Wondering Why I did This!

brianccarr · December 21, 2013

I built these raised beds last winter. They all have piping and wiring for drip irrigation but money has made me wait to buy the valves and controllers. I had a lot of success this summer, so I decided why not just keep on growing through the winter. I built removable greenhouse covers thinking I would be able to grow right on through the winter. I planted cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, spinach, cabbage, and lots of varieties of lettuces. My success has been varied. Carrots have done well. Only one of several broccoli plants is producing (or on its way), the cabbage seems to have stalled out at a small size; I have only one that is growing large. The lettuces are growing extremely slow if at all. Maybe I need heat or lights? I will keep experimenting, I guess that's how you learn.

Wi-sunflower · December 21, 2013

Most of the things you are trying should do OK there with the covering.

BUT, if the weather has been cloudy a lot, that could be why the slow growth.

Last spring here we had nearly 6 weeks with hardly a few hours of sun. Only 1 almost full day of sun in that time. So just about all the plant vendors in my area were late getting decent sized plants to market for spring sales.

With the covering be careful on sunny days too as over heating can cook some of those cool weather vegies. Be sure you have ventilation on those days.

Carol

tlintx · December 21, 2013

It's been grey and rainy here. My cold weather crops did nothing for weeks, then we had a few days of sun and they shot up. Now it's back to rain.

brianccarr · December 21, 2013

It has definitely been cloudy a lot. This makes good sense as to why the plants seem slow. The sides of my greenhouses roll up on both sides. I'll try keeping them up when it's not real cold to let in a little more light. Thanks for the replies.

Cole_Robbie · December 21, 2013

My suggestion is to try experimenting with the varieties of each plant that you grow. If you visit a local farmer's market and ask the vendors what varieties they plant in your area, that is a good place to start.

December 24, 2013

I always plant a few cold/cool weather crops in late summer or early fall. Most years, they grow slowly during the coldest weather of winter and then explode in growth with the first warming signs of spring. I believe winter growth is as dependent on length of day as available heat. Most of my crops this winter have simply been frozen down to the ground. I'm waiting to see if they will put out new growth when it starts warming. Either way, they will be harvested early or turned over into the soil when it is time to plant my tomatoes and other warm weather crops.I'm not using any type of cover on my garden.

Ted

December 21, 2013	#2
Wi-sunflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,591	Most of the things you are trying should do OK there with the covering. BUT, if the weather has been cloudy a lot, that could be why the slow growth. Last spring here we had nearly 6 weeks with hardly a few hours of sun. Only 1 almost full day of sun in that time. So just about all the plant vendors in my area were late getting decent sized plants to market for spring sales. With the covering be careful on sunny days too as over heating can cook some of those cool weather vegies. Be sure you have ventilation on those days. Carol

December 21, 2013	#3
tlintx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: SeTx Posts: 881	It's been grey and rainy here. My cold weather crops did nothing for weeks, then we had a few days of sun and they shot up. Now it's back to rain.

December 21, 2013	#4
brianccarr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Mathews, AL Posts: 18	It has definitely been cloudy a lot. This makes good sense as to why the plants seem slow. The sides of my greenhouses roll up on both sides. I'll try keeping them up when it's not real cold to let in a little more light. Thanks for the replies.

December 21, 2013	#5
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	My suggestion is to try experimenting with the varieties of each plant that you grow. If you visit a local farmer's market and ask the vendors what varieties they plant in your area, that is a good place to start.

December 24, 2013	#6
tedln Guest Posts: n/a	I always plant a few cold/cool weather crops in late summer or early fall. Most years, they grow slowly during the coldest weather of winter and then explode in growth with the first warming signs of spring. I believe winter growth is as dependent on length of day as available heat. Most of my crops this winter have simply been frozen down to the ground. I'm waiting to see if they will put out new growth when it starts warming. Either way, they will be harvested early or turned over into the soil when it is time to plant my tomatoes and other warm weather crops.I'm not using any type of cover on my garden. Ted