September was a busy month around our garden. Not just were we busy, the weather was crazy busy too. Within a week we went from summer to winter, then back to summer and full speed into fall. There are not many places on our planet Earth where this is possible, but here it is, so we better enjoy the ride ;).
After the 3 days of snow, the summer garden was done. We tried to save the cucumbers by covering them, but no, it got too cold for summer crops. So we are thankful for all we were able to harvest before our short ‘September-winter’. However all winter crops survived nicely and continued to grow. Plants react very differently to frost.
We also harvested most of the apples because we were not sure if they would survive. We left a few to see what happens. They are fine. Next time around we will know, apples on a tree can stand up to quite a bit of frost and snow.
Strawberries were covered and don’t seem to have any damage to them at all. They continue to produce.
We put new boxes around our raised beds, just to make hills did not work as anticipated. It also was more work to do it afterwards. Next time around we would build boxes first and then make raised beds. And yes, this was after the snow. You would not even be able to tell there has been snow, would you?!
We got rid of all the lawn that was left in our garden, yay! All our garden is now covered with wood chips, a real ‘Back to Eden’ garden. We used fresh wood chips that a tree care company delivered. They had so much cleaning up work to do on broken down trees around here, so we benefited from the situation.
In the greenhouse things continue to grow and produce. We also planted some new plants for the winter greenhouse garden. Curious to see how long we will be able to keep them growing and happy. Not just the temperature will be an issue, the sun hours as well. It is our first year, and it is all trial and error.
Another gardening summer has come and gone. We are already very much looking forward to the next one, God willing.
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Anna, I always enjoy your garden updates. You do have some crazy weather with Winter, Summer and Fall all within a week and no, you can’t tell there was even snow it that pic of the beds.
When you moved into this new home, did you move a good distance away from your last home?
No, we just moved from next town, so the same crazy weather ;).
It’s hard to believe that you’ve already had snow! Here in SC, September is usually about as hot as August, but on the first day of fall, we had cooler weather.
It’s interesting to learn what plants will survive a frost and which ones will not. Those strawberries are beautiful!
Yes, it is amazing how much cold and frost some plants can stand. Your heat would be to hot for me.
Well, you’ve sure had your share of seasons already! I love hearing how well your crops hold up in the elements. Thank goodness for the green house! We stay about 70 degrees year-round, but our backyard is facing East and we lose the sun pretty early. I think raised beds will do pretty well once we put them in. Thank you for sharing!
That is the difference between north and south where you are. Once it is summer here, we have a lot more sun hours. I am sure you will like the raised beds.
Seriously, crazy weather where you live. I have family who live in Edmonton Canada and I heard of that the winters are something else there. Is that where you are?
We are south of Edmonton. And we do have many nice days too 😉
What crazy weather! I can’t even imagine weather like that. Living in Southern California along the coast, or median temperature is in the lower 70’s year round. We get hot and cold from time-to-time, but nothing as wild as that. I can;t wait to see how your greenhouse works for you. Wishing you the best. 🙂
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai
Thank you Lorelai! It is not as warm in the greenhouse as we would like it to, so my husband is working on a stove to heat up the place.
Oh I remember this, I have a couple of friends living in Calgary, and they where sending pictures of the snow. I love the update.
It was crazy, so I’m sure everyone took pictures.
I can’t believe the SNOW!!! Wow! And I don’t know much about gardening, but I know strawberries – they do better the colder it is. (I grew up in the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World LOL) I’m glad you were able to save some things!
We love Strawberries, I just harvested some.