Planting Phenology

I might be a huge gardening geek for reading a planting book in December but I've just learned a really cool science and it's worth sharing. Phenology. It's the study of indicator plants, used to determine weather conditions that guide your planting time line.

Here are some tips:

• Plant chard, spinach, beets and onions when daffodils bloom
• Plant peas when maple trees flower
• Plant potatoes when white oak's leaves are the size of a cat's eat
• Plant beans and cucumbers when apple trees drop their petals
• Plant tomatoes and eggplants when black locust trees flower

And, most interesting - plant anything just before it rains because it will be well watered. How do you know when it'll rain?

• Swallows will swoop low to the ground because the insects they eat fly closer to the ground (difference in air pressure)

Just a little early December gardening tip from your local geek!