What did you do in the garden today?

[WthrLady]

I had Champions in North Dakota, they're good down to zone 2. I still protected them a little though as my zone 5 brain couldn't fathom anything surviving in that early spring chill, but they did.

 

[Sally PB]

I had Champions in North Dakota, they're good down to zone 2. I still protected them a little though as my zone 5 brain couldn't fathom anything surviving in that early spring chill, but they did

I will be ordering some seed for them, for sure! I have some collard seed that @NanaK sent me too.

I am more excited about this year's garden (since it's now "this year's garden," lol) than I have been in a while.

 

[WthrLady]

Growing things you are ravenous for does help.

 

[Sequel]

Growing things you are ravenous for does help.

That’s true! I bought some collard starts and had never cooked them before so watched YouTube videos. They used bacon, ham, smoked turkey etc and Of course the splash of vinegar. I became a convert!!!

 

[akroberts1085]

How does that work? Would you explain further?

You set the panel in the ground (it has a little stake on it) and there's an electrical cord on it and just plug in the lights to it. I will get a picture of it.

 

[NanaK]

They are super resilient & very easy to grow! They will also come back even after cutting the stem all the way down at the soil line. Ask me how I know.

If they'll survive 10 degrees F, I might have a chance of over wintering them.

Here we cut leaves from the bottom up leaving the bud and a few leaves. Then hill them up with soil or compost. They will continue to root along the stem and grow from the bud. This way you can plant them and continue to harvest as they grow. The love nitrogen!

They are biennial so if planted in spring they will continue to grow all summer, fall and through winter. In spring as temps warm they will flower and set seed. By this time you can plant them again and start the process all over. They take heat and cold very well. We rarely get down to 10f, usually more like mid teens. If we do, it does not stay that cold for long at the time.

@Sally PB If any veggie can survive your winters, I'd say collards have a really good chance.

 

[akroberts1085]

 

[igorsMistress]

You set the panel in the ground (it has a little stake on it) and there's an electrical cord on it and just plug in the lights to it. I will get a picture of it.

How cool is that?! I could use one of those for my chicken decorations instead of running a cord across the yard. Most excellent, thanks!

 

[igorsMistress]

View attachment 3716628

Thanks!!

 

[jawilliams509]

Wow! What zone are you in? How cold do your winters get? If they'll survive 10 degrees F, I might have a chance of over wintering them.

Was 7b, but I think it's changed to 8a now. Dec 2022 we got down to 7°F one night, & the ones that were cut off at the soil survived & came back in the spring. But those temps aren't normal here & it didn't stay that cold very long. I use heavy leaf mulch & frost covers & we've gotten down to 19°F so far this growing season.