The weather may’ve slowed the start of the gardening season in Iowa. Iowa State University extension horticulturist Richard Jauron says cold-wet weather isn’t very inspirational.

Jauron says the main problem is probably psychological, as it is hard to get fired up about gardening when it’s cold and wet outside. He says this week’s warmer weather should cause anyone who hasn’t planted yet to get out and get going. Jauron says gardeners don’t have to worry if they do get seeds or plants in the ground and it cools off again.

He says things like tomatoes and peppers that are planted will not grow much if it cools off, but he says they are not going to die. The good news is there likely won’t be much weeding to do if it cools down.

Jauron says weeds won’t grow much either in these conditions, but once it warms up, they will grow and need to be controlled. All the talk of increasing food prices could be another motivation for gardening. Jauron suspects some people will start some plants to save money.

He says he hasn’t done a survey, but would suspect people are planting more gardens. Jauron says most people would likely plant a few tomatoes, as they are fairly easy to grow and don’t take a lot of space. Jauron answers an average of 35-hundred questions about gardening each year from the horticulture hotline at 515-294-3108.