Q. We planted our lime outside in the summer of 2022. I replanted it in a container and kept it inside our sunroom during the winter, where it received several hours of nice sunshine every day. And I fertilized three or four times a year by spreading 2 teaspoons around the tree. We plan to relocate and replant it outside this spring. Do you think it is OK to replant it outside now and maintain the same feeding schedule? — Jesse Holt, Hampton
Q. No doubt this is the million-dollar question that everyone has at this time of year. And with the winter we’ve had here in Tidewater, I’m sure that everyone is absolutely primed to get started with springtime gardening.
But first let’s recap this winter. There can be no question that this one — December, January and February — was a warm one. The average high was 2.2 degrees above normal; the average low, 3.7 degrees above normal; and the mean, 2.4 degrees above, according to the National Weather Service, Norfolk. All three months were above normal. The highest recorded temperature for the period was 77, on Jan. 26; the lowest low, 22 on Jan. 17. I counted 22 days in which the temperature was 32 or below. And of those, only 10 days were 28 or below, the weather service threshold for a hard freeze. Seven of those days came between Jan. 16 and 23. That was our winter.
We did have some near misses with coastal lows. And we had some pretty windy days. Some spots got a lot of rain; total precipitation was 12.57 inches, or 2.58 inches above normal, the weather service said. That’s a good thing. And only a trace of snow.
Moving on, spring has been here officially for a month, if you take the long view (meteorological spring); or for just over a week, if the short view (astronomical spring). What should we expect? Take a look around: Plants have been sitting on “go” for a while. So far, no days have hit 32 or lower. For March 1 through 21, we are six degrees above normal temperatures, according to the Southeast Regional Climate Center at the University of North Carolina. Up to that point, this is third warmest March on record.
All important details. Now, ones that relate directly to your lime:
History tells us that we should keep our cold weather radar on for a couple more weeks. According to the University of Virginia Climatology Office, in Norfolk there was a 50% chance of a freeze (32 degrees) on March 20. OK, we’ve gotten by that one. But by April 7, those odds will drop to 10%. And then a week later, on April 15, we should be home free. In fact, only three times since 1874 (the start of official record keeping) has the temperature dropped to freezing after April 15 in Norfolk.
To plant or not to plant, to transplant or not? The odds are in your favor to safely move your lime outdoors now.
But here’s my suggestion. Citrus can be quite variable in its cold tolerance. As we are only a couple of weeks from April 15, why not just wait until then? Feel free to move your lime in and out to get some sun, depending on the temperature, until then.
The fertilizer you are using, Espoma Citrus-tone, is an organic, slow-release product. The label recommends applying three times a year, in late winter, late spring and early fall. For your pot size, and when it is indoors, 1 tablespoon should be adequate. When you plant it outside, I think a couple of cups is good, depending on rainfall, as needed. Your lime is small, so as it grows, adjust the rate according to label recommendations.
Good luck!
For everyone who has already started transplanting or has moved things outdoors, keep up your guard for at least a couple more weeks. Cool season tender plants, and warm season veggies, can get zapped by a late frost. Tropicals can suffer chilling injury from temperatures in the 40s. The weather in April can turn on you. In the last week of April 2022, the first three days hit the mid-80s, but the last three had nighttime lows of 44, 43 and 45. And that month overall was somewhat chilly.
So keep a close eye on the forecasts. Have your row covers, cloches, frost blankets and other protections on standby.
(For other reference, see the Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide for recommended planting and harvesting dates, as well other information to help you get started with your garden. It’s a PDF download; visit bit.ly/3J21mpu.)
One more thing (or two)
This year I experienced the equinox on March 19 at 10:06 p.m. ECT (Ecuador Time), south of the equator in Olón, Ecuador.
Here, at 1.80 degrees south latitude and 80.76 degrees west longitude, sunrise was at 6:23 a.m. and sunset at 6:30 p.m., for a day length of 12 hours and six minutes. The day length here varies only 15 minutes from 12 hours throughout the year. The shortest day is June 20, the winter solstice: 12 hours. Contrast that to Norfolk, where we had 12 hours and seven minutes of day length, and on June 20, when we will have 14 hours and 41 minutes — a difference of two hours and 34 minutes.
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