It has been a wild winter and we still aren't half way through! There have been three back-to-back polar vortices ("vortexes" in the south) which caused the temperatures to drop into single digits for days. This has been unprecedented for my zone 7a area. The garden has been slammed. Most of the plants are gone or are barely holding on for dear life. The pictures look bad and it doesn't look much better in person.
This garden looks pitiful compared to last year's garden.
It warmed up to 61(f) degrees yesterday which is crazy for January. We uncovered all the beds since there will be a few days of warmth. The leaves have turned a pale yellowish green which is a sign of low nitrogen. They need more nutrition. Never has there been a need to feed anything in the middle of winter but this year, as usual, everything is different. It seems the high winds and bitter cold have caused them to be stressed.
The beets look dead but the roots are fine. Now that the ground has thawed enough to dig, all will be harvested.
The spinach bed was in a semi decent condition.
The Collard greens were the palest green I have ever seen.
Collards are one of the hardiest cold weather vegetables and a few have done a good job surviving.
Nothing in the garden was healthy enough to pick. There is no need eating anything that is probably low in nutrition. After a few days of warm weather, sunshine and fertilizer, everything should perk up. The garden could roar back to health or it might all die. Winter gardens are like that. I'm not shocked. Considering I'm trying to do the impossible - garden in the dead of winter - it is amazing anything is growing. I'll take any wins I can get.
Last Month's December Garden (2024)
Last Year's January Garden (2024)
Sorry you've had so many challenges this winter. I know it can vary so much from winter to winter. Some winters, greens under cover do better here, and other winters, greens in the open do better. It's all a gamble, and of course, some years, nothing is happy. Here's hoping the rest of your 2025 gardens make up for it.
ReplyDeleteWe had a deep soaking rain yesterday and from the kitchen window the garden has definitely perked up. The fertilizer may be doing its job. It could be my imagination but it all looks greener. I'm heading out in a few minutes to see if I can harvest a salad. The weather report says we don't have any freezing temperatures for at least two weeks. The garden might double in size by then!
DeleteIt's interesting to compare to other years - the changes are significant! I hope you bounce back, and GREEN up over the next week.
ReplyDeleteIt is up to 70(f) degrees outside right now! The sun is shining and it feels like spring! I know it won't last but the garden has greened up and I will be harvesting later. It is impossible to know what will happen next.
DeleteI do believe you've had more snow this winter than we have--so many areas of the country have. While our "normal" January snowfall is 14 inches, we had less than 2 inches in January 2025. Crazy. I'm amazed that any of your edibles survived the cold, but maybe the snow helped. I'm afraid our lack of snow may have killed off some dormant perennial plants, especially with the stretch of single-digit and subzero temps we had for a couple of weeks. :( Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI think Florida has gotten more snow than you! Can you believe I said that? It has warmed up and everything is turning green.
DeleteSnow really is a good insulator which sounds crazy but the high winds do so much damage. I picked some of the kale and the leaves were thick and hard to chew in a salad. I think being beaten by the high winds made them tough. They were tender before the storms arrived. When these hoop house covers wear out (they don't last long), I am going to get some that are thicker. Every year I learn something new.