May 28, 2008 - 04:06:31 CDT
Minot set a record low temperature of 23 degrees early Tuesday, breaking the old record of 26 degrees set in 1920, according to the National Weather Service.In Bismarck, meteorologist Harlyn Wetzel said areas in the northcentral part of the state got the coldest on Memorial Day, capping "a long, windy, stormy, cold weekend." The Bismarck area temperature dipped to 37, but patchy areas of frost are a risk around the state if temperatures hover in the mid-30s overnight, Wetzel said.
Gardeners who are experiencing the very definition of mixed feelings can take heart, though some of their new plants may look like they've been in a brawl. Some of the sting of chilly temperatures, stiff winds, scattered hail and even some tornado action was eased by the kiss of some badly-needed rain.
The Bismarck area only had about a half inch of precipitation, though more fell to the west, Wetzel said. Year to date, Bismarck is still below the normal of 5.17 inches, at 2.59 inches, he said.
Gardeners' most important safeguard now is to pay attention to weather reports and advisories, said Tom Kalb of Bismarck, a North Dakota State University extension horticulturist. If a frost danger looms, go out and protect plants, he said.
Frost damages plants by freezing water in the plant cells until they burst, Kalb said.
The best way to do so is to pretend it's you out in the garden, naked and uprotected from the weather, he said. What you'd want is a nice warm blanket, and two layers are better than one, he said. Plastic is not very helpful, he said; burlap or blankets are best.
To tend to plants beat up by high winds, look at the growing point of the plant, he said. If that is intact, the plant can usually grow out of the damage. For really severe winds, gardeners can put up temporary protective barriers of burlap or plastic sheets. Shelter tomato plants with something like traditional milk cartons, which offer wind protection and hold in heat as well, he said.
Kalb has some gardeners of his own to look after this year, having initiated a new program using volunteers from around North Dakota to participate in simple growing trials.
Based on a program Kalb coordinated for six years in Wisconsin, more than 50 people have volunteered this spring to plant two varieties of plants for comparison and fill out a simple result sheet at the end of the growing season.
"We're really happy about the response we're getting right now," Kalb said. Eighty-four varieties of plants are being tested side-by-side throughout the state so far, he said.
Kalb expects about 100 growers to participate, he said: "That already makes it one of the largest trials in the U.S.,"he said.
The data gathered will be used to make recommendations to farmers and small-scale gardeners, he said.
"It's a fun project for kids to (learn) science, it's a good family-building activity, and very useful information,"Kalb said. "It's really helpful to learn, how do these varieties perform under real-life conditions, in a real garden with real gardeners?"
The research complements the work done at university extension research stations, he said.
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