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Google
New England, December 2016
+7
RJARPCGP
BeetlesPerSqFt
sanderson
trolleydriver
Scorpio Rising
CapeCoddess
bigdogrock
11 posters
Page 1 of 2
Page 1 of 2 • 1, 2
New England, December 2016
Welcome to December!
The ghosts and goblins hiding behind the colorful Fall colors, the Harvest Moon, and the wonderful first family gathering time filled with turkey and all the Thanksgiving necessities are now fading into the cold, quickly darkening nights as the new joyful colors of Christmas appear and begin the joyful and spectacular season of giving and Love.
I haven't written much in a while, I am working many hours and trying to be all I can for my family, which leaves little time for other important parts of my life. I barely have time to do the essentials, and I am still working on them. Hopefully I get them done before snow comes and stays, preventing me from winterizing everything. I miss being in my garden, I have been looking at it when I move the cut cordwood from its summer drying spot to the place we can get to it in the winter. My chickens have not been able to get out as much either, I am sure they miss their garden as well.
The internet has lessoned the blow of a large workload, I get to peek at all the new posts and pics that you all have contributed on a daily basis. If I can't be in my garden, I get to see yours and see how truly nice each of them are. I am used to the words posted by many, and look forward to seeing new posts from many of you. Sometimes I want to jump in quick and say "Hey post more pics TD", or "I wish I could eat the things in my garden like you Cape Coddess" or, well, I could go on and on. But the daily notes and monthly reports of my job in the late of the evening after a long day seem to give me just enough time to click the SFG button on my browser, do the quick read, then think of my garden and how I want to be in it. If you stop and think about, I have been in "my garden" vicariously because of all of you who have been so wonderful to take the pics and share the good "garden life" that we all want to have.
Thank you, ALL OF YOU.
The ghosts and goblins hiding behind the colorful Fall colors, the Harvest Moon, and the wonderful first family gathering time filled with turkey and all the Thanksgiving necessities are now fading into the cold, quickly darkening nights as the new joyful colors of Christmas appear and begin the joyful and spectacular season of giving and Love.
I haven't written much in a while, I am working many hours and trying to be all I can for my family, which leaves little time for other important parts of my life. I barely have time to do the essentials, and I am still working on them. Hopefully I get them done before snow comes and stays, preventing me from winterizing everything. I miss being in my garden, I have been looking at it when I move the cut cordwood from its summer drying spot to the place we can get to it in the winter. My chickens have not been able to get out as much either, I am sure they miss their garden as well.
The internet has lessoned the blow of a large workload, I get to peek at all the new posts and pics that you all have contributed on a daily basis. If I can't be in my garden, I get to see yours and see how truly nice each of them are. I am used to the words posted by many, and look forward to seeing new posts from many of you. Sometimes I want to jump in quick and say "Hey post more pics TD", or "I wish I could eat the things in my garden like you Cape Coddess" or, well, I could go on and on. But the daily notes and monthly reports of my job in the late of the evening after a long day seem to give me just enough time to click the SFG button on my browser, do the quick read, then think of my garden and how I want to be in it. If you stop and think about, I have been in "my garden" vicariously because of all of you who have been so wonderful to take the pics and share the good "garden life" that we all want to have.
Thank you, ALL OF YOU.
bigdogrock- Posts : 440
Join date : 2016-04-17
Location : NH
Re: New England, December 2016
Awww, beautiful start to the Dec thread, Rock! Thank you.
We received about 2 inches of much needed rain on Tue and Wed. Yesterday I dug out some moist MM from one of the boxes and put it into a sealed bucket to use for seeding starts come Feb/March. Also dug a bucket of compost for up potting the same. These buckets will sit in my garage until it's time to use them.
I'm hoping that after all that rain, and now an abundance of sunshine, my greens will start growing again. We'll see. Otherwise I will head into the freezer for the stash I made during the summer for my smoothies, etc.
This month I will also be cleaning off the pine mulch and composting the finished boxes, and hopefully get some seaweed to throw on there. Just haven't been motivated to hit the beach yet.
Garlic is looking good. Maybe I can post a photo over the weekend.
We received about 2 inches of much needed rain on Tue and Wed. Yesterday I dug out some moist MM from one of the boxes and put it into a sealed bucket to use for seeding starts come Feb/March. Also dug a bucket of compost for up potting the same. These buckets will sit in my garage until it's time to use them.
I'm hoping that after all that rain, and now an abundance of sunshine, my greens will start growing again. We'll see. Otherwise I will head into the freezer for the stash I made during the summer for my smoothies, etc.
