Share on LinkedIn

LONGVIEW, Texas (KLTV) - It’s late February with highs in the 70s. As it gets warmer, some East Texans are ready to plant.

Flowers like daffodils and tulips are in full bloom, as an apparent early spring has settled on East Texas.

“I think we’re through the danger really,” said Austin Ruggles, Longview Arboretum staff gardener. “Everything’s really starting to jump, and I think it’s time to get your crops established before the heat starts to set in.”

An explosion of growth and color is evident at the arboretum.

“This has been going on since the beginning of February,” Ruggles said.

It’s not unusual. East Texas has seen this pattern of an abrupt transition from winter before.

“Everything is opening up; everything is starting to put new growth on,” Ruggles said.

The weather is good news for produce growers who need to take full advantage of optimum growing conditions.

Traditional wisdom is to plant after Easter to avoid the last freeze, while others use planting charts from the Farmers Almanac.

The wildcard is whether winter has one more curve ball to throw at us.

“If we get another late freeze, all of that has a chance of being burned,” said Ruggles.

He said if you do plant and another freeze takes place, you can protect what you have by covering the plants the way you would in a “hard freeze” scenario.