HiveGarden

Garden Journal Challenge of 2025 ~ FEBRUARY!

I'm not sure about the rest of you who are getting ready for this year's growing season, but we've yet to begin. With us headed to Florida, later this year than ever before, we've put most things on hold. We'll be leaving for warmer weather and sunshine later in February and returning the 1st week of April.

Even though snow is still on the ground and temperatures most often remain well below freezing, we have continued to be busy over the past several months. Taking care of the mushroom logs, freezing collard greens, and processing loads of potatoes reminds us of all that will be necessary when we return from vacation.

I did mention that there was still lots of snow and look how it has pilled up at the back of our home. Can that be a snow drift, no. Can that be a pile of snow that I shoveled, no. Maybe there is something hiding under that pile, yes!

Last March I decided to give growing mushrooms a go. @plantstoplanks turned me onto this endeavor. I wonder how she is making out with her first go at this?

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In late December with Old Man Winter in full swing, the instructions for growing Shitake Mushrooms was to insulate the inoculated logs from a deep freeze. After watching a video on how to deal with the numbing temperatures of winter I insulated the inoculated logs with leaves, and hay and then covered the pile with a tarp. As the snow continued to pile up on the ground the snow also acted as an insulator. We'll be able to see how it all worked come this spring!

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This past year we planted collard green seeds for the first time. What a remarkable, cold-resistant veggie this is. We were able to pick these delicious greens even after the first frost and even after several snowfalls. From what I have learned about collard greens, they are as nutritious as spinach. We harvested so many greens we were able to deep freeze over 60 packages of this hardy veggie. With as well as we did with them they will be a veggie that we will grow every year.

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Many of the leaves were three times the size of my hand.

Last year's potato harvest was the best.

@farm-mom took the lead when it came to preparing the spuds for storage. We now got mashed, smashed, fries, grated, and whole potatoes ready to go. I think that we've got so many that we will be able to chow down on them until we harvest again next year.

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Good luck to all those wonderful GREEN THUMB, DIRTY FINGERNAIED, ORGANIC GARDNERS WHO GROW THEIR OWN.

Comments · 10

@plantstoplanks(72)· 530d
I am soooo late to the party, but looks amazing! Wow, those collards! They are abundant down here, but I have yet to try growing them. Need to add them to my ever-growing list!

Of course I'm as envious as ever of that potato haul. Spuds 4 Life.

We actually got a few teeny tiny early mushrooms from our our logs right after Thanksgiving after some warm, wet weather. Nothing yet for this year, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Things have been busy around here, as well, so I'm a little late to coming off my Hive-ernation to jump back in the Garden Hive ring. We've got a few things started, though, so I'll have to catch up with all my pals on here soon!
@pizzabot(60)· 572d
PIZZA!

$PIZZA slices delivered: @papilloncharity_(3/15) tipped @thebigsweed (x2)
@beerlover(65)· 576d
^{View or trade BEER.}

Hey @thebigsweed, here is a little bit of BEER from @joanstewart for you. Enjoy it!

Learn how to earn FREE BEER each day by staking your BEER.
@joanstewart(75)· 577d
Someone mentioned mushroom, now this is a first reveal on how to do it in the North, look forward to hearing the results.

Spuds and greens for some time to come, now holiday time, go have fun!

Work will be waiting when you return, at least the pantry is full till the next round.

!BEER Safe travel wishes to you and the good missus.
@djbravo(75)· 579d
This life is good when we do all the work ourselves, work hard in the morning and come home at night and live happily with children, that is called life. Vegetables play an important role in our life, if we eat more, it keeps us healthy.
@goldenoakfarm(77)· 579d
No mention of beets....sigh.... I grew collards 2 years ago for my friend Tom.

They got really huge but had serious bug issues. I think they are a pretty heavy feeder and didn't get enough foliar feeding.
@selflessgem(72)· 579d
What a great harvest you had. Another opportunity for green thumb planting farmers for this year. Hoping this would be great too! Greetings.
@gardenhive(70)· 580d
Hellllo, it feels like aggges since I've spoken to you guys. It's soooo super cool you are doing mushroom logs - that's amazing and I can't wait to see if you've grown them! Eek! You know I've never grown collards as it's not something we grow here, though we could, and I saw some in the seed catalogue and thought I'd try them. I can't recall if I ordered them - will have to have a look when the mail comes but I guess we get heaps of greens from other plants anyway. Love, @riverflows.
^{The #gardenjournal challenge lasts for around 10 days from the 1st of every month - you have the chance to **win tips and upvotes** from the Hive Garden. **Don't forget** to engage with other Hive gardeners!}
@owasco(73)· 580d
Where on earth have you been?!

You've been busy, as always, I see. You've almost got me wanting to grow collards. My problem of good greens in the winter would be solved. I'm putting it on the seed list.

Do you take food with you to Florida?

Great post. Nice to see you again.
@papilloncharity(83)· 580d
Oh! I thought that was a coffin under the pile of snow. !LOL We have a guy here that grows Shitake mushrooms in a special room that has a constant temperature. I posted about it a few years ago, and I still see his mushrooms in the supermarkets. Your idea is great and let's hope that it will be a great success.

Peace and blessings to you guys.

!PIZZA and !LUV