WINTER REAPPEARS IN REGION; SOME PLANTS NEED PROTECTION FROM COLD

Temperatures again today weren't expected to climb out of the 30s as the region remained in the grip of a cold front that passed through with a vengeance on Monday.

The return to winter weather followed an extended period of spring-like temperatures through much of February and early March that made the latest blast of arctic air difficult for most to deal with.

Partly sunny skies across Missouri Tuesday helped clear a few snow- and ice-covered roads in other parts of the state. Monday's storm dumped snow on central and northern Missouri.

The cold is expected to linger until Saturday when temperatures should climb into the 50s.

Tuesday morning's 19-degree temperature was the lowest of the year in Cape Girardeau. Before then, the lowest was 22 on Monday night and on Jan. 20 and Feb. 8.

The see-saw temperatures aren't healthy for some trees, flowers and shrubs, said Paul Schnare, owner of Sunny Hill Gardens and Florists, 206 N. Kingshighway.

The extreme temperature changes have created concerns for David Diebold of Diebold Orchards Inc. near Benton.

Schnare and Diebold warned about covering shrubs and flowers with clear plastic to prevent freezing. If the plastic touches the shrubs, it will burn edges of their foliage, they said. If the plastic is left over the shrubs on a sunny day, it can have a greenhouse effect: The temperature inside can go from 20 to 50 in a hurry.

Boxes are best, they said, because they act as insulators.

Flowers, trees and some shrubs can withstand the current cold.

"Usually, if the buds are just swollen and not open, there will be enough insulation to survive two or three days of this type of weather," said Schnare.

Some trees such as oak and hickory will put out more buds if they are frozen.

"People have to be especially careful with roses," said Schnare. "Roses are not hardy for this area."

Schnare said any vegetables that have been planted will withstand the cold if they have not sprouted. Plants that have sprouted may be in trouble, he said.

Diebold is concerned about apricot and plum trees at his orchards. "There will be some bud kill among the peaches," said Diebold. "But the primary concern now is on apricots and plums."

The next two nights are critical, said Diebold. "We'll be watching the temperature," he said.

Apricot trees in the immediate area were almost at full bloom when the cold hit, and the plums were beginning to blossom.

"We always expect to lose some peach buds due to cold," said Diebold. "But it's usually later. If we lose some buds now and another freeze hits later this month or next, it could be devastating."

Area farmers will be keeping watch on their winter wheat.

The wheat outlook could be bleak, said Tim Schnakenberg, agronomy specialist at the Mississippi County Extension Center in Charleston. The problem is that some wheat fields are far ahead of schedule because of the warm winter and early applications of nitrogen, he said.

If the wheat has advanced to the stage that the growing joint is above the soil it could be in trouble, said Schnakenberg. Wheat in that stage could be damaged with just two hours of 20-degree temperatures, he said.

"Farmers should watch their wheat," said Schnakenberg. "Farmers can feel the growing joint by running their fingers down the stem near the soil."