Monthly Archives: October 2014

My Garden Still Thriving on Halloween

My plot at the Garden RUN community garden in Roxborough, Oct. 31, 2014

My plot at the Garden RUN community garden in Roxborough, Oct. 31, 2014

I’ve got a nice crop of lettuce coming along, and some kale, and frilly mustard and chard. I put it all under a row cover today, after four or five days of full exposure to the balmy weather. The weather has taken a chillier turn in the last day, and the temperature will drop into the mid-30s tonight. But still, the 10-day forecast from today, Oct. 31, shows no threat of frost. Particularly under the row cover, draped over hoops, my crops should continue to thrive for a good long while.

Wyck Farm Going Strong in the Fall

Wyck Home Farm lush baby greens on Oct. 3, 2014

Wyck Home Farm lush baby greens on Oct. 3, 2014

Anyone who thinks garden tools should be packed away by the time the leaves start to show their fall colors could learn a few things from Wyck Home Farm. The manager of the historic farm in Germantown, Katie Brownell, was still planting seeds in late September when the last round of salad mix went into the ground (as Katie reported on the farm’s blog).

When I dropped by the Wyck Farm’s Friday afternoon market on Oct. 3 and strolled through the market garden, it was lush with young lettuces and arugula, and baby kales and mustards, even while the last of the summer-planted crops, including tomatoes, kale and collards, and peppers, were still producing.

Young lettuces enjoying  cool fall weather at Wyck Home Farm on Oct. 3, 2014

Young lettuces enjoying cool fall weather at Wyck Home Farm on Oct. 3, 2014

At the market, I bought  a bag of tender young arugula and a fat bunch of enormous collard greens. I also bought an equally fat bunch of fleshy kale that included red Russian and what Katie described as a cross of red Russian and green kales from seeds saved from last year’s crop.

Giant collard greens purchased at the Wyck Home Farm market on Oct. 3, 2014

Giant collard greens purchased at the Wyck Home Farm market on Oct. 3, 2014