The last few days have been very warm, and no doubt the gardeners among you have been itching to start planting. But beware the 'Saints de Glace'! My first year of planting a vegetable garden provided a salutary lesson for me. The first weeks of April had been warm and the crafty garden centres were full off tomato plants. I bought six and eagerly planted them. Then in early May there was a drop in temperatures and two nights of frost finished off my tomato plants. It was then that my neighbour leaned over the fence to tell me you shouldn't plant before the 'Saints de Glace'. Nice of them to tell me before!
The 'Saints de Glace' is the 11, 12, and 13 of May, and the Saints referred to are St. Mamert, Pancrace, and Sevais whose Saints days fell on these dates. In the past farmers prayed to these Saints in the hope of preventing the cold snap which fell during this period. In 1960 the Vatican changed the Saints to crush this, as they saw it, pagan practice. The saints are now Estelle, Achille and Rolande. Despite this the idea of the 'Saints de Glace' lives on.
In fact, the rule does not apply to all plants. More hardy vegetables such as spinach, leeks and carrots can be planted earlier. If you are lucky enough to have a greenhouse, even tomatoes can be planted before early May. In general, it is the sun loving such as tomatoes and peppers that cannot be planted in the open ground without risk.
Today, I tend to watch what my neighbours are planting and do the same. They've been here for longer and can read the seasons better than me. As for the garden centres don't fall into the trap of buying their healthy greenhouse grown tomato plants yet or you may find your self shelling out for more plants in May.
