Dreaming of Spring Gardening in the Middle of a Wisconsin winter part 2

[oldhenlikesdogs]

No snow here either. Tonight and tomorrow's storm is supposed to stay south of us here. It's weird not having snow, but I'm okay with it.

I went out to the garden yesterday when it was around 50 degrees hoping to get the last of my carrots out. Even though I have raised beds it was hopeless at this point. They are frozen in solid. I could leave them to go to seed next spring.

 

[jvls1942]

a loooong time ago I planted carrots in 2'x3' beds. when fall came, I covered them with hay bales. A tip I read in Mother Earth magazine.
iit said to just roll the bale off and dig up what carrots you need all winter. The carrots did not freeze in. however I had to dig through two feet of snow on top of the bales. then try to move water soaked bales enough to get at the carrots. No , they weren't frozen, but lying on my stomach and reaching as far into the hole as I could reach. the ground was just above freezing.
my fingers were numb . I pulled out as many as I could before I had to give up. that was the only time I went out after carrots that winter .
.......jiminwisc......

 

[jvls1942]

this morning we took a 40 mile each way road trip to Medford. Met a guy there who has lots of wine bottles. The cork variety.
I bought 9 cases.. 3 cases/$10.oo .
that should get me through what I need right now plus maybe one or two more batches in the future. I have no plans on making any, but I did not plan on these three batches either..
I opened a bottle of rhubarb wine that I made in 2002. It needed sweetening, but now it is good.. There are a few more of those in the fruit room..
.......jiminwaUSAu........

 

[Artichoke Lover]

I think I replied to this thread once before but wanted to again now that I know what my spring plans are. I’ve created my first perennial vegetable bed this fall with some garlic and heirloom strawberries. I’m planning on adding artichokes, asparagus and kiwi right now. I may also get some cuttings from a neighbors blueberry bush. We’re expanding the main garden and I’ll be growing cayenne, Serrano and banana peppers for the first time. I’ll also be trying some new varieties of pumpkin, winter squash and tomato. And Swiss chard. Oh and hopefully some luffa. I’m in zone 7b. Edit: I forgot to add I’m also growing herbs for the first time this year.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I finally put the rest of my potted plants in my garden shed. I think it will remain cold enough so they don't break dormancy. The shed warms up during sunny days. It's a good place to winter over my zone 5 plants like a few older boxwoods I've had for many years.

We also put some thick slabs of hay on top of my raised planter that has zone 5 strawberries in it. I don't expect them to survive, but maybe. We are zone 4. It's in front of the silo on the south side, so maybe they will survive.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I finally put the rest of my potted plants in my garden shed. I think it will remain cold enough so they don't break dormancy. The shed warms up during sunny days. It's a good place to winter over my zone 5 plants like a few older boxwoods I've had for many years.

We also put some thick slabs of hay on top of my raised planter that has zone 5 strawberries in it. I don't expect them to survive, but maybe. We are zone 4. It's in front of the silo on the south side, so maybe they will survive.

I still think you should try fort Laramie strawberries. They are hardy well below zero.

Your bed being on the south does stand a good chance of making it.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I still think you should try fort Laramie strawberries. They are hardy well below zero.

Your bed being on the south does stand a good chance of making it.

I need to restock my bed in my garden area with strawberries, so I probably will try some when I place my order. I used to have the perfect strawberries, I had them so long I couldn't remember the variety. I got rid of them one year thinking I would try something else. I have regretted that since.

These zone 5 strawberries are the whoppers from Gurneys. I didn't know they were zone 5 until after they all died out the first winter. I enjoyed the berries enough to try them again, but between not enough water, and not enough care they didn't produce the same this past season. Last summer was too warm and dry, and I lacked the ambition for gardening.

We are still working on downsizing and simplifying beds. I cannot weed them anymore. About all I can do is poke them with a stick.

 

[jvls1942]

I think over wintering plants in a raised bed would be more iffey. since the cold can creep in from the sides whereas plants in the ground have to only compete with the cold from above.
yesterday I racked the third and last jug of wine. I did not taste it. I will give it about a week and then take a sample taste.
I have completed all my pre op appointments . all set for Jan 14 operation .
.....jiminwisc......

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That's not too far off. Just enough time to get nervous, but not enough to change your mind. Did you have to go to joint replacement class?

 

[jvls1942]

not nervous. looking forward to it. I had the left hip done in Sept. I was delayed three times.. We went to one hip class. before my
wife had her first hip done.
......jiminwisc........