When to Plant Corn, Beans and Squash — Natural Signs for Planting

Reader Contribution by Ira Wallace
Published on April 8, 2012
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“When apple blossoms start to fall…,”  “When lilacs are in full bloom…,” “When oak leaves are the size of a squirrel’s ear…” Our neighbors and The Old Farmer’s Almanac are full of advice about when to plant corn, beans, squash, and other crops. It may seem like old wives tales but there is a growing body of evidence showing that growing degree days and phenology (the study of natural plant cycles) are valuable planning tools for gardeners in these times of climate change and unpredictable weather.

The USA-NPN’s phenology observation program, Nature’s Notebook, is a nationwide effort to collect and distribute data on the timing of plant and animal life cycle events. If you have recorded your own observations of nature over the past years, want to get started with your own observations, or would like to explore the wealth of data available, you should explore the USA National Phenology Network.

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