N & C Midwest: November/December 2023

**Scorpio Rising** 11/1/2023, 1:42 pm

Where did the time go? We have had 2 hard freeze nights here with upper 20s for temperatures. Supposed to warm up for the weekend, so will have an opportunity to get out there and plant the garlic and finish clean-up work.

Want to try some winter/early spring greens….in my cold frame. Bok Choi, maybe some cabbage…

JAM23 11/4/2023, 11:04 am

It's going to be sunny and 55 degrees here today. I have big plans to collect, mulch and save as many leaves as I can, add my spent pumpkins to the compost bin, clean my garden bench up and do as many misc gardening tasks as possible! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend with whatever you are doing!

OhioGardener 11/4/2023, 5:32 pm

It was an absolutely beautiful day, with bright sunshine and temps in the mid-60's, and I had to get outside to do something. So, I pulled the rest of the carrots and beets. Then I added fresh compost to the bed, and heavily mulched it with wheat straw for the winter. All of the beds are now closed and ready for a long winter's nap.

N & C Midwest: November/December 2023 Carrot13

**Scorpio Rising** 11/4/2023, 6:31 pm

I did the same thing; finally got out there and cleaned up my south annex, and the 3 trellises (which I need garden gloves to clean off—ouch!). Every bed is empty. Now need to mulch with straw to put to bed.

Pulled my last Tango celery for the fall. Beds look pretty good. My first 4x4 is getting ready to need to be replaced. Might do a table top, my knees aren’t what they used to be!

Strawberry bed will need overhauled next year. I got nothing out of it this year. It needs refreshed every so often!

**Scorpio Rising** 11/6/2023, 3:35 pm

Garlic is in, everything amended that needs it, cleaned off and put away! Will need to mulch with some straw. Calling it for 2023!

JAM23 11/6/2023, 8:22 pm

ScorpioRising,

Same here! The beds have been amended and mulched with leaves. Everything has been put away for the winter. Feels good to have it all wrapped up for the year. Now it's time to dream about next year and learn more about timing and ways to preserve what I grow next year!

**Scorpio Rising** 11/7/2023, 9:54 am

JAM23 wrote:ScorpioRising,

Same here! The beds have been amended and mulched with leaves. Everything has been put away for the winter. Feels good to have it all wrapped up for the year. Now it's time to dream about next year and learn more about timing and ways to preserve what I grow next year!

Part of the journey is preserving our bounty, JAM23! I got a hot water bath in my 3rd year, and a dehydrator (as a Christmas present!) in year 5! Love them both! And what an adventure this is…

JAM23 11/7/2023, 5:12 pm

I am hoping that I get a dehydrator for Christmas! That would be sweet!

**Scorpio Rising** 11/8/2023, 11:13 am

JAM23 wrote:I am hoping that I get a dehydrator for Christmas! That would be sweet!

I did my leftover garlic into garlic nuggets, and bought a small marble mortar and pestle. The bomb! Might do some more garlic, but my advice is do it in your garage, it is quite garlicky smelling!

OhioGardener 11/10/2023, 6:27 pm

Took advantage of the beautiful fall weather today to get some yard work done. Planted a new Saucer Magnolia tree in the front yard, and pruned back an Autumn Clematis on the back fence. Turned the compost bin for the last time until next spring, and added a couple hundred pounds of coffee grounds to the top of it after it was turned. Raked enough of the Maple leaves to fill the wire cages around several new trees, and pruned the butterfly bushes. Cut the Comfrey leaves off, and used them to mulch the plants for the winter. Pretty much just enjoying the beautiful day. Very Happy

The Comfrey plants after they were cut back and mulched for the winter.

N & C Midwest: November/December 2023 Comfre12

OhioGardener 11/16/2023, 1:01 pm

While taking the daily kitchen scraps out to the tumbler, I decided to take the thermometer and check the temp of both the compost bin and the tumbler. The temp of the tumbler was what I expected since it was just started 3 days ago, but the temp of the newest compost bin surprised me. This bin was started with the fall garden cleanup, and is alternating layers of garden cleanup and Starbucks coffee grounds. One of the primary sources of carbon is the coffee filters that comes with the grounds. It has not been turned since starting, and won't be until next spring. I will continue to periodically add more coffee grounds to the pile. What surprised me was when I stuck the thermometer into the middle of the compost, it registered 105ºF. It was only 40ºF outside when this measurement was taken, so I did not expect this "cold' compost pile to be in the 100-degree range.

N & C Midwest: November/December 2023 Compos18

N & C Midwest: November/December 2023 Compos19

nrstooge 11/25/2023, 8:32 am

have arugula under mini hoops still, amazing!

OhioGardener 11/25/2023, 8:38 am

nrstooge wrote:have arugula under mini hoops still, amazing!

Wonderful! One of our best winter greens, continues to grow beautifully most of the winter, down to around 5ºF.

OhioGardener 11/26/2023, 4:26 pm

To paraphrase Snoopy, it was a dark and stormy day. Rained all day, with temps only into the high 30's. The best part of the day was when I took the kitchen scraps out to the compost tumbler -- when I opened the tumbler door to pour in the scraps, I was met with a heavy stream of steam from the composting vegetables. Smile

**sanderson** 11/27/2023, 9:23 pm

Wonderful! N & C Midwest: November/December 2023 3170584802

**Scorpio Rising** 12/6/2023, 3:43 pm

I have gotten Pinetree Seeds and Bakers catalogs so far! And I’m not fully decorated for Christmas!

OhioGardener 12/7/2023, 10:35 am

Scorpio Rising wrote:I have gotten Pinetree Seeds and Bakers catalogs so far! And I’m not fully decorated for Christmas!

I got the Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Catalog in the mail yesterday. That thing is a work of art! Also got a Seeds 'n Such catalog. Very Happy

**Scorpio Rising** 12/7/2023, 4:35 pm

I agree, Bakers Creek catalog is a work of art!

JAM23 12/8/2023, 6:49 pm

N & C Midwest: November/December 2023 Img_2042

Guys! I know it's not much, BUT.....I am so proud of the spinach I grew in my COLDFRAME!!! NEVER thought I would harvest spinach on Dec. 8th!!!

Thanks to all of you who guided me and supported me with this! Can't wait to learn and practice more with these frames!!

**Scorpio Rising** 12/11/2023, 5:40 pm

JAM23 wrote:
Guys! I know it's not much, BUT.....I am so proud of the spinach I grew in my COLDFRAME!!! NEVER thought I would harvest spinach on Dec. 8th!!!

Thanks to all of you who guided me and supported me with this! Can't wait to learn and practice more with these frames!!

Great job! I really couldn’t use mine this fall/winter, I basically had to put squash in there! Too late….but Spring will come, lol!

**sanderson** 12/15/2023, 1:59 pm

Scorpio Rising wrote:I agree, Bakers Creek catalog is a work of art!

Their "The Whole Seed Catalog" is even more interesting. I have bought 2 since 2013. study

**Scorpio Rising** 12/17/2023, 1:18 pm

I have never bought one, but I would!

OhioGardener 12/21/2023, 10:23 am

At 10:27pm today we reach the Winter Solstice. Now we can anticipate the days beginning to get longer, and longer.... Very Happy

**Scorpio Rising** 12/21/2023, 10:24 am

I’m super glad about that!

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