ALL WET: GROWING SEASON STUMPED

In a normal spring, strawberry picking in the area would start around Mother's Day, which is this weekend. But this has not been a normal spring.

Several growers said Monday it probably will be the last of May or early June before strawberries are ready to pick, about two to three weeks later than normal.

The reason for the delay is persistent cool, wet weather that has delayed development of strawberry blooms and berries on the plants.

Berry growers said what they need now is a lot of warm, sunny days.

Area farmers are of the same belief. Those who farm well-drained hillsides have been able to plant corn, but a lot more farmers cannot even get into the fields because of water and mud.

Spring planting normally20begins in late March and continues through mid-to-late April. Last week less than 3 percent of Missouri's corn crop was in the ground. That compares to an average of 28 percent at this time of year.

Weather records maintained by Missouri Weather Cooperative at Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport show there were only three full days of sunshine last month. The other 27 days were either cloudy or became cloudy.

On 20 of the 30 days in April, there was precipitation at the airport. However, the total amount for the month, 3.68 inches, was well below the long-term average of 4.47 inches. It seemed like a wet month because it was cloudy with some kind of precipitation most days.

April's wet-weather pattern continued into the first two days of May, as heavy rains washed out or dampened outdoor activities over the weekend.

One inch of rain fell at the airport on Saturday. On Sunday, .41 of an inch20was measured. From midnight to 9 p.m.. Monday, 1.61 inches of rain fell. That brings the total for the first two days of the month to 3.02 inches.

On Monday, a tornado extensively damaged two factories and knocked down trees and power lines in Caruthersville, but no injuries were reported, authorities said.

The tornado, reported at 1:57 p.m., never touched the ground but played havoc with roofs and shingles along a five-block stretch of South Ward Street in Caruthersville.

The factories are R.T. Friction, a manufacturer of brake pads, and Missouri Fabrication, which makes lawn mower wheels. The roofs of both metal buildings were damaged, and walls were gashed. The plants were not expected to resume production until next week.

None of the workers was injured. "They were all standing outside when I got there," said Caruthersville Police communications officer Jim Watkins. "But they were all very shaken."

Watkins said he saw the tornado while driving in his private vehicle. He said no tornado watch was in effect.

"It had been raining hard one minute and then it would be perfectly sunny the next," he said.

The tornado appeared suddenly "Like that," Watkins said, snapping his fingers.

A tree limb also was thrust into a house in the community.

Strawberry growers said it normally takes about 30 days from the time the first bloom appears until the first berries can be picked.

Rosie Stadelvacher of Blueberry Hill Farms near Cobden, Ill., said their strawberry plants started blooming about seven to 10 days ago. Stadelvacher said she can't remember the last time strawberries were delayed so long by wet weather. She said it will be two to two-and-one-half weeks before the berries are ripe enough to pick.

"We've got pepper plants that we've been trying to plant but can't because the ground is too wet," she said.

Jack Smart, director of the Cape Girardeau Teen Challenge Center, said wet weather forced the center to reschedule its May Strawberry Festival. "My best estimate right now is that we may start picking strawberries in limited numbers around May 24," said Smart. "But that's only if the weather improves and we get some warm, sunny days between now and then," said Smart.

A spokesman for Iller's Berry Farm south of Jackson said berry pickers should check back around May 20-21 to find out when the berries will be ready.

The National Weather Service said a slow-moving weather system was responsible for the rain and drizzle over the weekend. The system was forecast to move east of area by this morning, giving way to a few days of partly cloudy weather before the next round of showers begins on Friday.

Highs during the week will warm from the 70s to the low 80s.