Three quick charts to help quantify the status of spring near Zanesville, OH:
Here I show growing degree days as measured by the Ohio State University Extension Growing Degrees Calculator. Growing Degree Days are a measure of activity of plants and insects during a growing season. Typically growing degree days are limited in February and March. Growing degree day calculators only count temperatures above a base threshold (usually 50F) and often below a maximum threshold (often 86F). In brief, the growing degrees accumulated so far in 2024 are above average, but we can see that last year was even higher.
The National Phenology Network measures the development of indicator plants (lilac clones) across the United States. Current reports show these plants are leafing out up 10-20 days early in regions south of Ohio and just creeping into the southern Ohio region.
Soil temperatures at the Eastern Ohio Agricultural Research Station remain below 50F. It is typically to see soil temperatures fluctuate higher and lower through March and often well into April, depending on overall warming and cooling trends. While air temperature can be quite warm, soil temperature determines crop and plant progress like seed germination and early crop development. We often want steady temperatures above 50F, and or even 60F, for optimal conditions.
