November 09, 2018
I got to plant onion sets yesterday. It was so warm that I worked in my t shirt. The ground had already dried from my watering it three days ago, and the dirt kept falling back in the dibble hole. Usually at this time of year we have our hoses rolled up and stored but this year I have to keep watering. I looked at the ground around my crucifer patches and, although it looked damp, I got the feeling that the air pockets around the root zone were full of carbon dioxide from all the microbial activity..
I watered them all and was reminded how water tends to travel straight down in a porous soil instead of spreading out. I've watered a bush bean row with my drip hose for an hour and had the other side of the row not soaked. I'm sure the water would get to the surface roots on it's way back up but that's not always adequate for my micro managing techniques..
November 10, 2018
It got down to 20ð last night and I was surprised that the broccoli florets did not get burned. Then I remembered that we've had six frosts over the last three weeks and they had time to adjust to the cold. Sugar can be an antifreeze enhancer, which is easy for plants to make, but I don't notice the broccoli being any sweeter. I forgot to close the door to the greenhouse but the cauliflower hasn't formed crowns yet so there is nothing to get damaged. We've had a warm fall but they seem to be behind schedule. Surprises are a welcome emotion in the garden because it's like discovery..
I've always focused on finding new things in nature and my garden getting messier is bringing nature closer to home. The tall weedy areas remind me of the fields and woods that we walk everyday and seem more enchanting than my rows and patches. The cleared out planting areas look better because of the contrast. The areas that have had growing problems in the past due to shade or clay soil are going to become designated wild land..
November 11, 2018
The 18ð low temperature last night did not bode well for the garden. Everything wilted except the Swiss chard, which is the hardiest plant out there. It seems to only wilt when it's been held to the ground as a captive of heavy snow. It's such a workhorse that it will be setting new seeds before the old plants are dormant. Under the cover of their old growth new plants emerge, convincing me to allow a patch to go rogue. I have a six foot long hedge of it growing along one of my pathways because I let the original plant go to seed..
The cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli all wilted, as well as the kale which I thought could withstand extreme cold. They all started to recover by afternoon but it's like their hydraulic system was compromised. It might be a survival technique that stops leaf respiration to prevent additional cooling. The Jasmin, Hollyhock and Snapdragon flowers that were brightening up the garden landscape all turned brown. It's a goth garden now, with all the shades of tan, gray and brown..
