Wet weather hampers crops

Weeks of cold, wet weather in the St. John's area have caused problems for more than just backyard gardeners.

Farmers are reporting that a lack of sunshine and warm weather have combined with dreary weather for an exceptionally late start.

John Lester, whose family operates a large farm in the west end of St. John's, said his strawberry crops are running almost 10 days behind normal, and his other vegetable crops are in the same position.

"They need drier conditions [so] the roots will work their way out away from the plant and latch onto other nutrients that may be available to them," Lester told CBC News.

"If we get some nice hot, sunny weather now, yeah, they may be off by five, six days, or something like that ... I think that they'll do a pretty good job of catching up."

The spring weather in much of the province — particularly on the northeast Avalon Peninsula — has been gloomy.

In June in St. John's, there has been precipitation on all but three days so far. As well, only three days this month have cracked 15 Celsius.

The weather has kept many gardeners from taking to the outdoors, meaning that gardening and agricultural centres are still fully stocked with vegetables and plants.

Lester, meanwhile, said there are other complications, as cultivating wet soil can also be tough on crops.

"If you're travelling through there with heavy equipment, you're getting some soil compacted and that doesn't allow the roots to travel through the soil quite as easily," he said.