Per The Old Farmer’s Almanac, there are many names for the snow that comes unexpectedly, late in winter or early spring, and melts the next day. “Onion snow” was named by the Pennsylvania Dutch farmers. It often arrives just as onion sets are planted in the cool soil of early spring. The snow does not kill the onions, happily!
Such snows actually contain valuable nitrogen, thereby enriching our gardens. You may have also heard the term “poor man’s fertilizer.” (See Neighbors for more on this)
