We're expecting some fairly warm, nay, hot weather for April (see forecast below) and I expect to go through the same proceedings with my #gardening neighbors as I do every single year. Over and over again, they'll ask me, if they can transplant their nightshade family and similar seedlings outside already. And my answer, for Central Europe at least, will always be a big NOPE (and likely a facepalm - because they're tirelessly optimistic and overzealous)!

There's an ancient weather lore of the Three Ice Saints, followed by Cold Sophia (see Wiki link) that still applies, despite all the recent changes to our climate. Our last frost day is May 15. It's been observed and recorded by Galileo Galilei in the 17th century and it is still observed nowadays. You simply don't plant hot season plants into cold soil with chance of frost. So... patience! If your seedlings won't get stunted by cold, they'll grow healthier and much, much faster. I'm always the last in our neighborhood to transplant things like tomatoes, peppers, eggplants et. al onto my garden and always the first to harvest.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_Saints

#GardeningAdvice #PlantingSeason #Weather #Climate #WeatherLore #Farming #FarmingLore #Folklore #IceSaints #Frost #Europe #CentralEurope