Comments on: Growing in Fall and Winter: The Basics http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/07/growing-in-fall-and-winter-the-basics/ Finding the keys to the future…and trying not to lose them in the mess. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:26:03 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Sharon http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/07/growing-in-fall-and-winter-the-basics/comment-page-1/#comment-17620 Sharon Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:48:25 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/07/growing-in-fall-and-winter-the-basics/#comment-17620 Ann, I'm not hand waving away growing under cover - half the course will be about that, actually. It just isn't my subject today. Sharon Ann, I’m not hand waving away growing under cover – half the course will be about that, actually. It just isn’t my subject today.

Sharon

]]> By: homebrewlibrarian http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/07/growing-in-fall-and-winter-the-basics/comment-page-1/#comment-17619 homebrewlibrarian Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:56:59 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/07/growing-in-fall-and-winter-the-basics/#comment-17619 I agree it's all about experimentation. Last year's experiment was to see if I could overwinter kale and brussels sprouts. We got lucky in that it started snowing before it got really cold and I buried the plants under big piles of snow. With on and off snow through the winter, the plants stayed covered until January when the temperature shot up to 53 F and it rained for two days. The snow cover melted off and the very next day a moose cow and calf strolled through the yard and bit the tops off every one of the plants! Unfortunately, the temperature plummeted to 10 F before more snow arrived and even with snow cover, the stems were completely dried out by spring. So that didn't work. I did, however, remove all but the top leaves before the first snow fall so maybe I'll try it again this year leaving the leaves on a couple plants. Since I didn't get root vegies planted again this year (sigh) that's an experiment for another time. However, of the eight replanted parsnips from last year (bought at the farmer's market), six of them have sprouted and four are close to flowering. I'm thinking that the ground would freeze too deep to overwinter root vegies but I don't have a good way to root cellar them. Root cellaring is an ongoing concern and an experiment in its own right. Kerri in AK I agree it’s all about experimentation. Last year’s experiment was to see if I could overwinter kale and brussels sprouts. We got lucky in that it started snowing before it got really cold and I buried the plants under big piles of snow. With on and off snow through the winter, the plants stayed covered until January when the temperature shot up to 53 F and it rained for two days. The snow cover melted off and the very next day a moose cow and calf strolled through the yard and bit the tops off every one of the plants! Unfortunately, the temperature plummeted to 10 F before more snow arrived and even with snow cover, the stems were completely dried out by spring. So that didn’t work. I did, however, remove all but the top leaves before the first snow fall so maybe I’ll try it again this year leaving the leaves on a couple plants.

Since I didn’t get root vegies planted again this year (sigh) that’s an experiment for another time. However, of the eight replanted parsnips from last year (bought at the farmer’s market), six of them have sprouted and four are close to flowering. I’m thinking that the ground would freeze too deep to overwinter root vegies but I don’t have a good way to root cellar them. Root cellaring is an ongoing concern and an experiment in its own right.

Kerri in AK

]]> By: Ann http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/07/growing-in-fall-and-winter-the-basics/comment-page-1/#comment-17618 Ann Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:56:36 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/07/growing-in-fall-and-winter-the-basics/#comment-17618 Your hand-waving away of growing under cover is a disservice. A roll of 4 or 6 mil plastic and some 9 gauge wire is a quick and affordable way to make some DIY low tunnels. I kept lettuce until spring in zone 6, under 12" of snow. Your hand-waving away of growing under cover is a disservice. A roll of 4 or 6 mil plastic and some 9 gauge wire is a quick and affordable way to make some DIY low tunnels. I kept lettuce until spring in zone 6, under 12″ of snow.

