The State of the Gardens…

Well, was our mad push to get everything planted before the first snowstorm worth it?  We don’t know as everything got socked in by a second and then third snowstorm. Nothing has sprouted yet, but then again those seeds that are big enough to be dug up and checked on, mainly the peas, are gamely if slowly sending out tap roots and not rotting. Of course, digging up a seed every couple of days probably isn’t helping either. But it makes us feel better knowing they are still alive under the snow blanket.  The potatoes are also in a state of hibernation, waiting for warmer temperatures to start pushing their leaves up to the surface.  The onions laughed at the multiple snow “events” and are merrily sprouting away.

Onion sets sprouting

The hoop house continues to prove its worth. While there is no heat retention at night (not enough thermal mass) daytime temperatures consistently run 10-15 degrees warmer then outside. And when the sun is shining (we have heard rumors that this happens) the difference can jump up to 20-35 degrees difference. So a 40 F day turns into 70-75 F in the hoop house. Not too bad! Our cold weather seedlings are hardening off inside. When it dries up some they will be already acclimated and ready to go.

Even after this latest batch of winter weather (Spring? What Spring?!) we find signs of life. The Swiss chard is slowly re-leafing. Chives are sending out new growth. The Egyptian walking onions (a new crop, thanks to D. for the starts) have multiplied and are sending up fresh greens. We have even seen some strawberry flower buds. The spinach we seeded last fall is sending out new leaves, and the garlic grows taller every day.

 New growth on Swiss chard

Resprouting chives

Growing garlic

As we don’t use herbicides we can also track the progression of the seasons by the weeds that sprout. Believe it or not we look forward to some of them. Chickweed (Stellaria media) is rampant, and as suggested by its name well loved by the hens. It is a wonderful source of vitamins A, C, and a type of omega-6 fatty acid. It’s even edible for humans, tasting somewhat like lettuce. The hens don’t care about that, they just gobble up what we pick for them and reward us with bright orange yolks.

Chickweed

Yum

Speaking of hens, the (supposed) Spring weather has brought out the broodiness in some of them. In nature a hen will find a secluded spot and lay an egg every day or so, until she has a clutch of about 10-12 eggs.  Then she sits on them. This is called brooding. (You only thought that Edward Cullen invented it!)

Notice a resemblance?

Anyways, assuming the eggs are fertilized by a rooster, her body heat will start the eggs developing. But, she has to stay on top of them them so they don’t chill and die. So our broody hens stop laying and sit in the boxes all day, not even getting up to eat or drink. And don’t let any other hens in to lay their eggs. And peck at our hands when we try to gather any eggs. This gets old after a few days, especially as we don’t have a rooster and those eggs will never turn into chicks! The only way to break this is to stop them from brooding until they eventually give up. So every time we go in to the barn we dump them out of the nests and put them by the food and water. Where they will frantically drink, bolt down some food, and head straight back to the laying boxes. Oh well, it’s only a few hens and it will eventually run its course. Meanwhile, we wear leather gloves to gather eggs.

Until next time,

Jeff and Sandra