An older New Mexican dicho says, “Frebero loco y Marzo un poco” (crazy February and March a little).

March is on upon us and it seems everyone and everything growing-related has been moved to an earlier date due to the unseasonably warm temperatures and dry conditions. Many events are happening earlier, as the normal time-table of their natural occurrence seems to be upset; earlier creek and river levels rising, earlier ditch cleaning deadlines, blooming fruit trees and possibly earlier, if somewhat smaller, plantings.

Seasonal temperatures are unusually high, the Española Valley is in the 70s, El Rito in the mid-to-upper 60s and down south in the 90s. All of this is happening in late February and early March — at the tail end of winter. It’s unheard of.

We are accustomed to a mild warming in late February but never like this. Three or four years ago, El Vecino recalls a significant snowfall of 10” at the beginning of March. That resulted in freezing temperatures and abundant atmospheric moisture. So far, we have had neither.

The warmer temperatures seem to be causing some of the low, available snowpack to melt, which is raising the creek and river levels.

The Ojo Caliente River shows a rise in water level that seems to have doubled the previous flow from two weeks ago. The Rio Grande has shown an appreciable water level increase in recent weeks, which is nice to see.

Let’s enjoy it and hope the flows continue into April and May.

The warmer temperatures and lower snowpack have spurred acequia mayordomos (ditch managers) to get available water to growers as soon as possible and to move ditch cleanups to earlier dates. Deadlines have been moved up two weeks to meet the desire to offer available water to all users. It makes sense to use available water and irrigate early to get a strong start with water in the soil. El Vecino has noted that some fruit trees seem a bit stressed by the dry winter conditions and are ready for early irrigation.

Fruit trees have also been affected by the warmer temperatures and have started blooming approximately three to four weeks earlier than normal. Many apricot trees are nearing full bloom, displaying their stark white blossoms in the valley and even some peach trees are beginning to show their gorgeous characteristic pink blossoms.

Some apple trees are starting to show the first green leaves beginning to unfurl. While they are pretty to look at, early blooms tend to not survive late frosts and that translates to poor, or little fruit, if at all.

Some produce items may have long germination periods and can be planted earlier. Sweet peas are frost hardy, easily sprouting and early producing. El Vecino recently advised a friend to plant his crop of sweet peas this past week to enjoy prime early peas. Other long germination period produce can be planted in the next month to take advantage of the available water. Plan for it.

This uncertain irrigation water year requires us to use what we have while it is available and may our spring rain be bountiful.

March To Dos

1. Clean main acequias early and thoroughly.

2. Clean plot and orchard channels early.

3. Plow and till soil.

4. Plant early sweet peas crop.

5. Irrigate the garlic crop.

6. Irrigate fruit trees.

7. Add water and organics to compost.

8. Prepare and enjoy a bowl of pintos with some of last year’s quelites (lamb’s quarters).