A storm is coming....

Last year we had  the first hard frost on November 1. This year we had frost on the 27th.  Still later than the old standard for this area of October 15th.  Now a long storm of rain and snow is bearing down on the Northeast and my garden.  My winter rye is sprouting in the barrel by the gate, and elsewhere in the garden.  It will help hold the soil in place during the winter storms, and can survive the cold.

I threw a row cover over the fence surrounding my patch of 'Lucullus' chard, and tucked it as well as  I could, but the winds will be up to 60 miles an hour, and I fully expect to find it either ripped to shreds  or on the other side of the garden, or both, tomorrow.   Or may be not-- the bed is surrounded by fence and a patch of blueberries, which may shelter it.   I did a  pre-emptive picking of both chard and lettuce this morning.  I did not cover the lettuce, but in past years it has survived well when sheltered in light snow.  Update tomorrow, after I shovel!