This month I will also be cleaning off the pine mulch and composting the finished boxes, and hopefully get some seaweed to throw on there. Just haven't been motivated to hit the beach yet.
Garlic is looking good. Maybe I can post a photo over the weekend.
CapeCoddess- Posts : 6824
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 68
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
Re: New England, December 2016
Nice!
Winter is upon us, for sure. My garlic just went in a week ago, we had such a mild fall! I will mulch it this weekend, and hope for the best!
I do have 4 uber small clumps of mache....that baby is a low grower....still alive. Will check on it tomorrow during the compost maintenance.
Winter is upon us, for sure. My garlic just went in a week ago, we had such a mild fall! I will mulch it this weekend, and hope for the best!
I do have 4 uber small clumps of mache....that baby is a low grower....still alive. Will check on it tomorrow during the compost maintenance.
Scorpio Rising- Posts : 8687
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 62
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: New England, December 2016
Okay, here's what still going on in the Cape Cod sfg:
Garlic
Greens - kale & collards
Chard
Beets too small to even eat the leaves
New Compost pile - donations and potted plant emptying day
Pak choi
Cabbage
Daikon
Mustard spinach
Garlic
Greens - kale & collards
Chard
Beets too small to even eat the leaves
New Compost pile - donations and potted plant emptying day
Pak choi
Cabbage
Daikon
Mustard spinach
Last edited by CapeCoddess on 12/3/2016, 11:56 am; edited 1 time in total
CapeCoddess- Posts : 6824
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 68
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
Re: New England, December 2016
Excellent CC.
trolleydriver
Forum Moderator- Posts : 5395
Join date : 2015-05-04
Age : 76
Location : Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Re: New England, December 2016
Great pics CC! Everything here is frozen about an inch down. I MIGHT be able to get my Garlic in tomorrow if I get lucky.
bigdogrock- Posts : 440
Join date : 2016-04-17
Location : NH
Re: New England, December 2016
Uh oh Rock! I know you love your garlic! What will you do if you can't get it in? Maybe you'll have an Indian summer later?
CapeCoddess- Posts : 6824
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 68
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
Re: New England, December 2016
Clear plastic over the bed until the MM is thawed deep enough for the cloves??
Re: New England, December 2016
Nice, CC! Rock, I would try clear or black plastic.....try to thaw your garlic spot.
Scorpio Rising- Posts : 8687
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 62
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: New England, December 2016
The end of summer. The last of the counter ripened cherry tomatoes.
Rock, did you get your garlic in? We are all rooting for you.
Rock, did you get your garlic in? We are all rooting for you.
CapeCoddess- Posts : 6824
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 68
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
Re: New England, December 2016
Not yet, but I have a plan. Not the best one, but I have a chance. The frozen MM only went down about an inch and a half to two inches. So I let the heat of the day (if you call it heat) warm it until the temps started to drop. I then put two pieces of half inch soft foam wrap over the 4X4 garden, then I put black plastic over that and gently weighted it down around the edges. Now there is some insulation over it and on top of that, the black plastic will pull in any heat, we'll see. The temps aren't in my favor for the next week, but I think the heat from the ground under the garden will rise enough to thaw it and I can poke/plant/cover with more compost and leaf mulch. I am going to find another insulator for the cold snowless nights. Maybe, just maybe...
bigdogrock- Posts : 440
Join date : 2016-04-17
Location : NH
Re: New England, December 2016
What do people think about using very warm water to thaw it so you can plant? Would it make the MM too wet and rot the cloves? (I'll admit I did this myself, but my MM was freshly made and not yet fully hydrated, and only had an insincere 1/2" frozen.)bigdogrock wrote:Not yet, but I have a plan. Not the best one, but I have a chance. The frozen MM only went down about an inch and a half to two inches. So I let the heat of the day (if you call it heat) warm it until the temps started to drop. I then put two pieces of half inch soft foam wrap over the 4X4 garden, then I put black plastic over that and gently weighted it down around the edges. Now there is some insulation over it and on top of that, the black plastic will pull in any heat, we'll see. The temps aren't in my favor for the next week, but I think the heat from the ground under the garden will rise enough to thaw it and I can poke/plant/cover with more compost and leaf mulch. I am going to find another insulator for the cold snowless nights. Maybe, just maybe...
BeetlesPerSqFt- Posts : 1440
Join date : 2016-04-11
Location : Centre Hall, PA Zone 5b/6a LF:5/11-FF:10/10
Re: New England, December 2016
Clear plastic for higher temps. http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74145.html
Re: New England, December 2016
Mowed more leaves at lunch today for the compost pile. The grass didn't grow since the last cutting so there aren't any greens mixed in. I shoveled on some finished compost sitting next to the new pile after every 2 mower bags full were dumped on so that'll work. Hose has been put away so couldn't water it.
