Friday, December 25, 2009

Leaves through the frost


The lovely leaves of red romaine lettuce made it through the frost, totally unprotected. Seen above, with some leeks growing nearby.

The collards, below, seem happier than ever with the cool weather. The frost seems to have sweetened the flavor of the leaves some too.

Both plants provide delicious leaves to eat in the winter.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Preparing for a Freeze


We're expecting temperatures in the mid 20s and rain mixed with something called snow. It won't stick, I've read, but it doesn't usually come down to the valley. When we want to see snow, we drive up to the mountains.
Anyway, the citrus plants need to be protected from such cold temperatures, so I went about the garden putting frost protection on the lemons, oranges, and limes. I still have to rig up protection for the mandarin and the kumquats, which I'll do tomorrow.
I thought my lemon tree looked as if it had a visit from Christo and Jeanne-Claude after I wrapped it in its blanket.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Salad season

In late September the weather was so nice and warm I thought summer would never quit. Still, I planted some seeds for the winter garden. Lettuce mainly, and snow peas. I have lots of chard and collards growing here and there already, but those leaves need to be cooked. The late fall and winter weather is the a great time for salad leaves. I forage for tender dandelion leaves, picking only the smallest and most tender (in winter the leaves are not bitter). I pick arugula and lettuces that I've planted in various spots, and pull up a daikon radish and a scallion for good measure. This year I planted red romaine lettuce for a change (I've planted various green lettuces too). The red romaine was brilliant in the sun this morning and could be part of a delicious salad this evening.

Remnants

Temperatures are starting to drop into the low 30s at night.
I found a few green tomatoes, hanging on to withered plants, and glowing in the sun.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Frosty morning

A chilly 36 degrees Fahrenheit this morning.
The orchards across the street were white with frost.
In the garden I found this lovely rose-scented geranium covered with frost.
Now I wish I'd made one more batch of rose-scented geranium syrup before the cold weather came.