Dreaming of Spring Gardening in the middle of a Wisconsin winter

[21hens-incharge]

I had to look up the cold frames using hay bales. Getting to use the hay as mulch is a bonus! My yard is rather small with the dogs and chickens already having much of it for themselves. This may be a way to go for me.

Whoops timer going off dinner must be done.

 

[gizzyntaz]

If all goes well I will have all 9 raised beds for production, will expand the herb garden, add some grapevines and maybe some service berry trees. May also add a hedge of filberts. Cannot wait for spring, though here on the East Coast we haven't even seen winter yet.

 

[gizzyntaz]

I'll be starting almost all of my own seeds this year, and trying for a double season garden (fall gardens don't seem to work unless over- wintering is your plan). I'm concerned that some crops won't be ready by the time I want to get tomatoes, peppers and cukes in, but I suppose I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

 

[lazy gardener]

I had to look up the cold frames using hay bales. Getting to use the hay as mulch is a bonus! My yard is rather small with the dogs and chickens already having much of it for themselves. This may be a way to go for me.

Whoops timer going off dinner must be done.

You might also want to look up hay bale gardening. That would be an other option for you to use those cold frame bales in the spring. They'd already be well on their way towards being seasoned.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I would gladly mail you our winter in exchange for your non winter winter.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I'll be starting almost all of my own seeds this year, and trying for a double season garden (fall gardens don't seem to work unless over- wintering is your plan). I'm concerned that some crops won't be ready by the time I want to get tomatoes, peppers and cukes in, but I suppose I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

I practice successive planting, but I always leave opening for the big guys, there is an overlapping period between cool and warm crops, though things like radishes and spinach bolt quickly so those spots open up soonest. My final planting will be my butter nut squash which than rambles and shades out the weeds.

I have no luck either with fall plantings, by the time they get going we get a hard frost.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Hard to dream of gardening today with the below zero temperature and -20 wind chills. I have certainly forgotten the heat of summer now so it sounds nice. I'm trying to pick out a new variety of strawberries, we removed all that we had because it was becoming weak, we had planted originally 15 years ago, it has multiplied, spread it's runners and I think after years became weaker, it been so long I don't know what variety it was. Looking for one with big sweet berries, I guess what else would one want in a strawberry.

 

[beetandsteet]

Hard to dream of gardening today with the below zero temperature and -20 wind chills. I have certainly forgotten the heat of summer now so it sounds nice. I'm trying to pick out a new variety of strawberries, we removed all that we had because it was becoming weak, we had planted originally 15 years ago, it has multiplied, spread it's runners and I think after years became weaker, it been so long I don't know what variety it was. Looking for one with big sweet berries, I guess what else would one want in a strawberry.

You would probably like to be here in Houston now! 65 degrees and beautiful blue sky and sun! Already got lettuce out Of course no one wants to be in Houston when it's summer though

 

[21hens-incharge]

In one of my seed catalogs was a strawberry I had never seen before. They call it a Pineberry. It is said to taste like pineapple. ODD but hey so am I

. Might have to order some just to see what it is really like.

http://www.burpee.com/fruit-plants/...html?cid=PPC&gclid=CNDUn8j_p8oCFQqPaQod6Z4HJA

Here is a link for them if anyone wants to have a look. LOL I think it is funny to think of pineapple tasting strawberries.

Sounds devine to be in 65 degree temps to me right now BUT I know Houston is down right HOT in summer. Lettuce already up and growing dang. We still have snow on the ground and months before I can plant anything. SIGH.....

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I've been seeing that strawberry on every nursery catalog, it does look intriguing. 65 is the most enjoyable temperature. I love fresh lettuce, I grow leaf lettuce, are you growing leaf or head lettuce. I end up with slugs in my heads of cabbage and lettuce so I don't grow them.