Spring finally arrived on March 19 at 11:06 p.m. Although we experienced spring-like weather earlier in the month, the temperatures seemed more like winter when spring finally arrived on March 19.

In the New England states, there was an old saying that spring advances north at the rate of 100 miles per week. There is some truth in this adage because I’ve noticed in Troy, which is 150 miles north of Harrisburg, we are about 10-14 days behind in their arrival of spring.

I read in the 2024 Old Farmer’s Almanac of an old farmer’s prediction that when a chipmunk is seen scampering across your yard, spring will only be a few days away.

Farmers and gardeners have always tried to figure out when the last frost would occur so they could begin planting. Today the United States Department of Agriculture issues a plant hardiness zone map for guidance to planters. This map is based on data collected over the last two decades from weather stations located across the country. Seed and plant companies also subdivide the country into recommended planting dates.

Humans have always used natural indicators to aid in making decisions on when to plant. This process, which is known as phenology, is a Greek word for the science of appearances. Webster states that phenology is a branch of science concerned with the relations between climate and periodic biological phenomena, such as the migration and breeding of birds and the flowering and fruiting of plants.

This phenological lore was often based on wildlife, planets, and the moon. The Romans were warned not to put out their frost-tender grape vines until the white cranes returned from their migration. The Seneca Indians did not plant their corn until a naked person could comfortably sit on the bare ground.

Early New England farmers did not plant corn until either the elm leaves were the size of a squirrel’s ear or oak leaves the size of a mouse’s ear. It was also said that spring peepers had to freeze out three times before warm weather would stay.

Of all the methods tried, the use of plants was the most predictable. A plant uses daytime high and nighttime low temperatures, soil moisture and day’s length to determine when to bloom. After all, a plant must time both its blooming to be late enough to miss a late spring frost, and early enough so that it doesn’t get hit by an early frost. For example, cold-tolerant vegetables — such as lettuce, peas and spinach — can be safely planted when the lilacs are leafing out. However other frost sensitive plants should wait until the lilac’s flowers are in full bloom.

Forsythia is another good indicator species that was also used. At one time, almost everyone had a forsythia plant in their yard. The forsythia belongs to the family oleacease. Oleacease comes from the Latin word oleaae, meaning olive tree.

The forsythia bush blooms about two weeks before most of the other showy spring plants. The flowers, which are four-lobed and practically stalkless, are borne singly of up to six in a cluster in the leaf axis. The flowers grow up and down along the woody stems of the plant. Leafing out is delayed so the intensity of the clear yellow is not diminished by competition with young green foliage. The bush grows in any type of soil, even by the most untalented gardener.

A forsythia will bloom for years, providing the plant is not pruned when dormant. Dormant pruning only removes the unopened buds, which were formed the previous summer. It is best to prune immediately after flowering.

Here are some other indicators that early farmers used:

–When forsythia is in bloom it is time to fertilize;

–Spring has not sprung until one foot can step on 12 daisies;

–It’s time to plant peas when daffodils begin to bloom;

–When a flowering dogwood is at its peak bloom, it is time to plant tomatoes, early corn and peppers;

–Tomatoes and peppers can be planted when daylilies start to bloom; plant beets, lettuce, spinach and carrots when dandelions are blooming;

–Prune roses and fertilize lawns when the forsythia bushes and crocuses are blooming, and when the aspen trees leaf out, there will be no more frosts.

Holidays were sometimes used as guides for planting such as potatoes and peas on Saint Patrick’s Day, turnips on Ascension Day and parsley and beans on Good Friday.

Many sayings were also associated with planting crops such as: have someone with red hair plant your peppers; cucumbers planted on a Saturday will be bitter; if you laugh while planting corn, the ears will fall apart; corn should be planted after the whippoorwill calls; and morning glories should not be planted until the maple leaves are full-sized.

Bill Bower is a retired Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Officer. Read his blog and listen to his podcasts on the outdoors at www.onemaningreen.com.