I planted my fall crops right on time this year, but the heat and drought of late summer, not to mention the aphids and the rascally rabbits, took their toll. I managed to get several cuttings of kale before the bugs took over, and I'm still cutting the surviving arugula, mustard, and turnip greens from the uncovered beds seen here. I replanted everything late in the season and applied lightweight row covers. Recent windstorms have threatened to blow that cover, but so far, everything remains intact.
Delicious varieties of lettuce, spinach, kale, and other greens are thriving under cover. I have lettuce that's ready to cut ... so fresh tasting! What a treat in the middle of winter. I'm considering extra protection - plastic - for the tender lettuce as winter comes on full force. On the other hand, a good portion of last fall's lettuce survived the winter with NO row cover at all! Will the beets, radishes, and carrots currently under cover produce roots early next spring?
Just look at these healthy cruciferous plants! Last spring I had my best cabbage crop ever from plants that wintered over (with no cover), then successfully headed up. I was able to harvest big, solid, juicy heads of cabbage before the pesky cabbage worms appeared on the scene. Is it possible the broccoli might winter over for a similar head-start next spring? I guess it all depends on what Mother Nature has in mind this season. Check out the tender baby collards ... they're ready to cut ... and the snowflakes in my hair. It's started snowing about half an hour ago!
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