As I write this, the first snow has fallen, providing much-needed precipitation. If this year follows the same pattern as last year, we will have one to three months of winter weather. But the days are lengthening, and there will be warm days in between, so it is definitely time to begin your 2025 gardens.
You can start by planting hardy varieties such as collards, kale, bok choy, tatsoi, Brussels sprouts and spinach. Collards, Brussels sprouts and kale thrive when started as transplants, but bok choy, tatsoi and spinach fare much better from direct seeding. Your local microclimate in our beautiful High Desert will determine whether you have the right temperatures for germination. Though hardy, these plants still need warmth to sprout, which can be provided by starting transplants indoors, using a small row cover in the garden or growing in a greenhouse. In the event of a deep freeze, young plants will need protection, but older plants will bounce back.
Here at Moonstruck Farms, all the hydroponic tulips for Valentine’s Day have been moved from the cool room—where they have been rooting at 40 degrees for the last few weeks—to an indoor space at 65 to 70 degrees. They will bloom in approximately 14 to 16 days, providing gorgeous tulips for the holiday. As soon as those tulips bloom, the trays will be refilled for the Easter holiday.
Last year, we planted primarily pink and red tulips for Valentine’s Day, as requested, but this year we will have many more varieties and colors started in the hydroponic trays. Depending on the weather, some outdoor-planted varieties may also join the Easter parade.
Watch for weather-related closures of local farmers markets now that Old Man Winter is showing his face. You can find both the Wrightwood Farmers Market and the Phelan Certified Farmers Market on Facebook and Instagram. They also have electronic newsletters that deliver updates directly to your inbox. The Phelan Farmers Market is held Mondays from 2 to 5 p.m., currently inside and outside the Phelan Community Center, and the Wrightwood Farmers Market is Fridays from 3 to 6 p.m. inside the Wrightwood Community Center.
