How does winter weather impact vegetable crops?
Orzolek: The winter weather helps to recharge irrigation ponds and wells used for irrigation. The cold temperatures also help to kill some insects and weeds. The bad news is that with late spring rains, which we have experienced in Pennsylvania for the last month, fields are saturated. Unless we get warm temperatures (more than 60 degrees F) and some windy days, soils will not dry out very quickly and planting of vegetables may be delayed in 2008. In relation to the entire country, the heavy rains that caused serious flooding in the Midwest will delay planting crops by several weeks. What does this mean for farmers? Orzolek: Growers may consider not planting particular crops because of planting delays, or switch to crops that may be more tolerant of wet soils. In any case, I think there will be some spot shortages of vegetables this summer. When do farmers in warmer climates start to plant vegetables? In some parts of the U.S. is the growing season year-round? Orzolek: In southern clim
