Saturday Gardening Thread: Winter Travels [KT]

Good Morning! We have some weather in the USA this week. They had some weather in the Alps last week, and we have some photos from the Gardening Thread's Swiss correspondents. I thought we could take a little virtual trip.

And we have some garden reports and catalog dreams. And Hank Curmudgeon sent along this piece on 6 benefits of garden-based learning. Get those kiddos in the garden. Have some fun.

Switzerland

Last week, there was an alpine storm that caused avalanches and such. People died while snowshoeing and skiing. But before that, this fall, the female contingent of our Gardening Thread Swiss correspondents took a little trip to Gruyeres, a medieval village with a castle and formal French-style garden, seen above.

The castle is in better shape than most of its vintage because it was privately owned and occupied for a couple of centuries. There is also a Tibetan museum in town. There are chocolate and cheese factories and other attractions. Here's a place you might stay if you visit, complete with fall roses.

In winter, you can snowshoe to an alpine hut for fondue.

Can you think of an American town where they put flags on the food?

More recently, here's Dad, digging out from the big storm, somewhere near Zurich. Fun, no?

And here are some more photos, a little more recent, after some snow melt:

Zurich lake:

Back yard in winter. Note the attic windows on the neighbor's house. A common feature in Switzerland.

And here's a little more upscale alpine scene:

Catalog Dreaming

Along with your regular seed catalogs, have you considered ordering some gourmet beans and saving some to plant? the Azufrado gets good reviews from my friends, who received some as a gift.

Gardens of The Horde

Remember to check back during the weekend for late comments to the Gardening Thread. Last week, Shanks for the memory had some interesting contributions:

The Baker Creek catalog arrived last week...oh my. I too like Juliet grape/cherry tomatoes. They're meaty enough to make a tasty one pot pasta and they go well into October in the Central Valley. Chocolate Sprinkles is my fav salad cherry. I tried a Bumble Bee mixed packet last year and the Sunrise ones were really good...but it wouldn't be summer without Sungold
Totally Tomato has a chocolate pear that I'm going to try. I also have some Kumato seeds from store bought fruit I saved, they really are the only tomato in the store right now that has flavor. They originated in Spain so they should take the heat...who knows?

It's funny how the beefsteaks seem so bland now, I remember my Gran growing huge beefsteaks, deep red, sweet, juicy and delicious. We'd scoop out the flesh & mix with tuna salad or cottage cheese for summer supper when it was too hot to cook. Some of them were as big as a salad plate.
Cherokee Purple, Green Zebra and Black Krim did really well for me the last two years. I always plant a row of 6-8 Early Girl to can. They may not be the most flavorsome eaten fresh but can those babies with some basil and next January you'll change your mind. I opened a jar today. Oh and I tried a new (to me) paste tomato Opalka for sauce last year, it's a keeper...very weird looking.

You might want to try Stump of the World or Neves Azorean Red for a beefsteak, Shanks, even though they aren't massive. And hold back on water toward harvest.

Opalka is actually one of those oxheart types with wispy foliage sold as a paste tomato. The oxhearts generally have better flavor than regular paste tomatoes. I think the skinny ones like Opalka often look sort of like peppers.

Okay, enough about tomatoes, what sweet non-bell peppers are you growing this year? Cubanelle, Jimmy Nardello and Sweet Sunset banana fer sure...but what else?

Anybody else doing non-standard sweet peppers this year?

Oh...I almost forgot! Is anyone growing microgreens?
I have been having ball growing them this winter. At the moment I've got peas, broccoli, Italian Parsley, arugula, sunflowers, and china rose radishes under a kludged grow light fixture I hung on big cup hooks under a cabinet in the laundry room! We've had scads of fresh crunchy greens all winter. The only things I had to buy were the grow light bulb and a couple of compressed coir blocks...and seeds, of course.
It's been a treat to have fresh crunchy greens to put in a sandwich and with lots of lettuces being off the market, to amp up Iceberg salads.

Microgreens are perfect for winter gardens and city gardens. Even Ace could grow them. Anybody else growing microgreens?

