Winter 2004 Update

As I write this newsletter, we are encrusted in white glazed snow making the house and barn roof look somewhat like a fancy shaped doughnut with icing on the roof. The temperature has gone above freezing with most nights in the single digits. The greenhouse went down to 36 degrees on the below 0 degree nights but most all the herbs and delicate tender perennials came through the cold.

Does it sound like I am complaining? You bet I am since I have spent a good many hours in the barn with the newly arrived Nubian goat babies. There are 13 new kids in the barn and they keep warm by sleeping in “piles” under heat lamps next to their mothers.

There were 2 sets of triplets so moms have to be helped with extra supplement bottles (that’s where I come in!) There will be goat kids and a few milking nannies available for sale this Spring as soon as it warms up! Make your own goat milk soap, cheese or yummy fudge.

Soon I will be back “down in the cellar” (old fashioned word for basement!) starting the plants that will be available for this Spring growing season. The cellar is a nice warm area that contains grow lights and heat mats. I have to be very careful to exclude the cats from this area as they love the warmth of a heat mat and think that I have installed them just for kitty sitting.

Most of my seeds have arrived or have been ordered and I have to divide them into groups that need to be started at different times. Some seed like parsley are soaked in water overnight to aid germination. I use thin plastic flats and a sterilized germination media to start the seeds and it is always a good day when I see the first “green” emerge. If you are starting your own seeds pay particular attention to the germination rates and the time it takes to start the seeds and grow the plants before they can be set out in the garden. I have seen “leggy” tomato plants that had to be held too long before the frost date. The frost date (the last frost) around our zone 6 area is Mother’s Day. We always push it for May 1st but shouldn’t be surprised if we get a late frost.

Something that we gardeners can do in February and March is to prune grape vines and fruit trees. I also like to shape up my lavender plants while they are dormant. Sometimes I prune out the old woody stems that are under the lavender bush and then I trim about 1/3 of the plant back to give it a nice shape. A great way to get fresh salad greens is to have a cold frame in place for early Spring greens and a good time to build the frame is now while there are no weeds to pull!

It will be Spring sooner that we think (get all your tools in working order!) We will be at the Hagerstown Community College Alumni Garden Show on March 20th and March 21st and at the Pennsylvania Herb Festival, Friday April 9th and Saturday April 10-for more information www.paherbfestival.com .

We will open for the season at Alloway Creek Gardens, Saturday April 13th at 10am. Until then, think green thoughts---Barb

Alloway Creek Gardens & Herb Farm
Barbara A. Steele
456 Mud College Road
Littlestown, PA 17340
717-359-4548 (phone/FAX)
email: