Nine Days Later...
A NEWBORN RHUBARB LEAF
Click on photo to enlarge - © 2007 jim otterstrom
Our last post, 9 days ago, found us with 4 inches of new snow but this week has been spring-like and new life bursts forth once again, ever-ready to reclaim its place in the sun.
WINTER LETTUCE
Click on photo to enlarge - © 2007 jim otterstromThis is the lettuce mix we planted last October which has thrived outdoors at our elevation of 6,750', under fiberglass panels, through the worst of a rather mild winter, but still surviving temperatures as low as minus 10° F.
We'll leave these hardy greens uncovered at night from here on out, even though our night-time temps are still in the low 20's, unless we get another extreme cold snap. We will get more snow but these plants are established enough to survive, and even thrive, under an insulating layer of snow now.
WINTER GROWN ORGANIC BABY SPINACH
Click on photo to enlarge - © 2007 jim otterstromThis spinach was also planted from seed in October, directly in our raised beds, and covered with corrugated fiberglass panels.
I kept the seedbeds wet until the spinach sprouted and then watered once or twice more afterwards.
Otherwise, the only water they received until today was the condensation dripping from inside the fiberglass covers.
This morning , after uncovering the plants, I soaked them with the watering can using snowmelt from our rainbarrels.
Labels: food production, organic gardening, rewarding work, self-reliance, winter
posted by Jim at 10:34 AM
11 Comments:
you know, if you hadn't said that was a newborn rhubarb leaf i never would have known it. At first glance it looked like someone had ripped the heart out of some animal.
Hi dragonfly-
Yes, it does resemble an animal's heart, and I hadn't seen that!
Embryonic was the word that came to mind when I was taking the picture, but, no matter how I look at it, I still get the same feeling...
...animal, vegetable, mineral, we are all one.
Wow, those greens are mouthwatering. I wonder if I can get away with starting any seedlings yet. The thaw is upon us! The snow is suddenly soggy and there are puddles! But no nights staying above freezing in the forecast just yet.
Those spinach leaves look DELICIOUS! "Embroynic" was the first word I thought of when I looked at the rhubarb, too!
Well, I thought it was something's brain! Looks like you'll be eating well this season.
pablo
www.roundrockjournal.com
it is all very much making my mouth water! Those plants look gorgeous and a welcome site to see while still in winter!
how does he do that, i asked. oh yes, way more sunlight down there in the southern latitudes, than we have up here at 46 degrees. nice gardening. we have some late summer greens and roots still alive, but not enuf light, yet, for them to grow much.
There's nothing like a newborn, still red and rumpled, to greet an old friend who finally has a free morning to blog. :) How are you, Jim? I've missed tales from your sweet life with Peggy. Hope all is well. I'm impressed by your gardening success!
I can't seem to get good close up pictures like he does. i think I probably just need a better camera.
oh my the greens look so delicious...my daughter and I will be planting our first garden together (in a very long time) this spring and summer....my excitement is about to burst...
That shot of the rhubarb almost did me in, until I read what it was. Whoa. I was about to be grossed out in a major way there, Jim! (I also thought it looked like an animal brain.) Ended up loving the shots of all your garden greens, though. In the spring, I like to cook up a pot of white bean soup with lots of garlic and onion and toss a handful of greens in at the end. Add a hunk of cornbread made with stone ground cornmeal and topped with what my family called "cow butter" (freshly churned butter) and you've got a serious feast on your hands.
My favorite greens are spinach, collards and mustard. Yum. See what your post has unleashed?! I must work in the garden this weekend! ;-)
- Kathy in Kentucky
PS - Do you ever do any wild foraging for woodland and field edibles?
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