The Modern Victory Garden

Blog

« Back to Blog « Older Entry | Newer Entry »

Winter Garden Projects

Posted on January 26, 2011 at 10:49 PM

Work day evenings during the winter are generally not spent doing garden related tasks because it is quite dark when I get home, wet, cold, and (lets face it) not that much is going on in the garden anyway!   I do have projects going, but for the most part they are best done in the light of day and so are relegated to weekends accordingly. 

 

One of those projects is the design and assembly of the second-generation horizontal pea trellis.   I got an initial start on it a few weeks ago but quickly discovered I needed two specific PVC fittings that were not carried by my local hardware outlets.   I could have kept trying to track some down in the area but opted instead to just order them from a greenhouse supply company.   Specifically, I needed some 5-way connectors and slip T fittings.   They look like this:                                  

            

      

    

The slip T fitting is hard to show in a photo.   It essentially has a sleeve that just slides over a PVC pipe with one connector fitting to firmly seat a PVC pipe end into.   The small box of PVC fittings showed up yesterday - so I am all set to get back to this project this coming weekend.   I expect some trial and error to get the concept turned into a practical reality, but I have the supplies needed to get going again.                                    

       

One of the other winter projects is the annual seed starting process.   I have onions up and growing, the ultra early tomatoes (started last Saturday) are just emerging, and this coming Saturday I plan to get some leeks started.    The available open space under the grow lights is rapidly dwindling.       

 

Another project getting underway is the installation of a short section of cross fencing to allow the chickens a large free ranging area in the back woodlot area but keeping the garden itself protected from their hungry beaks during the main growing season.   The weather has been moderate enough this winter (so far) that I think we can get this done in February so this coming weekend I am planning to do a quick staking of the fence line in preparation.                     

                          

That’s about it for winter garden projects around my homestead. Are you working on some projects this winter?                        

        

Laura

kitsapfreedomgardener

Categories: Garden Structures, Seed Starting

Post a Comment

Oops!

Oops, you forgot something.

Oops!

The words you entered did not match the given text. Please try again.

Already a member? Sign In

12 Comments

Reply vrtlarica
03:32 AM on January 27, 2011 
Winter is a great time to do some of the projects that take more time. I have made one flower bed and now I'm waiting for next thaw so I can prepare soil for the artichokes. Seed starting is also separate project... so much work and I think there is never enough time.
Reply kitsapfreedomgardener
08:52 AM on January 27, 2011 
vrtlarica - It sounds like you have several good projects going! If you are like me, the garden is constantly in a state of change from year to year as I am always tinkering with it.
Reply hsheather
09:10 AM on January 27, 2011 
I can't wait to see the new pea trellis. I don't have too many garden related winter projects this year. The seed planting is still a month or so off, so its just dreaming now. Dreaming under 3 feet of snow.
Reply Mike
09:39 AM on January 27, 2011 
Your new trellis sounds like an excellent winter project and I look forward to seeing the finished product in action this summer. Next week I will be working on preparing a medium for our own onions so we can catch up with you.:)
Reply Grace
01:32 PM on January 27, 2011 
Whoo boy! What am I NOT doing? I am building my first chicken coop and run with an urgent deadline of mid-March when the chicks come. That involves the foundation, painting the potting shed next to it, gleaning materials from Freecycle, etc.
I just finished a potting bench for my greenhouse (just whipped it together last weekend from an idea I had, and some scrap wood), and have started the first of many vegetable seed flats. I am going to double the size of the vegetable garden, and have laid it out, but need to hire some brawn to move some dirt into it ASAP, so the grass underneath will break-down.

Oh yes, and only can work on weekends when the kid naps. Pressure?
Reply Daphne
01:52 PM on January 27, 2011 
Just trying to stay dug out from underneath the snow. We are really getting buried this winter. Some winters we have nothing on the ground, but I'm feeling like it is where I grew up in the CO mountains. Lots of snow.
Reply Deb
06:05 PM on January 27, 2011 
Can't wait to see the pea trellis...I'm planning on copying it for my own pea patch :)

I'm working on getting my raised beds put back together...we are redoing some landscape and things had to be moved, so I'm redesigning some of the beds at the same time... I have 3 beds almost finished...I'll be posting photos on my blog later today...

Deb
http://paradisecovestudio.blogspot.com/
Reply waggie
06:45 PM on January 27, 2011 
I haven't been able to get anything done yet. I'm trying to locate some organic compost for filling our raised beds. There are some free listings on craigslist, but none of them organic (at least in my area). Anyone know of a place in the south/east king county washington state area? Free would be great. :)
Reply GrafixMuse
10:00 PM on January 27, 2011 
I wish I was able to work on some garden projects this winter. It would help pass the time until the snow melted. Instead I am living vicariously through the blogs I read. I will be watching your blog to see the new pea trellis.
Reply kitsapfreedomgardener
10:40 PM on January 27, 2011 
hsheather - The snow you are all getting is just amazing. I must admit that I am glad it is not hitting us.

Mike - You will catch up and run right on by me! ;)

Grace - I am out of breath just reading about your projects! LOL! Good work with the potting bench project. I love taking an idea and turning it into reality.

Daphne - I am quite amazed at the volume of snow you are all getting. I hope it starts giving you a break soon.

Deb - Look forward to seeing the reassembled and reconfigured beds.

Waggie - I do not have any leads for you on the compost. I hope you are able to find a good source soon though.

GrafixMuse - Projects are the only thing that keep me from going nuts with cabin fever. Even if I did not need anything done, I think I would just dream something up..
Reply Thomas
10:34 AM on January 28, 2011 
Your mushrooms look fantastic!!! I can't believe I've missed so much. You've been quite busy. And I'm glad to see that the tree kale has taken off. I will have to check out the mushroom growing site that you ordered your kit from. I'm guessing you're a satisfied customer?
Reply kitsapfreedomgardener
12:00 PM on January 29, 2011 
Thomas - So far I have been quite happy with my mushroom growing kit. Harvested another big bunch yesterday and have more "sprouting" at the moment.