First Freeze

Hello folks!

We are about to see our first freeze of the year. The predicted low tonight for St. Augustine is 24 degrees! From my experience, the temperature in my area can be from 8 to 10 degrees colder than St. Augustine. I've just got to hunker down and ride it out.

I've been busy today getting prepared for it. I brought all my potted plants in and put them close to windows that get some sun.

With this years winter garden, it is the first time I've had veggies growing when temperatures are getting this low. I didn't want to lose the greens I have growing so I harvested most of them. I'm thinking the collards might survive, but probably not the turnips.

So I spent some time preparing and freezing my greens. I've put up quart bags in the freezer....1 bag of turnip greens, 2 bags of turnips and 3 bags of collards. Whew... it was a lot of work, but it will be worth it this winter ..... if I want some greens, I can take them out of the freezer and cook them.

I still need to go out and pick some Okinawa Spinach to add to salads. I'm sure it will freeze.

If you live in an area that is getting a hard freeze tonight, be sure to protect your plants, pipes and pets.


Soooo......Until next time ......HAPPY GARDENING!

Christmas Eve 2013

Christmas Eve!   

What a wonderful, happy day! I hope y'all are doing well today.

Have you got all your shopping done?

Don't forget......Lets keep Christ in Christmas! After all, He is the reason for the season!

Now on to a little gardening.....I harvested my first bunch of Turnips today. WOOHOO!

 

They have grown very well. The largest are about 3 inches in diameter. I'll be preparing these for a Christmas feast! They smelled real good as I was cleaning them to prepare for cooking. I like to cook mine with some smoked ham hocks and a little red Pepper flakes. YUM YUM!

 

I've got enough planted for a few more bunches. Hopefully, I can use them all before freezing weather hits us.  I may have to cover them to prevent freeze damage.

 

Do you have a winter garden? If so, let me know what crops you're growing. I hope you are having good success with it.

 

 

Soooo...... Until next time......HAPPY GARDENING and MERRRRRY CHRISTMAS!

Winter Garden

This morning I did some weeding and mulched my bed of greens. I planted this bed about a month late this year. I double dug the bed and pulled a couple of inches of soil from the paths to create a raised bed. I usually don't make raised bed.... I think they dry out to fast in our sandy soil. We will see. I added wood chips to the paths at the advice of a friend that is a permaculture designer. He said this will make the paths hold water and the plants in the bed will put roots over below the path to use the reserve of water. There is also a 2 foot high fence around the bed to keep my little dog out. He could probably jump over, but he hasn't figured that out yet.

  I'm sure this bed will provide greens all winter then come on strong in the spring and I'll be putting lots of greens in the freezer.

Soooo......Until next time.......HAPPY GARDENING!