Frustrated fans of the great outdoors may be getting their seed catalogues in the mail, but State Climatologist harry Hillaker says it’s too early even to dream of planting in the garden yet despite the 60 degree temperatures of Friday. Typically the last freeze of the year across central Iowa happens in the third or even fourth week of April. Hillaker says you won’t be able to plant most seeds or cuttings until late in the month of April. He says some things could be set out even earlier, “depending on how much of a risk you want to take.” But though there could always be a warm spell that lets you try planting in early April, it’s risky that time of year. Hillaker says the winter snows have been about average, and with the ground frozen there’s no real impact so far on the likelihood of too much or little moisture when the summer growing season arrives.