]]> By: Shira http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/07/growing-in-fall-and-winter-the-basics/comment-page-1/#comment-17617 Shira Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:46:43 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/07/growing-in-fall-and-winter-the-basics/#comment-17617 In the Pacific Northwest, the fall, winter and early spring gardens are where the urban gardener really saves money. In summer, our organic farmers are producing wonderful stuff and the farmers' markets overflow with abundance. It is in the shoulder seasons that even a small plot makes all the difference. Besides, all the fussing over the winter garden is well suited to small spaces. Putting a hoop house over a big garden space is not cheap. A meter square box filled with horse poop and planted with winter lettuce, however, is very rewarding for the time and expense involved. Small hot pepper plants can go in pots inside if there is a sunny spot, such as under a skylight. They are pollinated by gently tapping the plants during flowering to distribute the pollen. In fact, now is a good time to plant up green house peppers and the last tomato starts. There are special green house varieties but I found that having a convenient skylight is more important than the variety. In Cascadia, it's a good time to start the big brussels sprouts, cauliflowers and winter broccoli. Brussels sprouts, leeks and parsley were the only things to survive last December's storm in my winter garden, but it started to grow again quickly. Greens were plentiful by March. I have such a seed overload in my beds from breeding winter vegetables that things grow even without planting. Last year was the first time that I didn't have at least kale and beet greens all winter. After the storm froze the greens and the leeks were under a foot of snow, I used two quart Mason jars to keep a rotation of sprouts growing. Even if I had the disposable income, I am too cheap to buy organic lettuce from California at $2.00 a head. Shira in Bellingham, WA In the Pacific Northwest, the fall, winter and early spring gardens are where the urban gardener really saves money.

In summer, our organic farmers are producing wonderful stuff and the farmers’ markets overflow with abundance. It is in the shoulder seasons that even a small plot makes all the difference.

Besides, all the fussing over the winter garden is well suited to small spaces. Putting a hoop house over a big garden space is not cheap. A meter square box filled with horse poop and planted with winter lettuce, however, is very rewarding for the time and expense involved.

Small hot pepper plants can go in pots inside if there is a sunny spot, such as under a skylight. They are pollinated by gently tapping the plants during flowering to distribute the pollen. In fact, now is a good time to plant up green house peppers and the last tomato starts. There are special green house varieties but I found that having a convenient skylight is more important than the variety.

In Cascadia, it’s a good time to start the big brussels sprouts, cauliflowers and winter broccoli. Brussels sprouts, leeks and parsley were the only things to survive last December’s storm in my winter garden, but it started to grow again quickly. Greens were plentiful by March. I have such a seed overload in my beds from breeding winter vegetables that things grow even without planting.

Last year was the first time that I didn’t have at least kale and beet greens all winter. After the storm froze the greens and the leeks were under a foot of snow, I used two quart Mason jars to keep a rotation of sprouts growing. Even if I had the disposable income, I am too cheap to buy organic lettuce from California at $2.00 a head.

Shira in Bellingham, WA

]]> By: Heather http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/07/growing-in-fall-and-winter-the-basics/comment-page-1/#comment-17616 Heather Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:27:45 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/07/growing-in-fall-and-winter-the-basics/#comment-17616 This is something I'm just starting to get into. I have 2 cold frames and this year will be adding a bed that will become a hoop house of sorts. I can't wait to figure out what will work. This is something I’m just starting to get into. I have 2 cold frames and this year will be adding a bed that will become a hoop house of sorts. I can’t wait to figure out what will work.

]]> By: Devin Quince http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/07/growing-in-fall-and-winter-the-basics/comment-page-1/#comment-17615 Devin Quince Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:43:18 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/07/growing-in-fall-and-winter-the-basics/#comment-17615 Have you had good luck with parsnips? We have had no luck at all here in MN (zone 4) and we love them! Have you had good luck with parsnips? We have had no luck at all here in MN (zone 4) and we love them!

]]> By: Robin http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/07/growing-in-fall-and-winter-the-basics/comment-page-1/#comment-17614 Robin Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:00:08 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/07/growing-in-fall-and-winter-the-basics/#comment-17614 I'm trying to extend my fresh eating crops for as long as possible for the first time this year. I have Coleman's first book. It's marvelous. Does his new book offer enough new information to make it worth purchasing? I’m trying to extend my fresh eating crops for as long as possible for the first time this year. I have Coleman’s first book. It’s marvelous. Does his new book offer enough new information to make it worth purchasing?

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