First day of spring: How to ‘spring forward’ and get ready for warm weather in Charlotte
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Stretches of warmer weather in the Charlotte area have many getting excited for the arrival of spring, but there are still a few weeks to go before the season officially begins.
Temperatures have started to creep back into the 60s and 70s, but that doesn’t mean the region won’t still see colder days.
If you’re already dreaming of breaking out shorts and getting home from work when it’s still light out, here’s how to get ready for spring to arrive and when to expect it.
When is the first day of spring?
The first day of spring in 2022 is Sunday, March 20.
The season will end Tuesday, June 21.
When is the Spring Equinox?
The Spring Equinox, also known as the March Equinox or the Vernal Equinox, will happen this year at 11:33 a.m. on March 20, according to the Farmer’s Almanac.
Daylight saving time in the U.S. will begin again on March 13, 2022.
The equinox ”occurs when the Sun crosses the equator line, heading north.”
“This event marks the start of the spring season in the northern half of the globe. After this date, the Northern Hemisphere begins to be tilted more toward the Sun, resulting in increasing daylight hours and warming temperatures,” the Almanac says.
When to expect pollen in the Charlotte area, and allergy tips
The arrival of spring can also trigger seasonal allergies for many as trees and other plants send pollen into the air and seemingly onto everything.
Typically in North Carolina, pollen counts peak around the end of March and beginning of April, officials with the state Department of Environmental Quality previously told McClatchy.
If you’re prone to itchy eyes and congestion, there are things you can do to mitigate your symptoms, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
The group recommends staying indoors when pollen counts are high, keeping your windows closed, making sure your air conditioning system has a quality filter, bathing and changing your clothes after spending time outside and wearing sunglasses and a hat when outside.
Over-the-counter and prescription allergy medications such as antihistamines can also help relieve symptoms, AAFA says. The group suggests starting a regimen “before pollen season begins.”
“Most allergy medicines work best when taken this way,” they say. “This allows the medicine to prevent your body from releasing histamine and other chemicals that cause your symptoms.”
When should you start gardening in Charlotte?
The arrival of warmer weather also means it’s time to start thinking about if you want to plant a flower and/or vegetable garden.
When to plant depends on what you want to grow, according to the National Gardening Association.
Some vegetables, such as broccoli, lettuce and spinach, can be planted “around February 16, assuming the ground can be worked.” But, NGA advises, “it’s better to start them indoors around January 19 and then transplant them into the garden around March 9.”
Onions, potatoes and peas could have been planted as early as late January, the group says, provided the ground has thawed. Tomatoes, peppers and eggplants can be started indoors in January or February as well, then transplanted into the ground outside “as soon as no frost is forecast.”
“All the summer vegetables like beans, cowpeas, corn, squashes, pumpkins, cucumbers, watermelons, gourds and sunflowers, you should plant those seeds directly into the ground around March 29, or if your soil is still very cold, once the soil is near 60° F in temperature,” the group says.
For flowers, it’s best to plant soon after the last frost of the year.
This story was originally published February 14, 2022 at 2:29 PM.
