Some people may feel that the first frost is the last of the season. If you have planned well and researched even a little bit about your region and crops that will continue to grow past frost, the first frost will bring a whole new season of crops your way. There are so many cold weather crops that actually improve after they are exposed to some cold weather. Kale, cabbage, and other cole crops will often take on a sweeter edge as they adapt to the cold weather after frost. I still have several things in the garden and we have had at least half a dozen frosty mornings on our garden.
The leeks are still standing tall as are the parsnips. I have also put in a few carrots and salsify which are durable root crops. The celery root is just starting to take on the best flavor for flavoring stocks. I even found a stray potato when cleaning out the debris from the potato patch. Many people will dig this as a late season crop for long season varieties.
I just cut some of the cardoon yesterday. I cannot give you full details on the best ways to use this plant, but there are plenty of references with a quick search. I am parboiling a bit of it to mash with some califlower (also cut after several frost) to try the infamous fake mashed potatoes recipe I have seen on line.
I harvested many of my winter squash just prior to the frost, but they have stayed on the porch to harden their skins before winter storage. I am cooking up a Turk's Turban for supper. I also have two large spaghetti squash in the oven to prepare ahead of tomorrow's supper.
Apples are still coming in to many of the orchards. We have not had a terribly cold night into the low 20's so the fruit is still wonderful. Apple cider is starting to flow heavily from the orchard extras at this time of year. My favorite are the apple cider donuts that are a guilty pleasure. Apples store well, so they can be enjoyed fresh for months to come.
There is a patch of dinosaur kale that I have been harvesting for use this summer. I have been using little bits with the cold weather and will do a final harvest before a total freeze. Kale is a crop that develops more sugar in the plant which acts like anti-freeze making it more and more cold tolerant as time goes on. There is a bed of ornamental kale (which is also edible) at the entrance to our nursery which has gotten very colorful with the cold weather. It wasn't even on people's radar two month's ago even though it has been growing in that bed since June. Sort days and cold temperatures have literally turned this green ghost into a violet glowing beauty accented by it's pure white sister that has caused passer-bys to take notice. It will be beautiful well into our Wisconsin December weather.
One of my favorite foods that is improved by cold is one that I don't even eat. Many ornamental crab apple varieties hold their fruit into winter. The fruit ferments on the tree with the freezing and thawing. Birds love to partake of this fermented fruit causing flocks to go absolutely gaga. Watch for this on your cold weather walks through your own neighborhood.
So don't worry about the arrival of cold weather. Embrace it!
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