Well, at this point even I’m sick of the snow and I LOVE winter so that’s saying something.
So let’s turn our sights to what’s beginning to grow, shall we ? Happier days are coming.
I’ve got loads of starts in the house : sweet potatoes, onions, cabbage, Swiss chard, spinach, peas, broccoli, peppers. Tatsoi, lettuces, leeks, celery kale, and broad beans (although I’m suspicious these seeds were mislabeled as they look like pole bean starts-not cool).
Outside the winter sowing jugs are starting to sprout-arugula, dill, various onions.
Inside the cold frame, I see the spinach and lettuces sprouting up. Which is good as I’m down to the last six tatsoi and spinach plants from last fall. Frightening.
The small greenhouse needed a window replacement so that’s checked off the to do list now. I am sowing some containers for spring flowers like nasturtiums and pansies. I also see kale and broccoli from last fall putting on good growth. Enough for fresh omelettes anyway. But I see hope in the form of lots of green sprouting ! Kale, peas, spinach, Swiss chard, salad turnips, beets-happy days are coming as long as the mice stay out.
The kitchen garden is coming to life and it’s time for me to evict the hens, and the rabbits. The raspberry canes from last year have been removed, the bed mulched with sawdust. I turned the compost piles the other day, and discovered a muskrat den under there. Must have been warm there but he needs to be evicted as well. I hate being the bad guy.
Chives are popping, and garlic is peeking out but I won’t remove the straw and fir boughs till early April.
I’ve also seen hints of red as the rhubarb makes its way up, and up. I better get cracking at making last years into some bbq sauce. Great for pork.
The new high tunnel cover has been ordered and I have a new plan of action for growing in three seasons and removing the cover for the fourth. I was cocky last year about the wind but this winter pummeled that vanity right out of me. I am tarping the ground off and have all the starts ready to go for when the cover comes: mostly spring greens, broccoli, cabbage green onions and lettuces. Tomatoes and peppers will go in among all of them later.
You will be happy to hear it is almost time to start tomatoes inside-not long now.
And for those that have started early, get ready to repot and repot and repot.
I won’t say I told you so.
Love, Jenn xx
Zone 6b, Southwest tip of Nova Scotia, Canada
March 24th, 2026