Wednesday, February 27, 2013

A Positive Attitude

We've had some wonderful sunny days here in Nova Scotia.... there's nothing like sunshine, to inspire a gardener. Most afternoons, you'll find me in the summerhouse enveloped in it's fragrance of damp earth and rosemary. Perched around are the first auriculas, and I see some forced tulips are pushing through their pots as well. The red cabbage Kalibos and Brussels sprouts Red Ball have germinated, but the celery, Giant Red, is taking it's time. Seed packets are organized and lists are being made..when to plant what, followed by this or that. Meanwhile, the ladybugs have hatched, and are climbing all over the glass roof panes, and searching through the speedy veg..... but they won't find any aphids there I sincerely hope.
Two monster beetles have climbed out of their winter nests making it hard to concentrate, as I must always be aware of where they are, hoping they won't fall on my head or worse, fall down the back of my sweater. But, I can't put them outside; there is still lots of snow and the temps are still below freezing at night. Inside however, there is in my heart, anticipation knowing soon, spring will be here.

Outside, the cold frames have done their job, working like a refrigerator  keeping the plants started in the fall, alive through the winter. Now that days are lengthening, I see some perkiness. Three hardy greens our family enjoys are tatsoi, spinach and mache. These are just waiting their turn to leap.
Lifting the frame yesterday, feeling the steaming heat and fragrance of the soil, prompted me to push aside some of the debris and sprinkle on some spinach seeds. Wonder if it will germinate? I say yes, and it doesn't hurt to try. Here's a photo of the ratty bed, but watch this space; it won't look so desperate for too long.
Off to the right, you can just see baby arugula and mizuna ...tiny little leaves from seeds germinating last fall, quite late. That's as much as they grew, and here it is now, we've just about got through the winter, temps as low as minus 24 degrees Celsius, and this outside refrigerator did it's job. Oh, under the straw there's baby carrots. This raised bed/cold frame is about eight foot long and four foot wide and if I were more organized, it could be producing better, but I know in a month or so, it's going to look much different than it does now.

Well, time to go back inside and perhaps start more seeds, but at the very least, sit back and let the sun shine on my face....away from the beetles of course.

27 comments:

  1. A major winter storm from the US Midwest arrived overnight in Toronto with heavy snow and rain. Our garden is flooded right now and I have to wait for any gardening tasks.
    - Cheers Gisela.

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    1. Gisela, I am sorry to read about your weather so I do hope it changes soon and you can get out in your garden. Thanks for your comment.

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  2. Your little plants did very well to survive -24C!
    I use my coldframe for over-wintering herbs, but I don't try to keep any salads alive in it. However, my cloches have done sterling service in protecting lettuces and endives - though the ones left now are really Class C ones - not the best.
    Your little red watering-can caught my eye, because I have one very similar. I love it because it has interchangeable spouts - one is a fine rose and the other is a right-angle downward-pointing nozzle. Very useful!

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    1. Mark, six years ago I wouldn't have believed greens would survive outside. Just didn't know which hardy ones to plant and didn't have a cold frame.

      Glad to hear you have this little watering can. It is perfect for baby transplants giving a light shower without being too heavy...although I usually spray emerging seeds until they get stronger. It is a Haws and it is plastic with a metal rose.

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  3. We had a little sun today - lovely but still cold.

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    1. I saw on your blog, you had some nice sunshine and crocus...lovely.

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  4. Your garden looks so poised to take off! You will have so much to harvest this spring.

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    1. Thank you sweetbay. I look with longing at your flower photos, hoping soon, we shall have some here.

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  5. Haven't these last few days been wonderful?! Spring truly is in the air, there's a warmth recently that wasn't there before. I started onions last week in a windowsill and already they are poking through. I'm still waiting before starting the other seeds though, my tendency always seems to be to start too early. Your greens are going to look wonderful in a very short time I think. I will be starting a few things early again this year under tarps but a cold frame will have to wait. Jody bought a very tall ladder to paint the house so it looks like he's serious about getting that work done so other projects will be pushed aside in favour of that.

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    1. Good luck with the house painting Marguerite. Is the color decided I wonder ;-) Onions..yes, should start some also, and leeks. Good idea. Hope your greens do well this year also.

