March's opening cooler than in '04

A mild winter has left many in Southeast Missouri hoping for an early and warm spring, but that is not in the forecast from the National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky.

Temperatures for the next week and a half are predicted to be in the mid-50s, with lows in the upper 40s. These temperatures are more than 10 degrees cooler compared to March last year.

A jet stream pattern established within the last few days is responsible for the cool air coming down from Canada into Southeast Missouri.

But the tease of warm days over the weekend infected many people with the gardening bug. Sunny Hill Gardens and Florist in Cape Girardeau saw an unusual number of people on Saturday.

"Brave souls have started already," said Sunny Hill manager Tina Thieret.

As long as temperatures don't dip below the 40s, Thieret said, people will still be eager to begin work in their gardens.

But if March is expected to be cooler than normal, businesses like Sunny Hill may be affected.

"People start to think about planting, but the cooler nights change their minds," said Thieret.

Gerald Bryan, agronomy specialist at the University of Missouri Outreach and Extension office, recommends home gardeners take unexpected cold weather into consideration when planning crops. He says potatoes and lettuce are relatively safe bets because they can withstand frost.

"Some may have to be replanted, but they are prepared to do so," Bryan said of gardeners who plant early.

The cooler temperatures are predicted to occur mostly in the first half of the month.

cpierce@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127