In my last post, I mentioned that the weather here has been absolutely frigid. Well, a couple days have passed and in true crazy weather fashion, our temperatures are now into the 60s. I should mention that that is very warm for this time of year, as our last frost date is usually at the end of April and into May. Nevertheless, let’s take a quick look at the progress and loss in the unheated hoophouse and in the garden.
Before getting into the unheated hoophouse, let’s look around outside. First, the drumstick allium bulbs have started to grow. I know that these are the drumstick alliums because of their distinctive looking foliage. I’m excited to see how these flowers will look, as I’ve never grown them before.
The muscari bulbs have also started to grow, they’re peeking out of the soil – but they look a little rough. I actually don’t think this damage was done by the cold. I think it is because I accidentally walked all over them during the last period of snow. Oops!
I’m actually not sure what kind of bulbs these are. My best guess is that they are the scilla campanulata, or Spanish bluebells, that I planted last fall. I should really start labeling things I plant…
Here’s an up close and personal look at the larkspur seedlings. These were originally planted under a row cover. However, that row cover was promptly ripped off by the winter during a storm. They have survived the negative temperatures and appear to be right on track to bloom in the early spring. So amazing!
The first look into the hoophouse after the extended period of cold temperatures was really rough. As you can see, most of the flowers are still alive, but they definitely don’t look their best. Yikes!
I was thrilled to see that the Icelandic poppy seedlings survived the cold. After all, I’m a beginner gardener and have read that “these are not for beginners.” Mwahaha. Whatever, dude.
The scabiosa in the hoophouse are alive and well. In the past, I’ve noticed that scabiosa can be a little more sensitive than some other plants, so I was happy to see that they were nice and green.
The pansies and johnny jump up seedlings haven’t started to bloom yet. I definitely wasn’t worried about these through the cold – they’re TOUGH.
Thank you so much for this post. This is my first winter trying to fall plant anything; I have a very small, very low tunnel, and a “backyard greenhouse” that functions more like a hoophouse except it’s too small to retain any heat whatsoever. It does keep the wind off, though.
Anyway, we’ve been sitting in the single-to-low-double digits for five days or so now, with dips into the negatives coming soon, and I already gave away my extra sweet pea seeds thinking oh I’ve already got enough going, and there is stock and larkspur and anemones and ranunculus and bupurleum and . . . a lot of stuff. I’ve been fretting.
So thanks for posting this, it is reassuring and gives me hope that maybe all will not be a total loss, and at least the sweet peas should pull through!!