Three Frozen Men

In short: The Three Ice Saints fall on May 12-14, and once they pass, outdoor sowing is safe. In May you can sow cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, courgettes, aubergines, melons, artichokes and herbs outdoors, and place flower boxes in their summer spots. Overwintered plants belong on the balcony only after May 15.

The Three Ice Saints

The Three Ice Saints - they're behind us, so we can safely start with outdoor sowing. The Three Ice Saints, also known as the "Ice Men," fall on May 12-14 in the calendar. During these days, temperatures drop significantly and the last morning frosts arrive. The arrival of Pancras, Servatius, and Boniface is important for the proper functioning of nature. During these days, nature awakens to life, everything starts to bud and buds begin to swell into flowers. People have been noticing this meteorological phenomenon since the Middle Ages. However, in the Middle Ages, the Julian calendar was in use, when the Ice Saints occurred about 10 days earlier. Also, temperatures in the 14th-19th centuries dropped well below zero during winter. So we must take folk weather lore with a grain of salt. Frosts are more likely to occur around April 29. Pancras, Servatius, and Boniface remain in the calendar only as tradition; these names are now less common and rarely given. Statistically, measurements in our republic, Poland, and Slovakia have shown that the weather during these three ice saints' days was actually warmer than tradition suggests, and nature came more alive. It was colder, conversely, about those 10 days earlier. Nevertheless, we cannot take the Three Ice Saints lightly. These morning frosts together with weeping Sophia are a disaster for farmers, gardeners, and especially winemakers ("Sophia drinks the wine"). Now the frosts are no longer a threat and we can get to work with confidence.

Folk weather sayings are mostly meteorologically connected with this feast of the Three Ice Saints. These folk sayings combine years of gardeners' experience with the influence of weather on crops at a given time of year. Given that May is a very economically significant month for farmers, there are really many weather sayings. Do you know, for example: "March, crawl behind the stove, April, we'll still be there, but May, we'll drive the goats to the grove," "Saints Pancras, Servatius, and Boniface, all farmers fear you," "Before Servatius there's no summer, after Servatius frosts are over," "When it lightens in May, the farmer rejoices," "A dry day on Pancras - wine will yield, flax will be thick." The "ice woman - Sophia," or also "weeping Sophia," is often added to the Ice Men - and weather sayings you surely know: "Saint Sophia often floods the fields," "Rain on Saint Sophia kills the plums," and others.

Generally, however, according to weather lore, it was traditional that: "if May is cold, the year will be bountiful." So we have something to look forward to.

Seeds

A seed is the reproductive organ of seed plants. It most commonly has a spherical shape. Ensuring seed germination is the most important step for any gardener. A seed will begin to germinate under the most favorable conditions for it. Each plant may have different suitable conditions for germination. It is always necessary to read the instructions carefully and ensure the most suitable conditions for the seed. During germination, the seed begins to absorb water and swell. The seed coat called the testa ruptures and the plant embryo begins to grow out, tip first. Nowadays, it is possible to purchase seeds of plants we can think of and would like to grow. Seeds are now commonly available even from exotic plants. Some seeds require soaking in water before sowing, or soaking in tea extract. Alternatively, storing the seed in a plastic bag in the refrigerator, rubbing seeds between sharp stones, scarifying the seed surface with a file, and other methods.

Conditions for Seed Germination

The most important conditions for proper seed germination include - maintaining the correct temperature, humidity, water, light and oxygen. Mature seeds are often very dry. During germination, they need to absorb a large amount of water to swell and develop further. Most seeds need light for germination. Young seedlings develop better under the influence of daylight. Disrupting the seed coat is also an important aid in seed germination. In nature, some seeds germinate better if they pass through the digestive tract of animals. At home, we can artificially help them with stratification (storing seeds in a plastic bag in the refrigerator, disrupting the seed surface in an acidic environment, and other methods). For ornamental woody plants, we stratify seeds in moist sand and after they germinate, we transplant them into regular substrate. We can also help seeds germinate by scarifying the surface with a file. Seed viability also depends on the age of the seed and its storage.

Seed Vivipary

Vivipary is a property of some plants to begin germination already in the inflorescence of their own mother plant. After being blown away by the wind or the plant's inflorescence dies, they immediately take root in the soil. Examples of exotic plants include the Agave plant, or also alpine meadow-grass.

Buds

Buds are divided according to function. They are divided into: leaf buds (forming leaves), flower buds (forming flowers) and mixed buds. In herbaceous plants, buds are naked. They have no protection against external influences. Woody plants protect their buds with scales. The scales are layered over the bud, thus protecting it. Buds and young leaves in some woody plants are protected by sticky secretions. A bud (lat. Gemma) is the foundation of a future new, living part of the plant (future branches, stems or leaves). We should protect future buds from frost.

Overwintered Plants

We recommend placing them on the balcony only after May 15th. If you haven't hardened off your plants yet this year, it's better to bring them inside to warmth for the first few nights until they fully adapt to higher daytime and lower nighttime temperatures.

So What to Start Sowing in May?

We can start outdoor sowing of herbs. A fragrant herb garden will delight us. May is also an ideal month for sowing cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers. If you're planning to change your lifestyle and have vegetables instead of side dishes with your meat? Sow zucchini and eggplant. Zucchini is also a suitable and tasty vegetable for grilling. What about green bean pods? Will you try them this year? If you sow popcorn corn, you can have delicious homemade popcorn. If you have a field or garden facing south, you can sow melons, both watermelons and honeydew melons.

For a late harvest, we can sow again carrots, parsley, beetroot, and lettuce, among others.

We place water lilies in garden ponds.

From the flower garden, we can place sown planters in their annual locations. In sunny locations - geraniums, lobelias, marigolds, petunias, balcony - bush or trailing tomatoes, and herbs. In shady locations, plant mint from herbs, begonias from flowering plants, and ivy from foliage plants. From biennials that you sow this year and will see flowers next year, choose - foxglove and carnation.

Do you have empty spaces left in your garden? You can sow fast-growing and beautifully flowering nasturtium.

Author: Hana Michalíková