If you would like to send information and/or photos for the Saturday Gardening Thread, the address is:

ktinthegarden
at g mail dot com

Include your nic unless you want to remain a lurker.

Music

It has been raining here in the Central Valley of California this week, so here's Rain in the Valley:

Posted by: Open Blogger at 01:14 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Looks like a good time.

Posted by: Bruce at January 19, 2019 01:13 PM (8ikIW)

2 Very nice KT.

Posted by: HH at January 19, 2019 01:14 PM (mIJBI)

3 I love snow. It's a shame that the winters in the Colorado Front Range are always so disappointing. This winter being even more disappointing.

Posted by: Pug Mahon at January 19, 2019 01:15 PM (FXbwN)

4 Garden Thread!! Hola everyone.

Posted by: Weasel at January 19, 2019 01:16 PM (MVjcR)

5 The pictures of Switzerland are beautiful. I haven't been there in more than 15 years. It's one of my favorite countries.

Posted by: Ladyl at January 19, 2019 01:17 PM (TdMsT)

6 Good afternoon, y'all. For that top photo, it took Mrs. JTB about 2 seconds to make a cheese joke.

Posted by: JTB at January 19, 2019 01:17 PM (bmdz3)

7 I prefer pictures of snow to actual snow I have to deal with.

Posted by: Weasel at January 19, 2019 01:17 PM (MVjcR)

8 love the switz pics!

Posted by: concrete girl at January 19, 2019 01:18 PM (3O41F)

9 Nice post. Mind if I use it? Don't matter. Gonna anyway.

Posted by: JG at January 19, 2019 01:19 PM (RVcmP)

10 Early daffodils have been sprouted about 2 wks now...have no idea when they'll bloom.

Posted by: BignJames at January 19, 2019 01:20 PM (cxHbL)

11 Not much with the garden right now. Most of it is still covered with snow and the forecast is for the coldest temps of the year: single figures with a stiff wind chill lowering it even more. I'm hoping the precip stays away for a while. I can shovel snow but I'm no ice skater.

Posted by: JTB at January 19, 2019 01:23 PM (bmdz3)

12 I have had great success last years with poblano, Carmen, shishito peppers. My hot mixes of Serrano, jalape�o, habanero, fresno and Bulgarian carrot peppers also do amazing. Bell peppers just do. It grow well for me. So I stick with what works.

I'm excited that we are getting good rain in SoCal as that usually brings good summer crops. Last year we had 3 inches total and the only things that grew well were my reliable peppers. Even cherry tomatoes were not so great.

Posted by: keena at January 19, 2019 01:24 PM (RiTnx)

13 "can those babies with some basil and next January you'll change your mind. I opened a jar today."

this is an important part of our culture ... foods and flowers that we raise, many that we recall from our youth. And the garden may introduce all sorts of healthy bacteria that form the "microbiome" in our guts, possible one that can carry a genetic influence from past generations.

They might do that via certain viruses that actually "co-opt" our own DNA, or in any case, can affect attitude and health in mysterious ways. Or at least that seems likely, from what I've been watching lately on the subject. Gardening is good for the soul ... in many ways.

Posted by: illiniwek at January 19, 2019 01:24 PM (Cus5s)

14 Question for tomato morons... a large orangey red tomato that looks like a clenched fist with lots of fingers. My now deceased swabisch neighbor used to give them to us, and my language skills suck, so I can't describe it in german

Posted by: Euro at January 19, 2019 01:25 PM (mzJZG)

15 JTB at January 19, 2019 01:17 PM

I wouldn't be surprised to see cows going down the street in that town sometime. I think they keep them out of the formal garden, though.

Posted by: KT at January 19, 2019 01:25 PM (BVQ+1)

16 Posted by: BignJames at January 19, 2019 01:20 PM (cxHbL)

You better hope that they aren't Triffids...

Posted by: HH at January 19, 2019 01:26 PM (mIJBI)

17 The lilac is showing some big buds. This will be the third year since we cut it back, so we hope we'll get more flower clusters come spring.

