I have been reviewing weather data covering the last four years in Austin. My reason for doing so is that the date of the last freeze I keep being given seemed suspect. March 21st felt very, very late for any expected freeze. The data which I have covers all daily data from 2004 to the present, and I am betting on the last freeze being no later than the first week in March. I may end being wrong, and I’ll just have to wait and see, but the worst that could happen if it stays much colder for longer than I expect is that my seedlings get to stay in the house a little longer and grow stronger, and I may have to transplant them into larger newspaper pots.

But if I were a betting person, which I sometimes am, I would say there will be no freeze at all in March. Historically speaking, of course. ;)

Lin is out tilling the earth right now. The only thing wrong with the dirt in our yard is that it’s never been tilled and is severely compacted. Once tilled, it becomes quite light and soft, and it has a wonderful rich earth smell. Once he finishes with the tilling, we get the bed frame in place and mix in the soils we bought, it’s going to be marvelous for growing things.

I was going to work on my containers today, but it’s just too chilly for me to work outside comfortably. If I put on enough clothes and jackets to be somewhat warm, I’d be too bulked up to move. It’s supposed to be in the mid-60′s and sunny tomorrow, before the temps drop again a little for the rest of the week, so I guess tomorrow I will have to get that stuff done. I do have to get that stuff done, or we won’t be having radishes, lettuces, and carrots as quickly as I plan. I, of course, want them now, but it will take a few weeks. This gardening stuff is all about patience, and I have so very little of that!

What I can do to assuage some of my impatience is go plant some seeds in my little starter pots, so back to work for me! I’ve got to make my plan for what needs to be start when, and then the seed planting shall begin in earnest!