Did We Just Have a Blackberry Winter in Indiana?

Did we just experience a Blackberry Winter? It sure feels like it!

What Is a Blackberry Winter?

First of all, what the heck is a Blackberry Winter? A Blackberry Winter is a term used across Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee, as well as some other regions to the south and southeast.

How “Little Winters” Got Their Names

It refers to a phenomenon that the Farmer's Almanac calls "Little Winters." It describes a cold snap that occurs after April 21st, the first official day of spring. Considering that over the weekend the temperatures only reached a high of 54°F and lows into the 40s, I'd say this qualifies as a "Little Winter."

A Cold Snap by Many Names

They say there are several different "Little Winters" that we may experience in spring:

• Dogwood Winter
• Blackberry Winter
• Locust Winter
• Whippoorwill Winter
• Redbud Winter
• And others, depending on the region.

Bloom Timing Ties It All Together

The Farmer's Almanac says what you call the cold snap depends on which area you live in, and what trees or bushes happen to be blooming at the time. Here in Southern Indiana, blackberry bushes and dogwood trees both bloom from late-April to early-May.

Using Nature to Plan the Crops

The Farmer's Almanac says that prior to advancements in technology and weather forecasting, farmers and gardeners would use cues from nature to know when it was the right time to plant. For example, they knew that once the dogwoods and blackberries bloomed that it was generally safe to plant their crops. Love gardening? Keep reading to learn 5 plants that can help you repel pests from your lawn and garden.

[SOURCE: Farmer's Almanac]