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!

Fall Greens -- Heirloom pics

Here are two heirloom greens that produce wonderfully for me:

 ABOVE:
Tom Thumb lettuce--- wonderfully tender buttery little heads.  I had a spring crop that was also very heat tolerant, and here's the fall crop.
BELOW:
Lucullus Swiss Chard-- not as pretty as 'Bright Lights', but tender and productive, not to mention frost resistant! I've got them in a small fenced bed that I can toss a row cover over on cold nights. Great stir-fried with tofu and anything else you care to add in a ginger, sherry, tamari and sesame oil sauce.