N&C Midwest: November/December 2019!

**Scorpio Rising** 11/4/2019, 3:56 pm

I guess I forgot to start a November thread!

Just got in and about got blown away! Windy! Got all the beds cleaned out, and got one topped up. Planted the garlic; trying a new variety, Georgian Fire! And my tried and true German Extra Hardy. Both hardneck, cold tolerant, and I love the scapes almost as much as the bulbs!

I don’t have anything out there right now, will wai until early spring to start up, and take a breather...

OhioGardener 11/4/2019, 6:32 pm

While coming home this evening I noticed a neighbor that was raking their leaves and piling them on a huge tarp. I stopped and asked what they were going to do with them, and was told they were going to burn them. I asked them if I could have them instead of them burning them. They were happy to get rid of them, so we grabbed some trash bags and packed them full of leaves. Came home with 8 35-gallon bags packed full of leaves. Tomorrow, after the snow stops, I'll set up a wire compost bin and fill it with layers of leaves and coffee grounds to compost over the winter. What a shame it would be to burn all of those wonderful leaves!

N&C Midwest: November/December 2019! Fall_l10

countrynaturals 11/4/2019, 6:38 pm

OhioGardener wrote:While coming home this evening I noticed a neighbor that was raking their leaves and piling them on a huge tarp. I stopped and asked what they were going to do with them, and was told they were going to burn them. I asked them if I could have them instead of them burning them. They were happy to get rid of them, so we grabbed some trash bags and packed them full of leaves. Came home with 8 35-gallon bags packed full of leaves. Tomorrow, after the snow stops, I'll set up a wire compost bin and fill it with layers of leaves and coffee grounds to compost over the winter. What a shame it would be to burn all of those wonderful leaves!

What a score! rahrah

**Scorpio Rising** 11/4/2019, 8:12 pm

Nice! I am going to stuff my compost bin flush with leaves...lots to go around!

OhioGardener 11/6/2019, 5:00 pm

The leaves are in their winter home, ready to start composting. I will get about that many more leaves early next week, so I'll have plenty of leaf mold developing. I alternated layers of leaves, coffee grounds, and biochar to the bin, so they should compost nicely. Of course, the earthworms will find the mixture very tasty, too! Very Happy

N&C Midwest: November/December 2019! Compos26

**Scorpio Rising** 11/6/2019, 9:36 pm

Nice! My clean up crew came by today while I had a 12 hour day and vacuumed my yard! Oh well...more will fall. I think I will call them and have them dump a bagful into my bin next time!

OhioGardener 11/7/2019, 7:29 am

Scorpio Rising wrote:Nice! My clean up crew came by today while I had a 12 hour day and vacuumed my yard! Oh well...more will fall. I think I will call them and have them dump a bagful into my bin next time!

Don't you hate when that happens! N&C Midwest: November/December 2019! 671790

We live in a rural area, and very few people rake their yards - they just mulch the leaves into the grass like we do. But, there are a few that rake them, and are happy to get rid of them.

**Scorpio Rising** 11/8/2019, 6:51 pm

Yes! However, my big maples (which were the bulk of the leaves that were vac’d) had a fungus on them so not suitable to compost anyways....I just thought I would get a chance to get the birch leaves before they did!

My fault...

**Scorpio Rising** 11/10/2019, 4:31 pm

Well, official. Planters in, pool stuff downstairs. Furniture also in the basement. Grill and camp stove covered....

Making chili and cornbread with my peppers, both green and jalapeños! And garlic. Nice out now, snow tomorrow? That’s what they are saying anyways!

OhioGardener 11/18/2019, 5:56 pm

The raised beds are all ready for the long winter. The ones that didn't get the cover crop planted on have been mulched with leaves so they can compost down over the winter.

Some of the beds have Winter Rye (Cereal Rye) and Hairy Vetch cover crop growin in them. The ones that had crops until it was too late for the cover crop are now covered with leaves. The earthworms will have a lot of fun under there. Very Happy

N&C Midwest: November/December 2019! Leaves10

On the bed in the back is the Cold Frame that has Spinach, Radishes, and Lettuce growning in it. The round bed to the right has Rhubarb in it.

N&C Midwest: November/December 2019! Leaves11

**Scorpio Rising** 11/18/2019, 8:01 pm

Nice! Do your leaves cook down over winter, or are they still there to be incorporated in spring? I have never done that with my leaves...

OhioGardener 11/18/2019, 8:19 pm

Scorpio Rising wrote:Nice! Do your leaves cook down over winter, or are they still there to be incorporated in spring? I have never done that with my leaves...

