OK, guys, eat your hearts out, my lettuce is looking great

[JDPriestly]

for Southern California that is.

I look at the photos of gardens in Minnesota and Wisconsin at the height of the summer season and my mouth waters but so do my eyes.

No matter how hard I try, I don't think I will ever get the large, beautiful, productive tomato vines I have seen on photos posted by some DUers.

But my lettuce is looking great, and I think I am going to have a lot of dill, parsley and radishes this winter. Temperature now must be 80 degrees.

So anyway, enjoy your snow and ice this winter.

I apologize if this post is way over the top "disruptive" to the quiet winters of those of you who have to wait a couple of months for your greens, but, hey, I just can't hold back from bragging a bit.

Usually my gardening is a joke because it is either too hot or I am too late for the winter season. This year I planted seeds in November and early December. I think that is right for Southern California. My peas are doing well too as is my arugula.

Seriously, I'll be looking forward to hearing about your gardens when your gardening season arrives.

Thanks for letting me vent my joy.

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. Good for you! I've got two big (15 gal) pots of Spinach I move in and out of the garage

to keep it going during hard freezes - we've been loving it in salads and soups.

And I am only a few weeks from starting seeds indoors - gardening season, here I come!

[JDPriestly]

4. That's what I do. Move pots into my garage if it gets really cold.

I can't move all my pots, but I move those with plants that are weather sensitive. Usually it doesn't get colder than in the high 30s here. ANd some years it doesn't go below 40 as far as I can tell.

[Ruby Reason]

7. Spinach in a pot?

I'll have to try that. The rabbits keep eating what's in the garden. I could put them in the garage or on the back deck at night.

[NRaleighLiberal]

8. Grows great - got a 15 gallon pot filled with soilless mix (used, from last year's tomatoes)...

sprinkled spinach seed, covered about 1/4 inch, watered - germinates rapidly, loves the cool weather.

[Ruby Reason]

9. Thanks, I'll try it. We love fresh spinach.

I have kids that won't touch iceberg lettuce. Give red or green leaf a sniff. But gobble spinach and kale.

[JDPriestly]

10. Get netting or old curtains to protect them.

Also sprinkle cayenne pepper around the pots.

[Ruby Reason]

11. I'll have to try the netting.

Would it be like bird netting? The rabbits tend to go under that or push their way to nibble through it.
We've tried the cayenne. We also have dogs that love to chase the rabbits away. Of course this was in the garden not in pots, I haven't tried that yet. I plan to this year.

[JDPriestly]

12. I go to a fabric store and buy a netting, the sort of thing that

we wore for "crinolines" in the 1950s.

http://www.50spoodleskirts.com/Crinoline-Petticoats_c_37.html

It looks like a coarse metal screen, but it is made of fabric. It is coarser than curtain material meaning it has larger wholes. I use curtains in cold weather too.

[Ruby Reason]

13. Thank you

[Kolesar]

2. I have spinach and mache growing in my cold frame

It's 16 degrees outside
16F

[JDPriestly]

3. It's been years since I was in 16 degrees weather.

I planted some spinach, but so far it is just barely green above the ground of the pots in which I planted it.

I have read a lot about cold frames, but don't really know how they work.

[Tsiyu]

5. Few things bring the joy

of a garden full of healthy (delicious) veggies, herbs and greens.

It's nice to hear your garden is going well. I had some kale and leeks as of yesterday, but last night got so cold I didn't even check today to see if they were still going.

Gave some friends a nice handful of kale yesterday - they came by to see if I knew where to get some straw to cover all their greens.

Can't wait for spring, and so happy to hear that you don't have to wait!

Congratulations on your green thumb!

[JDPriestly]

6. I can't claim to have a green thumb, but I am learning.

And next to watching your children grow up, there is no greater joy.

Children and gardens require nurture. And it is satisfying to see something you care about do really well.

But, as I said, next summer when DUers in rainier climates post pictures of their gardens, I will be sitting here in envy.

We have to learn to work with the reality in which we live. Sigh.