Forgot to pick some greens for tomorrow's smoothie. It gets dark now at 4:30 so no harvesting after work anymore. Yay freezer stash!
Forgot to pick some greens for tomorrow's smoothie. It gets dark now at 4:30 so no harvesting after work anymore. Yay freezer stash!
CapeCoddess- Posts : 6824
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 68
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
Re: New England, December 2016
Looks like folks are going to hibernate! Possibly the coldest December since 2013! (or 2010!)
Looks like another ice age! Prepare to become a lower USDA zone...
Looks like a lot of New England is becoming zone 3b! (or 4a!)
Looks like another ice age! Prepare to become a lower USDA zone...
Looks like a lot of New England is becoming zone 3b! (or 4a!)
RJARPCGP- Posts : 352
Join date : 2014-02-10
Age : 43
Location : North Springfield, Vermont
Re: New England, December 2016
Hibernation officially started here, which means you guys in 2-3 days....wind is really contributing to the feel of COLD!
Just persusing my catalogs. Lazy planning mode.
Mache out there....will check on it when I add some kitchen stuff to the compost pile.
Just persusing my catalogs. Lazy planning mode.
Mache out there....will check on it when I add some kitchen stuff to the compost pile.
Scorpio Rising- Posts : 8687
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 62
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: New England, December 2016
Look what I just got in the email from Gardenate.com:
Planting in January
Broccoli Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from March.
Cabbage Plant in garden. Harvest from April.
Carrot Plant in garden. Harvest from April.
Celery Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from May.
Kale
(also Borecole) Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from March.
Lettuce Plant in garden. Harvest from March.
Mustard greens
(also gai choy) Plant in garden. Harvest from February.
Onion Plant in garden. Harvest from July.
Potato Plant in garden. Harvest from May.
Radish Plant in garden. Harvest from February.
Spinach
(also English spinach) Plant in garden. Harvest from February.
Turnip Plant in garden.
Don't they realized that the MM will be frozen solid???
CapeCoddess- Posts : 6824
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 68
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
Re: New England, December 2016
Weird! Who are they talking to, Texas? It will be frozen solid....LOL!CapeCoddess wrote:
Look what I just got in the email from Gardenate.com:
Planting in January
Broccoli Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from March.
Cabbage Plant in garden. Harvest from April
ETC...
Don't they realized that the MM will be frozen solid???
Scorpio Rising- Posts : 8687
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 62
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: New England, December 2016
CC, What zone is that from Gardenate? Doesn't seem possible to plant when some beds are frozen or covered in snow. Not even in 4-6 weeks.
Re: New England, December 2016
sanderson wrote:CC, What zone is that from Gardenate? Doesn't seem possible to plant when some beds are frozen or covered in snow. Not even in 4-6 weeks.
I know...it's seems crazy! I'm signed up for zone 7a. They've mostly been bang on...except for this one.
CapeCoddess- Posts : 6824
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 68
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
Re: New England, December 2016
CC.....I'm amazed at what you still have growing in your garden. It makes my heart sing. Love the pictures. Keep 'em coming.
quiltbea- Posts : 4712
Join date : 2010-03-21
Age : 81
Location : Southwestern Maine Zone 5A
Re: New England, December 2016
Hey girlie! Just winter....miss ya!quiltbea wrote:CC.....I'm amazed at what you still have growing in your garden. It makes my heart sing. Love the pictures. Keep 'em coming.
Scorpio Rising- Posts : 8687
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 62
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: New England, December 2016
For you, QB!
So we're in deep freeze at the moment. But 2 days ago, before it started, I was able to harvest this bucket o' greens and some daikon radishes:
Chard, mustard spinach, kale, collards & tiny beet greens.
I'm really enjoying the frost touched daikon much more so than the 'before frost' ones. 'After' are much milder.
So we're in deep freeze at the moment. But 2 days ago, before it started, I was able to harvest this bucket o' greens and some daikon radishes:
Chard, mustard spinach, kale, collards & tiny beet greens.
I'm really enjoying the frost touched daikon much more so than the 'before frost' ones. 'After' are much milder.
CapeCoddess- Posts : 6824
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 68
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
Re: New England, December 2016
CapeCoddess wrote:I'm really enjoying the frost touched daikon much more so than the 'before frost' ones. 'After' are much milder.
Thanks, CC. I'm making a note of this in my new journal.
Re: New England, December 2016
Me too, mine were Hot Hot Hot! (Polar Express reference!)
Scorpio Rising- Posts : 8687
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 62
Location : Ada, Ohio
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