Yes, they will largely decompose over the winter into rich leaf mold, with the help of lots of microbes and earthworms. They insulate the soil so much that the worms are able to remain active throughout the winter months. By spring those leaves will be decomposed down to an inch or less of mulch, which I will plant through.

OhioGardener 11/19/2019, 5:06 pm

OhioGardener wrote:The leaves are in their winter home, ready to start composting. I will get about that many more leaves early next week, so I'll have plenty of leaf mold developing. I alternated layers of leaves, coffee grounds, and biochar to the bin, so they should compost nicely. Of course, the earthworms will find the mixture very tasty, too!

The leaves that I put in their compost bin on Nov 6th have already decomposed to approximately 1/2 their original height, so I thought I'd take their temperature to see how they're doing internally. The compost thermometer shows the middle of the pile of leaves are 129ºF, which is very good considering the outside temp is in the 30's. Looking forward to some good leaf mold for next spring's gardens. Now, I need more leaves....

N&C Midwest: November/December 2019! Leaves13

N&C Midwest: November/December 2019! Leaves12

**Scorpio Rising** 11/20/2019, 6:26 pm

Wow! I need to do that! That’s amazing, OG.

**Scorpio Rising** 11/27/2019, 6:11 pm

Windy and colder here moving towards Thanksgiving! I can’t wait to enjoy a nice family day with no other focus but loved ones and the once/year food!

No plans other than Thanksgiving with the immediate family, I have received 2 seed catalogs (yay) which is exciting!!!!Will save them for the winter doldrums after the entire holiday season.

countrynaturals 11/27/2019, 7:05 pm

Scorpio Rising wrote:Windy and colder here moving towards Thanksgiving! I can’t wait to enjoy a nice family day with no other focus but loved ones and the once/year food!

No plans other than Thanksgiving with the immediate family, I have received 2 seed catalogs (yay) which is exciting!!!!Will save them for the winter doldrums after the entire holiday season.

Same here. Thank goodness we only have to drive across town and not worry about all the storms. N&C Midwest: November/December 2019! 3868

**Scorpio Rising** 11/30/2019, 12:28 pm

Just ordered my first seeds for 2020! Pinetree has 15% off Black Friday special! A poblano (Ancho), true charentais melon, and a variety of sunflowers! YAY!

nrstooge 12/4/2019, 10:03 pm

I have a row cover over my planter (patio planter) and the mache, claytonia, kale, etc are still growing. Now.. we have had a few snows, but it hasn't stayed around and we have had warmer than normal temps this last few weeks. Either way.. still nice to see green.

**Scorpio Rising** 12/4/2019, 11:02 pm

Agree, nrstooge, the only one of those I have grown is the mache. It doesn’t really grow here during the winter, but it is alive!

I have never grown the other leaves...keep us posted? !

Here, ate a nice frozen Unstuffed Pepper Casserole for supper! Have lots of peppers frozen...

For lunch, had 5 sweet pickle slices (yeah, I was hungry!). But they were really good!

**Scorpio Rising** 12/10/2019, 6:26 pm

CATALOG UPDATE!!!

I have received 3 of my favorite catalogs, which I am stashing and saving for the post-holiday doldrums...but I can’t wait!!!!!

Zero happening outside. Only thing in is garlic and it’s subterranean.

countrynaturals 12/10/2019, 10:10 pm

Scorpio Rising wrote:CATALOG UPDATE!!!

I have received 3 of my favorite catalogs, which I am stashing and saving for the post-holiday doldrums...but I can’t wait!!!!!

Baker Creek came today. No way I can save it until after the holidays. bounce

**Scorpio Rising** 12/12/2019, 5:32 pm

Oh my gosh! I have Pinetree, High Mowing Seeds, and now Baker Creek! So fun!

**sanderson** 12/18/2019, 6:05 pm

I have to take my hat off to all of you in this Region.

We were in Missouri last week and I found out it's too cold for me. I couldn't even image gardening in a green house. It was 21*F the night we arrived and it snowed the day after we left. lots o

**Scorpio Rising** 12/20/2019, 1:13 am

sanderson wrote:I have to take my hat off to all of you in this Region.

We were in Missouri last week and I found out it's too cold for me. I couldn't even image gardening in a green house. It was 21*F the night we arrived and it snowed the day after we left.

Ha! It was 7* this morning when I went in to work! It’s the wind that really wrecks things, to be honest...

Going to be warmish, like 39-40 over the weekend. Hang on!

**sanderson** 12/20/2019, 3:29 am

Yes, that wind cut right through us, making it even worse. N&C Midwest: November/December 2019! 3868

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