This Ozark fall has been flirting with frost for a few weeks. The frost date isn’t until the end of October. Weather doesn’t read calendars so the first frost hit with twenty-five degrees.
There was warning in the weather forecast. Balmy days seemed to laugh at it.
Feeling Foolish
One by one I stripped and pulled the pepper plants. All tomatoes of any size came off the vines. Pumpkins and squash moved in on my pantry floor.
The weather was warm. Skies were blue. The only thought keeping me going was: Can I afford to be wrong?
If our first frost didn’t come, my summer garden would still be gone. If it did arrive, my last produce would be safely in the house. Frost would ruin this produce. I couldn’t afford to be wrong.
Watch the Wind
All weekend the wind stayed from the southeast. This means warm or relatively warm temperatures.
Tuesday morning the weather vane began to move to the east. The wind picked up. That cold front was moving in.
Afterwards
Two mornings were in the mid twenties. All leftover squash and tomato vines hung limp, frozen.
There are some cold tender plants still growing because I took out the blankets and covered them. I keep a big stash of old blankets in the barn along with old towels and sweatshirts to use in the garden and on the goats.
Chinese celery won’t take a frost. Using old towels and blankets I’ve kept the plants growing slowly up into January.
Each morning I finish milking and go out into the garden to remove the coverings. It’s nice to see the Napa cabbage, bok choi and Chinese celery looking green and fresh.
Goats and First Frost
I arrived to start milking and found an empty barn. Nubians love warmth. The herd had moved out in front of the barn to bask in the sun. Their warm fur helps warm up cold hands.
Now the forecast calls for some warmer temperatures. The goats, fall garden and I will be glad to enjoy them.
