Last year it was 13th June. This year, it is 13th February, again in March and finally November that has both paraskavidekatriphobics and triskaidekaphobics running scared. The former fear Friday 13th while the latter are uptight over the number 13 itself.
Triskaidekaphobics might have something going for them. Catherine Howard, fifth wife King Henry VIII was beheaded 13th February 1542. On the same day in 1692, Scotland’s Glenco Massacre took place, when 38 of the Clan MacDonald were murdered.
You think this is all far, far too much for sensible modern people? Check and see how many office and apartment buildings have – officially – a thirteen floor or a suite number that includes thirteen.
Anyway, it was on 13th February 1947 that the Leduc oilfield was discovered in Alberta when #1 well blew and the west truly went wild. What has all this got to do with gardening?
Not much, to be perfectly honest with you. It is a good time though for taking cuttings from overwintering plants, even sowing some slow-germinating seeds, such as parsley, indoors for planting out later. But not planting out on either Good Friday or the 13th of any month – folklore tells us that this, too, is unlucky.
Wes Porter is a horticultural consultant and writer based in Toronto. Wes has over 40 years of experience in both temperate and tropical horticulture from three continents.
