The snow has melted and out comes the sunshine ready for a launch into Springtime (hopefully). Although there’s another cold snap due this week in the UK.

A bit of sunshine and the weather is warming up,

Springs plants into action with green shoots popping up,

The birds are tweeting and the sunshine is fleeting,

Here come the buds on the apple trees.

Apparently Garlic loves a snap of cold weather, a few weeks ago the ground was frozen for 7 days straight and then last week after the temperature warmed up the green shoots started sprouting. This amazes me with plants how they know when to make a move in the upwards direction.

How do plants know when to start growing for Spring?

Daylight hours increase

The daylight hours increase and the plants have more growing time in the light hours.

Temperature warms up

The temperature warms up which puts the plants into action in growing new growth, buds and flowers. The temperature change triggers chemicals in plant cells that turn the extra light and heat available into energy to grow and sprout faster in the warmer temperatures.

When does Spring Start?

Spring starts from March 1st in the UK according to the seasons or it’s starts on March 20th according to the Spring equinox which is based on the astronomical cycle.

Signs of spring include:

• Bumblebees looking lost and trying to find early pollen
• Snowdrops, crocus and bluebells are often the first plants to emerge
• Birds collecting nesting materials and finding a place to nest, blackbirds and blue tits build their nests in February and March.
• New buds and shoots on trees and plants
• Insects awaken