tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24548385678927476332024-03-18T22:07:48.365-07:00Urban Garden in the Forest CityI had always grown up with a vegetable garden and spent some of my happiest days in amongst the greenery. We didn't have a lot of money in those days and this helped to offset the costs of feeding 6 people. Today, I start this venture with that same old fashion notion . I want fresh and with the soaring prices, I want economic. Join Max and myself in our adventures into Organic gardening. We will show you step-by-step how our garden grows.
Marita & Max
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657150902167204424noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454838567892747633.post-71868876387035904272014-11-02T07:11:00.001-08:002014-11-02T07:11:38.913-08:00Closing the garden for the season.It has been a while since I have updated my garden blog. September is a busy month for getting lesson plans and overseeing a new weekend course at our local College. Our garden was successful for the most part but there are definitely changes I would make to what we learned in our first season of growing:<div><br></div><div><i>Seedlings - </i></div><div>Tomato: We will seed about a dozen tomato plants of different varieties - we initially planted far too many which crowded the designated tomato bed and had to remove them. We seeded far too many that were eventually killed by a cold breeze moving through the garage. </div><div><br></div><div>Peppers: we purchased these at a nursery and they grew and produced very well. The two plants produced by store bought peppers were slow to grow and produced only a few small peppers.</div><div><br></div><div>Onions/leek/garlic: we will seed these in the few weeks before planting season begins. They grew well and were a delight in our soups and stir fries.</div><div><br></div><div>Potatoes: This experiment was an epic failure. The season was too cold and the plants only produced berries. We will make an effort to plant them in tubs and place them in warm spots out in the back garden.</div><div><br></div><div>Brussel sprouts: These plants produced tiny sprouts due mainly because they were shaded by the tree on the boulevard. They need full sun. Cutting the leaves as the plant grew worked out quite well in that the sprouts will only grow when you remove them.</div><div><br></div><div>Marigolds: These were phenomenal flowers and once planted grew much larger than anticipated. Next year they will be planted outside of the fence to keep the animals at bay.</div><div><br></div><div>Front bed: The flowers here did exceptionally well and the blending of colours and trimming out the bushes encouraged tremendous growth.</div><div><br></div><div>Rear yard bed: The squirrels ate all our apples so we will have to net the entire tree next year. The squirrels also ingested tomatoes and our one watermellon in the enclosed rear garden. This too will have to be completely netted.</div><div><br></div><div>Cucumbers: These took up way too much room in the front bed and did not produce well. We will look to growing these along the fences in the rear yard or create a climber for the beds closest to the house where they will get full sun all day long.</div><div><br></div><div>Pumpkins: These were fun to grow but again, they took up a lot of garden area. These can easily be grown anywhere.</div><div><br></div><div><b><i>Cleaning up:</i></b></div><div>The garden beds are partially frozen this morning and I am out there pulling out the remaining plants. I had intentions of putting remay cloths out to protect the swiss chard but maintaining the garden through the colder weather will have to wait until next year.</div><div><br></div><div><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNarqhMkrDmFwhIk5D0xTs80FPpsaoplXwVu8d6Wgb0ConPXMC7ljLN37o82HqB0KvnZDvuyxhvl7gpmPgUlOKcwohls9OepxCPaV2-R97B_2IayTZWScnVm3ALPQb2PYBxWP5BX9u0Q/s640/blogger-image-2013729811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNarqhMkrDmFwhIk5D0xTs80FPpsaoplXwVu8d6Wgb0ConPXMC7ljLN37o82HqB0KvnZDvuyxhvl7gpmPgUlOKcwohls9OepxCPaV2-R97B_2IayTZWScnVm3ALPQb2PYBxWP5BX9u0Q/s640/blogger-image-2013729811.jpg"></a></div><div><b><i><br></i></b></div>We grew our own pumpkins.......</i></b></div><div>and then carved them for Halloween. The two in the middle came out of the front bed.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1f7k5TD4Pj_khfrop7tUJM6uxmtvNY5fx5LmkrcT6VrHEnxboJ198txFgLEMX1zUFSwL0SV74mtcRQMd9MS7YioKoyg3YSzLel6tr6jy9g7Gvs5ut5zvUMuTnH_AGEOCHy8oHa5aWtA/s640/blogger-image--1179059249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1f7k5TD4Pj_khfrop7tUJM6uxmtvNY5fx5LmkrcT6VrHEnxboJ198txFgLEMX1zUFSwL0SV74mtcRQMd9MS7YioKoyg3YSzLel6tr6jy9g7Gvs5ut5zvUMuTnH_AGEOCHy8oHa5aWtA/s640/blogger-image--1179059249.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3r4gIfiw9MCnW22F4BKr7DvhNBN1pI-UD7iEhphQjW1EMZA-b3TD21NwLZ8uGXIQa4vA_iG2Tq2YG99izrk6YElUITJWi0xZH-xivAqarUbD6fDr8DF8ZxIaOeX_h0vdPi7AZOQmy0Q/s640/blogger-image--1495146566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3r4gIfiw9MCnW22F4BKr7DvhNBN1pI-UD7iEhphQjW1EMZA-b3TD21NwLZ8uGXIQa4vA_iG2Tq2YG99izrk6YElUITJWi0xZH-xivAqarUbD6fDr8DF8ZxIaOeX_h0vdPi7AZOQmy0Q/s640/blogger-image--1495146566.