Posted by: JTB at January 19, 2019 01:27 PM (bmdz3)

18 Su Casa Mexican restaurant in La Jolla on La Jolla Boulevard up from Windansea Beach has always put leeetle Mexican flags on toothpicks on the entrees since 1967. As kids we would collect them and attach them to the little buildings on our H.O. train layout so it would look like the trains are passing through a rundown Mexican border town with crappy landscaping but at least they would have a Howard Johnson's, a Domino Sugar warehouse, and a 7-11!!

Posted by: Donovan Nuera at January 19, 2019 01:27 PM (GZ9c7)

19 I really have an urge to plant tomatoes this year. Thanks you KT and the gardening post for the info!!
I really want tomatoes for salsa, salad and BLT.

Posted by: Cheribebe at January 19, 2019 01:28 PM (fnWQo)

20 BignJames at January 19, 2019 01:20 PM
Early for daffodils. Hope they do okay.

Posted by: KT at January 19, 2019 01:29 PM (BVQ+1)

21 My wife has some cilantro, curly mustard, parsley and some other greens planted in a "garden tower". I built a dolly for it so she can roll it in and out of the garage as weather dictates.

Posted by: BignJames at January 19, 2019 01:29 PM (cxHbL)

22 Living in the upstate of SC, is now the proper time to prune back my Plum tree? And how much should I prune it back.

Also need to prune back my better half's rose bushes. I have about two weeks left on my vacation so I'd like to get them done before I get back to my regular traveling work schedule. I probably won't be back home again until mid spring.

Posted by: Travelin' Man&&&& at January 19, 2019 01:30 PM (R5lpX)

23 Im stupid. I fogot what nood meant...

A new thread?

Another bowl of chicken noodle?

Posted by: Fenrisulven at January 19, 2019 01:32 PM (UhyWI)

24 my large "veranda" has a large almost flat roof, so I went up to shovel part of the last foot of snow off, since another foot was forecast. It looks like we won't get that ... but it will still be a white wonderland for a couple weeks at least.

I put out bird food since their normal food sources are maybe covered ... several blue jays, a few cardinals, a downy woodpecker and a red headed woodpecker ... are the most frequent guests.

Posted by: illiniwek at January 19, 2019 01:32 PM (Cus5s)

25 Early for daffodils. Hope they do okay.

Posted by: KT at January 19, 2019 01:29 PM (BVQ+1)

They are supposed to be an early varieties.....tet a tet, ice follies, charlton.

Posted by: BignJames at January 19, 2019 01:33 PM (cxHbL)

26 keena at January 19, 2019 01:24 PM
I do better with non-bell peppers, too. Wonder why?

Posted by: KT at January 19, 2019 01:33 PM (BVQ+1)

27 I put out bird food since their normal food sources are maybe covered ... several blue jays, a few cardinals, a downy woodpecker and a red headed woodpecker ... are the most frequent guests.

Posted by: illiniwek at January 19, 2019 01:32 PM (Cus5s)

I should do this too.

Coming up in a couple weeks, the Great Backyard Bird Count:

https://tinyurl.com/y95rsqjf

Posted by: kallisto at January 19, 2019 01:36 PM (kD8Fh)

28 Question for the group. Has anyone used buckwheat as a winter cover crop to be dug under when spring arrives? The current issue of Early American Life magazine has a great article on buckwheat in history. There's even a quote from Daniel Webster to George Washington extolling buckwheat's value as a green manure among other benefits.

Early American Life is a fine magazine, by the way. This issue also has stories on using a hand loom and why they were so important on the frontier and how to make a colonial style wooden candle lantern. They often have gardening-related articles.

Posted by: JTB at January 19, 2019 01:37 PM (bmdz3)

29 @18. And Su Casa is still there. We were always Bahia Don Bravo people. Just down the road but w peek ocean views. Always teeming w families!

