Temperatures could reach 80 degrees on Mother’s Day

Moms might get a present from Mother Nature this weekend.
Spring has sprung in the Puget Sound, and we could get 80-
degree weather my Mother’s Day.

Johnny Burg at the National Weather Service says
Bellingham
is expected to hit temperatures in the mid-70’s. Towards
Seattle, residents will feel the warmth in the mid-to-
upper
70’s. But Tacoma and Olympia will hit close to 80, Burg
says.

The rest of the month looks to be a little cooler than
normal but dry, so take caution when perusing the nursery
for seed packets.

Cliff Mass, amateur gardener and Atmospheric Sciences
professor at the University of Washington, wondered, in a
recent blog post,
if the cold air could be the reason his beans aren’t
popping
up. Admittedly, Mass is not an expert in seed germination,
but he suspects it has something to do with soil
temperatures.

In a nut shell or in this case, out of a nut shell, ground
temperatures can get much hotter than air temperatures and
greatly vary throughout the day. But below ground
temperatures begin to stabilize the deeper you dig.

Mass points to a chart plotting below ground temps (at 8
inches) rising steadily since January. Just last week,
the soil hovered in the 50 to 60 degree range.

The beans Mass already planted probably haven’t sprouted
yet
because the optimal temperature for germination is 80
degrees. Your beets, carrots, lettuce, and radishes are
probably safe. Don’t even think about planting pumpkins
or eggplant until well into the summer.

Meanwhile, the National Weather Service has issued a frost
advisory for Tacoma, Hood Canal, Olympia,
and parts of the peninsula until about 8:00am Thursday.
Insider tip: Grab some old sheets and cover your
garden in hopes of keeping your soil warm.