Lost or survived the weather?

[Mrs Moustoir]

I've just read your post about rosemary MMM. I think my two rosemary bushes have had it. They've certainly been knocked back really hard this winter and there's a load of brown branches to be trimmed. One was the decendant of a plant I bought my late mum on a school trip to the Roman villa at Fishbourne.

[theabsinthefairy]

It was still -6c this morning at 10 when I settled down to watch the tennis.

But yeah- the herb garden should survive (self seeding or rooted), and what is left of the root veg usually turns up in the first plough of the year.

We took up nearly everything and it went in the barn to overwinter - my cold store is too cold this winter - it has not got above -10c in there and everything was starting to freeze - OK forthe meats (saucissons and bacon) but not so good for the carrots, beets, pumpkins and tatties. They like to be a bit warmer than that.

[Millymollymandy]

I've just read your post about rosemary MMM. I think my two rosemary bushes have had it. They've certainly been knocked back really hard this winter and there's a load of brown branches to be trimmed. One was the decendant of a plant I bought my late mum on a school trip to the Roman villa at Fishbourne.

From my experience of cold weather they seem to survive fine a cold snap or a really cold overnight low, as long as it rises up to at least zero during the day and preferably above! Where I lived before here it wasn't quite as bad as where Absinthe Fairy lives but would stay well below freezing for days or weeks on end and my rosemaries always died (to the point I stopped bothering having them).

Mine self seeds in the gravel so I've got some of last year's babies in the cold frame yet the exposed ones still in the gravel are OK!

I could send you some baby plants if you like, cos mine grew from 1" high little things to about a 10" ball in one year (that's my smaller ones, one of which is dead now). I tried giving them away to Philippa and May on the Brittany forum but they didn't want them!

[JeremyinCzechRep]

I'm hoping my parsnips are still okay - but they are still under 50cm of snow. We haven't had temperatures above zero since xmas. Best winter I've ever experienced! No such thing as bad weather - just inappropriate clothing (though my parsnips might disagree).

[Flo]

Lost the spring cabbages which were too far forward and also it looks as if the spring cauliflowers are not going to do anything. It's possible that the lemon balm has also been permanently damaged. But otherwise all seems well.

[RuthG]

Didnt lose anything but then I didnt have anything planted (nothing that I wanted anyway). Wish Id lost some of the thistles, nettles, docks and brambles that are growing prolifically on my future veg plot though!

Ruth

[Millymollymandy]

My last remaining PSB doesn't look like it is going to make it. Next year I will put up a wind barrier and cover them with fleece every time the temp drops down below freezing. Or maybe I just won't bother as that would be too much like hard work!

[Green Rosie]

Most of my brassicas have died - I think the problem was that the snow fell after a prolonged cold spell so where-as snow usually acts as an insulator against the cold, this year it just held the cold in. Spring cabbages in the PT are looking good though and the parsnips are soooo sweet (albeit currently under another blanket of snow).

[Mrs Moustoir]

Mine self seeds in the gravel so I've got some of last year's babies in the cold frame yet the exposed ones still in the gravel are OK!

I could send you some baby plants if you like, cos mine grew from 1" high little things to about a 10" ball in one year (that's my smaller ones, one of which is dead now). I tried giving them away to Philippa and May on the Brittany forum but they didn't want them!

Sorry MMM, I've only just seen this post! Thanks very much for the kind offer. I have a few rosemary cuttings in a cold frame and although they look a bit brown and twiggy at the mo, I'm hoping they'll perk up in the spring. If not - I'll be in touch!

My parsnips are the best ever. Got loads of them and they taste lovely but not overly sweet - the only problem is getting them out of the ground.

Had a day in the garden yesterday and staked a few of the taller PSB plants which were flapping about. I've lost about a third of the plants but still have more that I really need. To be honest, we got a bit broccoli'd out last year and it seemed to go on and on.

[sleepyowl]

Everything has survived here, unfortunately that includes the croccosmia

[Green Aura]

I was wrong - the spinach survived, it's started growing up from the bottom! We had a small picking from it night before last- a bit frazzled round the edges but fine and tasty.

(The sprouts still there too )

[grahamhobbs]

Spinach survived until the pigeons broke in and eat it, it's been desperate times for the wildlife I guess.

[grahamhobbs]

On Sunday picked calabrese spears from the polytunnel, but amazingly some outside ones are still producing some small ones, still going since first head in early September.