We have successfully over wintered a few spinach plants with out any protective cover. This year we are trying hoop houses over two rows of spinach.  This should be an interesting experiment. Here is one row with a heavy Agribon cover. Next month we'll install green house plastic. I guess we'll need to shovel a path to the garden to keep the snow off.

24.6 F this morning, first hard freeze this fall, PA Zone 5B, so the official growing season is over.

Under the low hoop house tunnel it is 28.9 F. Spinach has frosty leaves and mesclun we planted a few weeks back is coming up.

I received Elliott Colemans Winter Harvest book and it's excellent reading for hoop house growing.

First hard freeze for my area was also Friday into Saturday.  First hard freeze always causes the mulberry leaves to disconnect and fall as soon as the sun comes over the ridge.  It's kind of fun to watch.  There have been years when it's like a deluge and they all drop off within 15-30 minutes.  Other times, like Saturday morning, they just release and slowly shower down over about 1-2 hours.  Either way, the tree is bare by the noon hour.

So, we're officially on the slide toward winter.  I don't suppose we could skip it this year.  I know my heating bill would appreciate it.

 

I always seem to get depressed about the loss of the summer leaves, until the trees are bare and I realize they are a thing of beauty without leaves! Plus I get my view back of Camelback Mountain and the ski runs. I believe last year at this time Camelback was already making snow and they opened for Thanksgiving.

Added on edit, last year 11/17 they started making snow around here. http://forums.delphiforums.com/olt/messages?msg=1832.1

Just walked out of the office and we have the first snow of the season!  Welcome December!

This was our first cold rainy day. I doubt we'll see any snow here in the south.

Chance of our first major snow fall of the season this weekend! Stay tuned!