My attempt to document the planting, growth, harvesting, and preserving of our family’s 8000 square feet of garden.
Northeast Iowa Gardening in growing zone 4
Last frost date May15, First frost date September 15
Sleep slowly receded as consciousness moved in, feeling cold air on my toes, I remembered opening the window wide to cool myself sometime in the night. But this air wasn’t just refreshing, it was Icey! With this realization sleep scattered to the far corners of brain and I dashed out of bed, grabbed my robe and slippers and ran for the garden! No, I wasn’t worried about my brassicas, peas, potatoes, onions, radishes or any of the cold crops that are thriving in the big garden. I was concerned about the strawberry blossoms! Watering cans in hand, I started for the strawberry patch, my heart sinking as I noticed the rays of the sun already hitting the plants. Nevertheless, I watered the plants thoroughly, making a feeble effort to save the strawberry crop.
When temperatures drop below freezing, tiny ice crystals form on plants. When crops, like strawberries also have blossoms when a frost happens, the ice crystals also form on the blossoms. When the frost settles on the yellow, cone shaped, center part of the blossom, (the female reproductive part) called the receptacle, the tiny ice crystals pierce the receptacle like tiny needles. But the real damage happens when the sunshine hits the ice crystals. They thaw rapidly, which leads to the walls of the receptacle breaking. This breakage causes the blossom to abort the developing strawberry embryos, or if the blossom hasn’t been pollinated yet, the damage results in infertility.
Watering works in two ways.
I don’t believe my feeble attempt worked to save my strawberry crop because to work effectively the watering or sprinkling must begin before the frost settles onto the blossoms and continue until temperatures rise above freezing. The frost had most definitely settled unto my blossoms before I began watering.
Here are some things I will do differently moving forward.
I am optimistic about our fruit trees because the frost came quickly just at sunrise and settled on the ground and then just as quickly the sunshine chased it away before it had opportunity to rise and cover the blossoms of the fruit trees. A quick frost like we experienced may kill the vitality of some of the outside blossoms on a tree but the inside ones are often protected, and temperatures need to stay below freezing for many hours to reach all the inside blossoms on a full grown, tree that is dense with branches.
The weather was rather chilly this whole week with high temperatures not reaching 60 degrees. I guess you could say I am a fair-weather gardener because I don’t enjoy gardening unless I must sweat a little bit.
Experiencing the potential loss of our fruit crop made me realize that we shouldn’t take plentiful years for granted. It has taught me that being a responsible caretaker of God’s earth involves preserving not only what we’ll need over the next year but also honoring God by preserving everything He provides during times of abundance. This may mean, in bountiful years, storing up to 200 quarts of apple cider, applesauce, and dried apples, even if that’s double what we’d typically use in twelve months. I believe that we can honor God by preserving the abundance, in this way being obedient to preserve for future times of need in our family and community.
10 Responses
I so enjoy your garden vlog. I am elderly and I can no longer garden, except on my window sill. I live my garden dreams vicariously through you and your garden. Thank you
RuthAnn, I am sorry to hear about the loss of your early strawberry crop. I am you and your family in prayer that you will still be successful in the rest of the garden and your fruit trees.
I have learned so much from you and Elvin and it has given me the desire, even if I am 68 years old, to start growing and preserving not only for myself but for many in my church who don’t garden or make their own bread. Thank you so much for all the you do to teach us the lost old ways and also for producing your wonderful cookbook.
God Bless you and many blessings in this growing year. Much Love from Jean Anne Jessup, Reeves, LA Zone 9
Your so sweet and helpful I love learning every single thing you teach.
Sorry for the loss of the wonderful strawberries Ruth Ann. I am in central PA and waiting to plant garden, only have red beets and our hot bed is thriving. Have a blessed day!
Your gardening knowledge is so helpful. Been involved in gardening for nearly 60 years and the why was never explained. Just was always told to watch the forecast as it’s more important and the evening news.
Thanks Ruthann
I very much enjoy these gardening journal posts, RuthAnn, just as I do your YouTube videos (@christileach4644) and Instagram posts (@jealoushands). I learn so much from you and appreciate your willingness to share as well as enjoying your company! ❤️ xo
Awe, sorry for the strawberry loss. We lost trees of fruit here in western Colorado, frost. Grace and thankful for what we get to have.
This made me think of Almanzo Wilder’s family spending the night watering corn during that July 3rd frost described in Farmer Boy – I have always wondered how that worked. Thanks for explaining!
Good morning! I get KWWLs notifications and was surprised when it came up with a freeze warning. My bed of strawberries is only 3 x 6, but it’s the first time they have really blossomed heavily. I got them covered. As for the cherry tree, this is the first time in 5 years that it has blossomed, and I threw a tarp over it. My folks used to run a sprinkler on my moms flowers when there was a frost warning.
Thank you for breaking down how the frost affects the blossoms. Time to head out and uncover them for the day! Have a great day! God IS good!
I live in northwest Iowa and encountering similar weather . I also was not prepared for that first frost as it was not supposed to get that low, my strawberries also froze . I may get a very few . I covered some with a bedspread last night. And I thought to myself how easy was that I should’ve been doing this. I could have a nice strawberry crab. I just need a few more bedspreads as well. Debbie