Posted by: keena at January 19, 2019 01:37 PM (RiTnx)

30 "The center isn't holding. Have you ever seen a falcon spinning around its falconer in a widening ... oh let's call it a "gyre" ... and the whole thing falls apart? Before you know it, some rough beast is slithering (?)... nay, SLOUCHING it's way toward Bethlehem. That aptly describes our current predicament - Jonah Goldberg

Posted by: Fenrisulven at January 19, 2019 01:39 PM (UhyWI)

31 illiniwek at January 19, 2019 01:24 PM
Sounds like you are learning more about microbiomes than I am. Interesting subject.

Posted by: KT at January 19, 2019 01:41 PM (BVQ+1)

32 KT,

Here in Texas there is a company north of Houston that has the Australian Finger lime trees for sale. They are tiny but will ship. It is $30 a tree. I got one...

Posted by: lin-duh at January 19, 2019 01:44 PM (kufk0)

33 Im thinking a meme generator with a classy pose of Jonah. Definitely include the "respectable" NRO masthead in the upper corner.

Then we just collect all famous Jonah Goldberg quotes and send them through the intertubes.

Oh here comes one now!

"All human wisdom is contained in these two words: Wait and Hope" - Jonah Goldberg, The Duke of Monte Cristo

Posted by: Fenrisulven at January 19, 2019 01:46 PM (UhyWI)

34 33 Im thinking a meme generator with a classy pose of Jonah. Definitely include the "respectable" NRO masthead in the upper corner.

Then we just collect all famous Jonah Goldberg quotes and send them through the intertubes.

Oh here comes one now!

"All human wisdom is contained in these two words: Wait and Hope" - Jonah Goldberg, The Duke of Monte Cristo
Posted by: Fenrisulven at January 19, 2019 01:46 PM (UhyWI)

That doesn't count...

Posted by: Don Q at January 19, 2019 01:47 PM (NgKpN)

35 Tradition!

Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.

Posted by: Insomniac at January 19, 2019 01:52 PM (NWiLs)

36 Euro at January 19, 2019 01:25 PM
There is a fluted beefsteak called 'German Queen', but it sound like the ones you got from your neighbor might have been even more fluted. They have have saved seed from their own garden. Quite common in Europe.

Posted by: KT at January 19, 2019 01:52 PM (BVQ+1)

37 My apologies, i thought Gardening was an OT like the chess threads. I'll go sit in the corner now.

Posted by: Fenrisulven at January 19, 2019 01:53 PM (UhyWI)

38 Been working on my "new" house, but the rain put the kibosh on working today. Thankfully the new metal roof I just installed is working as it should.

Had to replace a section of floor under one of the front windows and re-frame part of the wall in the master bedroom because of rot.

Am replacing the old fiberboard siding with Pine board and batten siding and all new windows. It's going to take a while to get it finished.

Posted by: Travelin' Man&&&& at January 19, 2019 01:54 PM (R5lpX)

39 JTB at January 19, 2019 01:37 PM
Very interesting historical information. I tried growing buckwheat once, didn't get a very good stand. Still have some seeds.

You can sprout the seeds, too.

Posted by: KT at January 19, 2019 01:54 PM (BVQ+1)

40 I canned tomato juice last Fall, I put in cayenne peppers and basil when cooking the tomatoes down.

It is very nice drinking that now, in January

Posted by: Kindltot at January 19, 2019 01:55 PM (mUa7G)

41 lin-duh at January 19, 2019 01:44 PM
Growing a finger lime sounds like fun!

Posted by: KT at January 19, 2019 01:57 PM (BVQ+1)

42 KT,
I plan on transplanting it into a big pot and growing it as a container tree. I'll let you you in 2-3 years if it bears fruit.

Posted by: lin-duh at January 19, 2019 01:59 PM (kufk0)

43 Botanical Interests has a boat load of heirloom tomatoes-- you might recognize it if they have it. Also, Seed Savers.

Re, gardening and the kids. Highly recommend *Science in Your Own Back Yard* (Elizabeth K. Cooper, Harcourt, Brace and Company, New York, 1960.)

