The sweet way you protect your garden reminds me so much of the way God upholds us through the cold seasons of our lives. Love this. Visiting from the Home Making Mondays link up. Happy Monday! Megs Http://sunnyand80.org
Thank you Megs. It is amazing how just a little bit of protection makes such a big difference; truly life or death. One plant will thrive while another of the same type will perish right outside the cover. I suppose it is the same with us since we all need some cover.
I love your hoop houses! It's amazing that things look so good under there. After a weekend of snow and freezing rain, I have snow on the ground again (melting now) and a LOT of mushy snow and water. BUT, when the lettuce emerged from the snow, the bushes were still standing! I am sick, so haven't gone out there to see if they are actually still lettuce, or if they are just mushy clumps, but I was amazed. If they really are alive, I'm definitely letting those bushes go to seed!
I am also getting the urge to garden, as I always do this time of year. I am waiting impatiently for my Territorial Seed Catelog to come. One of my sisters gave me a nice gift certificate for there for Christmas! I can't wait to spend it--it's one of my favorite places to get seeds and has been for years.
Becky, when that seed catalog arrives, if you don't buy any winter seeds, I am mailing you some. Not that I am bossy or anything, but I really want to watch you have a winter garden next year. My favorite part will be (I am dreaming right now) when you have your first winter salad and get to taste the flavor difference. I am curious to see if your salad plant will survive this weather. In the meantime, stay inside where it is warm, get over the flu and read those seed catalogs as they arrive. Yes, I am already wanting spring to get here.
How kind, Jeannie. Let's see how far that excellent gift certificate my sister gave me goes. What do you suggest? Kale, collards, spinach? I planted some stuff and I think it's still alive--onions, spinach, the famous lettuce (1 bush left at last glance), carrots and beets, chard. I'm hoping some of it gives me an early spring burst--we'll see.
Becky, first I suggest checking out my post "Winter Garden, What is Growing" and see which of the winter vegetables your family likes and start your list there. Let me know and I can help you choose.
You mentioned Kale, I checked Territorial Seed company's list and my first choice would be Tronchuda, because of the excellent flavor, very mild. My second choice would be something I have just tried new this year, Scarlet Kale. The flavor is better than any of the other kales, in my opinion. I don't like anything bitter.
Collard greens, oh, yes. My favorite. All collard greens do good in the winter. I love them all and have grown all three varieties listed on their website. I could not taste enough difference to matter.
Online Territorial has a "Fall and Winter Growing Guide" with their recommendations for winter plants which may help you. I no longer buy from this company because I have found better deals with other seed companies. Their handling charge is a flat $7.95 no matter how many you buy, ouch! I consider that very high for a lightweight package of seeds. I know they do that to encourage you to spend more but I save many of my seeds and so only need to buy a few each year.
I think I will do a post on all the different seed companies I buy from and who I like the best. Thanks for the idea!
The sweet way you protect your garden reminds me so much of the way God upholds us through the cold seasons of our lives. Love this. Visiting from the Home Making Mondays link up.
ReplyDeleteHappy Monday!
Megs
Http://sunnyand80.org
Thank you Megs. It is amazing how just a little bit of protection makes such a big difference; truly life or death. One plant will thrive while another of the same type will perish right outside the cover. I suppose it is the same with us since we all need some cover.
DeleteI love your hoop houses! It's amazing that things look so good under there. After a weekend of snow and freezing rain, I have snow on the ground again (melting now) and a LOT of mushy snow and water. BUT, when the lettuce emerged from the snow, the bushes were still standing! I am sick, so haven't gone out there to see if they are actually still lettuce, or if they are just mushy clumps, but I was amazed. If they really are alive, I'm definitely letting those bushes go to seed!
ReplyDeleteI am also getting the urge to garden, as I always do this time of year. I am waiting impatiently for my Territorial Seed Catelog to come. One of my sisters gave me a nice gift certificate for there for Christmas! I can't wait to spend it--it's one of my favorite places to get seeds and has been for years.
I hope you are feeling better these days.
Becky, when that seed catalog arrives, if you don't buy any winter seeds, I am mailing you some. Not that I am bossy or anything, but I really want to watch you have a winter garden next year. My favorite part will be (I am dreaming right now) when you have your first winter salad and get to taste the flavor difference. I am curious to see if your salad plant will survive this weather.
DeleteIn the meantime, stay inside where it is warm, get over the flu and read those seed catalogs as they arrive.
Yes, I am already wanting spring to get here.
How kind, Jeannie. Let's see how far that excellent gift certificate my sister gave me goes. What do you suggest? Kale, collards, spinach? I planted some stuff and I think it's still alive--onions, spinach, the famous lettuce (1 bush left at last glance), carrots and beets, chard. I'm hoping some of it gives me an early spring burst--we'll see.
DeleteBecky, first I suggest checking out my post "Winter Garden, What is Growing" and see which of the winter vegetables your family likes and start your list there. Let me know and I can help you choose.
DeleteYou mentioned Kale, I checked Territorial Seed company's list and my first choice would be Tronchuda, because of the excellent flavor, very mild. My second choice would be something I have just tried new this year, Scarlet Kale. The flavor is better than any of the other kales, in my opinion. I don't like anything bitter.
Collard greens, oh, yes. My favorite. All collard greens do good in the winter. I love them all and have grown all three varieties listed on their website. I could not taste enough difference to matter.
Online Territorial has a "Fall and Winter Growing Guide" with their recommendations for winter plants which may help you. I no longer buy from this company because I have found better deals with other seed companies. Their handling charge is a flat $7.95 no matter how many you buy, ouch! I consider that very high for a lightweight package of seeds. I know they do that to encourage you to spend more but I save many of my seeds and so only need to buy a few each year.
I think I will do a post on all the different seed companies I buy from and who I like the best. Thanks for the idea!
How neat to see the green plants in the white snow!
ReplyDeleteIt is strange to see something so green against the white snow. Well, really against the soggy mud.
Delete