Today's temps are supposed to reach the high 40's. I hope they're right! I want to go out there in the garden so badly that I almost can't stand it.
In a previous post, I showed my container vegetables and herbs that I brought in and put upstairs in my summer kitchen. For the most part, they are holding their own, some even growing to the point of being suitable for harvest. There is insufficient lighting from the small window that faces west, so I'll have to set up my lights to boost their growth.
The green onions are growing, although they are a little lighter green than usual. I'm hoping that setting up the lighting will cure that. I might just go ahead and harvest them next week. They would sure taste good in a dip.
The ruby red swiss chard is getting leggy, so I'm actually thinking about planting them outside in the garden and covering them with plastic to protect them until they get a little larger, then just removing the plastic altogether.
The chives have grown nicely while inside. There's enough for a small harvest already.
The sorrell seems to be the happiest of the plants inside. It is filling out very well.
Remember the leeks that I planted in the flat on August 26th? Well, here they are! They may have grown an inch since I brought them in, but it's hard to tell. I must admit that they are durable, as they're still living in this flat after being frozen and snowed on three times. The ones that I had taken out and planted in the garden didn't appear to grow at all.
The fennel seems to be surviving, but if it's growing at all, I can't tell. At least it's not dead. After the last frost of the year, I'll be planting it outside for the butterflies. The dill doesn't look like it's going to make it. There's a 3/8 inch sprout on it and I have it in the sunshine, so maybe it will survive. We'll have to wait and see.
MINI-GREENHOUSE PLANTS:
The Sweet Basil germinated very well...
as did the Parsley...
and the Cilantro. You can really see how they have been reaching for the sunlight.
Friday the temps hit 50 degrees! That was all I needed to break out the tiller and give the garden a good going over! I'm getting my additional fence fabric ready for the new crops after the last frost is gone. Which, by the way, concerns me, given the winter everyone is having. I think there's a very good possibility that a late last frost might sneak in and surprise us.
The tiller did just as I expected near the fencing. I was able to steer the tines under the fencing and then around the posts from both sides, and it worked perfectly. This was just the first tilling to break up the soil. I plan on heavily applying compost under the bean fencing, and then thoroughly tilling it in before I plant the beans. According to the material I've read, that is supposed to alleviate the need for crop rotation in a small garden, as it introduces micro-organisms, minerals and all the other good things that compost provides for the garden. Doing it this way saves me from having to remove all the fence fabric and pulling the posts and resetting them all in a different spot. I can really only move them a few feet.
The Brussels sprouts and broccoli in the east field are still looking poorly. I'm leaving them in until I'm actually ready for spring planting. Then, out they come, bearing or not. You can hardly see it, but the swiss chard is still there to the right in the picture.
The collards, Brussels sprouts and broccoli in the west field are in rough shape. This is the first year that I haven't been picking collards through the winter. It's just been too cold for them to grow. In the green strip between the bags of leaves and the brown soil is a row of swiss chard that is really trying to grow. The leaves might only be 3/4 inch long, but with the time we have left until spring planting, I'll let them stay and maybe I can harvest some nice leaves later on. When we get a week of 50 degree weather, they'll jump up quickly.
Today is Saturday, the day after my tilling. Boy, am I glad that I got to till yesterday. Today's high temp was 23 degrees! What a change!
I hope spring gets here soon.
Have a great vegetable gardening day!
Veggie PAK
In a previous post, I showed my container vegetables and herbs that I brought in and put upstairs in my summer kitchen. For the most part, they are holding their own, some even growing to the point of being suitable for harvest. There is insufficient lighting from the small window that faces west, so I'll have to set up my lights to boost their growth.
MINI-GREENHOUSE PLANTS:
NOW FOR THE FUN!
The tiller did just as I expected near the fencing. I was able to steer the tines under the fencing and then around the posts from both sides, and it worked perfectly. This was just the first tilling to break up the soil. I plan on heavily applying compost under the bean fencing, and then thoroughly tilling it in before I plant the beans. According to the material I've read, that is supposed to alleviate the need for crop rotation in a small garden, as it introduces micro-organisms, minerals and all the other good things that compost provides for the garden. Doing it this way saves me from having to remove all the fence fabric and pulling the posts and resetting them all in a different spot. I can really only move them a few feet.
Today is Saturday, the day after my tilling. Boy, am I glad that I got to till yesterday. Today's high temp was 23 degrees! What a change!
I hope spring gets here soon.
Have a great vegetable gardening day!
Veggie PAK
Lucky you to have a warm spell!! It's -1 here as I write this. The cold frame temp is 26 though!!
ReplyDeleteAll of your plants look pretty good to me. It might be a good idea to plant that swiss chard as soon as you can.
I was going to sow some herbs seeds yesterday. I got everything ready and didn't do it! I have a case of the winter laziness :)
Robin, We woke up to another 23 degree morning today. That is so unusual for this area. Usually the low is in the low 40's or high 30's this time of year, but the weather has gone crazy!
