :)

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Old Redding Farm oh my goodness yes! Wouldn’t that be the dream!?

[@melissab8500]

Sheet mulch, my back saver

[@Sunfrogg]

That sounds like witchcraft to me.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

You got me... I'm really a witch spreading my witchy knowledge all over the interwebs 😆

[@paulbrasier372]

You had me till you said Climate change.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Oh climate change, it's gotten so politicized... but it's been occurring for billions of years 😄. Not sure where you're gardening, but in my neck of the woods weather patterns have become increasingly unpredictable over the course of my lifetime- what my grandparents or even parents planted in May, I can now plant in March or April. Call it whatever you want, my point is that using phenology versus going by dates on a calendar can sometimes be more reliable.