Category Archives: Weather

The Snow Storm

Posted on February 10, 2013 by

The National Weather Service and New York Times have authoritatively harrumphed that the recent winter storm does not in fact have a name, “Nemo” having been chosen for ratings purposes by those for whom weather is mere entertainment.   As gardeners, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cold Frame, Cooking and Eating, Kale, Photos, Seen From the Battery Rooftop Garden, Weather | 5 Comments

Sandy

Posted on November 1, 2012 by

Your correspondent returned to lower Manhattan today, fearing that, like Icarus, he had dared to fly too high, to grow food where nature did not intend, and that he would find his presumption rewarded with a thorough smiting at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blueberries, Broccoli, Chard, Cold Frame, Fruit, Kale, Ornamental Trees, Photos, Weather | 13 Comments

Over-winter

Posted on April 10, 2012 by

This morning I picked some baby kale leaves from the enormous over-wintered kale shrub and some older leaves from the over-wintered sorrel, gave them two stirs in hot oil, and added two fresh eggs.   The result was so outstanding that your … Continue reading →

Posted in Carrots, Cooking and Eating, Herbs, Kale, Soil, Weather | 2 Comments

What zone is this?

Posted on January 31, 2012 by

One of the first things that gardeners learn is their plant hardiness zone, a helpful construct of the USDA based on the expected low winter temperature.   Plant and seed catalogs helpfully tell us the coldest zone in which a plant will … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpines in the Secret Garden, Chard, Kale, Ornamental Plants, Photos, Secret Garden, Weather | 3 Comments

Après le déluge

Posted on September 1, 2011 by

Plants on rooftop gardens are far more exposed to the elements than their ground-level cousins.   With Hurricane Irene heading directly for lower Manhattan, it was alarming to hear the experts explain that 75 mph winds at ground level translated to … Continue reading →

Posted in Design, Failures, Malabar Spinach, Nectarines, Peaches, Photos, Roses, Structure, The Visionaire, Tomatoes, Weather | 4 Comments

Cold Frame Success

Posted on April 14, 2011 by

Although the cold frame was installed late (see previous post) and the first sowings of lettuce and spinach in January failed (see previous post), by late February my harvest of winter greens began in earnest.  A salad from March 1: … Continue reading →

Posted in Cold Frame, Greens, Lettuce, Spinach, Weather | Leave a comment

Finally Spring

Posted on April 14, 2011 by

Many of the edible plants at Battery Rooftop Garden, such as the fruit trees and berry bushes, are new to rooftop gardening.   It was far from certain that they would survive the extreme conditions of the 35th floor in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Berries, Fruit, Herbs, Nectarines, Photos, Weather | 1 Comment

Cold Frame!

Posted on January 11, 2011 by

The cold frame arrived on December 20.  It is a thing of beauty, although a far cry from the traditional country cold frame, which usually consists of an old window propped up against a south wall, and a rough wooden box … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction Progress, Design, Failures, Lettuce, Photos, Spinach, Weather | 1 Comment