I have a friend that moved to Mississippi for a two year Katrina rebuild contract.. I looked at the zone and planting charts, but would like to know from anyone in the area which plants you are planting out in aug, sept. that will work with the irregular weather.. Is Mississippi having extremely unusual el nino weather like us on the east coast? They will put up a 4x4 for the kids.
thank you
-joe-
mississippi shore planting.
I live in the extreme eastern corner of coastal MS. The weather has been odd this summer. June was hotter than normal. Normally in June or July there will be a 2 or 3 week period with showers occurring regularly that's called "dog days". It's lasting much longer this year and is more violent with lots of lightening. It's been more breezy than normal but no tropical depressions or storms at all. That's unusual since the hurricane season started June 1.
It's prime time for planting summer squash, cukes and tomato plants. There's time for green beans and southern peas. It's time to start seeds for cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower around the 15th. Last year first hard frost was November 18 which was just a few days early.
Tell your friend to check LSU's Vegetable Guide online for dates and practices. It's an excellent reference. The MS coast is similar in climate to Baton Rouge.
that is excellent information, is there a particular variety for a goos ol' standby tomato? up here they are early girls and better boys. I am going to order plants and ship to misssissippi.
I grew out almost 70 varieties, mostly OPs, this spring and that's my first serious garden in years on account of heath problems so I wouldn't call myself experienced. I did find that the determinates and indeterminates finished about the same time due to excess heat.
I truly expect the same will be true for fall planted tomatoes except the killer will be frost. So I'd suggest any variety with an early to mid season maturity will yield a crop. I'm setting some plants now that are already 6" tall and only about 3 weeks old. I expect them to bloom before September which will still be very hot and the first ones might not set. Lawns stop growing here at the end of September on account of reduced daylight I think. It's very important to have large enough plants to set fruit in that narrow window. I read somewhere that it takes about 32 - 36 days from fruit set to ripe which may be slower in the fall so hurry up. I am mostly interested in processing types so I lean toward plums. I'm going with some Martino's Roma, Mama Leone from seed and cuttings, and some good looking volunteers that are a mystery at this point.
I feel your pain.. I am in volunteer hell this year - couldn't bring myself to thin them out... planted 30 plants.. ending up wit almost 50.
I will get something out, I didn't consider the daylight .. I just think hot therefore long day..(havn't been to the south in awhile)
thank you
-joe-