My last frost day will probably be in May.
I’ve already started some tomatoes.
I'm in middle lower Michigan, and the saying around here is "Last Frost Day is the 15th of May."
" Rick Bickling, The How Do Gardener, describes how inflation, rising fuel costs, and the Russia/Ukraine conflict
will cause food prices to rise dramatically and how many items will just not be available.
See what the experts are forecasting and see why you must start a garden now."
DuncanWaring :" My last frost day will probably be in May.
I’ve already started some tomatoes "
China, which has frequently had food shortages, has purchased enough food, grains, livestock, etc., to answer their food needs for 1 to 1 1/2 years.
They bought so much grain and other foodstuffs so as to affect the world market.
Similarly, Russia has purchased grain for storage, and has instituted an embargo on all their internal fertilizers, also, China has an embargo on all its fertilizers.
This embargo of fertilizer by Russia and China has never occurred before (!!); all this during the Russian invasion of Ukraine,
which has been called the "Breadbasket of Europe".
Currently, nitrogen (for green growth) has tripled in price, while potash and phosphorus for flowering/ fruit set) has doubled in price, and it isn't even planting season yet !
What happens when the civilian population and farms and farmers of Ukraine have been ethnically cleansed and eliminated during an invasion ?
Who is then going to provide the food and grains that Europe and the Near East have counted on for generations,
after a barbaric scorched earth, ethnic cleansing policy during the Russian invasion ?
Now, ..consider growing food crops without fertilizer, or fertilizer that will bankrupt the small farmer,
but will benefit only the mega-agriculture conglomerates who will pass along the additional expenses.
Grow a "Victory Garden" on your own, even on small containers if need be; or see how England prospered during WWII, or even how those overcame the "Great Depression " of the 1930's.
Buy seeds that are 'indeterminate', so that you will have food growing and harvesting during the entire growing season, or just grow 5 Zucchinis plants.
As FReepers, we even have access to our own "Gardening Forum" every Saturday, with Dianna in Wisconsin which is open to everyone from 'rookie', or "black thumb'
all the way to Master Gardener, where there is no question about gardening that won't be helped, or answered.
Start your on "Victory Garden" to cut your food expenses and develop an additional survival skill.
Also, encourage your neighbor to go for survival gardening, because it makes sense .
And Remember above all else :" Let's go Brandon !"
OODA Loop !
Know what your average 'last frost date' is, and then for long term growth crops (like tomatoes, peppers, melons, etc.)
start the seedlings indoors about 30-45 days before setting outside in the garden, to assure good growth.
Frost sensitive plants out in the garden can be protected from frost with sheets or blankets, or even plastic sheeting.