Every month during the growing season we do a garden update, and September has always been the last month to do a garden update. Not this year! Even though if you look at the September garden update, one would think with all the snow it was over already. Still, there is so much growing in our garden and greenhouse. Here is our first October garden update!
We are learning more and more about how and what to grow in cold weather. The fall planting in August has helped to have yummy salads. Especially spinach and arugula do well. Also we experiment with just leaving things in the garden longer. Here are celery, kohlrabi, and parsley. I did not know celery was hardy, did you? But it has been. I harvested it after some snow and frost.
The ever-bearing strawberries were a special treat.
The coldest night we have had so far was -9 °C (15.8 °F). Many plants can take that even without cover. It can get much colder though any time soon. So we take what we get and are thankful for every fresh salad we can have. Here are the greens that were uncovered in the garden: Arugula, Bok Choy (Chinese cabbage), Kale (Red Russian looked a bit beaten), Swiss Chard (green or white chards are more cold-hardy).
For the first time this year we are leaving some of the root vegetables in the ground and are covering them with snow. This has been proven to work well in our area, however, it depends on the amount of snow we get. Very curious to see the results in our garden. One row of carrots I covered with bags filled with straw. And a different area we are planning to cover with square straw bales.
Our still under construction greenhouse has not had any frost yet! We want to make it a four season greenhouse, but we’ll have to see if that is even possible in Zone 3 and so far north – we are at 51 latitude. But for now, things are growing and producing.
Peppers first, but then other plants too, got some aphids. I harvested the peppers and cut the plants back. Hope to save the plants (peppers can be grown for more than one year). And we’re also working on getting rid of the aphids. There aren’t any ladybugs anymore, too cold for them. So I used water, Epsom salt, vinegar, and even smoke. Not sure what helped, but the aphids do not like our greenhouse anymore ;).
We will keep you posted on the greenhouse, it’s very exciting for sure. Thank you for your interest!
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Anna, y’all are gardening guru’s! So fun to see how much you are enjoying your winter garden. Those greens all look great!
We were at 28° here this morning, the coldest it has been so far! We may be in for another brutal winter.
Greens taste better after it gets cold, so it sure is worth it. Hope your winter does not get to cold.
I didn’t know anything plant related could survive at those temps! I learn something new every time I read your gardening posts.
Well, I am learning myself. Not to long ago I thought frost would kill any plant, period. But no, it is amazing how much survives in frosty weather.
What are those purple flowers? And as far as the strawberries go, we grow those here in Florida in the “winter” LOL The more freezes we have, the sweeter the berries are!
Those are ‘Violet Queen” Italian Aster. Still blooming in frost and snow.
It is amazing how many veges and fruit you got. My kids would so enjoy the strawberries In fact, they love raw veges, too! Some cold weather you got up there..wow!!!
As you see this strawberries are in a container. Container strawberries can be grown anywhere. Just plant some and your kids can see them grow. Strawberries also do not mind to be crowded into a pot.
Anna, your garden is amazing. I love learning about your life (and garden) way up there on the Northern Homestead. Your posts are always interesting reads. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai
Lorelai, Thank you for your kind words!