Textile Arts and Gardening - January in the Garden

The year has started and I already feel I am behind on my list of chores for the garden...sigh.

However, there has been some forward momentum.

These are the two containers I dropped in the cabbage plugs I got. They have been out in the freezing weather and the 60 degree weather. A few have not survived, but more than I thought have. As they get a bit bigger, I will be transplanting into the back yard veggie patch. 

Then, the garlic a friend of Foxy's who gave me some of the garlic he had grown, is sprouting. 

And I am leaving the bit of Mountain Mint in the container to continue to grow. Above is one of the two pots I have growing garlic. While my main crop is in the back, I do need some in pots to use in a couple of programs I am giving at the library this year. In my opinion, it's a win-win - garlic and a demonstration.

The back garden...sigh

The garden I had high hopes to have covered in black plastic to kill off weeds.

Not yet. Getting there, but not yet.

However...

In the foreground is my asparagus patch. I need to get some straw or grass clippings on it. The rest of the bed is my garlic and onions. And weeds.

I am loving the look of my elephant garlic. Already the stalk of it is so much bigger than the regular garlic. And the freezing temps haven't bother either garlic or onions. 

On Wednesday afternoon I did take out 12 empty milk cartons and did some winter sowing. I sowed the following seeds:

Milkweed - Irresistible Blend 

Scarlet Flax - I'm never grown before

Swiss chard - Five Color Silverbeet

Mugwort - a new to me herb, but friend grows for tea

Marshmallow - haven't grown it in decades

Anise Hyssop - pollinator and teas

True Hyssop - pollinator

Pandora Poppy - new to me poppy

Blue Streamer Sweet Pea

Olympic Mullein - new to me herb - pollinator

Tom Thumb Butterhead Lettuce

Hungarian Blue Bread Seed Poppy - I want the seeds for cooking

Next week I need to get my 'seed station' set up. I have some Hungarian peppers I want to grow to make paprika with. I also have some pimento peppers I want to can to make pimento cheese. 

On the 'watch list' is my Witch Hazel. I was given it last year and it looks like a 4 foot bundle of branches. However, when I do a 'scratch test', the wood underneath is green, but I don't see any growth on it. 

Another thing I have some concerns over is my fruit trees. We had cold weather and then it heated up. I am hoping my trees decide to go back 'to sleep' since winter is far from over here. 

This coming week I also need to look through the programs I am going to be delivering and make a list of plants I want for exhibits. Most I will grow myself, but some I may purchase. Oh, no! I might be forced to take a trip to Big Bloomers! And eat lunch at Miss Lacey's Magnolia House!

It may be the start of winter, but things are growing around here.