Mother's Day 2010

Here in the Mid-Atlantic region the long accepted rule of thumb is that summer season plants can safely go outside on Mother's Day weekend. Not this year! We have had many very warm days so far this Spring, but this weekend has been very windy and downright chilly. The forecast is for a low of 38 degrees for the next two nights! I covered my cold frame with two layers of canvas drop cloths to try to keep in some of the heat from today's sunshine. I also covered my potted Tomato plants with plastic trash bags to protect them from tonight's chill.

Happy Mother's Day to my mom who is in sunny warm Florida !

Tomatoes on hold....

Last night the temperature dipped to 40F here in the Philly area and so the tomato starts remain inside. They are not growing much, but they are healthy and certainly much better off than if they were in the cold ground. I know it will warm up one of these days, and this cool late spring we are having has extended my cold weather crop harvest. I continue to pick delicious Arugula, Spinach, and leafy greens on a daily basis. Lot's to share with neighbors as well!

cold....

The forecast is for a low of 20 degrees tonight. I have plenty of plastic and cardboard to cover the veggie beds, and I'll do that as soon as the sun begins to fade.

first day of spring (?)

Woke up here in Philly to about an inch of snow on the ground to welcome the first day of spring. Totally unexpected, there was no forecast for snow and I didn't cover anything up last night. A little snow on the bok choi and lettuce won't harm them. The sun is shining and this snow will be completely melted away in an hour from now. You never know what to expect with early season gardening, and that's what makes it fun!


bok choi 3.20.2009


lettuce 3.20.2009

brrrrr...are you covered?

The forecast for Philadelphia tonight is 28 degrees with a north wind. Probably not enough to damage the new crops, but why take chances? I save large cardboard boxes as the perfect way to cover up seedlings and early spring crops from cold nights. Corrugated cardboard is a great insulator. It doesn't look as pretty as my beautiful glass bell jars, but it's a whole lot less expensive way to protect the plants.




So, I've got everything covered up nice and snug for a frosty night and now I won't have to worry about it. This will get me through the next week of projected cold nights. We're even looking at possible snow for Monday!