Yahoo! The Winter Solstice has passed!

Posted Friday, December 21, 2012, at 7:50 PM

I'm not talking about Mayan calendars or end of the world. Only one knows that and he was going to tell, we would know by now.

I'm talking about the length of daylight. The days are now going to start getting longer again so those of us affected by the shortening days, take heart!

And longer days mean gardening is only going to get better and before you know it Spring will be upon us.

You might have noticed that I said gardening is only going to get better? That's because some of us never got the word to quit and still have things out there.

And some of us are starting to do "winter sowing". Don't get your E's and O's mixed up. I'm not talking about sewing clothes or knitting. I'm talking about winter sowing of seeds. http://www.agardenforthehouse.com/2012/1...

Any of our readers want to share their experiences? I know you are out there and I KNOW you have tried this so .....

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Yea! for more daylight -- there is just something about making it through another year and having hope for a better one ahead. I pray that the new year brings peace and understanding to our country and those of us still here have a renewed appreciation for all our blessings. Working outside in the yard and garden are one of the greatest stress releases you can have. For me, it is when I am closet to God. To see the beauty He provides with just a little seed or plant and some hard work. The hard work is not bad when you count your blessings that you are able to do it. God bless each and everyone for the New Year. Happy planting:)

-- Posted by decorate1956 on Sat, Dec 22, 2012, at 9:08 AM

Well said decorate1956.

There is a peace that comes from being outside in nature.

-- Posted by stevemills on Sat, Dec 22, 2012, at 9:42 AM

My first version of winter sowing was a row of beets planted about a week and a half ago. I am hoping they do not sprout until early spring but either way, as soon as they do sprout I will cover them with straw to protect from the sudden freezes and frosts, between warm spells.

Deb's mother LOVES to save plastic jugs so my next winter sowing will actually be the way described in the link I put up above. Probably most of those will be flowers but I will try a few veggies, but not all the seed, just in case.

As usual, the biggest challenge will be keeping PITA away from them.

-- Posted by stevemills on Sat, Dec 22, 2012, at 10:11 PM

My first experience with winter sowing was going fine with my backyard milk jug arrangement showing lots of green. Then.....the floods came and my sturdy little seedlings drowned. I was in a new place and didn't know they were in danger. This time I'll put them away from the "flood plain".

-- Posted by jbillswms on Sat, Dec 22, 2012, at 10:30 PM

After reading about winter sowing and hoop houses, we decided to try our hand at it. We had an old tent that we were no longer using and were trying to find a way to reuse it. We have now turned it into a "green house" so to say. We have 3 pots of lettuce, 3 pots of spinach, 2 pots of snap peas growing currently in it. They were growing pretty good .. that was, until the typhoon winds happened. So, now we moved our pots into rectangle boxes that I made with leftover plywood and covered the top with thick plastic for condensation. So far they are growing pretty good. We are going to try the milk jugs suggestion next. Thanks

-- Posted by PrpleHze on Sun, Dec 23, 2012, at 11:24 AM

jbillswms you've moved, or just the plants were in a new place?

PrpleHze I gather your tent frame gave up during the winds?

I opened my cold frame to get some of the rain last night. I know there was probably plenty of moisture that came in from underneath but the top inch or so was dry so...

My new garden beds seem to have weathered the rains well. No washouts.

They are on a hill and used to get deep ruts in them or flooded. The dug-out walkways were squishy underneath the wood chips but that water will just slowly seep into the soil.

-- Posted by stevemills on Mon, Dec 24, 2012, at 8:50 AM

The poles of the tent are fine, it's just the rain fly that goes over the tent and tent itself. They wanted to become a kite with all of the strong wind we were having no matter how we staked it down or tied it down. We'll try using it later this winter or early spring before we start the planting of our garden. I would just rather reuse something we have instead of it just sitting around.

-- Posted by PrpleHze on Mon, Dec 24, 2012, at 11:44 AM

Some years are full of laughter and go by fast, and some full of tears are very slow. I wish I knew where years come from, and where all the past years go.

-- Posted by Grits on Wed, Dec 26, 2012, at 11:50 AM

Bedford Ramblings

Steve Mills

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Steve Mills and his wife have one daughter and live on a farm outside of Bell Buckle. They previously owned two coffee/ice cream shops, currently operate an internet sales company and teach classes, but his primary job involves the paper industry worldwide. Hobbies and interests lie in gardening, photography, recorded music and of course, their pets.

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