November 17, 2017

A Day in the Garden

Yesterday was a beautiful day - sunny and 65°F (18°C). I spent the afternoon in the garden, because I wanted to do a little weeding, planting, and cleaning up. Here's what's happening.

The Savoy cabbages are beginning to head.

As are the heading collards. We have been
enjoying the leaves sautéed with onions over rice.

The broccoli is heading too. I'll harvest this one for Thanksgiving.

In the hoop house I have two more broccoli plants
sharing a bed with chickweed. It's good in salads.

In this bed I planted mache (corn salad) on the left
and sorrel on the right. The mache made a poor
showing, so I planted more, along with arugula.

The sorrel adds a nice tangy green to our salads.

Young chicory leaves add a touch of bitter
(which is very good for the liver).

I found a few violets blooming in the chicory patch.

My garlic is doing very well.

As are the multiplier onions. Both need mulching.

I was pleased to find sugar beets where I pulled
away the weeds. The seed for these was a
couple years old so I wasn't sure it would make it.

The last chore was to pull the dead tomato and okra plants.
I found this one lone green tomato had survived the frost.

I also planted spinach and more lettuce and radishes. Last year I had miner's lettuce (claytonia) volunteer like crazy, so I didn't plant any this year in hopes it would do the same. Alas, it didn't. I hope I have some saved seed somewhere!

Temperatures will go back down tomorrow, but it's that time of year so I can't complain. A lovely day in the garden was very welcome. Anyone else having lovely, pleasant days?

A Day in the Garden © Nov. 2017 by

13 comments:

Yarrow said...

Your salads look great and still so productive. When do your crops drop off for the winter? I would love to produce brocolli like yours, maybe next year :D

Leigh said...

Yarrow, thanks! Usually I can grow cool weather veggies all winter long. Typically we'll get below freezing temps at night and above it by day. The ground rarely freezes for long, and those things make winter quite productive for us. Summer, on the other hand, often gets too hot and dry for anything to grow.

Quinn said...

I was hoping to get a permanent raised, covered bed created this Autumn, as Occasional Helper's Dad is managing to grow fresh greens (rugged ones, like kale) through most of the winter in his! But...there's just a lot going on here since construction began on house projects. I did get a second Very Raised Bed assembled, but it's very freeform and there's no way to cover it. Hmmm. You've got me thinking about whether I could still manage to put something small together in the next week. Thanks!

Leigh said...

Quinn, I figure if I'm too late for fall gardening, then I'm just getting a jump on the spring garden! Kale is a great winter green.

We're looking at putting in more raised beds as well. They're great for the winter garden, but I find they dry out too fast in summer. Still, they make it a tad easier to control the wiregrass!

Ed said...

We've been having our typical late fall weather which is overcast with drizzle. Generally when we move into late November, it becomes sunny again but that is when the really cold weather hits.

M.K. said...

Yes! Yesterday was also a gorgeous day outside for us, and today's not bad -- just chillier. Bright sun. Adam is doing roof repair. Our garden is rather going to sleep, unlike yours which is producing fabulously. We haven't had much luck with broccoli, sorry to say. My onions and garlic are also doing well, and we have a few late peas with pods that we've been picking for stir fry. Our fall collards and kale were eaten up by something -- not sure what. Glad you had a fun day!!

Mama Pea said...

Looking at all that lovely greenery (and almost drooling) made me think we live in different worlds! You two should be healthier than could be having all that nutritious goodness to eat nearly year 'round. (Almost drooling again just thinking about it.)

We're having typical November weather: A combination of rain and snow this morning with temps bordering right on freezing. Even though I can't be in the garden bringing in fresh greens, I'll be in my quilt room happily puttering away and listening to Christmas music!

Leigh said...

Ed, it's funny but in winter I love sunny days, in summer I prefer them cloudy! Sounds like winter is right around the corner for you.

M.K., I have to confess that my broccoli, collards, and cabbage were all bought as plants from the feed store. I can't resist them! You also reminded me that I forgot to look for kale seed while I was out!

Mama Pea, we really do enjoy healthy eating during winter. I wish I could get greens during summer, but alas, it's too hot them. Nice that you have an alternative favorite activity for cold winter weather!

jewlz said...

It all looks wonderful, Leigh. I suppose you pickle and turn the broccoli into kimchi? Have you tried drying it or cauliflower?

Rain said...

Hi Leigh :) Your garden and temperatures are enviable! My mache is doing really well at -10C these days...I also planted claytonia and I'm waiting to see what happens there, I read it's a good winter green to grow. I'm very thankful that it's been sunny though! :)

Leigh said...

Jewlz, you know what? I've actually never made kimchi. My lacto-fermenting is usually just plain cabbage, turnips, or Jerusalem artichokes. We'll eat a lot of the broccoli in salads. I have a stash of dried cranberries to go with the broccoli, add fresh salad greens and homegrown pecans or almonds - yummy!

Rain, our weather is only enviable in winter. :) Our summers are almost too hot to grow anything! I think you'll like the claytonia. It's a very good tasting green and easy to grow. I'm disappointed it didn't volunteer again this year.

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi! Oh, my I am envious of all your greens growing! I hope to do better at that next year! Nancy

Leigh said...

Nancy, I have an easier time growing greens in winter than I do squash and tomatoes in summer! I know you're patio garden will only get better and better. :)