Baby it’s cold outside!
As I left this morning to do my grocery shopping, I noticed the temperature outdoors was 44 degrees. Wow! I guess I better set aside some time to harvest vegetables today.
For those of you who are following my efforts to grow food in our greenhouse this year, I snapped a few pictures for you.
The stupice tomatoes are doing really well. I trimmed the plant back quite a bit so it’s looking a bit naked these days without all its flowers. But other than that, I think we are still going to see quite a few tomatoes from this plant in the weeks to come.
Out of all the tomatoes I have grown this year, {both inside and out} the green zebras have preformed the best. Not only do they taste great, but they are really fun to grow. When I planted these green zebra tomatoes, I had no idea the plant would grow to over 12 feet tall.
You know how you see hothouse cucumbers in the stores year round? I wonder how long these ones will continue to grow. The cucumber leaves are beginning to get white spots all over them so I think I’ll probably pull them soon. But luckily I started a few cucumber plants about a month ago, so I think once I pull these up, I add some fresh soil and start again. I’m not sure if I’ll get any more cucumbers this fall, but it’s worth a try.
The romaine lettuce is growing really well and should be ready to harvest in a couple more weeks. I’ve already decided we’ll use it for Cesar salads.
And lastly the peas…
The sugar snap peas are finally starting to climb {although slowly} up the poles, and I bet in a few more weeks we’ll start to see some flowers appear.
But the peas can wait. With the cold weather around the corner I think I’ll try and get as many vegetables picked this afternoon as I can.
What are YOUR plans for the day? Are there any garden chores on your list?
~Mavis
Kathy says
Just finished a HUGE pot of spiced apple and butternut squash soup and am waiting for the apple butter to finish cooking down before I hot pack it in jelly jars. Garden was yesterday, actually apple orchard time. Half bushel of Golden Delicious, 1/2 bushel of Jonagold and 1/2 bushel of Cortland apples. Apple sauce, apple butter, and anything apple my mom makes. Three houses smell like apples, with mine smelling like the soup! Yummies for tummies over the winter!
Love your blog.
Diana says
I just got back from my grocery shopping and what a trip! My local Von’s where I have shopped for years would not take my free coupons which were from the manufacturer, not photo copy types. They made copies of them and had to email them to their loss prevention department. The manager would not come out to talk to me since he wasn’t in his “uniform”. They wouldn’t let me use even one of my coupons! They were really really rude! I drove to Albertson’s a little further away and they happily took all of my coupons. They were amazed that Von’s wouldn’t take them. I guess I am shopping at a new store now!
Kerry says
We are suppose to have our first freeze this week. So I’m going to pull up the zucchini & squash and plant strawberry starts and cover them at night. I’m going to cover the tomatoes for now. I want a few more to vine ripen.
jamie says
I’m assuming you were on your way to use your doublers. Hope you post what you bought tonight!
Debra says
New to your blog and am very inspired – today I was just reading about sowing seeds in the winter. This blogger (in NY – zone 5) starts his seeds in Jan-Feb. I am in a milder zone but think it would be worth trying; your greenhouse made me think you might find winter sowing interesting!
Debra says
Oops – here is the link I meant to include with my post!
http://www.agardenforthehouse.com/category/gardening/winter-sowing/
Mavis says
Thanks Debra, I will take a look.
Mari the Kiwi says
Your cucumber has powdery mildew but if u treat it, it should be fine. Spray with the following will help fix it. Crush 2 cloves of garlic into 1 qt of water, stir and filter thru a seive or coffee paper. Put into spray bottle and add 3 drops of liquid dish detergent. Use this to spray you cucumber plant and anything else showing the white spots. Also always water your greenhouse early in the day so the excess moisture burns off before you close down at night.
I would treat the mildew and leave the cucumber be if it is not showing signs of failing. The greenhouse will offer a lot of protection and as you have ground cloth down, the frost won’t come up from the ground. You can always buy some frost cloth and attach it over the outside roof and prevaling cold side. Also the use of large containers filled with water and stored in the greenhouse act as a heatsink and will keep the temp in there well above freezing. U need (am converting from metric here) 4-5 gallon plastic containers if u have them. It work here so should for u too.
Amanda says
Thanks for the info on Powdery Mildew!
Aida Hebard says
Hello Mavis,
Enjoying your blog as surrounded by 4′ of snow still. It will be here until June, therefore impossible to get digging and planting. So for the first time ever, considering a greenhouse. Have seen lots of pictures and prices, but I particularly like yours. Looks like a good size and 2 vents rather than just 1. Would you be willing to share the make/model, price and where to possibly purchase, please?
Have the added challenge of gardening in Montana. No complaints, just limiting. Maybe a greenhouse would allow me to try something new. I am on a mission to give “agretti” a try. Always fun to see what unusual things like it here…hot days, cool nights, snow or frost any time of the year.
Thanks so much. Hope you are able to get muddy soon!
Aida
Mavis Butterfield says
Magnum glass green house 14×10 {or 12} British green. I think it was around $2,000 installed. The place where I bought it from {The Glass Greenhouse in Tacoma} went out of business a few years ago. I’m sure if you google the brand name you’ll be able to find out where to order one in your area. I hope that helps.