ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, May 23, 1996 TAG: 9605230068
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MICHAEL CROAN STAFF WRITER
THE MONTH OF MAY, not known as a bad time for floral enthusiasts, is causing trouble with its fickle switch from chilly nights to sweltering days.
Tony Thomas has his flowers figured - and his fruits and vegetables, too.
The owner of Thomas' Market on the Roanoke City Market makes it his business to keep up with his crops. But this year, there were two things Thomas didn't figure on - a late frost and an early heat wave.
Thomas said the rule of green thumbs is to plant on or after May 10, usually the last day Roanokers have to worry about frost. However, scattered frosts on May 13 and 14 sent many gardeners rushing to protect their plants from the unexpected cold.
"We've had several people say they've lost tomato plants due to frost," Thomas said.
"It's been a difficult year," said his wife, Sue Thomas, who works in the business with him. "When you have such drastic [weather] changes, plants can't grow as well. They get stunted."
Roanoke County Agricultural Agent John Vest agreed that it's been a difficult spring for growers.
"Those who planted an early garden site first were faced with having to mulch or protect their plants" from the cold, he said. "The excess heat has really turned things around."
Vest explained that when temperatures remain warm, plants germinate better than when temperatures remain cool.
"When temperatures are cold, young tender plants can be damaged or killed. degree temperatures during the day because the ground hasn't warmed up yet.
"Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, impatiens, marigolds, scarlet sage, begonias ... frost will kill any of that," he said.
"A lot of people lost a lot of plants," said Janet Walter of Walter's Greenhouses on the City Market. "The stress of the hot heat coming right after the cold spell didn't do them a lot of good either."
Walter added that the only way to avoid losing plants is not to plant flowers, vegetables or anything that could be damaged by the cold before May 10.
Customers on the Market Wednesday afternoon could have benefited from that advice.
"We lost some tomato plants and some pumpkins," said Tracy Broughman of Botetourt County, who was shopping with her 7-year-old son, Matthew. "We usually don't have frost in May ... so we take our chances."
Linda Gray of Christiansburg used to plant early, too.
"One year, I planted some azaleas on April 1, and it snowed that year, so I learned the hard way," she said.
"People had to buy their basil plants again, their tomato plants again," Walter's mother, Rosalin Walter, explained. However, the Walters said the strange weather patterns aren't completely bad.
"During this warm weather, even though it's hard for us to take, it's a good time to get your gardens in shape," Rosalin Walter said. "Make sure you water your plants well and feed them. Make sure you get the proper fertilizer for the crop you're growing."
Vest also stressed the importance of giving plants a deep, adequate watering once a week, about the equivalent of an inch of rainfall.
However, he warned growers that "watering during the heat of the day is not recommended," because that can actually burn plant surfaces as the water heats up and evaporates.
Vest said foliage burn also can occur if careful consideration is not given to insecticide and pesticide labels.
He added that gardeners must watch for signs of heat stress, which include fatigue, nausea, headaches, chills, dizziness, fainting, severe thirst and dry mouth, confusion or slurred speech. A person suffering from heat stress may have clammy skin or hot, dry skin and may sweat heavily or not at all.
He said the best way to treat such symptoms is to get the victim to a shaded or cool area quickly, to keep them calm, and give them cool, not cold, water to drink. That may be good advice for folks at Roanoke's Festival in the Park this weekend, if the forecast showers and thunderstorms don't show.
According to National Weather Service Meteorologist Steve Nogueira, highs will be in the 80s Memorial Day weekend, with lows around 55.
"I don't think it's going to rain all the time, but there will be showers and scattered thunderstorms on ... Saturday and Sunday. By Monday ... it could actually be a sunny or partly sunny day."
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: STEPHANIE KLEIN-DAVIS/Staff. Laura Santa Ana, 3, smellsby CNBflowers her mother, Tamara Santa Ana, both of Natural Bridge
Station, bought. color.