Post Punk Kitchen Forum

So I've planted my bulbs and harvested my pumpkins. I think that the gardening season in Nebraska is officially over. I still need to pull out my plants and vines if I can bring myself (or my boyfriend) to do it. I guess I have some kale that might make it. But otherwise, I am sad and gardenless for at least 5 months. The depression is setting in. Let's commiserate.

you're cute

I hate it when this time of year happens. We're getting our first hard freeze tonight and that will leave me with parsley and swiss chard, and nothing else. I have been putting off pulling out all the tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers even though they died a few weeks ago. So sad...

Luckily in March I'll be seed starting again, so I only need to mope for 5 months.

Gardening...season...? Is this mythical beast similar to non-year round farmer's markets?

Isa, you know it doesn't have to end. Grow some herbs this winter under a florescent light system and a small hydro or container system. You can do this for under $225 including shipping.

http://www.wormsway.com/detail.aspx?t=prod&sku=SPJ104 your light!

http://www.wormsway.com/detail.aspx?t=prod&sku=MG300 your container!

http://www.wormsway.com/detail.aspx?t=prod&sku=GBTG432 your vegan grow formula!

If you decide to do something indoors, start small and grow lettuce/greens first. Call me at work 1-800-274-WORM if you have questions. You'll also save 10% as a PPK member.

You should make a wire hoop house and cover it with greenhouse plastic/agribon. I did one with just agribon and it lasted through thanksgiving. I grew mache, arugula, carrots and turnips under it. I'm pretty sure if I added the layer of plastic it would last through the winter but with a baby I just haven't gotten to it. Also even though the carrot greens wilted under the snow, I could still dig some up and eat them in January. The mache also got frost damage under snow, but sprouted right back up again in March. Another bonus is if you let mache go to seed, it self-sows like crazy.

Here's where I described how I did it on my blog. It was so easy! I also sometimes use clothespins to help attach the fabric to the wires.

As far as growing plants indoors in the winter, you don't need anything fancy. Regular old shop light fixtures from the hardware store and regular old "cool white" florescent bulbs (about $2 a piece at the hardware store) will work just fine. My college students have been growing plants this way every semester for 14+ years with absolutely no natural light and we have no issues with it. We leave the lights on 24 hours a day (to get through a full life cycle in the time we have available - it doesn't hurt them at all), and many plants will even flower with only cool white light. We've had mustard plants, tomatoes, geraniums, marigolds, and nasturtiums all flower under those conditions.

PM me if you have any questions about this. We've even had summer seminars for K-12 teachers to teach them how to do this so they can incorporate it into their classrooms.

Youse are amazing. I don't think I can grow indoors because of my terrible cats.

My mom hauls all of her plants outside for spring and summer and then down the the basement, under grow lights for the winter. We are all waiting for the DEA to raid the house.

You can come and garden at my house. January/February is strawberry season. Right now, is citrus season.

We are lucky aren't we!