wiiinnnndddyyy!!!!

[desertlady]

I hate wind! we have winds the last few weeks, today suppose to go as high as 50 mph! all my plants are confused !! Yes some of them are covered, but wind will turned them over aurrgg!

 

[The Mama Chicken]

Our winds have been up to 35MPH for the last couple of days, so I feel your pain.
I have one tomato plant that blew right over, stake and all. It didn't break, but's it's leaning drunkenly out into the path. Plus, with temps up in the mid 90's, things are drying out so fast.

 

[thistlebloom]

We've been having a lot of strong wind too, but our temps are in the 50's, so it's chilly.
I checked the quickie weather forecast and it said chance of snow. :/
They must mean the mountains.....

 

[897tgigvib]

One of the experiments I did in Botany class in College was to test RAPID TRANSPIRATION RATES.

Turns out that sure enough, lots of light combined with lots of air flow and high temperature around plants causes plants to do the most rapid turnaround with water.

The microscopic openings on the leaves called Stomata open at their widest in bright light when there is a lot of air flow, and the warm temperature contributes by allowing evaporation at those openings to be most rapid.

Bright Light
Air Flow
Higher Temperature

Different plants are affected differently by these. Some plants evolved to close their stomata openings under these conditions, but most of our garden plants have not evolved that way.

It's amazing how plants move water through their systems. Not just capillary action, but transpiration is a main motor behind water movement in plants. There is another one that here in 2012 is still not understood. The plants actually pump water up. That action is very subtle, but appears to be more of a priming action to keep the other motivator actions working right. Different plants have different mechanisms among these three of being most important.

Capillary action
Transpiration
Cellular pumping

Basically what it means is:

When it is windy, sunny, and hot, water your plants a lot more.
If the plants are in pots, water in the pots will help them not fall over.



Course, if you are growing Prickly Pears, they'll still appreciate at least a splash of water! (I love prickly pear fruit!)

 

[The Mama Chicken]

I went out and watered this morning. It's especially hard to keep the hills that my husband just made for the watermelons moist enough to germinate, those have been getting watered twice a day.

 

[lesa]

So many aspects of weather are frustrating, but I think wind has to be on the top of the list... so damaging, and difficult to do anything about. Here's hoping some calm air goes your way...

 

[desertlady]

I deep water every morning! In the afternoon its drying up fast ! (wind) so I make sure I wet them down so they dont dry up ! I hope the that will change soon when the humidity rises !

 

[desertlady]

winds got worst today ! over 45 mph , My poor plants looks stressed out. most have been covered thank goodness for that ! Hopefully wind will die out soon ! I am spending my Memorial weekend taking care of my poor plants !! Hope you all have a nice weekend!!

 

[cityfarmer]

It has been windy here as well. Saturday sustained at 30-40 with gusts to 50-60. Sunday, sustained 20 with gusts to 30. However, this is spring on the front range. If my plants survive their first few weeks, they are strong!

 

[desertlady]

Finally wind has stopped !!! Now I will enjoy my garden and hope rain will come soon !!