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| Cold spring: What does this mean for flowers? | Cold spring: What does this mean for flowers? |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| After a gruelling cold winter, a few days of April sunshine has left many of us asking: "Has spring finally sprung?". | After a gruelling cold winter, a few days of April sunshine has left many of us asking: "Has spring finally sprung?". |
| But look around you, and all the elements usually associated with the season appear to be missing. Fancy a trip to bluebell wood? You'd better postpone. Can't wait for the first this year's home-grown asparagus? You'll have to wait. | But look around you, and all the elements usually associated with the season appear to be missing. Fancy a trip to bluebell wood? You'd better postpone. Can't wait for the first this year's home-grown asparagus? You'll have to wait. |
| Because the chill - and according to forecasters April could well be the coldest since 1917 - means plants, crops and trees normally expected to be flourishing by now are still languishing. | |
| We've heard of the chaos the freezing temperatures caused to schools, roads and households - and now, it seems, bluebells too. But is this actually a bad thing? | We've heard of the chaos the freezing temperatures caused to schools, roads and households - and now, it seems, bluebells too. But is this actually a bad thing? |
| Well no, says the Royal Horticultural Society's (RHS) chief horticultural adviser Guy Barter, who is predicting a spectacular, and prolonged, flowering season when the plants finally do bloom. | Well no, says the Royal Horticultural Society's (RHS) chief horticultural adviser Guy Barter, who is predicting a spectacular, and prolonged, flowering season when the plants finally do bloom. |
| And right now, the society's gardens are still enjoying daffodils, crocuses and tulips and others which would normally have died back by now. | And right now, the society's gardens are still enjoying daffodils, crocuses and tulips and others which would normally have died back by now. |
| At RHS Rosemoor in Devon there are still "the most amazing hellebores", he says. | At RHS Rosemoor in Devon there are still "the most amazing hellebores", he says. |
| This late winter flower would normally have gone over now but the weather has "kept them looking fantastic". | This late winter flower would normally have gone over now but the weather has "kept them looking fantastic". |
| Meanwhile, some hardy spring flowers such as primulas and anemones have "squeezed" into flower, meaning gardens are seeing the unusual combination of late winter flowers and spring flowers side by side. | Meanwhile, some hardy spring flowers such as primulas and anemones have "squeezed" into flower, meaning gardens are seeing the unusual combination of late winter flowers and spring flowers side by side. |
| At the society's Wisley gardens in Surrey, they would normally expect to see apple blossom on 26 April. Whether the trees flower at the same time is a "hearts and mouths situation", says Mr Barter. He would prefer later because the British spring is so changeable. | At the society's Wisley gardens in Surrey, they would normally expect to see apple blossom on 26 April. Whether the trees flower at the same time is a "hearts and mouths situation", says Mr Barter. He would prefer later because the British spring is so changeable. |
| "Apples, if they come into flower too early are quite likely to get frosted," he says. | "Apples, if they come into flower too early are quite likely to get frosted," he says. |
| "The cold weather has been better in many ways, because when they do finally come into flower, it will be a sight to see." | "The cold weather has been better in many ways, because when they do finally come into flower, it will be a sight to see." |
| And it is not just spring flowers which have been affected. The cold start to the year will have a knock-on effect throughout the summer, with soft fruits, such as strawberries and blackcurrants, and first salads and tomatoes ripening later. | And it is not just spring flowers which have been affected. The cold start to the year will have a knock-on effect throughout the summer, with soft fruits, such as strawberries and blackcurrants, and first salads and tomatoes ripening later. |
| The flowering season will be compressed, he says. "I think we'll see a magnificent display". | The flowering season will be compressed, he says. "I think we'll see a magnificent display". |
| Sandra Bell is the phenologist at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It's her job to study when plants bloom at the world-famous garden. | Sandra Bell is the phenologist at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It's her job to study when plants bloom at the world-famous garden. |
| And like Mr Barter, she's thankful for the cold winter. | And like Mr Barter, she's thankful for the cold winter. |
