Winter Garden

[Athenaeus]

Although we do not have winter in Greece with the classical definition of the word : cold, rain, snows etc etc etc

This morning I found out that what I have planted for winter is growing!!!

I have spinach, beet roots, lettuces, cabbages, garlics. I am taking great care of these garlics because I use them fresh for pickles. The ultimate pickles!!




This week- end I planted my tulips also!

How are your gardens doing?

[Olive Branch]

I planted some violas (johnny-jump-ups or tiny pansies) because they look so great in salads and on desserts. I didn't plant any cole crops this year (no cabbage, brussels sprouts, etc) because LAST year when we sprayed for worms with baccillus thuriengis it made our new dog really sick (he eats EVERYTHING). Next year we'll fence the garden and keep him out! Last year it was so warm here that all my leafy things bolted really early but it's much cooler this year so I think my spinach and lettuces will be very happy. I'm trying some watermelon radishes, they are so beautiful, striated pink and white flesh! I crushed some unidentified grapes from our arbor and am trying some vinegar in a little 2-gallon barrel, using a mother from a Zinfandel vinegar I made last year. We'll see!

Love ~ Debbie

[Athenaeus]

For the vinegar.
When you place it in the barrel, add a couple of pieces of raw pasta inside!

[Risa]

My garden is still my summer garden but it's doing amazingly well considering it's already November. No more tomatoes and peppers, but the herbs except for basil are thriving. The Italian parsley is all over the place. I still have lavender, tarragon, mint, sage, chives and a little oregano. It's been unseasonably warm here this fall.

[Olive Branch]

My herbs are still flourishing too. But tell me about raw pasta in the vinegar? Is that dried pasta? Or fresh uncooked pasta? Something else I'm trying for the first time is planting a cover crop of nitrogen fixing plants to till in to the soil in very early spring to improve the soil. I mixed in some California wildflower seeds, so now we a a really nice green meadow - no flowers yet of course. I decided last year that if I want the garden double-dug I'll have to hire someone to do it - we are too old and too busy!

My dogs really made me laugh while I was pulling out the last of the squash vines last weekend. The young male dog, Bandit, was out there in the dirt with me, yanking on the vines and trying to dig holes to China, and our older female, Maggie, was sitting outside the garden giving him the most disdainful look. But she was the one who wanted to help me carry everything to the compost pile, while he went off to bark at the resident squirrels! I guess like in any good relationship, they have the work suitably divided...

Love ~ Debbie

[Athenaeus]

Debbie.

I put a couple of pieces of dried pasta and leave the bottle under the sun for 10 days.

As for your pets... Photos please...

[cape chef]

Athenaeus,
What does the dry pasta do?
Does it somehow help with fermantation?does it turn the vinegar cloudy?
cc

[Wolfgang4711]

I truly envy those of you with gardens. I live in the forest and miss gardening a lot. I plan to clear cut a small area over the winter and try a small garden plot in springtime. It's such a pity to have all this wonderfuly rich soil from thousands of years of natural compost and not grow vegetables in it. A friend sent me some herb seeds from her garden in California and I will be planting some of them inside. I miss having garden fresh vegetables and herbs. Besides a little digging in the soil is such a rewarding way to relax the mind from worries and cares.

[glutz]

Back in Sunny Pretoria, South Africa,
november will be getting ready to harvest Cantonese Dong Gwha (marrow), Sang gwah (gourd), Foo Gwah (bitter melon), thois continued through to march/april.

In Ottawa, wre getting ready for our first snows, so that a contrast.

SUre missing the small veggie patch. will be at it again next spring.

[Athenaeus]

Having in mind that Papa has olive trees in Connecticut that he has found a way to keep them in his house I do not see why you do not have small gardens in flower pots.

Dear Wolfgang4711 I think that it worths to give a try with planting herbs in pots! Same for you Glutz!

Do not say no! Because I will have to take a plane and come show you how to do it

Seriously now, Papa has posted some advices for gardens in the North. We will be glad to answer questions.

I STRONGLY encourage you to try! My husband's village is in a forest on the mountains and we have created a small garden in a corner of our garden that it's filled with firs.

PS Yes ! Pasta turns the vinegar cloudy.

[Wolfgang4711]

Hi Athenaeus,

I am geting pots together now to start planting Oregano, Thyme, Basil and Lemon Basil in my sunroom over winter. Any other suggestions for indoor herbs? I was wondering if Chives are worth the effort for a small indoor space.

[glutz]

Chives
cut the leaves just above soil level, invigorates further growth.

Spring onions
cut off the roots with about 1/16 inch of white,
into soil and soon you have more spring onions.
In the garden, the heads multiply themsleves for the winter rest.

[Isa]

I was never able to get herbs to grow indoor. No idea what I did wrong or why.

[Olive Branch]

Hey Wolfgang, I used to live in West Virginia around Morgantown, but I don't know where Berkel;y Springs is. I hope your herbs do well indoors this winter but in early spring be sure to find ramps growing wild in your woods. They give you the most terrible gas but they are the most glorious combination of green onion and garlic flavor! They are a total classic with the venison you hunted in the fall. Somebody in a little holler will show you where they are and give you a little snootful of moonshine or, if you are lucky, some dandelion glow, to boot! What else are you finding there??

Love ~ Debbie

[Olive Branch]

And I just thought of something else - do the chives! They are great with scrambled eggs and FABULOUS with thin-skinned potatoes, with butter and parmesan cheese. AND the blossoms are fantastic in salads. I keep writing about this, I guess I really love flowers in salad! They do best if you try to keep just one clump in a pot - they like rich soil.

Love ~ Debbie