2003 shaping up to be good year for planting But eager gardeners shouldn't start planting too early By Monique Balas News-Chronicle Here's the dirt on this year's planting season: Winter's late arrival could mean good news for spring growing, say agriculture experts from the University of Wisconsin-Extension. "We're actually in good shape for farming season," said Kevin Erb, a regional agronomist with the UW-Extension. "About two months or so ago, we were concerned." Although November and December were warmer than usual, January's cold snap froze the ground as much as 5 feet in some areas, Erb said. Normal frost depth is between 2 and 3 feet. "But the fact that the ground didn't freeze until January allowed the rain we did get in November and December to soak in rather than run off the fields," Erb said. "What normally happens is the snow acts as an insulation." The soil needs to be both warm enough and dry enough to be ready for planting, said Paul Hartman, a UW-extension horticulture agent. Cooler-weather plants, such as root crops, peas, lettuce, cabbage and spinach can grow when soil temperatures (the temperature at the point where the seed will be placed in the ground) are about 50 degrees. Temperatures in Northeast Wisconsin typically do not reach that level consistently until April's end or the start of May, Hartman said. Warmer-weather crops, like corn and soybeans, can grow by the second to third week in May if the weather is cooperative. Soil temperatures for those crops should be about 60 degrees, Hartman said. Of course, "When you're dealing with the weather, it's hard to find an average year anyway," Erb said. A nice way to test the soil is by packing a handful of soil into a ball and putting your thumb on it. If the thumb reveals an imprint, sinks in and the soil doesn't break apart, it's still too wet, Hartman said. "Whereas, if you put your thumb on it and (the soil) starts breaking apart, then you're ready to start planting," he said. Erb warned that premature planting can be particularly problematic in clay-heavy soil. In the meantime, those eager to get their green thumbs dirty can start preparing their gardens by removing the remains of last year's crops. "If people have mulch on their garden, they should make sure they get that off as soon as possible, otherwise (the soil) won't dry out," Hartman said. They should also avoid tilling the soil while it's still wet. "It's still way too early to plant almost anything, but you still get the gardening bug on a nice day," Erb said.