| "We have to place this in context really," she says. | "We have to place this in context really," she says. |
| 'Bit of a relief' | 'Bit of a relief' |
| "Over the last 30 years there's been a trend towards a warming in the climate and as a result, we've seen changes in the plants around us. | "Over the last 30 years there's been a trend towards a warming in the climate and as a result, we've seen changes in the plants around us. |
| "Many of the traditional English plants and trees have tended to come into life early because it's been so mild. Then during this artificially-long growing season, they inevitably suffer a period of drought. | "Many of the traditional English plants and trees have tended to come into life early because it's been so mild. Then during this artificially-long growing season, they inevitably suffer a period of drought. |
| "Because of that, a wetter, longer winter is actually a bit of a relief. It takes the stress off the plants. All the water we had last year was very welcome and the shorter growing season is better for them. | "Because of that, a wetter, longer winter is actually a bit of a relief. It takes the stress off the plants. All the water we had last year was very welcome and the shorter growing season is better for them. |
| "These plants have evolved over hundreds of thousands of years to need a rest and a longer growing season means they don't get enough. It's been hard for them. | "These plants have evolved over hundreds of thousands of years to need a rest and a longer growing season means they don't get enough. It's been hard for them. |
| "Another area where there's a big plus is the early daffodils which have lasted much, much longer. Our earliest opened on 7 January and is only just really going ragged now." | "Another area where there's a big plus is the early daffodils which have lasted much, much longer. Our earliest opened on 7 January and is only just really going ragged now." |
| And we could also be reaping the benefits of the inclement weather on our plate. | And we could also be reaping the benefits of the inclement weather on our plate. |
| St George's Day (23 April) is traditionally the start of the asparagus season - but not this year. | St George's Day (23 April) is traditionally the start of the asparagus season - but not this year. |
| Chris Kitchen, of Lincolnshire-based Kitchen Garden Produce, says crops have been delayed by a week to 10 days, but slower growth could even mean tastier asparagus. | Chris Kitchen, of Lincolnshire-based Kitchen Garden Produce, says crops have been delayed by a week to 10 days, but slower growth could even mean tastier asparagus. |
| Asparagus requires the soil temperature to rise above 10C for it to grow, and it is only now we are are "feeling" 11C to 12C, "which is a very nice thing to happen," he says. | Asparagus requires the soil temperature to rise above 10C for it to grow, and it is only now we are are "feeling" 11C to 12C, "which is a very nice thing to happen," he says. |
| Now there are "buds" - which will become asparagus spears - appearing. | Now there are "buds" - which will become asparagus spears - appearing. |
| "The knock-on effect could be, if we don't have a setback, provided we don't have any frost, we could have very good quality spear growth. We could have, for seven to eight weeks, a very good season." | "The knock-on effect could be, if we don't have a setback, provided we don't have any frost, we could have very good quality spear growth. We could have, for seven to eight weeks, a very good season." |
| So will we have frost? What next for the weather? | So will we have frost? What next for the weather? |
| Fingers crossed, says Dave Britton at the Met Office. | Fingers crossed, says Dave Britton at the Met Office. |
| The first half of April has been 2.5C cooler than usual - so far the average temperature is 4.6C - although this is more likely to be around 5.4C by the end of the month - meaning the month is on track to be the UK's coldest April since 1917. | The first half of April has been 2.5C cooler than usual - so far the average temperature is 4.6C - although this is more likely to be around 5.4C by the end of the month - meaning the month is on track to be the UK's coldest April since 1917. |
| "But as we head through the rest of the week we will see normal spring weather. A mix of fine, sunny, weather and showers," he says. | "But as we head through the rest of the week we will see normal spring weather. A mix of fine, sunny, weather and showers," he says. |
| However, night-time temperatures will be cool, with the end of the week falling a low as 2C or 3C. | However, night-time temperatures will be cool, with the end of the week falling a low as 2C or 3C. |
| And yes, in the north and west of the UK - but only in sheltered, rural areas - there is some "potential" for some "grass frost". | And yes, in the north and west of the UK - but only in sheltered, rural areas - there is some "potential" for some "grass frost". |