Nothing to see...nothing to see...move along.
The spinach seemed to have fared best. Perhaps it was because being low to the ground protected them from the high wind gusts.
I know that a fantastic, lush winter garden is possible because I have done it. This is the garden two years ago on today's date. In my mind, this is what I expect to see when I look out the window, not a barren mud hole.
January 31, 2021
January 31, 2021
January 31, 2021
First bloom of this year.
I hate to whine but walking out to the garden and taking pictures was depressing hence my bad mood. Buying fresh greens from the grocery has been shocking. The prices are outrageous and the quality is what I toss in the compost pile. We are eating the food preserved from the summer garden so we are not suffering. I'm just complaining because I miss my delicious fresh vegetables.
This spring, I don't know what to do differently to ensure success. I won't be quitting but will keep planting seeds. Something is going to work.
It's hard not to get discouraged as a gardener, as each year brings it's challenges. I try to console myself that there's nothing we can do about the weather, and am thankful I'm not a farmer whose living depended on it. The greens in the chain stores are not impressive, but a local co-op thankfully usually has some beautiful ones. I was able to get lovely chard and lettuce this week. Though I'm still harvesting lettuce, it doesn't keep up with what we eat. Most of our chard died in the arctic blast, and the two left grow slowly. Hang in there, friend. This year is certain to have some successes.
ReplyDeleteThank you for understanding. I have cheered myself up a bit. I dug through my seeds and planted some onions in cups. Digging in the soil is therapeutic to me. My husband did comment about the "horse manure filled dirt sitting on the kitchen counter" but then quickly suggested I buy more seeds. I searched online and put some new seeds in my shopping carts (didn't make a purchase yet but immediately felt better.) He knows me well.
DeleteYou're right, a lot of work does not guarantee success in gardening. However, it is still worth trying, as you mentioned vegetables grown at home have a completely different taste than those from stores.
ReplyDeleteI always thought if I worked hard enough I would succeed. I have been humbled. The weather can't be controlled: regardless, I haven't given up and will keep trying. The flavor is too good.
DeleteAt least you've got spinach...and it will get bigger. You know what's possible...and you had other priorities this year than the garden. This too will pass. Things will be better next year. (And what a lovely daffodil! We are still looking at snowbanks here, though I plan to try 'winter sowing' in milk jugs soon.) Hang in there, friend.
DeleteCindy, we have (had) a family tradition between Mom and myself that when the first bloom of the year was discovered, that person would call the other. The winner got bragging rights. I dug up some of Mom's bulbs and planted them here after we first moved. I always won because I am 75 miles further south and would beat her by a day or two.
DeleteWhile on the phone, she would recall the winter after my first son Joshua, was born (33 years ago). She drove my house and saw my sidewalk lined with daffodils in the snow in December. Passing cars would even slow down to look. I was housebound with a difficult newborn and had found silk flowers in the attic. To brighten the gloom outside, I had stuck them in the flowerbed between the sprouting leaves. Mom thought they were real until she touched them and that is when the contest between us began.
I saw the first bloom this week and started to call Mom.
I'll bet your Mom is smiling down on you and your daffodil. Or gloating because I'll bet Heaven has all the daffodils she wants and she won for once:)
ReplyDeleteMy garden isn't doing much at this time of year. I tried to grow a winter garden last year, but this year didn't get much done last fall. Rob is planting seeds in the greenhouse and we are trying to get some lettuce and green onions growing enough to harvest, then some to plant out. In the meanwhile, I am buying produce. Carrots are a good deal lately--5 lbs of organic for $5.07. Not free, but 5 lbs is a lot and they keep. Safeway sent me some coupons on my phone for bagged salad, which we don't usually use, but, hey, the price was right! I got a small boc choi for 33c at the scratch and dent store the other day, and we still have onions from the garden. I'm going to make a stir fry tonight. We eat a lot of green beans this time of year, and lots of soups and stews that contain my home-grown and preserved veggies from the garden. He did find some potatoes for $1/5-lb bag and bought 6. Of course, this is far more than potatoes used to be and these had a few issues, but, hey--it's still cheap food:). So, we are just limping along here until the garden gets going, and it's ok.
Mom is looking down from heaven gloating because her flowers are perfect. Wait, is gloating a sin? So that can't be happening. Maybe she is proud of her garden? No. That is a sin also. Whatever. She is happy now and that is what matters.
DeleteWe are limping along also waiting for spring vegetables. Two weeks ago one store had cabbages on sale so we loaded up. This week one store has lettuce for $.69 so I plan on getting enough to last a week or two at least. Hopefully, they will be worth eating.
I am pulling from the pantry and am doing like you, taking baskets full of empty jars down to the basement regularly. I have inventoried and am working on using the older things first plus things I don't like. There is a large batch (12 pints) of a new recipe of zucchini salsa but we don't like the flavor - too many spices. If I use it like a condiment, it is ok. I shredded the zucchini, dehydrated it for about an hour or two, added the tomatoes and the zucchini absorbed the tomato juice. The salsa is thick not watery. I will do it again but without the spices.
This year I am experimenting with about 4 different varieties of onions in hopes I can find something that will store well. Mine don't last long.
Oh, I agree: the grocery store prices are crazy! My climate is much too severe for a winter garden, so I envy you for often being able to do it. Also, I have mostly shade here. But we buy a food share and get boxes of organic produce from May through November. Yum!
ReplyDeleteI know it can be done in my 7a zone but I think my mistake was relying too much on the garden. There were too many disasters out of my control. It was a perfect storm. We are located in the country at the end of the supply chain and the grocery stores around here are unreliable. You are right, I am able to plant a winter garden but have no options of getting food shares from any farmers. My area is too rocky and the vegetable farms are all a distance away. We are called the goat capital of the world because of the large number of goats being raised ( doubt the exaggeration). I will do the best I can with what I have and that is it.
DeleteWhat a contrast between the two years. Fingers crossed that as we slowly head towards Spring the garden will start to look more familiar. Thanks for your support and sharing your monthly view with everyone. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteA package of seeds arrived in the mail today and they are all for flowers. This year I will put more flowers between my vegetables as a reward for myself. I think it will make vegetable gardening much more enjoyable. Flower gardening is what I love. Vegetable gardening is a necessity. I don't seem to have the time to do both and my flowers suffer. Now I am starting to look forward to spring.
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