Author Topic: Growing vegetables in North Dakota in winter (Read 14584 times)

Chip Euliss · « **on:** December 23, 2015, 10:53:25 pm »

Thought some of you might get a kick out of this. Last February, my wife asked me to build her a raised-bed planter to keep the rabbits from eating her plants. My concern was that a raised-bed would just make it easier for the deer to eat her plants. Instead, I built her a couple of planters and put them in the basement under special lights. We've been eating beets, lettuce, kohlrabi, chard, carrots plus various others like parsley, cilantro, etc. Here's cabbage for our New Years meal and she plans to have ripe tomatoes by Valentine. Who says you can't garden all year in North Dakota!!

apisbees · « **Reply #1 on:** December 24, 2015, 02:19:15 am »

Very nice Chip if you have the space already heated, the little in extra electricity it takes it is a good idea.

Perry · « **Reply #2 on:** December 24, 2015, 07:25:25 am »

Where there's a will (or a Chip), there's a way!

Chip Euliss · « **Reply #3 on:** December 24, 2015, 10:35:22 am »

I keep hoping she'll plant something that requires a pollinator!! Merry Christmas!!

brooksbeefarm · « **Reply #4 on:** December 24, 2015, 10:50:10 am »

Chip, careful what you wish for, i'm barred from the kitchen.

Jack

apisbees · « **Reply #5 on:** December 24, 2015, 11:08:53 am »

He wants to take his bees into the basement for the winter. Honey bees wont work you will need to get bumble bees to do the job.

efmesch · « **Reply #6 on:** December 24, 2015, 12:41:39 pm »

No bees is a minus, but think of all the other insects (pests) that can't ruin your indoor crop. No need for spraying.

Chip Euliss · « **Reply #7 on:** December 24, 2015, 07:07:52 pm »

Very true efmesch. Wife must have watered too much and one of the cabbage heads split open. No bugs to get in there to spoil the day. We had cabbage and beef soup today. Still plenty for Nee Years. My daughter keeps bumble bees so maybe I can work out a deal with her

CBT · « **Reply #8 on:** December 24, 2015, 09:58:03 pm »

I've got a farmer friend that buys bumble bees for his hot house.

Chip Euliss · « **Reply #9 on:** December 25, 2015, 08:36:51 pm »

Bumble bees are the gentle giants of the pollinators and they are great practice for picking up bees without getting stung. I get an occasional orange-belted bumble bee to jump on the comb when I'm working my honey bees; they don't seem too amused!

Gypsi · « **Reply #10 on:** December 25, 2015, 09:08:57 pm »

Neat! I am doing an indoor greenhouse in an aquarium in my fish room, just barely getting it going. The outdoor greenhouse stays above freezing but doesn't produce much in winter. Hard to keep it warm enough

riverbee · « **Reply #11 on:** December 30, 2015, 10:07:30 pm »

very......C O O L chip!..............LOL..........

mamapoppybee · « **Reply #12 on:** January 23, 2016, 12:00:14 pm »

THIS A GREAT USE OF THAT SPACE. NOW YOU SHOULD TRY PARSNIPS! I HAVE HAD THEM MASHED AND THEN MY NANCY WOULD ROSTER THEM IN OIL IN THE OVEN CRISPY ON THE OUTSIDE SWEET ON THE IN.

Gypsi · « **Reply #13 on:** January 23, 2016, 03:45:23 pm »

I don't think I've had a parsnip since I was a child at my Grandma's. Might be time to try to grow a couple

mamapoppybee · « **Reply #14 on:** January 23, 2016, 07:54:49 pm »

Ty for not making fun of all my phones auto correcting. Looks like time to up the proof reading

Chip Euliss · « **Reply #15 on:** January 23, 2016, 09:15:30 pm »

I like parsnips so maybe we'll give them a shot. Tomato plants are really growing and we even have a few small tomatoes on the vine. I'm holding out for a fresh BLT in early March!!

lazy shooter · « **Reply #16 on:** January 24, 2016, 08:33:21 am »

At gypsi and et al, I don't think I have ever tasted a parsnip. AT chip, basements are unusual in our area, but the Ft. Worth police just arrested a couple for growing lots of marijuana in their basement. Maybe that a better cash crop that veggies.

brooksbeefarm · « **Reply #17 on:** January 24, 2016, 01:11:10 pm »

My wives grandmother grew parsnips where they dumped there wood ashes and had them all winter long? She knew how to fry them and i loved them, might have to give them a try next fall. Jack

Chip Euliss · « **Reply #18 on:** January 24, 2016, 01:19:40 pm »

I'd guess you're right Lazy but I don't think they'd let me take my bees to jail

mamapoppybee · « **Reply #19 on:** January 25, 2016, 03:29:26 pm »

Brooks bees wood ash is great for amending in soils because it adds phosphorus but be mindfull of how much you add because it will alter you soil ph. It also contains small amounts of bio char that will hold nutrients and also release carbon for micro organisms

Author Topic: Growing vegetables in North Dakota in winter (Read 14584 times)

Gypsi

Gypsi