FIRST FROST

We got through our first frost with ease since the greenhouse was finished before it got so cold. The next week is forecast to be in the low 70’s during the day and the 40’s and 50’s at night.

The beets are flourishing:

The cabbage is failing, while the cauliflower and broccoli are just sitting there:

The herbs and nasturtiums are doing fine.

I took that all to signify that it was okay to sow more seeds. So, I did.

I planted a package of Hoss Premium Greens Mix in the big planter I used for tomatoes this summer. (I found a fat grub in there that the chickens found tasty, too.) I wasn’t able to plant them sooner because I knew Oscar would not keep up with the more frequent watering needed by seeds and seedlings while I was gone. This will be a nice test of the greenhouse.

This seed mix contains Tatsoi, Mizuna, Arugula, and Red Mustard and has a maturity time of 21 days. I know it seems late in the season but I’m hoping the greenhouse will make a difference and we’ll have a successful crop. I’m certainly willing to give it a try!

The chickens did fine with the frost, too, even though they are still molting. The run lately looks like there’s been a bloodless massacre in there because so many feathers are on the ground, rather than on the chickens.

The price of pumpkins has dropped since they first appeared at the grocery store three weeks ago. Today I bought a good-sized pumpkin for $6 for the chickens to enjoy — after Oscar cleans the feathers out the run … again.