|
|
| Andalusia Vegetable Garden Planting Date Calendar and Climatology
Andalusia and Covington County, Alabama have a long, frost free growing season. Many crops can be planted and harvested twice. Crops that are considered early or late cool season crops in the north winter over in the garden here. Many culinary and medicinal herbs remain green and harvestable all winter. The unstoppable lawnflower named chickweed can be harvested for salads or cooking greens throughout the cold season. Leaf lettuce also brightens the winter salad and winter garden. Winter in Andalusia is like late autumn and early spring in the north. At the bottom of this page is a Vegetable Garden Planting Date Calendar for Andalusia. It was adapted from a chart found in a publication called “The Alabama Vegetable Gardener, ANR-47” by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. This document was revised in 2005, but there is no indication of the original chart was updated. It may not have been corrected to reflect recent global warming climate change. The original chart was made for central Alabama, the adaptation on this webpage is for the Andalusia area
The growing season in the Andalusia area starts approximately 10 days earlier in spring than in central Alabama, and ends about 10 days later in autumn. There is approximately a twenty day difference on both ends of the growing season when comparing the Andalusia area to northern Alabama. Higher elevations in certain upper Alabama counties shorten the growing season there even further. Coastal Alabama has a slightly longer growing season than Andalusia due to the warming and moderating influence of the Gulf of Mexico.
The Garden Vegetable Planting Date Calendar is an approximation of when to plant. It is based on averaging long term weather data collections. The final determining factors of when to plant are the Soil Signs and the Weather Signs. Plant when the soil is the correct temperature for the crop. Plant when the soil has sufficient moisture for germination. Plant when the short term and long term weather forecasts are favorable for germination and seedling survival.
Click Here to view a chart showing germination rates for vegetables at varying soil temperatures. A soil temperature thermometer is a useful garden tool. Click Here to view maps showing various aspects of Alabama’s climate. These maps show no dates, so they may not reflect recent Global Warming climate changes. Click Here to view tabular summaries of weather measurements and averages of Andalusia’s climate from 1948 through 2007. Click Here to view the 2006 Hardiness Zone Map issued by the National Arbor Foundation. This is an updated version of the United States Department of Agriculture's 1996 Hardiness Zone Map. The addition of climate data from 1996 through 2006 yields Map adjustments reflecting Global Warming climate changes. Click Here to your find your garden's 2006 Hardiness Zone designation. Below are the current weather conditions and predictions for Andalusia, Alabama:
Andalusia, AL Updated Thursday, March 11, 2010 12:27 AM
 Rain | 64°F | High: 77°F Low: 55°F Wind: 3 mph Humidity: 88%
|
 Friday 74° / 45° |  Saturday 64° / 40° |  Sunday 63° / 42° |  Monday 67° / 42° |
|
|
|
To explore more in depth weather information for Andalusia, Alabama, go to: NOTE: This planting date calendar is expected to change due to global warming.
So keep some papaya seeds handy.
Vegetable Planting Date Calendar for Andalusia, Alabama Latitude 31.29 North, Longitude 86.49 West, Elevation 354 feet above Sea Level
NOV 20 > JAN 05 - cabbage: start seeds indoors NOV 20 > JAN 05 - cauliflower: start seeds indoors DEC 05 > FEB 05 - onions: start seeds indoors DEC 15 > FEB 05 - lettuce: start seeds indoors DEC 20 > FEB 05 - cabbage: transplant to garden DEC 20 > FEB 05 - cauliflower: transplant to garden JAN 05 > FEB 20 - lettuce: transplant to garden JAN 05 > MAR 05 - onions: transplant to garden JAN 20 > FEB 20 - peppers: start seeds indoors JAN 20 > FEB 20 - beets JAN 20 > FEB 20 - English peas JAN 20 > FEB 20 - Irish potatoes JAN 20 > MAR 05 - mustard JAN 20 > MAR 05 - turnips FEB 05 > MAR 05 - chard FEB 05 > MAR 05 - spinach FEB 10 > MAR 10 - tomatoes: start seeds indoors FEB 15 > MAR 20 - carrots MAR 01 > JUN 20 - sweet corn MAR 20 > APR 20 - snap beans MAR 20 > APR 20 - watermelons MAR 20 > APR 20 - muskmelons MAR 20 > APR 20 - summer squash MAR 20 > APR 20 - winter squash MAR 20 > APR 20 - tomatoes: transplant to garden MAR 20 > APR 30 - peppers: transplant to garden MAR 20 > JUL 20 - Southern peas APR 01 > APR 20 - pole beans APR 01 > APR 20 - sweet potato APR 01 > APR 30 - lima beans APR 05 > MAY 05 - pole lima beans MAY 25 > JUN 25 - peppers, 2nd crop: start seeds JUN 15 > JUL 15 - tomatoes, 2nd crop: start seeds JUN 25 > JUL 10 - watermelons 2nd crop JUL 10 > AUG 10 - peppers 2nd crop: transplant to garden JUL 10 > AUG 10 - tomatoes 2nd crop: transplant to garden JUL 10 > SEP 25 - collards JUL 25 > AUG 10 - pole lima beans, 2nd crop JUL 25 > AUG 10 - winter squash, 2nd crop JUL 30 > 15 AUG 15 - pole beans, 2nd crop JUL 30 > 15 AUG 15 - lima beans, 2nd crop JUL 30 > SEP 30 - carrots, 2nd crop AUG 5 > AUG 20 - cabbage, 2nd crop AUG 5 > AUG 20 - cauliflower, 2nd crop AUG 10 > AUG 25 - broccoli, 2nd crop AUG 10 > AUG 25 - Chinese cabbage AUG 10 > AUG 25 - Irish potatoes, 2nd crop AUG 10 > AUG 25 - summer squash, 2nd crop AUG 10 > SEP 10 - beets, 2nd crop AUG 10 > SEP 10 - Brussels sprouts AUG 15 > AUG 30 - snap beans, 2nd crop AUG 20 > OCT 10 - turnips, 2nd crop AUG 25 > SEP 10 - lettuce, 2nd crop AUG 25 > SEP 25 - kale AUG 25 > SEP 25 - mustard, 2nd crop SEP 10 > OCT 25 - radishes, 2nd crop SEP 10 > OCT 10 - chard, 2nd crop SEP 10 > OCT 10 - spinach, 2nd crop SEP 25 > OCT 25 - onion sets NOV 1 > DEC 30 - garlic sets In Andalusia, Alabama, gardens are year round entertainment. Please view our garden photo albums: 2010 Andalusia Winter Garden (soon) 2009 Andalusia Autumn Garden 2009 Andalusia Spring Garden 2009 Andalusia Winter Garden 2008 Andalusia Autumn Garden Andalusia Banana Project Pollen Plants by Season in Covington County This section is dedicted to Covington County beekeepers. Where there is nectar there is pollen. Click on the links below to see what plants are providing pollen at various times of year. Pollen Plants in Spring Pollen Plants of Summer Pollen Plants of Fall Pollen Plants of Winter ********************************************************************************************************* brokenlinks@lawnflowersjerkyandbigfoots.com 
| |
|