As temperatures warm up around central Kansas, gardeners are dreaming again about getting their hands in the soil.

Jason Graves, Central Kansas District Horticulture Extension Agent stopped into the KSAL Morning News Monday and said his phone has been ringing, “We’re starting to get a lot of calls about soil temps,” he said.

“There are methods you can use for soil temperatures, but what I prefer to do is go to the K-State Weather Data Library.”

Graves says the resource has weekly measurements from different areas of the state. “We’re riding mid to upper 30’s right now. We’re just on the verge – 40’s is   kind of the time when we start thinking we can move ahead.”

For those hoping to plant potatoes, Graves points to the shamrock, “A lot of folks shoot for Saint Patrick’s Day and I think that will still be okay. They may sit there for a little bit until it warms up enough to grow.”

March 17th is a traditional date to begin planting potatoes in central Kansas.