Posted by: Marica at January 19, 2019 02:00 PM (cykH2)

44 Fenrisulven at January 19, 2019 01:53 PM
Switzerland likely threw you off. All is forgiven.

Posted by: KT at January 19, 2019 02:00 PM (BVQ+1)

45 "Sounds like you are learning more about microbiomes than I am. Interesting subject."Posted by: KT

I've just watched several videos so far, and the real details of the science is beyond me. My Mom had c-dif that I dealt with a decade back, so went on that journey many years ago (into the gut culture, and the variety of theories of good/bad bacteria warfare).

Fiber in the diet seems like an important part of giving the "microbiome" a healthy home, and which fiber we ingest makes a difference, though each human is unique in response. Alive and local makes sense, in choosing foods. (unless local is polluted and/or urban, I suppose)

We know wines have regions, and the yeast in those regions are a big part of what makes a Bordeaux taste like a Bordeux, for example. But whether we can change people via their food intake ... an interesting question, scary if it is done TO us, and another reason to carry on the horticultural traditions of our grandparents.

It's quite a vast field, ripe for development. This post about the possibilities from suggestions in "The Bourne Legacy" are short and I found them useful, ((including the comments). But I'll need to watch more videos to remember the Krebs Cycle or exactly what mitochondria does.

https://tinyurl.com/y83csqxk

Posted by: illiniwek at January 19, 2019 02:04 PM (Cus5s)

46 My wife has some cilantro, curly mustard, parsley and some other greens
planted in a "garden tower". I built a dolly for it so she can roll it
in and out of the garage as weather dictates.
=====

That is really clever. I'll suggest it to son in WI --

Posted by: mustbequantum at January 19, 2019 02:05 PM (MIKMs)

47 Thanks KT.
I kill silk plants, so gardening is not something I try. I've never seen those tomatoes at the Edeka or Rewe, and I'm too far out n the hinterlands to go to a bio-markt

Posted by: Euro at January 19, 2019 02:11 PM (mzJZG)

48 39 ... KT, If I can find a source for a small amout of the buckwheat seeds I'll give it a try. I'd like to improve our little in-ground plot for use in a couple of years but don't need a 50 pound bag. :-)

I know it grows well in northern areas. Historically, it is a staple crop in Normandy, Quebec, and similar climes like Manitoba. If we have a cool spring, it might do okay, at least for a ground cover, in northern Virginia.

BTW, If I can resurrect our in-ground plot I would like to make it a squash and heirloom tomatoes bed. We'll have the raised bed and containers for the standard crops.

Posted by: JTB at January 19, 2019 02:22 PM (bmdz3)

49 hiya horde!

my daffodils are all confused and trying to bud right now. three days of sunshine and all the flowers and trees think it's March!

Posted by: nurse ratched at January 19, 2019 02:24 PM (PkVlr)

50 illiniwek at January 19, 2019 01:32 PM
You sure get a wider variety of birds than we get here.

Posted by: KT at January 19, 2019 02:26 PM (BVQ+1)

51 Pinetree garden seeds is offering tomato seeds from a group called "Indigo". Indigo pear drops, indigo rose, blueberries (all cherry type) and blue beauty (a slicing tomato). Anyone heard of these?

Also a company called Jung Seeds and Plants is offering something called "Pixie grapes", a dwarf variety of grape intended for container gardening. Anyone hear of the company?

Posted by: Lirio100 at January 19, 2019 02:29 PM (JK7Jw)

52 Switzerland looks beautiful.

Posted by: Ronster at January 19, 2019 02:30 PM (xRPCO)

53 Travelin' Man at January 19, 2019 01:54 PM
What a lot of work.

Posted by: KT at January 19, 2019 02:30 PM (BVQ+1)

54 JTB,

It just dawned on me that buckwheat is a summer cover crop. Or a summer crop if you're going to eat it. Recommended for keeping down weeds.

Posted by: KT at January 19, 2019 02:32 PM (BVQ+1)

55 Marica at January 19, 2019 02:00 PM
Thanks for the recommendations.

Posted by: KT at January 19, 2019 02:34 PM (BVQ+1)

56 Lirio100 at January 19, 2019 02:29 PM
The indigo tomatoes have a gene for a purple/blue skin color. Some of them look better than they taste, and some don't look all that spectacular. They are supposed to have health benefits.

