Do you know how cold that is?
It is not uncommon for our winters to dip to -35oC (-31oF) before the windchill. Keeping a greenhouse going over the winter is just not cost effective, and there is no pleasure in gardening in that cold, so I don't!
We shouldn't normally plant in the ground until June, and harvest should be out by September. Calculate that and you have a growing season of a grand total of just over three months.
Pretty darned cold, and a short growing season to boot!
It's the climatic conditions which determines what you will be able to grow in your area. Something every homesteader must adhere too if they want to achieve success in growing.
Even taking into consideration micro-climates, it doesn’t leave much hope for growing a diverse variety of fruits, vegetables and plants here.
Sadly, I’ve lost so many fruit trees over the twenty plus years we have lived here… nevertheless, my motto:
Never give up without a fight!
But let me talk about my plum trees.
I had two. One of which had been here before we moved in; it was well over 25 years old. The other I had planted within the last ten years, I can't really remember exactly.
They each took their turns bearing fruit every other year. It was rare for them to ever bear an extensive amount, but once in a while we could enjoy a handful or two of tiny sweet delicious fruit each year.
Plums, so tiny, so simple, so pretty. They ranged in size from three quarters of an inch to one and a half inches. And they were oh so sweet!
Sadly, our harsh winters and a couple of early winter storms have taken their toll and I finally had to break down and turn them into firewood this past year. That just breaks my heart!
On the bright side, from the last bountiful harvest, I was able to make plum compote, of which I still have several jars in the freezer to enjoy on biscuits with tea…. Yum!
Plum Compote: plums, lemon juice, and sugar
Did I mention delish?!
And so, I sit here on this cold and bitter night, cozied up to the fire, supping on tea and biscuits smothered in plum compote, mourning my plum trees, but delighting in the last of their delicious sweet remains and reminiscing on summers past harvesting the tiny fruits.
Have you ever tried making compote? …if not, you really should, you don’t know what you’re missing!
