A hard frost

We had a hard frost last night, not a freeze as of yet, but enough to zap the nasturtiums in the SCBG kitchen garden.

The difference between hard frosts, light frosts, and freezes is somewhat hard to grasp (maybe if I had studied meterology, physics, or paid better attention in organic chemistry, I'd be better prepared to understand it). And plants certainly differ in their responses to light and heavy frosts, and freezes of various temperatures.

The temperature overnight was predicted to be about 34° F (in our regional paper), but heavy frost covered the meadows along the entrance drive in the Garden (where I work). Our outdoor thermometer is outside on the porch, so is not an true reflection of outside temperatures, and I didn't look at it this morning, yada, yada.

But winter is coming.

We'll be off to Asia on Sunday, to Southern Vietnam. We had a wonderful trip to Northern Vietnam some years ago, so we're looking forward to it. We still have plenty to attend to (house-sitting & plant-sitting lists, etc.). But we're fortunate to be able to travel to distant places, and for that, I'm grateful.

Maybe a first freeze

It's quite late for a first freeze, but one is predicted for Friday night (Dec. 4). Our 'average' (prior to global climate change) is Oct. 15.

I'm not complaining, really, as we've had extended fall color, and the lettuce, kale, collards, mustards, and arugula are thriving. But it is a bit unsettling.

We left for winter travels in early December a couple of years ago without a freeze, too.

I've put flats of greens in a open cold frame (not very beneficial), but they'll need water while we're gone -- it'll be interesting to see what's survived, when we return from this year's winter travels.

The garlic that I recently planted has already started to emerge, with fresh green leaves. As I finish using the rest of last year's garlic, it's nice to look forward to the new harvest.