Jung seeds is part of a big conglomerate now. I would look up reviews before getting a container grape.

Posted by: KT at January 19, 2019 02:38 PM (BVQ+1)

57 54 ... KT, Improving the soil and crowding out the weeds is what I hope for with the buckwheat. Since it's only a 4 x 12 foot area I doubt there would be enough to make into flour. LOL. It's one of those nothing to lose situations.

Posted by: JTB at January 19, 2019 02:40 PM (bmdz3)

58
We have a new, innovative feature at NRO coming up for the first time tomorrow! The Sunday Gardening Thread! It'll be great, share all of your gardening tips and experiences with the rest of your fellow NRO readers. I'll be sharing my own experiences gardening in Central California.

Come one, come all!

Posted by: Jonah Goldberg at January 19, 2019 02:42 PM (eXA4G)

59 51 ... We've used Jung seeds for some years and always had good results. Haven't seen a diiference since they became part of a conglomerate but we tend to get standard plant seeds from them, not new or experimental things.

Posted by: JTB at January 19, 2019 02:44 PM (bmdz3)

60 Unless you have a lot of room, I would confine the planting of shelling beans to varieties you plan to serve fresh, before drying. They are hard to find in markets, and taste different from dried beans.

The description of Azufrado says that it is greenish when fresh. This suggests to me that it is a good 'shelly' bean.

Posted by: KT at January 19, 2019 02:45 PM (BVQ+1)

61 Another seed company with Jung is R.H. Schumway. Their catalog uses illustrations of the produce instead of photos. The seeds have always done well for us but we really enjoy those old-style illustrations. hey are in the same town as Jung.

Posted by: JTB at January 19, 2019 02:48 PM (bmdz3)

62 JTB at January 19, 2019 02:48 PM
I like reading the Shumway catalog, too.

Posted by: KT at January 19, 2019 02:53 PM (BVQ+1)

63 KT--I probably will stick to the generic pear tomatoes then--the idea was to find something my grandchildren might be talked into trying. I might still try the pixie grapes if only for the novelty.

Posted by: Lirio100 at January 19, 2019 02:54 PM (JK7Jw)

64 pets are up

Posted by: m at January 19, 2019 02:58 PM (QfXC4)

65 The indigo tomatoes have a gene for a purple/blue skin color. Some of them look better than they taste, and some don't look all that spectacular. They are supposed to have health benefits.
---
I grew some of these little indigo tomaters and was underwhelmed. The taste was bland and the color was not as unusual as I had hoped. I understand the color is supposed to be more intensely blurple in heavy direct sun. But I loved the name "Dancing With Smurfs".

Still, I'm going to experiment more in the future as the anthocyanins are supposed to be good for you, and I love weird tomatoes.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at January 19, 2019 02:58 PM (kQs4Y)

66 7 I prefer pictures of snow to actual snow I have to deal with.
Posted by: Weasel at January 19, 2019 01:17 PM (MVjcR)

You and me too, buddy.

Posted by: plum at January 19, 2019 02:59 PM (YgtLZ)

67
Can you think of an American town where they put flags on the food?

Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour used to put flags all over their creations,

Posted by: Flawless Male Logic at January 19, 2019 03:01 PM (TAmPV)

68 AHA!!!!!

My crocus have broken the surface!!!
I'm now taking bets on which one blooms first.

Posted by: Diogenes at January 19, 2019 03:05 PM (0tfLf)

69 Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour used to put flags all over their creations,
Posted by: Flawless Male Logic at January 19, 2019 03:01 PM (TAmPV)

*******

Not to mention the horns and drums when you finished The Pig Trough!

Posted by: Diogenes at January 19, 2019 03:06 PM (0tfLf)

70 I believe that beautiful Chalet is where Nancy was planning on staying on her fact finding trip. Trump is a meanie.....

Posted by: Colin at January 19, 2019 03:13 PM (T2pwT)

71 Lirio100 at January 19, 2019 02:54 PM
You might try Sun Gold or SunSugar for the kids. So sweet. There are also tastier pear tomatoes than the generic ones if you look around. Though some people who don't like tomatoes prefer the generic pears.

