5a

In 2023, the United States Department of Agriculture updated its 2012 plant hardiness zone map to include changes in 30-year average annual lowest temperatures. The lower a zone's number, the lower the average annual extreme low temperature. Your zone helps you decide when to start seeds indoors and when to transplant starts or plant seeds outdoors to give them the best chance for success. While tender plants set out too early will probably survive, cold temperatures may stunt or delay their growth. Warm season vegetables need warmer soil temperatures for good germination and growth, too.

In 2012, La Crosse was solidly in Zone 4b, with an average annual extreme minimum temperature (1975-2005) of -25° to -20° F. But the 2023 update uses temperatures collected from 1991 to 2020, and La Crosse is now in Zone 5a, with average extreme minimums of -15° to -20° F. While the USDA argues against attributing changes to global heating, other climate research has accurately predicted a steady path of upward changes in global temperatures since the 1980s. Whatever, the reason, we're averaging warmer temperatures now compared with 15 years ago.

This means, the UW Extension Planting Guide for Madison, which was already in zone 5a, now works perfectly for La Crosse.

So, for the most part, we are leaning on the planting schedule suggested in that guide, whilekeeping an eye on actual conditions. We had a very warm early May, but this week, we've cooled down, a reminder to take a breather and not be in a rush, maybe.

Given predictions of rain and cool temperatures this week (May 19 through 25), we will not be planting at the City Hall garden on Tuesday, May 20. If it is rainy or wet, we stay out of the garden, usually to avoid compacting soil or spreading disease.

Check back here or email or text for updates on Hogan and Aptiv schedules this week.

The bean team!

Thank you to two groups of UWL students who have helped plant the City Hall garden. This Tuesday, we we were able to get our beans planted thanks to the hard work of Cayden, Hayden, and Zack!

Thanks, too, to Todd Huffman, who has donated several plant seedlings!

Please join us for planting if you can! If it's pouring rain or very wet, email MinisterOfBeans at Gmail for rain plans.

Aptiv, Friday mornings at 9 (May change to 8 soon).

Hogan, Tuesday mornings at 9.

City Hall, Tuesday evenings at 5:30.

Planting continues

Thank you Todd H for bringing us extra seedlings! It gives us a head start on our kale and cauliflower harvest!

We've started planting at all three gardens now. Come out and help if you have time.

Also, if you have seedlings you've started and want to get in the ground, bring them to a group garden time. We'd love some herbs and edible flower starts, too, for the City Hall Garden.

Planting now. Volunteers welcome!

We will continue planting spring vegetables on

• Tuesday, May 6 at 9 a.m. at the Hogan garden
• Wednesday, May 7 at 2:30 p.m. at the City Hall garden 
• Friday, May 9 at 9 a.m. at the Aptiv garden

If you would like to help out, please just show up or, if you'd like more info or have questions, please email us at MinisterofBeans at gmail or call 608-315-2693.

We have a herb/flower bed at the City Hall garden and would welcome some herbs or polliinator-friendly flower seedlings, too. If you have any to donate, please let us know or come in down to the garden on May 7.

Planting season!

Planting at the Victory Gardens begins soon!

Aptiv will meet UPDATE: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 Friday, April 25 at 9 a.m. unless it's raining (contact us for rain date).

City Hall and Hogan planting will begin the following week (dates not yet finalized.)

If you want to help, please email or call to get on the contact list. We'll update as soon as details are set.

MinisterofBeans@gmail or 608-315-2693.

See you at the library!

We'll be at the April 12 Garden Talk & Seed Swap event at the La Crosse Public Library from 10 a.m. to noon with info about this year's community victory gardens! See you there! 

Looking forward to a new season!

We're starting to think about gardening! If you are interested in volunteering in 2025, helping plan, plant, maintain, or coordinate volunteers, let us know!

We're looking for an experienced gardener to supervise the City Hall garden in 2025. Help & support available! Also if you want to help start seedlings in March, please contact us. 

MinisterOfBeans at gmail or 608-315-2693.