Spring Greens

This kale got planted too late in the season to be havestable yet this fall. Pretty soon the high tunnel won't get enough good light to foster growth, and the plants will go dormat over the winter. But when the spring sunlight comes back we'll have an amazing kick-start on the season.

The plan is to plant a few more salad greens yet...and then maybe we'll be eating out of the high tunnel come March.

Critter

Frightened this little guy as I entered the high tunnel on Sunday. He froze, in one of those misguided--if I don't move, maybe she won't see me--moments. I snapped a few pics and then quietly left to work in another area of the garden so he could get over his panic attack and leave in peace.

Saw him run out the door a few moments later. That said, there is definetely a hole in a corner of the high tunnel. Multiple exits--this guy's no dummy.

It was 98 degrees in the high tunnel yesterday and the lettuce is starting to look a little done-in. Not sure how much longer we'll get out of the greens.

Planted basil and several kinds of pepers in the high tunnel last week, so they should be happy with the heat at least.

Second Planting

Visited the garden on Saturday and did a 2nd planting of greens in all the beds. As you can see, I have few things coming up. I'm about 85% sure that's the arugula in the photo. Most of the other sprouts are far less dramatic.

Also did second seedings in the beets--where my seed scattering was definitely spotty and in the cold frame that was SUPPOSED to have spinach in it. But nary a spout to be seen.

Radishes and turnips are also making an appearance.

We're on our way!

Coooooold

Okay people. I gardened in the snow last night. The snow!

Well actually most of my gardening was inside the high tunnel, but it was surrounded by snow. And I had to trudge through the snow to water my poor cold frames. (Which I shut by the way.)

So the big high tunnel focus is gonna be greens this year. Greens I tell ya. I planted 20 different varieties last night -- mostly lettuce, but also some kale and argula and such.

It's amazing the things that come to you first thing in the morning, when one of my first waking thoughts of clarity was....'No spinach?!'

Yeah, so that's a problem we're going to have to rectify. Some of the space I left for second seedings will have to go to spinach. Because, I mean, lettuce is great and all, but it doesn't really saute.

Oooo...and speaking of sauted greens....guess what I just had for breakfast. Chorizo and kale. (See my recipe here.) I pulled all the winter greens out before planting last night. Had a nice good bunch of kale.

(The argula had all gone to seed and the lettuce was a bit big too. Also harvested: salad onions, mustard greens and some carrots.)

Planted last night:

• Asian Greens
• Endive
• Escarole
• Arugula
• Kale - Winterbor
• Kale - Tuscan Lacinato
• Salad Greens - Orach Mixture
  Salad Greens - Mache VerteLettuce - romaine
• Lettuce - 'Merveille Des Quatre Saisons'
• Lettuce - Really Red Deer-Tongue
• Lettuce - Red Salad Bowl Looseleaf
• Lettuce - Lolla Rossa Looseleaf
• Lettuce - Butterhead
• Lettuce - Red Summer Crisp
• Lettuce - Green Grand Rapids Black Seeded Simpson
• Lettuce - Green Grand Rapids Simpson Elite
• Lettuce - Green Grand Rapids Tropicana Pelleted
• Lettuce - Red Grand Rapids Vulcan
• Lettuce - Red Grand Rapids Red Sails

Fall Planting, Part Deux

More seeds in the ground last night. This was our second fall planting (the first was cabbage and winter onions more than a week ago). My instructions from Bill were to plant "twice as many as I wanted" so we had produce to experiment with. One of the big questions, I believe, is how long we can leave the root vegetables in the ground before they go all soft and squidgy.

Remember, we have lots of insulation around the base of the high tunnel. That and the air protection above ground should help us stretch our harvest season quite far. Harvesting in January or February perhaps?

Flash in the Pan

Seems as though the pickling cucumbers were only with us for a few days. The bed was overrun just over a week ago, and now the plants are done. So done they've been yanked and sent to the compost bin.

That's okay, I guess, 'cause we're doing some FALL PLANTING tonight.

Speaking of fall planting, Bill put a new row of peas in an outside bed, and they're already popping up nicely.

A Tale of Two Tomatoes

Our high tunnel tomatoes aren't really any further along than anyone else's this summer. It'll be a while before these three paste toms are ready to eat. All the plants are big and healthy thought.

The real test will be to see how late we can get tomatoes this fall. These plants fall in the tiny and might-not-make-it category. Can you even see that poor naked little stem about an inch in front of the stake??? We have a whole row of little cherry tomatoe buggers like that. If they make it, we might be harvesting in October. How cool would that be?

Live, little plants, live.

Dirt Therapy

Today was a day. You know what I mean?

Back to back client meetings, deadlines looming, email inbox growing... Inhaled lunch (and then some) and before I knew it, it was 4:00 with barely enough time to return this morning's phone calls. Left for the garden tired and cranky with my stress showing clearly between my eyes.

And then I got down on my knees and dug in the dirt. Yeah.

Had NPR streaming through my earbuds, mud on my jeans, and fresh air in my lungs. Suddenly I felt sorta relaxed. Not totally carefree mind you, but appreciably lighter.

Planted 18 pepper plants in raised beds outside the high tunnel tonight. The extension beds are full of luxurious, soft black dirt. Rich with tons of wonderful compost, I'm sure. Didn't even need a trowel. Just dug my hands in and pushed the dirt aside. Awesome.

Kind of makes me think about kids and sandboxes. Think that's good for stress too?

Second Planting

Big thanks to sister Dawn who helped me with our second planting on March 13th. Dawn works at Wittenberg University in Ohio and swung north for a visit over spring break--leaving temps in the 70s behind her. She graciously hauled water while I planted spinach, kale, beets, more radishes, something called cicoria or 'Italian Dandelion', and broccoli raab.

We found low 60s under the row covers behind her, but the thermometer quickly dropped to the 40s when we had the plastic off for watering.

Seeds in the Ground

It's planting time!!! I got the first seeds in the ground on Friday, March 6. Such a Zen-like morning--working with my hands in the dirt, planning which seeds would go where, hauling water... I can't tell you how much I enjoyed being outside and being productive.

We started with a long row of snap peas, a patch of radishes, and the rest in arugula and various Asian greens. See that packet in front--it says '35-45 days' to harvest. Yipee. Even better, we could begin to see sprouts as early as Wednesday.

Friday morning at 7:30, the weather was 39 degrees outside, and well over 50 inside. Nice and cozy place to plant.