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Show and Garden Edition, Spring 1981 Climate needs to be viewed Winter is the time when some people most enjoy browsing their garden seed catalogues. These Weather info needs to be localized colorful publications contain much interesting and valuable information to guide you in planning your garden. But keep in mind that the weather related information must be interpreted for your own locality, noted E. Arlo Richardson, state climatologist at Utah State University. Listed under days to the seed maturity rate catalogues vegetables according to the number of days required for each species to develop to the point that it is ready for harvest. This number is based on the location where the maturity tests were run by the plant breeders. It likely will be somewhat different for your location and will vary from season to season depending on the amount of energy available for plant growth, Richardson says. That amount of energy available for plant growth can be calculated as growing degree days. The calculation is based upon the temperature at which growth begins for each particular species of plant. Intermediate termperature plants such as peas, beets, radishes, spinach, etc. begin growth when the tem- perature exceeds 40 degrees. This is called the base. Warm temperature crops such as tomatoes, corn, melons, cucumbers, etc. do not begin growth until the temperature exceeds a base of 50 degrees. Generally when the intermediate temperature species are exposed to temperatures exceeding 77 degrees, the rate of growth is about the same as it is at 77 degrees. Similarly, when the temperature exceeds 86 that explained in calculating growing temperature plants, degree days you make adjustments for the way the plant species relate to minimum and maximum temperature for your area. For intermediate degrees, the warm temperature crops grow at about the same as at 86 substitute 40 when the minimum is below 40 degrees and substitute 77 when the maximum temperature exceeds 77 degrees. In the same manner for degrees. warm The climatologist temperature crops, you substitute 50 and 86 when the temperature goes below and above those levels. Add the corrected minimum and maximum temperatures for the day together, divide by two and subtract the ap- propriate base temperature for the crop. This value gives you the accumulated energy units (called growing degree days) for that particular day. By adding the daily values together from time of planting you have the accumulated growing degree days for the growing season on that crop. Richardson explained that this calculation helps to understand the difference in the rate of growth you see during the different parts of the growing season. Considering it along with the days to maturity helps you plan harvest dates to avoid harvests. ruin your estate? Now is the time to act. Of all the planning you do for your farm or ranch, and your family, the most important of all is your estate planning. Why risk losing a third or half of all youve put together for lack of a plan. At First Security Bank we have a staff of highly skilled experts who spend all their time on estate planning, probate service and the other things needed to protect your interests. And your familys. Act today. Come in to your nearby First Security office and ask to see our trust officer. Youll always be glad you did. POffsG SBeaasffi&y of Utah, fj. A. overlapping Tractor Tune-U- p Parts Truck, 4x4's & Auto Parts Other parts by special order I'JAflDS 4h4 HUNTINGTON 687-906- Member FOIC ii 0 fli |