Dawn - That is bad news. Oklahoma has the weirdest weather, doesn't it? I was watching the weather conditions last night in the northern states and wondering if they were dialing Al Gore to ask for a little "global warming".

We certainly don't have the trouble that they are having, but I went out to meet my DH for lunch and as I passed the bank, the temp had made it all the way up to 12 degrees. We have a very light covering of snow and while I was out sweeping it off this morning, it didn't feel bad at all. In fact, I had on a sweater and I didn't even add a coat eventhough it was 9 or 10 degrees. After having lunch, I went to Wal-Mart and when I came out the wind was blowing and it was freezing. Brrrrr Wind chill makes all the difference.

I can't imagine you not planting a garden. So I am putting out a request to all of the Oklahoma gardeners who read this post and enjoy your contribution and teachings, to pray for rain for southern Oklahoma, and especially Dawn's garden. How about it folks?

Hi Carol,

Oh, y'all are so cold today! I was thinking we are cold here, where it is currently about 35 degrees, and then I looked at the Mesonet current air temperature map and almost fainted. There's lots of readings (at 4 p.m.) in the teens, so I cannot even imagine how cold y'all will be tonight. We're supposed to be about 16 degrees in town and about 10-12 degrees down here on the river. Two house fire calls in town today, but neither was serious. This kind of weather often brings a couple of horrible house fires on very cold nights--usually because of combustibles placed too close to space heaters.

Our weather is bizarre. Despite the dryness at the southern edge of OK that has been going on for months, I never expected to see the dry conditions travel as far northward and eastward as they have.

I am basing my "I may not have a garden" thoughts on the fact that our soil moisture levels are so poor (especially deeper down beneath the surface) and I know crops need certain amounts of moisture to have a chance. When soil moisture levels are this low in winter/spring, it is really, really hard to get the plants going. Plants/soil that have good winter/spring moisture can hang tough in a summertime drought, but it is really hard to get them well-established without moisture falling from the sky in late winter and spring. And, I do irrigate, but I am not going to bust our budget to water heavily.

As dry as we are in Love County, the drought is actually worst due east of us in Marshall, Bryant and eastern Carter County. They have a higher rainfall deficit than we do so they are in "severe" drought and we are only in a "moderate" drought. So, if we are going to pray for rain, let's be especially sure to pray for rain in those areas too.

I am sure I will find a way to have some sort of garden, but may plant mostly drought-tolerant flowers or cover crops. Of course, I'll have tomatoes in containers on a drip irrigation system.

If significant rainfall hasn't fallen by March 1st, I'll probably scale back my current plans and have just a couple of the toughest, hardiest, most drought-tolerant crops like okra and black-eyed peas. I HAVE to plant my onions when they arrive from Dixondale in mid-February, though, because I've already ordered them and I am not going to waste them. If rain has fallen by about Feb. 10th, I'll put out a soaker hose and water the onion bed for a few days prior to planting so the little plants have a chance.

I tell you what....if the drought persists and deepens, I expect Love County will move into the "severe" category by March or so, and I may get really grumpy. : )

It is a really, really, really good thing we don't have to survive only on what I grow in the garden, cause I guess we'd get really hungry. I still have lots of onions, tomatoes, corn, potatoes and beans from last year's garden, but I hate having to buy stuff I could grow myself.

If the current drought persists another 6 months, we'll start losing trees in our woods as we have in the previous droughts in the 2000s. I've already lost some shrubs near the house....and I kept them watered, but apparently not enough. These are seven year old junipers and their death caught me by surprise. How dry is it? The poor little squirrels (evil garden bandits that they are) are going into the coop WITH the chickens and guineas to drink from the poulty waterers. So, for amusement these days we can watch the guineas chase the squirrels. In the winter, we take our entertainment wherever we can find it.

Dawn

I moved to OKC two years ago, so I got to see two winters and two summers that had plenty of rain (the one year with over 50 inches of it). Now, except for a small storm in December there doesn't seem to be any moisture since October or maybe September.

Even though it is cold out I'm thinking I'll go and water some of the shrubs I planted last spring, just in case...

We've lived in Marietta for 10 years and have seen wide-ranging rainfall totals, ranging for slightly under 19" of rain one year to about 46" or 48" in another. One thing about Oklahoma weather is that it is never boring, and you never really know what to expect.

In Love County, we have recorded slightly less than 1" (0.88") of rainfall at our Mesonet Station at Burneyville in the last 90 days, although we've had a tiny bit more than that at our house.

For 2008, we had just under 23" of moisture although our annual "average" rainfall is supposed to be (but seldom is) 38". Even in 2007, when many parts of OK recorded 50-60", we still were in the 30s, although the first 7 months were pretty rainy. So, we're hurting for moisture here, but so are lots of other parts of OK.

I don't see improvement coming any time soon.

Watering the plants is a good idea. In the winter, it is easy to forget to water, but dormant plants need water too.

Dawn