Already centuries ago, people observed the cycles of plant vegetation and the weather changes taking place in nature. In this way, the basic laws of nature have been well understood, which can provide many guidelines for a year-round garden care plan even today. Poland was the first country where, since the 15th century, records were kept in the field of phenology, i.e. the science that studies the relationship between seasonal changes in the weather and periodic phenomena in the life of plants and animals.
Phenological seasons
In the astronomical calendar, spring begins on March 21, at the time of the equation of day and night.On the basis of differences in the phenomena occurring in nature, especially in the world of plants, the so-called phenological seasons. For Poland, eight were distinguished:Przedwiośnie- the first so-called plant appearances - the earliest perennials (e.g. coltsfoot) and still non-leafy trees and shrubs (e.g. dogwood) bloom;primroses- trees and shrubs developing leaves at the same time are blooming;spring- trees and shrubs with leaves bloom;early summer- from the flowering of cereals to the ripening of early fruits;summer- cereals and fruit ripen, linden trees are blooming;early autumn- late fruits ripen;autumn- period of yellowing and falling leaves (full autumn - golden and late - leafless);winter- vegetative rest period.
After plotting the dates of phenological appearances on the map of our country, we get a picture of the sequence and duration of the seasons in particular regions. These are the so-called isophenic maps, which show that the longest period of early spring occurs in the B altic, Oder and Vistula lands.Spring begins the earliest in Wielkopolska, and at the latest in the Masurian Lake District.
Growing season
The length of the growing season is directly related to the appearance and duration of phenological seasons. For western Wielkopolska, the Silesian Lowland and the Sandomierz Basin, it is 220 days, for the central part of the country - 200-210 days, and for the Masurian Lake District - over 190 days. The vegetation period is the shortest in the mountains. At the peaks, it can be limited to a dozen or so days.
Unpunctual spring
Unfortunately, nature does not succumb to date pressure, so spring rarely comes on time. Sometimes it is too early, sometimes it is too late, and of course this is not indifferent to the development of plants, because what counts for them is the number of sunny days and the air temperature. Therefore, leaf buds and flowers (phenological phases) may appear at very different times, and the difference is even greater if we compare individual regions of our country.
Time to start the season
If we look closely at the plants, we will be able to determine on this basis what gardening work should be started. In the early spring, the first winter sheds begin to bloom, snowdrops, snowdrops and spring blizzards. In early spring, beautifully flowering anemones, forsythia, tulips, narcissus and sapphires are gradually joined by fruit trees and shrubs, and the young gooseberry leaves shine with lush greenery. When in the air we can sense the sweet scents of the haughty primrose, yellow bark and blackthorn plum, it will mean that we can finally remove the winter covers from ornamental plants, and in the vegetable garden it is time to sow into the ground, among others peas, red beet and spinach. Early spring is also a time of pruning roses to remove dead woody parts and shorten old shoots.
The scent of lilac in the air and the lush flowering of apple and cherry trees signal the arrival of the spring season.This means that it is time to plant. Perennials and annuals can then end up in the ground. In the shadowy stands, aromatic frosts bloom, and the rowanberry opens its buds. After mid-May, the danger of frost is negligible and the plants slowly begin to enter the summer season.