Posted by: KT at January 19, 2019 03:21 PM (BVQ+1)

72 About, oh, 18 maybe 20 years ago I bought some bare root, seedless blackberries from one of those seed/plant catalogs. The canes had thornes.
While not totally seedless, the 10-15% (guesstimation) of the berries that had a few had only that. 3 or 4. And big, tasty berries too.

Can not find anywhere now.
Any help appreciated.

Posted by: stumped at January 19, 2019 03:34 PM (W8e/N)

73 From Idaho's Treasure Valley: Husband and I spent part of last Saturday chain-sawing up some wood from the pile in the paddock (from branches that fell or were cut off). We'll season those for a year before using them in the fireplace.

Other than putting Annoying Sycamore leaves in the trash, we've also been cutting down Siberian Iris and Calamagrostis 'Overdam' bunchgrasses, a few at a time, and throwing those in as well. Still about 9 plants to do, on the south side of the house.

We pruned the red raspberry patch - one side down to the ground, the other just pruned (tiny or dead canes cut out, large canes cut by half). We already have 2 friends who want starts when spring comes; we definitely have some that we'd call "out of bounds" to dig up for them.

I've been checking on various things sprouting, since the low during this week was 19 F, but the high was 52!! Crocus holding at 1/2 inch tall, hyacinths look like they might have grown a bit more. Some of the 3 chrysanthemums have started sprouting. One of the 4 spinach might have been nipped, but all the fall cilantro is hanging on. Some chives sprouted but I think they might have gotten nipped.

We did have a few skiffs of snow this week. We had rain last night, and it's supposed to be rainy on and off for this whole week. I don't know what the snowpack's like, but overall I think we need the moisture.

Posted by: Pat* at January 19, 2019 03:52 PM (2pX/F)

74 Off to play golf. Lovely pics though. Yipes...

Posted by: The Invisible Hand at January 19, 2019 04:50 PM (YpRda)

75 We grew shishito peppers last year. They are mild and tasty and great blistered in a dry iron skillet then eaten with a sprinkle of sea salt. And every 10th one is hot so it's like playing the pepper lottery.

Posted by: S.Lynn at January 19, 2019 09:41 PM (80+K7)

76 To Pat from the Treasure Valley: driving today looking at the surrounding snow-covered mountains brought tears to my eyes being so thankful to live here.

Posted by: S.Lynn at January 19, 2019 09:44 PM (80+K7)

77 Just like Pat*, we've had warm days and cold nights with very little snow.

A bit of freezing rain the other morning (thurs?) made for treacherous driving!

Our roses haven't lost all their leaves (yet) this winter so don't believe I'll do any hard pruning until Spring.

Dogwoods need to be pruned too, but will wait and see if we stay below freezing for a couple of weeks. If not, then will just do it in mid-February.

Haven't pruned raspberries since last year. They fruited but I didn't harvest. Busy summer!

[Due to handling Dad's needs. So time consuming! Hoping he improves some more and can be accepted into assisted living. He WANTS it... I cannot "be there" for suppers and housekeeping and Dr. app'ts AND keep up with the gardening.]

The big garden patch is already abandoned, returning to lawn-- not enough time for it-- only growing what little I can in some large containers.

It'll be bittersweet, and that day *will* come, when there will be time to garden once again but Dad won't be here to share it.

His mom *made do* for her family during the Great Depression.

Use it up.Wear it out.Make it do,Or do without.

Gardens were "a must" back then.

She made lye soap in a hanging kettle over a fire out back...

She had a patch of parsley beside the house that reseeded itself and grew nasturtiums in the poor soil. Had a whole plot of cabbage because it grew plentifully in cool weather (high elevation) along with peas and some sweet peas-- they smell so good!-- climbing the fence.

When we got in trouble, she'd have us cut our own 'willow switch' for the subsequent whipping...

So anyway, that's the report from The Middle Of Idaho.

Better late than never?

G'night and happy gardening!

Posted by: JQ at January 20, 2019 12:00 AM (zMzA6)

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