Karen Burch

Today was cold yet beautiful and strange, with my tomato vines still alive sporting green just beginning to turn red tomatoes. The weather has been unseasonably warm for us lately. I made some delicious turnip soup and decided to share the experience in this video.

I have been growing brassicas to my heart’s content this winter. For years I underestimated my ability to garden during the winter, much less enjoy easy access to groceries right outside my door for months! Is it almost time for dinner? No problem, I’ll make a pot of greens to go with our dinner tonight. This year we have brussel sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, carrots to name most of them.

The ornamental cabbage Color Up Purple from Park seed was fun to grow from seeds this year. I started them indoors about 6 weeks before the weather was expected to become cooler in the fall. This video covers my experience from start to finish.

Ohuhu 7x12 Green House with cabbage garden bed

Color Up Purple Ornamental Cabbage from Park Seed

Harvesting the Asian Purple sweet potatoes was exhilarating and also a good workout! I added a generous layer of my homemade compost at the beginning of planting. I spent four months of my summer keeping caterpillars picked off of them. Weekly, I checked them to make sure the soil was moist and well-drained. I installed an irrigation system in Spring which went unused for a few months due to the constant rain. Closer to Fall, it became dryer, so it ended up becoming a time saver.

Fabric pot container garden transition from summer to fall

This video has a close-up illustration of how I connect the tubing. I find using a lighter to soften the plastic makes it easier to connect.

Preparing for winter

Lately, as illustrated by the photos, I have begun planting new starts of winter veggies in place of the sweet potatoes. I also have my greenhouse set up and mulched for winter. Yes, I still need to rake the leaves and clean up around my containers. I have spring bulbs and cold-hardy flowers I am experimenting with. I will be updating you soon about my growing projects. For the first time in my life, I will try to raise summer veggies in the same space as my tropical plants. Wish me luck! And now a moment of silence as I say goodbye to the Summer flowers right before frost.