Winter worries of gardeners

Winter came. It would seem that gardeners and gardeners can take a break from the “works of the righteous.” Yes, it was not there. Already now it is necessary to think about the next year’s harvest. What needs to be done for this? How to take care of your green “pets” in the most difficult period for them? What does the gardener’s lunar calendar say in December? We will try to answer these questions today.

It only seems to some that in winter there is nothing special to do on the garden plot. You can relax a bit and enjoy the abundant December snowfalls with your children. After all, finally you can ski, skate, make snowmen, play snowballs.

In addition, December is the time for summing up the results of the outgoing year, the time for planning. But still, in December it is worth visiting your dacha and making sure that everything is in order. It is also joyful that this year a lot of snow has fallen so that the trees are securely wrapped in snow, like in fur coats. But do all trees feel good about it?

Indeed, gardeners should be aware that during heavy snowfalls, it is imperative to shake off the snow from the skeletal branches where the vaccinations were made. After all, young grafts can easily break off under the weight of snow.

Yes, and the stems of skeletal branches also require care: they must be spudded with snow. You will get cones that will protect the sheltered part of the tree from severe frosts. Berry and ornamental shrubs need such warming.

If there is little snow, then it is collected from the paths and behind the site. In no case should you expose the soil under cultivated plants so that the roots do not freeze. The minimum layer of snow should be 10 – 12 cm.

Of course, everything needs a measure, because small trees or bushes can break from the snow. To prevent this from happening, gardeners make covering frames for them. In them, if you throw snow on top, the trees will not break or freeze.

Well, how not to talk about uninvited guests on your site. It can be various rodents and hares.

So that the mice do not damage the buried seedlings, during the thaw days it is necessary to compact the snow around them or around the frame or fence made of roofing felt. Where a large number of seedlings are buried, a circular path 1.5 m wide is cleared of snow, leaving 1 m to the seedlings.

And of course, for those who have an underground or cellar: keep an eye on the condition of vegetables and fruits in them. Rotten and broken fruits, be sure to remove rottenness and mold, otherwise insects and rodents will appear next to you if this is not done on time.

Canned fruits and vegetables should be stored at a temperature not lower than zero and not higher than 15 – 20 degrees Celsius. The room must be dry, otherwise, with high humidity, the covers will begin to rust. As for jams and jams, a temperature of 10 – 20 degrees is better suited for their storage. Despite the fact that they have a high concentration of sugar, they freeze at a temperature of -20..-30 degrees and candied very quickly.

Compotes, liqueurs and jams from stone fruits (cherries, plums, apricots) should be stored for no more than two years.

As for the storage of blanks at sub-zero temperatures, you should know that marinades, compotes, vegetables and other canned food containing salt and sugar in a small amount freeze at a temperature of minus 2-3 degrees. More sweet – at minus 6 – 8. When defrosted, such preservation becomes flabby and tasteless. But the quality of the juice after defrosting does not deteriorate.

Well, for the most avid gardeners, those who devote their time to growing plants all year round, we recommend paying attention to the lunar calendar of December this year.

After all, even in winter greenhouses under artificial lighting, planting on the greens of the material prepared in the fall for distillation continues. If bulbs, root crops or rhizomes are used for planting, then there is not even a need for additional lighting. If there is lighting, you can grow tomatoes, peppers and other crops. And also at this time you can engage in planting and transplanting indoor plants and flowers. And also get your greens for the New Year’s table and surprise your guests with the earliest onion.

Onions for greens can be grown in water. A thick cardboard with cut out holes is placed on the pot, into which we insert the bulbs so that the bottom only touches the water. To speed up the germination of greenery, clean the colored extreme scales. Soak the bulbs in warm water 30 – 40 degrees for 12 hours. After two weeks, you can cut off the extreme leaves, and when the feather grows to 15 – 20 cm – remove the onion, cut off the greens, and clean the onion and use it for food.

Of course, this activity is interesting and exciting to spend with children, because watching the growth of onion leaves, they will see how they grow by leaps and bounds. Onions grow especially fast in the soil. In it, the feather is juicier and darker. When planting on top of the ground above the bulb should be 1 – 2 cm of soil. Just don’t forget to water. Onions can be grown on a cabinet, away from a window, as they are not very photophilous. Garlic can also be planted in the same way, only it sprouts more slowly, after 25 days. Green feathers contain even more vitamins than cloves.

According to the lunar calendar, from December 17 to 22, the waning moon. This is just the time for things like:

In the greenhouse, on the windowsill – forcing parsley, celery, beets, chard. Sowing and planting root crops. Picking seedlings, watering and top dressing, pruning, rejuvenation, crown formation, pinching. Soaking and germination of seeds. Recommended moderate watering and fertilizing plants with organic matter.
Flower growers – favorable days for planting any flowers, rooting cuttings. Auspicious days for planting corm and perennial flowers.
In the garden – harvesting cuttings for winter and spring vaccinations, sanitary pruning of trees and shrubs. Snow retention and trampling of snow in tree trunks. Protection of trees from rodents and sunburn.
Not recommended – grafting, spraying plants with pesticides.

Alina Fedorova.

Author’s photo