A Summer Blast

• Posted on 16 July 2020
• 0

BatesRewards members get 15% off EVERYTHING*; our own Austin Lohin, is on “The At Home Show” hotseat!

We frequently hear about “popcorn” thunderstorms.  Pockets of thunderstorms often pop up, seemingly out of nowhere, due to the heat of summer. As morning sunshine warms the earth; the air above warms. Farther above the ground, typically above 40,000 feet, the air doesn't warm as quickly or as much. Consequently, the lower atmosphere becomes unstable. The warm air wants to rise; once it starts, it doesn't stop until it hits cooler air above it.

The atmosphere percolates like an old coffee pot; thunderstorms build in the afternoon warmth. These single-cell storms are often called "popcorn thunderstorms" because they look from above like popped kernels of corn. They occur most often here in the sticky South.

Since these storms tend to be quite scattered, there can often be an inequity of precipitation around the area.  Sunday at the nursery, we got about an inch of rain in 45 minutes.  Some areas, west of Nashville, had terrible flooding while other spots east, received no appreciable rainfall.

We battle-hardened gardeners know better than to depend on Mother Nature, nothing against her, but we know better than to put all of our precipitation eggs into her basket.  Watering at any time of day is preferable to lack of moisture on new plantings. Watering early in the morning or evening is less susceptible to evaporation.  One other really important aspect is that it is much easier on the waterer.  A comparatively cool gardener is more patient at watering, and therefore does a more thorough job.

Everything you’ve planted this past spring requires watering throughout the summer.  Since you’re watering anyway, you might consider adding some additional plants.  Perhaps a decorative container, with a tropical plant and some EarthMix® Proganix™ - I, might be on your mind.  It matters not, EVERYTHING* in-store, excluding gift cards and deliveries, is 15% off!

Saturday morning at 8a; have your gardening questions ready.  615-499-6690. Horticulturalist, Austin Lohin is featured on TAHS, live from the GreenRoom at Bates Nursery.

David Bates