Tuesday, December 8, 2009

I should have listened to Kevin

He actually called me and told me to cover my plants. "Yes, of course," I answered, but then talked to Denise, who said that the forecast had already put the coldest temps behind us, plus we'd had an inch of rain Sunday night. Well, last night was beautifully clear, so. . .
Oregano:

Red kale and carrots:

Broccoli and spinach and beets:

Tat soi:

It was still a a little dark when I got outside with the camera. I hope that all the things in the garden bounce back, as they're all pretty hardy -- excepting the peppers. I'll pull those if they turn black. I'm also worried about my artichoke, and watching it as the frost melts. Things surprise us here, though. In a land where people grow what are houseplants anywhere else in their yards, odd things happen.

12 comments:

Michelle said...

It got down to 28F here last night and stayed there for a few hours. Your brassicas will probably bounce back and taste better than ever. The peppers though...

Heiko said...

Look at the bright side, it'll kill off the bugs. Everything will be ok... except the peppers. I reckon kale gets better after a touch of frost.

el said...

They'll all be fine, excepting wimpy things like the peppers. My greenhouses look like this every single morning from Dec-Mar. Just need to remember to harvest things before it turns dark, and never harvest in the a.m.

Daphne Gould said...

I've done that so many times. I think one thing will happen and another does. At least most of your plants are pretty hardy.

Ribbit said...

It stinks to have a freeze while you still have viable vegies in the ground, but aren't the frost covered veggies peacefully beautiful!

Dan said...

Those clear sky's will do it every time. Looks like most crops will come through unscaved though. Those tatsoi heads are beautiful and large.

Kristin said...

Sometimes there's just to much to do, or it's too darn dark and cold to go out, or there are too many plants to cover... I picked my kale today and it was fine and there weren't any more aphids...

Stefaneener said...

Well, everything came through lovely, although one of the peppers looks a little grim. As I'm lying here under an electric blanket, I'm remembering that I had meant to cover them tonight. . .

Michelle, they are fine. You might have had it colder than us.
Heiko, I never worry about bugs except for the dratted leaf miners. Maybe if they were killed, I'd celebrate! I always read about plants that taste better after frost and growl because we never get it. I'll have to taste-test some before and after kale!
el, I don't harvest early -- too busy staggering around with tea and doing inside things. I'm safe, then. I can't imagine frost in a greenhouse. Brrr.
Daphne, I figure it's survival of the fittest here.
Ribbit, we only get a couple each year, so we can generally just enjoy the pretty and not worry about the rest.
Dan, you're right! The tatsoi is a huge favorite for me. That reminds me to succession-seed some more!
Kristin, you know it. If I cared more about this than anything else, I guess I'd react, but I'm busy with lots of stuff.

kitsapFG said...

We have gotten down to around 18 degrees for the past several nights. The lettuces are done - but the kale keeps springing back! I was lazy this year and did not get any grow tunnels over any beds. So everything is on it's own to either survive or go down.

Mr. H. said...

It looks chilly but you certainly have the right greens planted for this type of weather. I think kale may be my favorite green, so darn tolerant.

Stefaneener said...

kitsapFG, you're right -- all kale, all the time. I do have the lettuces covered for other reasons, but I again neglected the poor peppers. Must go see. . .

Mr. H., kale is just about the best friend in the garden, as far as I can tell. Maybe I'll have some for lunch today.

Kate and Crew said...

GAH! I just know we'll end up with one of our almost freezy-frosty mornings next year as soon as my garden really starts to grow. And I can guarantee you that I'll procrastinate on covering mine too... hope yours bounces back!