This morning I ventured into the garden to see what might be available to harvest for our weekly food bank donation. Even our hardiest kales are slowing production this time of year, and I didn’t expect to find much for this, our 26th week in a row donating weekly.
Early December Food Bank Donation
As well, I didn’t expect to find quite as crunchy, rock-hard, frozen ground. Yep, the cold snap is here & the garden is seizing up because of it. The sun is shining, but the ground is freezing. The weather reporters are even starting to threaten flurries this weekend and possibly a real snow event in the Seattle lowlands next week. As a longtime Seattlite, I’ve learned to “believe it when I see it”. I’ve also learned to get ready for just about anything. And, if you haven’t already winterized your garden, I encourage you to do so.
If you’re growing edibles, even hardy winter edibles like kale and broccoli, be sure they’re protected from freezing temperatures.
Be sure to shut your hoops in the cold!
If you have them inside a greenhouse, under a hoop house or inside a cold frame, most winter-hardy edibles should continue to thrive in temperatures hovering around freezing. If they aren’t protected, get out and harvest them asap or risk losing them in times of cold. A few of the exposed chard leaves I cut this morning were fairly frozen, but they’ll still make a great wilted greens side dish tonight. A few more nights out in that weather and the leaves will be completely shot though the plants may re-surge in spring. I find chard, lettuce and bok choi the most tender of the winter veggies in my own garden.
If you’re maintaining a worm bin, don’t forget to check on their habitat. They’re probably fairly sluggish and in need of very little food right now. But, they do need a good layer of insulating leaves, shredded paper, straw or other bedding material to keep them from freezing. If you’re having an extra chilly season, consider starting up an indoor bin to keep some of your population fat and happy in the kitchen, pantry, cellar, garage or other protected location. Last winter I put together an indoor bin in 30 minutes, for under $20. Perhaps right now I better get that one rev’d up again before it freezes again tonight!
Looking for other garden winterizing ideas? Read on! (more…)
