We’re in the midst of a November heat wave – sunny and mid teen temperatures. Unheard of really. Unfortunately, it was preceded with our first hard frost, last weekend, which was a death knell for most annuals and vegetables. Luckily I had picked my cucumber (it was delicious) and all remaining tomatoes (green or otherwise) and there wasn’t much left to cry over when the damage was assessed. Things that survived seem to be enjoying our mini ‘heat wave,’ which should last well into next week. Time now for Six on Saturday – six things in the garden, a theme hosted by The Propagator.
I’ll end with a second victim, and the most personally heartbreaking. From seeds started on February second – almost exactly nine months ago – my one and only artichoke. I was hoping this bud would open before a hard frost because the flower is SO beautiful, but it was not to be. I should have protected it with a blanket or something, I guess…I have four other artichoke plants that have not produced a flower stalk, and that still look quite fine (the leaves, that is). Oh well. I’ll probably try again next year ! 🙂 If you have sunshine and warmth like us this weekend I hope you can get outside and enjoy. Stay safe everyone!
So sad for your artichoke … I never sowed mine but always used cuttings: it helps to get flowers and fruits earlier. And I add a thick cover of dried leaves and mowing grass to protect the stump in winter.
What do you mean by hard frost? (just to know and give me chills)
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It gets too cold here for artichokes to overwinter, the ground freezes to a depth of two to three feet. A hard frost – usually means about -5 or colder, also called a killing frost, as opposed to just getting to around zero, with a light frost killing only really tender, exposed plants, like basil.
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Love the colour of the kale. I’m growing a few ornamental kales this year and trying sea kale from seed. Though it apparently takes ages to germinate to succeed so may not get a plant any time soon.
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Just the name Sea Kale is enticing…is it edible?
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It can be eaten but I’ve never heard anyone advocating eating it so I’m guessing it’s not that amazing. Or that it’s harder to get started.
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By coincidence…just saw a post with sea kale flowering in profusion, surrounding a huge cardoon. Gorgeous!
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You are right, the rhubard is very beautiful in its own forlorn way. Those nigella are going to be splendid next year. I am so sorry for your artichoke loss, again, next year will be your year, I am sure of it!
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Ha! Thanks! I’ll definitely try!
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Too bad about the artichoke. There’s always next year.
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😁👍
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Such a shame about the artichoke, they do have lovely flowers. Do you also grow cardoons which are similar? The kale is pretty, I like black kale.
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I’ve only grown cardoon once…lots if huge beautiful leaves but no flower. I have the room so I’ll likely try again.
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Seeing your rhubarb makes me wonder if mine will be back. I thought it was gone for good as quickly as the leaves just limped over quickly.
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It should come back in the spring no? If it’s planted in a ‘happy’ spot the patch just seems to get bigger every year.
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What happened the rhubarb – frost or heatwave? Frost is beneficial to rhubarb and when we get a good blast I like to cover one stool with an inverted refuse bin – were I more upmarket it would be a terracotta forcing pot. This leads to early, tender pink shoots of rhubarb a good month ahead of the normal time…to be poached gently in orange juicer, sugar and cinnamon and served with panna cotta! Yummmmm!
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Oh it was a hard frost! It was in decline anyway, with cooler nights and shorter days…But yummm indeed – that recipe sounds delicious!
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You’ll have to try it next spring!
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Sorry about your artichoke…maybe next year?
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Yes, I’ll be trying again to fine tune my timing!
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Sorry about your artichoke and thanks for the mushy frost images….I used to grow that kale as a winter anuual in Atlanta.
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Well, the artichoke…..😟…..if I can keep cabbage moths off the kale it would be really decorative.
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Do they turn into white butterflies? Brown Skipper butterflies caterpillars are eating my bush beans..
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Yes…very pretty small white butterflies….
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My rhubarb looks just like yours, sadly. I haven’t seen kale that colour before – does it taste the same? Interesting Six-on-Saturday.
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Thanks, and yes, it does taste the same.
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Nigella is something I wish I’d never planted in my garden. Though I like the flowers, it’s spread everywhere and I’m always pulling it out. Sorry about your artichoke. It’s sad when you wait for so long for something to flower and something like that happens.
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Hmmmm…so far my nigella is only growing where I’ve scattered seeds, but we shall see. (Well, almost…I’m now recalling a few errant plants showing up unexpectedly) It’s so dry here in summer there may be a built in control.
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It’s sad to see the results of the frost, but is it not amazing that there is still some beauty to be found amongst the devastation? The rhubarb leaves in your photo, for example have unusual colour in them. The kale must be hardy as it still looks really good. Such a shame about the artichoke.
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I imagine the chemical makeup of a rhubarb leaf must be interesting for it to show so many subtle colours as the chlorophyll vanishes. Ah the artichoke….😟
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choked up about your arty artichoke.
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😆😆😆
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It’s interesting to record our tragedies along with the triumphs. In five years time you’ll remember 2020 for several reasons ans you’ll be saying… “Remember the year I lost the artichoke?”
Enjoy the mild weather while you can, my friend.
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The artichoke is now in the compost heap, so at least its atoms will at some point help enrich the soil of, perhaps, a future artichoke crop! AND, our mild spell has come to an end….
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Dang! What an unglamorous demise for rhubarb. I forgot that it looks like that. Mine disappeared in a fire. It will be back next year.
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