[greeneyes]

Hello from a freezing Missouri. Sunlight is sparse with just peep now and then. Evening temp last night was down to -4 when I went to bed.

Heavy snow fall and cold temps meant no school all week.

This week I planted some Amish Paste tomatoes. Another heirloom seed that I didn't get around to using last year. So far all the seeds have been sprouting just fine. The principe B. has reached 3 inches in height and has had some true leaves for a while. Chadwick Cherry is just now beginning to put out true leaves. Whipper Snapper is beginning to sprout.

I think the Principe B will be ready to repot next weekend, but I have already pressed a jobe spike into one corner for nutrients.

I figured out that my diet had somehow become deficient in potassium. So I added a couple of potatoes a day, and half a banana with my homemade yogurt and made various flavors of smoothie. Reduced the salt and saturated fat a few weeks ago. I am happy to report that my blood pressure is down significantly.

The lovely potato that is so cursed by many (some even have suggested that it should be banned from school lunches)has far more potassium that all the others mentioned as a source.

Not only that, it ranks higher on the satiation scale than other foods, and it's one of the cheapest things to purchase, and easy peazy to grow. If you are going to eat a starch, I think it's a winner!LOL

Anyhow, the basil I harvested is dry, and I packed it into a spice bottle. The plant is well on the way to producing another harvest.

Have a great weekend. Stay warm. God Bless.

[greeneyes]

Pinging the List.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

We grew Amish paste tomatoes last year and were overwhelmed with the taste and volume of fruit these plants produced. We have three kinds of peppers and three kinds of peppers in their little hot houses.
Freezing rain tonight. YUCK !

[trisham]

My seeds have arrived, but my rolling seed cart is buried under 5+ feet of snow on the deck here in Massachusetts. The low last night was 1 degree.

[goodwithagun]

I’ve been pinning biointensive garden plans for out back, and edible landscaping plans for out front. I can gain a lot of space in the back by incorporating more in the front. I have to landscape the front anyway, since we are done with remodeling/adding on. The house looks great, but the yard is a shambles lol!

[Rebelbase]

First post on this thread and looking forward to the spring!

Question about ashes in a garden. We cleared out the old garden area, a 40 x 70’ space that was last used 20 years ago.

There’s a good sized burn pile in the middle of it consisting of mountain grape vines, honeysuckle and several small locust trees.

Is it OK to burn in place then spread the ashes and till them into the soil?

[painter]

Started my heirloom tomato seeds this past week.

[goodwithagun]

Can anybody recommend a garden planning iPad app?

[Proud_texan]

Lots of 70s in Central Tx. It will cool off but only slightly, so far looks like we're going to miss this very nasty cold stuff.

The Mexican Plums are in full bloom and the peaches are very, very close. The American Elms are almost fully leafed out and noticed some tiny leaves on lantana and esperanza today.

The asparagus is coming up like a weed. 4th year for one patch and I held off a heavy harvest last year but expect a great crop this year.

Potatoes are in the ground, missed Valentines day by one day but short of the full moon. Hopefully by splitting the difference...Hey, there's a reason those old customs are still around.

[tubebender]

From a town near Benderville…

http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/l/Eureka+CA+USCA0360

[Eagles6]

Could you please add me to your ping list? Thank you.

[Redleg Duke]

It was a toasty minus 15 degrees here in southern New Hampshire, this morning! Barb has one of those mini-green houses set up in the living room and tomato and herb seeds planted. The basil is up, already. we are making plans for our garden this year.

Less than a month to spring and another couple of snow storms inbound. I have to deal with snow on the roof and ice dams today.

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

Excellence post is quite forebodeing for this year , as well as next winter ( a repeat of this winter, at this point).

Joe Bastardi's Saturday Summary February 21, 2015

www.http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3259966/posts

Original Source: www.http://www.weatherbell.com/saturday-summary-february-21-2015

It sounds like we should plant for 2 zones colder than where we are now ..

[Ellendra]

The lovely potato that is so cursed by many (some even have suggested that it should be banned from school lunches)has far more potassium that all the others mentioned as a source.

When doing nutritional research I was astonished to find that if you judge "healthy" by the amount of nutrients per volume, potatoes come out as a health food, while spinach comes out as "empty"!