ReplyDeleteTomorrow is predicted to be much warmer. I'm going to give it a try to get the chard in the ground then.
The only thing this weather is good for is climbing under a blanket and reading a good book and wishing for spring!
Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful day!
Veggie PAK
It looks like you are ready for Spring, garden beds tilled and veggies ready to plant. Nice!
ReplyDelete~Mary
The low sun strength and short day length generally brings most plants to a stop in growth in the winter - but if you can keep them alive and healthy - they will spring into new growth just as soon as the missing ingredient (solar warming and photosynthesis) returns. Other than the obvious spindly ones, most of the young plants look like they are faring quite well in your temporary winter home for them.
ReplyDeleteOh my, this winter has been a rough one in your part of the country. It looks like you're well set for the start of spring though. I hope it comes early!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you're off to a fantastic start!! Beautiful mix!
ReplyDeleteYour Sweet Basil is so pretty - a cute little plant. It seems it's been a crazy winter all around - even here in Central FL, we've had unusually cold weather.
ReplyDeleteMary, now if only the weather would cooperate!
ReplyDeleteKitsapFG, Oh, I long for the solar warming!
Michelle, it's the roughest winter I've seen here in 30 years. I sure hope spring comes early too. I think we've all earned it!
Holly, I'm just waiting for that temperature to rise about 10 or 15 degrees, and then I'll be in business, at least with the cool weather crops.
Melissa, actually, the sweet basil IS a cute little plant isn't it? Hey, maybe that's why they call it "sweet" basil.
I would like to thank each of you for visiting my blog and taking the time to share a comment with me. I appreciate it.
Have a great vegetable gardening day!
Veggie PAK
You have a HUGE garden. How wonderful. Your new indoor (or greenhouse?) seedlings look so fragile and brave. I fear for them outdoors in January. Let them hang out in the warmth for a while longer. I don't think cold weather is over.
ReplyDeleteYour sweet basil looks quite lovely, and I love the cilantro (I think that's coriander here) reaching for the sun. I am always amazed watching the seed to plant process, it's just amazing.
ReplyDeleteLou Murray's Green World, Thanks, but I wish it was ten times that size! I germinated my seeds in those three containers a tabletop sized "greenhouse" that you can hold in one hand. I have a picture of it in a recent post. It might be small, but it did the trick for those seeds. The herbs will stay in the house for a while, but I'll transplant them to larger containers. I like that mobility of having them in containers. The ruby red swiss chard, though, will be going into the garden, probably this week as we're supposed to get several warm days, like it used to be!
ReplyDeleteAli, it is amazing to watch the response of the plants to their environment. They are so sensitive to changes!
Thank you both for visiting and commenting. It's always good to hear from you, and I enjoy your blogs very much!
Take Care,
Veggie PAK
Oh look at all you have growing right now. I can only wish for such things. I started my onions seedlings but they aren't up yet. On Wednesday they are saying 10-15" more snow. Sob. I know spring will get here sometime, but I just don't see it.
ReplyDeleteWow, look at that sorrel. The leaves are so large, I should try growing some in the house this winter...hmm. I have little spot next to an almost sunny window...I might just try it.:)
ReplyDeleteDaphne, Maybe you'll get lucky and the wind will blow the snow away from your area. Let's hope so anyway!
ReplyDeleteMr. H, The way I figure it, if these plants are alive in the fall, it's worth trying to keep them growing in the house during the winter rather than just letting them die outside. What do we have to lose? Try growing some in that almost sunny window area. Even if it only germinates but doesn't grow much, when spring gets here, put them outside and you'll be that far ahead of the game.
Thanks to both of you for visiting!
Veggie PAK
I am so jealous of all your "warm" weather. It's snowing here in NYC as I type this. Your leeks look great, do you thin these out? I've never grown leeks before.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your tip on my dill. I think you are right. I was so busy during the month of December that I forgot to re-pot it. I think the roots were probably too squished. I'll try replanting like you suggested! Thanks!
meemsnyc, the leeks in the flat were intended to be taken out one by one and planted in the garden. These are actually the leftovers from this past summer/fall. I won't be planting them in the garden this year. I'll probably give them to relatives that have a garden.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the dill, I don't think it's too late to re-pot. Especially if there are a lot of good roots. They might be the ace in the hole for quick dill in a container this spring.
Good Luck with the snow!
Veggie PAK
All your seedlings look so good, it really helps to motivate others to get an early start.
ReplyDeleteMac, now if only the weather would help out. Enough cold already! I'm ready for spring!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting!
Veggie PAK
I can never imagine not being able to just walk down the back and have a fiddle in the dirt...we are so blessed here in Australia, well apart from crazy weather at the moment!..to have a mild enough climate that we can play in dirt all year round....I even play in the rain...it really dosnt fuss me...today it is so hot here though, 42degrees that we have hung sheets up everywhere to stop the vegies getting burned...it may be a day when I actually refrain from playing, except when I can get the hose out and give it all a good dousing, including myself...!!!
ReplyDeleteI hope spring comes soon for you to get out and in amongst it all again...x