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 Orphintons, Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks

Our Horses Tamar and Islam

Growing Spinach in the fall and winter

We started this spinach in mid december

Sow: Sow seeds as early as 6 weeks before last frost or as soon as you can work the soil. Plant seeds 1/2 deep and about 2-3 inches apart in beds or rows. In areas with a longer cool weather, for a continuous harvest make successive plantings every 10-12 days. You can also start seeds indoors and transplant when about 2-3 inches in growth.

Care: Spinach grows best when growing in moist, nitrogen-rich soil. Spinach plants form a deep taproot; for best growth, loosen the soil at least 1 foot deep before planting. 

Spinach does not perform well in hot climates. If you use a cold frame or heavyweight row covers, you can grow spinach all winter in many parts of the country. In colder regions, try planting in fall (October) and protecting the young plants through winter for a spring harvest. In regions where the soil doesn’t freeze, try planting spinach in February for a March harvest. I've had great success in the winter were I live (zone 7) growing spinach in our mini hoop-house. 

Spinach seed doesn’t store well, so buy fresh seeds every year. Sow them ½ inch deep and 2 inches apart in beds or rows. If the weather isn’t extremely cold, seeds will germinate in 5 to 9 days. Spinach produces beautifully in cool fall conditions, but it’s tricky to persuade the seed to germinate in the hot conditions of late summer. Sow seed heavily, because the germination rate drops to about 50 percent in warm weather, and water the seed beds frequently—even twice a day—because watering helps to cool the soil.

Our Horse Tamar

  

Tamar loves to pose for pictures

Growing Broccoli

As well as growing cabbage and starting them from seed, I've also started broccoli from seed for the first time as well as brussel sprouts. 

Now, I must admit, I didn't exactly follow the instructions below when starting my seedlings. And there's a possibility that my broccoli could develop "button heads". The are area I planned on sowing them in wasn't quite ready, therefore the transplants were in their starter trays awhile. I started them indoors sometime in November. 

Last year, I purchased starter plants and harvested a few small heads, but nothing worth raving about. No oohs and aahs. I'm hoping this year, we'll be hollering and freezing up a bunch. If it gets too cold we'll cover them in the small hoop houses we made. The little bit we did get last year, made it through the winter. Here's tips on how to grow Broccoli...