PLANTAE
It is often the plants that characterize the seasons, and spring is the one of vitality and growth. Many people are starting seeds, tending to sproutlings, and going to the home improvement store. Unfortunately, no matter how early you start you seedlings, they won't have the quick profusion of growth in the spring because they have to establish roots first.
These garden veggies were already in the ground and established, they were planted last fall. Surviving the winter was all the kale needed to have a second year of growth, and the lettuce continued to produce all winter...I was picking lettuce from out of the snow!
Dino Kale After a Rain, 2022. Digital Photograph.
All the dormant plants suddenly look full, not only do the trees sprout new leaves but the the already established plants do too and become the first round of fresh veggies in the spring.
Even more importantly though, is that by keeping plants and their roots in the soil and watered all winter, the microbiology in the soil was able to survive. A mulch was necessary, but the soil stayed warm and moist all winter, and the active microbes along with the mulch kept the soil from freezing. The parts of the garden without a winter cover crop had issues of erosion, poor water retention, and a slow recovery in the spring. Compound that with sensitive young plants and you have a much slower start to produce anything.
Red-Tinged Winter Lettuce head, 2022. Digital Photograph.
PRODUCE
There are several good candidates for cover crops. My focus has always been plants that can provide food and nourishment, and so my choice of plants during the winter were mostly edible.
The most successful plants of this years exceptionally cold winter in Tennessee were Dino and Red Russian Kale, Cilantro (extremely winter hardy), Rainbow Swiss Chard, Red- Tinged Winter Lettuce, Green Onions, Lemon Balm and on the lesser successful side, Mustard Greens, Turnip Greens and Radishes.
I hope my enthusiasm for the coming months show and maybe rub off on you, and I'm excited and blessed for the warmer weather and the chance to grow beautiful and tasty organic food.
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