Out in the garden in January?

SQFTBIX 1/3/2011, 12:50 pm

I sure was. It was nice out and I hadn't had the chance to top my garden plots with plastic in the fall so I said, why not? My neighbors probably thought I was a lunatic and they probably were half right. So, I pulled all the dead weeds and laid down the 6 ml plastic and put the blocks on top to hold it down. I had some sort of disease of a fungal nature so I want to sun sterilize the soil somewhat before I put in any new compost. I also turned my compost bins.
Putting the plastic over the beds also insures a quicker heat up in the spring. I went out Sunday and there was condensation under the plastic which is a very good sign. I don't do this every year but given the issue I had, this was perfect timing. I didn't have much time to garden last year so this year I am pulling out all the stops. I already have my seed starter ready to go and a greenhouse ready to be set up. Can't wait for March which is almost here.

**sfg4uKim** 1/3/2011, 1:28 pm

Weather's good (and sunny) here today in Maryland and is supposed to also be in the high-30s to mid-40s the next few days, so I hope to get LOTS done in the garden.

Today I did some temporary repairs to my greenhouse and took out the parts for the plastic raised beds I'll be putting together soon.

Think I'll clean the plastic panels on the greenhouse and start some seeds this week.

Happy!

SQFTBIX 1/3/2011, 2:05 pm

What type of seeds are you starting this early? I generally don't start anything until at least early February at the earliest.

Dunkinjean 1/3/2011, 2:16 pm

Hi!

Luckily for me, I cleaned out my garden in late fall and put in new compost, added 2 new beds, etc.

On Sunday, December 26, 2010 we had a BLIZZARD in Central NJ of 2 to 3' plus!
Therefore, I can't even see my beds!!

Slowly the snow is melting.

Til Spring......

martha 1/3/2011, 2:22 pm

Dunkinjean, my DH and I were in NJ for Christmas! We got out while the gettin' was good - it was a blizzard here in MA but only about 2" of snow. (Blizzard defined by the rate of snow).

But I am glad for this thread's reminder that I must get plastic on my beds!

Megan 1/3/2011, 4:44 pm

Hi SQFTBIX!

I can't put plastic down (evil HOA....) but I planted onions a week or so ago. I am going to plant some mustard, too, just to see what happens. I think the temps are supposed to turn around and get colder again, but that was a nice little "warm" snap we had. I have only a few tiny dustings of snow still remaining. I keep wondering if my pansies will perk back up after the frost apparently killed them.

Let us know how it goes!

Blackrose 1/3/2011, 5:42 pm

I was out in my garden in January too!

The weather was so mild here near the end of last week that I was able to harvest some carrots. My broccoli plant that was frozen into the soil before I had a chance to pull it has new growth on it. Crazy weather!

**sfg4uKim** 1/3/2011, 7:47 pm

Megan wrote:Hi SQFTBIX!

I can't put plastic down (evil HOA....) but I planted onions a week or so ago. I am going to plant some mustard, too, just to see what happens. I think the temps are supposed to turn around and get colder again, but that was a nice little "warm" snap we had. I have only a few tiny dustings of snow still remaining. I keep wondering if my pansies will perk back up after the frost apparently killed them.

Let us know how it goes!

Megan,

Would you be able to put plastic down if you put mulch over it to hide it?

Megan 1/3/2011, 8:44 pm

ksroman wrote:
Megan,

Would you be able to put plastic down if you put mulch over it to hide it?

I don't think so, not for the front yard, but thanks for thinking of it. That's a problem specific to my HOA, though.

**Furbalsmom** 1/4/2011, 3:47 pm

Harvested Swiss Chard today, Jan 4, 2011
Growing on my partially enclosed porch.
Out in the garden in January? Swiss_10

SQFTBIX 1/6/2011, 12:33 pm

I thought I was the only one putting plastic down but I guess not. I know in my area I am the only one though.
I am going to be taking an inventory of my seeds this weekend after battling a little field mouse issue. Seems they think my house is their house. Shocked

Trapped 10 so far this week with the last one being caught in my kitchen sink this morning. Put him in an planters peanut container and threw him in the garbage outside. My teenage son didn't know quite what to think about the whole process. But what the heck - it worked! Wink

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Just curious.

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Thought I was the only one.

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