Just for what it's worth. Of course, we'll have a wetter-than-usual spring this year, thanks to El Niño, so when final frost finally comes around, we'll be busier than sugar ants in a Peeps factory.
Meanwhile, even though we are going to be in the 70s next week (brr... chilly!), it is still technically winter. So, what's a gardener-slash-farmer-wannabe to do?
Well, the pond is full, so digging will have to wait. And we have to collect more lumber in order to build another olive-tree planter. When it's a little drier outside, we'll be able to rake some more leaves, so we can add compost to the chicken coop.
Other farmer-wannabes can compost in other ways, like trenching, for example. That is actually a fairly cool method, and it somewhat resembles what we do with our garden plots. We put the compost from the chicken coop in each plot, of course, but then we cover that with raw leaves and let it cook for a while. Trenching is similar in that you dig a trench for your compost material, and then, after turning it in for a while, you simply plant directly into the compost. Hey, if weeds love the stuff, surely veggies would love it, too, right?
We also have to tend to those hardy perennials, like the oregano here, which poke their proud little heads up out of the mulch in the herb garden. But honestly, the whole reason we put in plants like this (apart from our love of pasta and pizza) is that they don't require much work. We put them in, we mulch them, we occasionally water them in the middle of the blistering hot Texas summer, and then we leave them be.
Technically, we do occasionally sit and watch them grow, which I guess you could call an activity, of sorts. It goes better with a glass of wine. Or, depending on the time of day, a cup of coffee. But it's not much of a scheduled activity, nor is it a long-term project sort of thing to do.
What's left to do in the winter, then? Invite friends over for brunch. We'll do that some. Plant trees from rootstock. We intend to do that, too. We'll also, on those rainy days we are going to have a bunch of, twiddle our thumbs some.
To paraphrase Henry David Thoreau, "Time is but the stream, we go a'fishin' in."
Happy farming!
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Hey Mark. I got to thinking about your question about shade plantings. I found the following.
ReplyDeleteHerbs for the Shade: Annual and
Perennial Plants that Thrive Without Sun
Feb 19, 2003 - © Connie Krochmal
Although most herbs are sun-loving plants, over half of the 10 most popular culinary herbs do well in the shade. Even when they aren’t in bloom, herbs provide wonderful foliage and make excellent companion plants for other shade-loving favorites like hostas, ferns, and astilbes.
Perennial Herbs for Shade
Perennial shade-tolerant herbs include mints, bee balm, thyme, sage, anise hyssop, chives, and garlic chives. Mints are known to be invasive, so either don’t plant it or use appropriate means to confine the spreading roots.
Oregano grows more vigorously in full sun, yet it seems adapted to somewhat shady conditions.
Sweet woodruff, a popular perennial herb, is often used as a ground cover in shady areas. During the spring its dainty white fragrant blooms are a delight.
Comfrey, a hardy perennial, does very nicely in partial shade. Throughout the summer it produces attractive clusters of tubular pink, purple, or white blooms. Provide comfrey with a rich, moist soil for best growth.
Lemon balm, a perennial, is a member of the mint family. It is quite tolerant of partial shade. When it self sows the seedlings will be solid green.
Annual Herbs for the Shade
Numerous annual herbs do well in partial shade, including German chamomile and chervil. Some annuals prefer a cool growing season. Dukat dill is a sweet-tasting herb imported from the Netherlands. This will produce over a longer period than most varieties.
Another herb recommended for shade is ginger. As ginger is not very hardy against the cold, either dig it up at the end of the growing season or buy a new root for the next year.
Strictly speaking, parsley is a biennial. However it is probably best grown as an annual since it tastes better the first year. Once it produces a flower stalk the second year, the foliage is inedible. Several varieties of parsley are available.
Like parsley, angelica behaves as a biennial. This majestic herb is tolerant of shade. Sow angelica seeds as soon as they ripen as they can’t be stored for long periods.
Generally, shade-grown herbs will require somewhat less water than those in full sun. Still, they may need some watering during prolonged dry spells. Those planted in heavy soil need watering less often. Not all herbs require sun, some are suited to partially shaded spots.
Hot diggety! We have seeds already for half those things! Thanks, Hugh! (We may also steal some wandering jew clippings from you, after we decide which oaks need a rock bed, and which ones can tolerate some ground cover.)
ReplyDeleteHappy Farming!
--Mark