We're hitting single digits every night this week and highs only in the low 20's since last week. We too were lucky enough to get a little sun over the weekend or free heat as I like to call it. We still have not dipped below 50F in the greenhouse and we're averaging much higher than that. We're using a 5K BTU electric heater that's only on at night and a 30K direct-vent propane heater that's barely coming on even at night. SO far so good and I can't say enough god things about how much better and cheaper this year has been with the addition of the solar pool cover. It was amazing on Saturday when outside temps were 15F (with full sun) to sit in the greenhouse with the inside temp hitting 80F and neither heater on.

Why do you want leaf compost to heat up? Because it's faster? If the leaves were shredded, at least coarsely, there's a chance they are ready to decompose, but dry, whole leaves that have only been sitting around a few months probably need to leach a bit before they can really participate in active compost of any kind. Moisture rather than nitrogen is key. But hey, as hard as you're working, you will move up the schedule, and the rain probably improved the condition of your leaves. If I were you, I'd stop turning and let everything rot, and use the chicken manure you have left as a fertilizer. If you want to see some smoke, wait until the weather is warmer and mix those moist, limp leaves with an equal part fresh green grass clippings. Still, why you wanna work so hard? It's not like leaves are full of weed seeds... Here is a link that might be useful: my website

LL Bean's holiday commercial ("The snow is coming down on this New England town...") makes the NE seems so charming! And then I think about being cold all of the time...it makes 90/90 summers (90 F, 90% humidity) seem downright bearable. For those of you who dream of moving south, you'll feel right at home here in the NC Piedmont. We have a HUGE influx of folks from NJ and NY! Yes, our summers are hot and humid, but the weather is delightful from October through June. Of course, we're getting a bit of that cold air here as well -- our low on Friday night is forecast to be around 10 F (very unusual), so I too am taking precautions with my figs and other potted plants. Good luck to everyone... As for the global warming comments, the shift to the "climate change" label hardly qualifies as vacillation. Rather, it better reflects the reality of what we face -- an overall, average warming trend that is likely to make weather a whole lot weirder (the key here is "weather" as opposed to "climate" -- there's a big difference). Some areas will be warmer, some colder, some drier, and some wetter. The climate will be warmer, but local weather may be anything but.

I would advise against that unless your night temps will remain over 50. Basil is a heat lover, and lower temps than 50 will lead to stunting that it may not bounce back from. And for me, basil germinates in three to five days. For me, I'm a zone behind you and for the most part basil doesn't go in until the end of May. I do some earlier, but in an Earthbox that is in a small, enclosed (6') townhome backyard next to the brick. It creates enough microclimate for the basil to thrive, and can be brought inside if we get a cold snap.