Depending upon where you live, wild weather can be anything from extreme heat to extreme cold. During the past several days, where I live in Southern California, it has been wind, strong wind, life-threatening wind. Not only does the Santa Ana wind make gardening difficult, but it’s dangerous. Even if you aren’t hit by a falling tree or other debris, the weather conditions can cause health concerns. Since I have asthma, I really can’t spend much time, if any, outside during a Santa Ana wind event. Really cramps my style.
In times of wild weather, the Weather Channel is a life saver. They have a service called Weather on the Eights. They supply very detailed local weather information. My favorite is the wind direction. If the wind is coming out of the east, then we are having Santa Ana wind conditions. Coarse particles of soil and mold blow in from the desert. The air can be either hot or cold, but is always very dry. None of this is good for garden plants, or the gardeners who tend them.
So I keep my eye on the Weather Channel, and their forecast. Looking out the window will tell me if it’s windy, but wind from the west (the sea) is beneficial. It’s only the desert wind that causes problems. Sure, when it is violent, like this past week, the damage is obvious. But even when the wind isn’t as strong, it can be harmful. Plants must be watched, or they may dry up and die. For people, an asthma attack can be just as bad.
In the last five days I have been outside exactly twice. The first time was Friday morning, when the air was completely still. There was no wind at all. I was outside very briefly to run essential errands and to grab a few winter transplants from the garden center at Lowe’s. I hoped to plant them when the wind stopped. I tucked them into a large pot that I had cleared a few weeks ago. They stayed there, safe from the wind, until Sunday afternoon. The wind inexplicably shifted from off shore to on shore for about five hours. I didn’t risk staying outside that long. I spent about two hours clearing my now deceased Early Girl tomato plant, amending the soil with a little Mel’s Mix and transplanting two broccoli plants as well as strawberries.
I love growing strawberries in pots. It's so easy. No muss, no fuss. They are up off the ground, so few critters can find them. They stay clean and dry and easy to pick. I dug a hole in the potting soil in the middle of a large pot and placed a smaller one in the space. I then added Mel’s Square Foot Gardening Soil all around, and tucked in eight small strawberry plants. The neat thing about this method is that it avoids most of the problems associated with growing strawberries. With the pot being on wheels, I can even move it to follow the sun as needed, or I can cover it easily if we have a frost.
I didn't have time to plant loose leaf lettuce, snap peas or snow peas, but I will once these "devil winds" go away. I know people complain when the cool, damp breezes come in from the sea, but they don't cause any real problems. It may be cool and a little gloomy, but a sweater and a little patience is all that is needed. The fog bank usually burns off by lunch. So when that happens, I'll dash out to the nursery for lettuce transplants, take out my peas and finish my fall planting.
If wild weather strikes, you don’t have to give up gardening. All you need is information. As I said, I get mine from The Weather Channel, bless them. You can also find them online at www.weather.com. Then, you'll know when it is safe to go outside and get your hands dirty! When wild weather strikes, be prepared to strike back!
Until next time,
Elizabeth