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  6. We could use a little of that spring sunshine here. We have had snow, then freezing rain, and then more snow. I am trying to keep a positive outlook. It is March in a couple of days. Four more weeks of winter and then the worst will surely be over.
    Your post has cheered me up with its pretty, sunlit pictures and stories of sprouting veggies. I can almost smell the damp earth and rosemary!

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    1. Jennifer you always write such poetic and kind comments. Thank you. It is hard to get through these months, but with the sprouting and the greens just creeping along and that scent on the sunny days...The Captain says sunshine makes everyone think of sailing and I say, it makes us think of gardening.

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  7. Beautiful! Looks very, very similar to mine. I did not take a picture today since the sun was hardly out here at all. Hopefully that will change with the next few days. I'd really like to get some new seeds in.

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    1. Just knew your coldframed greens would be starting to grow. You are more organized though! Next sunny day, scratch a few seeds in...they might sit for a bit but bet they will germinate first sunny day. Will update on the spinach later on.

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  8. It is amazing what can be grown in a cold frame overwinter I realy ought to use mine more - I have kept lettuce growing in the greenhouse overwinter though but it doesn't grow much. A few warmer days will have everything ready to go.

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    1. Elaine, the cold frame has been a delight. It was Niki Jabbour who referred to them as outside refrigerators so for me, the thought stuck. Warm days ahead Elaine...

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  9. Oh what a lovely post - so hopeful. I drank my morning coffee reading Niki's lovely book. And of course there you were! We aren't staying in this house long enough to do four season preparations but the one we'll be building in the fall or spring - for sure! We'll really have to pay attention to garden in windy, foggy Prospect but we're up for it! In the meantime I'll dream by reading books and blogs ...

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    1. Jan, your comment was so kind. Thank you. Blush...so you saw the honest photo of me in THE BOOK with stinkboy and the broken step behind my legs. Well, it is what it is.

      Now, you will be growing in Prospect, on the sea..windy, foggy...but you will see whales and eagles and go boating soon. Bliss. New pages in your life. How exciting.

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  10. I read your post and found it very interesting but I was quite surprised that plants were already growing (even under protection) in your cold climate in Nova Scotia. Over here in our part of the world it's been a slightly colder than average winter with temps. being -1c down on last year and spring is later when comparing dates in previous years diaries.

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    1. So spring is later where you are. I think you had a very wet year 2012. Thanks David for commenting. Always enjoy your outings.

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  11. Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a comment! :-) What a lovely use of cold frames! So inspiring. I am hoping that this is my last winter without a cold frame and a winter garden. As soon as I can get myself a bit more settled down I plan to build one, there's nothing like watching green things grow (and eating them too!) in the middle of winter! Thanks for this breath of hope that spring is just around the corner.

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    1. Thank you for visiting and following my blog. Really enjoyed yours. Thank you for your kind words and I do hope you do build a cold frame and do some winter gardening. "Breath of Hope"..that was lovely.

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  12. Thank you for your comment on my post.
    When we lived in France most people grew mache rather than any other salad green, it was so popular.
    Lovely to see the beginnings of Spring.

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    1. The seeds I used are actually from France. A girlfriend brought them back.

      Yes, the beginnings of spring...wet snow, rain, freezing rain...blue skies, grey, drizzly, then sunshine again.

      Thank you Elizabethd for your kind comment.

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  13. I am so inspired by your post, I could smell the earth with you! Every year I say I am going to get some cold frames installed, and how I envy your greenhouse. Perhaps this year I will finally get these much wanted tasks done. Thank you for a wonderful post on a dreary winter day, it brought a little sunshine to my day...and for your lovely comment on my blog post this morning :)

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  14. Brenda, thank you for your kind comment. I do hope you get some cold frames installed. They have been a real season extender without a doubt. Six years ago, I had no idea about that.

    You are most welcome.

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  15. Dear Bren, Positive in every way! Delicious . . . you make me miss so having cold frames. Perhaps positive reinforcement . . . I might just try again. Good luck with the seeds! Nothing looks desperate about your world . . . bountiful more like . . . in sprouts of life giving greens. Thank you so for visiting and sharing your kind thoughts. I have missed visiting. ;>)

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