Happy New Year, Steve! Let's make it a good one!

I actually was awake at midnight for a change. That doesn't happen often.

My spring tree orders have been placed. I found I needed that to look forward to already this winter. I'm focusing more on planting native trees and shrubs this year.

It looks like your area is getting walloped with another winter storm. We haven't had a lot of snow yet, but had 2 below zero cold snaps earlier in December.

Keep warm and safe. Here's to writing a good book this year!

Barb

Happy New Year to all! I can't believe we're already into 2017 and that a brand new season will be upon us in a few very short months! I gave my dwarf cherry and pear trees and the currant bush a drink of water earlier this afternoon (they are planted in whiskey barrels and were moved into the garage in late November) - they seem very content. Everything else outside appears no worse for the wear considering some very cold weather earlier in December (we dropped to -22F at my house) and the promise of more very cold air next week. It's nothing any of us aren't used to, so I'll just wait it out with as much patience as I can muster. :)

I was productive today and got my basement grow lights and timers all reset and ready to go for some hard work between now and mid-May. :) Along with that, I also started seeds for several herbs (garlic chives, parsley and two varieties of basil), Chinese cabbage, two varieties of lettuce and a bunch of Hahms Gelbe, an amazing micro tomato that produces the most delicious little orange cherry tomatoes EVER on 8" tall mature plants. They are so much fun to grow I don't think I'll ever let a season pass that won't include at least a handful of these awesome plants. I was able to get them to produce readily under my grow lights last season (just by shaking the plants once or twice a day once they began flowering) and then transplanted them in small containers outdoors for the summer where they continued to produce abundantly through frost. Indoors, the fruits were expectedly tart without the warming rays of natural sunlight, but once they were hardened off and went outside for good, the fruits were SOOOO sweet and delicious. I just love these little buggers. I saved about 500 seeds, so if anyone is interested, just let me know. I'd love to share.

What is everyone else up to? Anyone else growing anything under grow lights? If the weather cooperates through mid-February I plan to start some cold hardy lettuces and Asian greens outdoors - I have some wonderful mini-greenhouse/cloche set-ups that I use each season that I absolutely love to death. They easily extend my season by 2-3 months.

I'll post some photos in the coming weeks of my basement grow system. I utilize 8 portable T-5 light systems on 16 linear feet of shelving to get my garden started for the season. It's a bit unconventional, but I love it and love to share what I do.

Wishing the best growing season yet to all of you and can't wait to hear what everyone else has in store for 2017! Cheers!

Wishing everyone the Best for the 2017 gardening year!

Snow was fairly heavy for a few afternoon hours for the first time this winter, Barb. With so many light snowfalls and below freezing temperatures - I'm beginning to have snow "storage" problems. That sort of thing must be more common to CO.

That may be all of it. Windy on Monday with "feels likes" way below zero. By the time it lets up, the WS says it will be below zero! I suspect that roads will close from drifting but this neighborhood should be okay.

We covered the bok choy and rosemary plants in the greenhouse again. Shoot, the bok choy hasn't grown in 6 weeks ... about what I expected. S'okay, we'll have more sunlight after awhile and that greenhouse will warm up.

☆I'm resolved to NOT continue eating like I did over these last 6 weeks! (I was waiting for that bok choy, don't ya know. ;o)☆

Steve

edit: i spent so much time fiddling on the computer, we got that wonderful report from Erie before I clicked "submit!" Great inspiration!

Happy New Year to all!

nbm1981, I have a few things so far growing under the lights. A few varieties of basil, parsley that just germinated, other basil that I started from cuttings and rosemary from cuttings. The basil I started from cuttings I started back in October. It was the last of many basil plants that was left standing after several frosts. Maybe it was a micro-climate or that particular basil plant had some better cold tolerance. My plan is to harvest some seeds from them.

Going forward I might plant a few more herbs but don't want to get carried away as I will need the space and it always gets crowded.