Friday, February 17, 2012

Yup, still in Zone 5

Out of curiosity, I checked the new hardiness zone map (http://www.arborday.org/media/map_change.cfm) to see if southeast Wisconsin had moved up in world of warmth. It did not. Click on the link to check your area.

However, I cannot complain even the slightest bit about the winter we have had, or not had actually. January gave us temps in the 50's, and this morning it's sunny and relatively warm. Last week we had freezing drizzle and temps in the 20's, but it didn't last long.
I'm seeing advantages and disadvantages with this, not that we can do much about the weather mind you. My mood has been significantly better this winter, definitely feeling less like hibernating. Sunshine has been irrefutably proven to be good for the soul, at least in my book. Less salt on the roads means less runoff into the soil, and less diesel exhaust in the air from plow trucks. Less shoveling and snow-blowing. Fewer wet socks and cold feet.
However, here in the upper Midwest, snow is an integral part of not just the lifecycle, but the economy. Snow and cold affect farming as strongly as sunshine and rain. We've had less snow this year, and snow is a form of precipitation, vital to starting the year with enough water to see seeds through germination. Snow contributes to water reserves for both consumers and farmers. Snow removal provides a livelihood for many people in this area. Snow tourism, in the form of snow mobile enthusiasts and skiers, definitely took a hit this year. That means that the ski slope employees,  power sports manufacturers and every bar and eatery along the snow mobile trails suffered losses in income this winter. I'm sure they, and our farm families, are looking at this past winter in a different perspective than cold feet and wet socks.
Cold weather functions as a natural pest control. Some species of insect pests become very prolific following a mild winter, because more individuals survived to breed early. Cold helps some plants stay on track in their annual cycle of die-off and reemergence. .I've noted growth starts in my daffodil patches twice in the last two months--they are truly confused about timing. We just put in a new patch of daffs this past autumn, so I'm hoping that they manage okay. I'm looking forward to the blast of gold that will show up on our lawn here soon.
Farmers Almanac says we're going to have a cooler than average summer as well. Because of that, I'm paying extra attention to what I select to plant this year, and will be choosing varieties that thrive in cooler weather. I'm planting fewer tomatoes, probably just one or two varieties--Giant Belgium and possibly Mortgage Lifter. Giant Belgium is a low-acid pink tomato that has delicious tomato flavor--my absolute favorite tomato. They are huge, meaty, prolific, and an heirloom variety. We're going to try snow peas, because we love them. I want to try some popcorn too, and maybe plant a Three Sisters patch with the corn, some beans and some winter squash. I will probably try onions yet again, though I've not been able to grow large onions in the past, and didn't dig them up soon enough last year. They started growing again after a rain, and they were mushy. I left most in the ground, and will collect seeds if they bloom this year. I think I prefer the green seedlings to start them, because the onions I got were the largest, but that's not saying much.
I don't know why onions are such a challenge for me, but I suspect it has to do with the condition of our soil, which is improving and still has a ways to go before I would call it fluffy or loamy.
I saved seeds from a Blue Hubbard squash we ate this winter, purchased at Brennan's Market in Madison, my very favorite produce store. I have saved seeds before, but didn't have much luck with germination. When I got my Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds catalog (http://rareseeds.com/Shop/?gclid=CMyS6c6-pa4CFWZjTAodtna9Rg) this winter, I think I read it cover to cover, and found directions on how to save seeds that germinate well later.
Basically, the natural cycle of a plant reseeding itself involves some form of ensuring the plant reproduces itself. Sometimes, like the dandelion, the seeds blow away to ensure wide dispersal and increase the odds of another plant growing. Some plants have really hard seed coats or shells to make it harder for animals to eat them. Other plants have a very fleshy seed package that hides, protects the seeds, and rots around the seed if left out in the elements, like squash, melons and tomatoes. The fleshy-packaged seeds that I was concerned with need the process of tissue breakdown (rot or fermentation) to prompt them to make ready to germinate. I'm sure there are enzymes and chemical signals and nourishment from the fleshy seed package that do this, but I haven't researched what they are specifically yet. The Baker Creek Heirloom seed catalog said that leaving the pulp with the seeds rather than washing them, and then putting them aside to ferment, would do this for my saved seeds. To be honest, I put them in the back corner of the cabinet and forgot about them for a couple of days, until I saw my cat Windy investigating them. They had formed white fuzz, which the instructions said they would, and it was time to wash and dry them. Once they were rinsed very clean, I spread them out on paper towels to dry, and Windy was no longer interested. The seeds are slightly green tinged from the contents inside, and very plump, much more so than before they were fermented. I'll let you know how they do with germination.
I have ordered seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, and I was very pleased with their selection and germination rate. I absolutely love their catalog, and it's the only one I kept this year, because of the information about each seed and how to grow the various types of seeds they stock. I was astounded by their variety of seeds for sale, and that they have seed contributors from all over the world. They use these contributed seeds to grow more seed stock and evaluate the growth habits and needs of the plants, then share this information in their catalog. If you are looking specifically for a plant your grandmother grew, or a vegetable that you remember eating as a child but can't find for sale, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (http://rareseeds.com/Shop/?gclid=CMyS6c6-pa4CFWZjTAodtna9Rg) may have it.
We inherited Brian's father's Cub Cadet lawn tractor last fall, complete with a bagger, and it is contributing handsomely to our garden. In the past, our wonderful neighbors mowed our lawn with their John Deere. Leo is retired, and his tractor is his pride and joy, but it has no bagger. He suffered a mild stroke last year, and has almost fully recovered, but gets tired more easily. Anyway, we now return the favor that they have given us over the last several years, and we mow their lawn with the bagging attachment as well as ours. The clippings mulch our garden nicely, keeping the weeds down and building the soil  with minimal work. Our neighbor's garden is next to ours, but I haven't been able to convert them to mulching yet.  Leo admired how neat our herb garden in the front yard looked last year, so maybe this summer will do the trick.