Rick, I am going to have to get you to interpret all the cultivar names of things I grow. They're just more fun that way

Thank you kindly!

Can anyone say "Mangiatutto!" without smiling and using hand gestures? "NO" I say! It's expansive and inviting.

On the other hand, the French version "mange tout" is curt and dour. It makes snap peas sound about as much fun as a root canal.

Oh no! Snap peas could never be compared to a root canal!!!!!

Ok on veggies weeks for 2014.

Jan 4-10=cold weather crops
March1-7=tomatoes/peppers

Everyone put on your thinking caps for articles that you can do to send to Trish for those two weeks.

Here is the backyard and those new veggie beds I made by moving all those daylilies used to be there to the front yard. I mulched everything with fall leaves. Now I will leave it till spring and probably move the mulch off when I do spring planting.

That's going to be a really nice veggie garden, Rita!

You can see some turnip greens there still in the middle part of the bed.

I saw green but it didn't register. Have you eaten many yet? Mine are doing well but I was trying to wait for the carrots, beets and parsnips to catch up so I could roast them all together.

You know after a week of really cold temps at night we had a few in the 60's so I'll be curious to see how it affects the things in the garden I haven't harvested yet. I think next week will get cold nights again though.

Not really. Keep thinking of making a veggie soup but haven't gotten to it. Still, I am happy with my success as I had never grown turnips before.

A fellow gardener in my garden club thinned out his strawberry patch and offered plants to anyone who wanted them. Since they are a different variety than I have already, I decided to take him up on his offer. Picked them up today but it's pretty cold out and I have cookies to bake so they got some compost tossed on them, watered them in and will wait until I have some spare time when it's a bit warmer.

Just made a big pot of broccoli soup with the side shoots. Hits the spot on a cold day like today. DH has a fire going so I think we'll raid the stuff I got for my granddaughter's visit and make S'mores!

Home made soup on a cold day is always the best! Great score on your free strawberry plants.

holity said:Is it too late to harvest my rose hips? (after weeks of on-again off-again freezing)

I just harvested some about 10 days ago. I was only after the seeds though, and they were perfect. If I'd waited any longer the birds would have had them gone.
I guess maybe it depends on what you want them for; after freezes and thaws I'd being leery of consuming them. I'd think there would probably be mold present by that time.

Now that winter is officially here. A photo of my winter kitchen garden. All brassicas except onions, peas and lettuce.
Broccoli (Emerald Giant) Caulilower (Montana) Cabbage (Greenbriar) Collard( Cabbage Collard) Chinese Cabbage (Green Rocket) Pak Choi (Joy Choi), Mustard (Ostrich Plume) Radish (Watermelon, Tae Bec, Giant White) Lettuce (Paris Island) Rutabaga Turnips ( Purple Top and Shogoin) English Pea (Willet Wonder)
Onion (Sapelo Sweet)

Wow, really nice!

Drool, drool! Maybe my spring garden will be half as nice.

Farmer Dill, you are living up to your username - and then some!
What's your zone?

on the boundary of 7b and 8a.

OK.
I heard Elliot Coleman on TV last weekend saying that cover extends the zone by 2 per layer. BUT, he said, limit 2 layers because it cuts the light too low with 3.

SO THAT means I could have what you have there if I just did one layer of cover! He was using a row cover inside an unheated greenhouse. He's in Maine!

Yeah, he really pushes the season. He's been our inspiration, but I really need some time off so I don't push it like he does. It might be fun for you to try and see what you have success with! Go for it!