THUNDER BAY -- Thunder Bay and area farmers enjoyed one of their longest growing seasons yet, much longer than the normal frost-free period of about 100 days.
According to Environment Canada, the thermometer at the airport weather station stayed above the freezing point for 141 days this year.
Meteorologist Jeff Coulson says Environment Canada doesn't officially track frost, but this past weekend saw the first sub-zero temperature (-2 C) at the airport since May 20.
"We don't normally keep those statistics, but certainly in a place like Thunder Bay in late spring, mid-to-late summer, certainly early fall, one would expect to see negative temperatures showing up somewhere. This has been quite a stretch of weather where we haven't seen values dipping below the freezing mark," Coulson said.
At Gammondale Farm in the Slate River Valley, Sue Gammond describes this year's growing season as "exceptional."
"Our crops are squash and pumpkins and it's just phenomenal...Our crops need about 100 days to mature, so when you get about 140...it's unheard of."
Information on the website of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs shows that the usual growing season in Thunder Bay is 100 to 110 days.
Gammond said the 2016 season was "a great welcome" for people with gardens growing things such as tomatoes and peppers that prosper in longer summers. She added that the weather this year could set up some perennials for a good start next spring, including strawberries and raspberries.
"The plants are going to be stronger going into winter But we're still not finished. It depends on how cold the winter is, what the snow cover is."
A spokesperson for the Thunder Bay Soil and Crop Improvement Association says members are "thankful" for the good weather that followed June, in particular.
Jason Reid, a director of the association, said corn, soybeans and forage crops were among those that benefited from the extended season.
"Along with the number of days, what's really critical is our heat units, and we were a little slow off the start this year with a cold, wet spring....so this long number of days has really helped make up for that."
Reid concluded that "overall, it's been a really good year," adding "we're much better off than almost anybody in the country right now."
