The Ice Saints 2020 What gardeners should know!
Every gardener knows the weather phenomenon “Ice Saints”. In 2020 the ice saints Mamertus, Pankratius, Servatius, Bonifatius and the cold Sophie will come to the country from May 11th to 15th.
The ice saints, or “strict masters”, are such an important time in the farmers calendar because they mark the days when late frost can occur. At night, the temperatures drop sharply and this drop in temperature can cause considerable damage to young plants.
The Ice Saints
The name “Ice Saints” comes from the vernacular and denotes the days relevant for sowing in the calendar. As with most farmers’ rules, the ice saints are named after the Catholic saint’s day of remembrance.
Mamertus, Pankratius, Servatius, Bonifatius and Saint Sophie lived in the fourth and fifth centuries. Mamertus and Servatius served as bishops and Pankratius, Bonifatius and Sophie died as martyrs. Since the dreaded late frosts occur on their days of remembrance, they became the “ice saints” in the vernacular.
The Ice Saints 2020 for gardeners
There were so many warm days in April this year that most of us have already used them to plant flowering and vegetable plants. Many shrubs and fruit trees are already in full bloom this year. A brief cold snap can now cause significant damage and even lead to crop failures. It is therefore important to protect your plants from sudden changes in temperature and frost. Ideally, use a fleece, brushwood or special foils.
In the case of a garden fleece, for example, the air underneath warms up during the day and has an insulating effect. The air moisture on the fleece also condenses to water and provides additional protection.
All of these protective measures, however, only serve as a short-term solution during the ice saints, because plants need a lot of light and an adequate supply of air, especially in the growth phase, so that there is no excess moisture and air build-up.
With the introduction of the Gregorian calendar, the ice saints are expected to be around 8 to 12 days later today and of course they are completely different from one region to another. There are also years when they fail completely. Nevertheless, it is helpful to keep an eye on these days in May and as soon as frost announces to put in pots and protect new seeds.
Have you thought about automatic irrigation for your garden, terrace or balcony?
Every plant lover and hobby gardener knows how much time has to be spent during the warm months in order to provide all flowers, shrubs and lawns with sufficient water. An optimal plant irrigation has a positive effect on the flowering time and the yield and allows you more leisure and comfort.
Raintime
We specialize in automatic irrigation systems for your garden and offer you all services – from advice, planning to installation. You also have the option of purchasing your system easily and conveniently in our online shop.
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In our online shop you have the opportunity to buy the products that we use as implementation experts at favorable conditions. These products have proven themselves and are characterized by high quality and robustness.