Well it sure was a good thing I asked you whether I should use straw or hay to cover the backyard garden for the winter. Since this is my first time trying to overwinter vegetables in the garden, I really had no clue.
I do know one thing though. This straw is going to make a complete mess of my backyard if and when the wind kicks up around here. Which will be rather interesting since I have total OCD.
I’m not sure if I will be able to resist spending 5 hours a day picking up bits of yellow straw everywhere so my garden can stay neat and tidy. I might need to take up knitting or something to calm my nerves.
And another thing. Why am I bothering to insulate the kale and Swiss chard beds? I mean, carrots, garlic and beets I can totally understand, but chard and kale? Blech.
Oh well, I suppose it’s true. The more you garden, the more you grow. If I can successfully over winter a few veggies this winter, next winter I’ll have the confidence to overwinter a few more. But right now, all I want to do is get to 2,000 pounds.
I’m almost there. Just a few more pounds to go.
~Mavis
If you are thinking about growing vegetables this winter, Amazon currently has Four-Season Harvest: Organic Vegetables from Your Home Garden All Year Long
*Amazon prices can change at anytime
Carol says
So, Mavis, are we going to lose you and your fun blog once you hit 2000 pounds of harvested food?
I could understand, but I wouldn’t be a happy Mavis Girl Scout….:(
Best of luck on Wednesday’s weigh-in, though!
Mavis says
Nooooo. I will still be here. 🙂
alyssa says
Try floating row covers to keep the hay in place. Its like having a mini greenhouse for your raised beds. You could make a simple one using garden fabric or get one from a garden supply store. Its great for keeping the hay in and the frost out of your plants. Make sure its sturdy enough to weather the NW winds though. Now you don’t want the fabric in shreds AND the hay flying all over the place, do you? 🙂 Try this link for an idea http://www.gardeners.com/Row-Covers/5111,default,pg.html
Preppy Pink Crocodile says
I’ve read you should let your chickens have a go at the straw to eat out the seeds. Treat for them and then there won’t be random seedlings growing.
Of course I niether have a large enough garden or chickens so this is entirely based on blog/google reading.
KK
Lisa W. says
That’s how we overwintered/stored our over-abundance of carrots one year. Works great! Left them in the ground and I was pulling carrots all the way to the following April! Even up here in our wet puget sound area.