Healthy soil and sustainable growing

[Pego Rice <firekeeper38@yahoo.com>]

If you are too far south for a root cellar, Paul, then you are far enough south to just stagger plantings for all winter/spring long harvest.

 

Here in the south US our weather is much like English summer in our winter.  Those temps don't do much to brassicas, not much to lettuce either.  I have pictures with my cabbage covered with snow this year and still happy.  It makes an excellent winter fresh veggie.  Sooooo easy.

 

 

As to root cellars.  They definitely work better in the north.  Here in the warm south we need spring houses or ice houses to keep the requisite temps low enough for long-term storage.  East Texas does have a few  nooks in the mountains where the ground temps are at least somewhat doable.  If you have a compost thermometer, stick it into the ground (you may want to make the hole with rebar or a drill 1st) once every 3 months.  If the temps don't go above 60f except in the mid-summer, you may have something you can work with, even if you have to insulate the ceiling and sides quite a lot.  Root Cellar floors are always dirt  Optimal temps for a root cellar are below 50f year 'round.

 

Yours, Pego

<<Paul, do you have opinions on making a root cellar in sand in E TX? I've asked locals and get nothing. People are still mostly in denial and you don't want to say too much.
:) >>