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">These were the last of the veggies in September just before the first frost came.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNj511JzrTGl5qryO3wLR2ekWgQydEVgSSoxn2S15Qypg0BxV-k64b_ffsXAap3pzo_spkKTfAU17YhmLHAv0Vz3R8tL7xqGyuMbM5IJoomRTEX0QsIlhHemOvgriXjIE99O5wSs6A5Q/s640/blogger-image-305955316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNj511JzrTGl5qryO3wLR2ekWgQydEVgSSoxn2S15Qypg0BxV-k64b_ffsXAap3pzo_spkKTfAU17YhmLHAv0Vz3R8tL7xqGyuMbM5IJoomRTEX0QsIlhHemOvgriXjIE99O5wSs6A5Q/s640/blogger-image-305955316.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657150902167204424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454838567892747633.post-35282859310535311912014-07-29T08:12:00.001-07:002014-08-05T07:35:12.864-07:00The garden is quickly maturingIts hard to believe how quickly the garden is growing and maturing in just weeks. The weather has been rather odd (to say the least) with swings into high humidity and cool nights with brisk winds and overcast skies. So what does one do? I planted more beet and carrot seeds a few weeks ago when the first cold front moved in and within hours, the rains fell. It meant that I did not have to cover the garden against the typical heat of summer and helped to extend the time for lettuce (cool weather plant). It also kept the tomatoes and peppers growing. This weekend will be a tomato, pepper and onion harvest in time to make salsa. I have already made relish from the pickling cucumbers that are now growing like crazy!!!<div><br></div><div>I had to make room for the new plantings of carrots and beets so I removed the two kale beds. I gave one full garbage bag away and processed the other one to freeze for use in soups, stews etc.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Freezing and storing Kale</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div>1. Since I needed the Kale beds for other vegetables (I have some Kale plants in the lettuce bed), I simply pulled out all the plants and cut off the stalks just below the beginning of the leaf on each stalk. If you want to keep your Kale bed, simply cut the plant a few inches above the ground and it will regrow.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVz1yX1Bw6SDeKARDLPcMZBqpq6NyIBxe4SUNvB0JmydNsopbYv6P4L1skILaRHQWKASctpK0E_ILTzmAfrmVkfDfi9AGoY3x2QNrfsLEvx0lz74p3NKtB3lVxOtz14n7t6eQerGjUQ/s640/blogger-image--829976976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVz1yX1Bw6SDeKARDLPcMZBqpq6NyIBxe4SUNvB0JmydNsopbYv6P4L1skILaRHQWKASctpK0E_ILTzmAfrmVkfDfi9AGoY3x2QNrfsLEvx0lz74p3NKtB3lVxOtz14n7t6eQerGjUQ/s640/blogger-image--829976976.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1dnjZ7gukxSgGGr1VHk0OH_9Zl1RrS0O6UITsFb3qjJQ8nvYdHzpHSu4vfazzUN3Kx349rAsr5GJpxtphC-Lra4ix4Y8erfteSooX4f1QNX6yWygBiFffP7HbhhTQSnZBDbJPRlEdQ/s640/blogger-image--1024081966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1dnjZ7gukxSgGGr1VHk0OH_9Zl1RrS0O6UITsFb3qjJQ8nvYdHzpHSu4vfazzUN3Kx349rAsr5GJpxtphC-Lra4ix4Y8erfteSooX4f1QNX6yWygBiFffP7HbhhTQSnZBDbJPRlEdQ/s640/blogger-image--1024081966.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>2. While you are prepping the Kale and rinsing it under cool water, put a large pot on to boil. Putting the lid on will help to boil the water faster.</div><div><br></div><div>3. You will only be blanching the kale - in other words, not fully cooking it but heating it up and stopping the cooking process to allow it to be able to be frozen for future use. You can do this with spinach and Swiss chard (one of my friends uses Swiss chard as a wrap for cabbage rolls instead of cabbage). Once the water is boiling, place the kale into the pot for 3 minutes (time this).</div><div><br></div><div>4. Fill the sink with cold water while you are blanching the Kale - I always add lots of ice to immediately stop the cooking process.</div><div><br></div><div>5. Use a serated spoon or sieve to remove the Kale and immediately put it into the cold water. The Kale will be a bright green and limp.</div><div><br></div><div>6. Use a salad spinner to try to remove as much water as possible. I use this and I also use a number of layers of clean cotton dish towels to gently roll the kale in to remove the water.</div><div><br></div><div>7. I use a Food Saver TM to evacuate air and to seal the bags. The problem with using this method is that the remaining fluid in the Kale will be pulled out to the machine and will not allow for a proper seal. You can continue to use the vaccuum until most of the moisture is out and then use a paper towel to dry the inside of the bag to allow for a proper seal. My mother used to use a ziplock freezer bag and insert a small straw at one end. She would suck the air out using the straw and seal the bag up to the straw then quickly remove it while completing the zipper seal to the end. This takes practice getting it right but it works great. You do not want freezer burn on your produce so make sure you get as much air out as possible.</div><div><br></div><div>8. Using your frozen Kale is easy. You can boil the bag or leave it on the counter to thaw. This will store well for about 6 months in your freezer and will get you through the winter until you can harvest your early spring Kale.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Tomatoes are just ripening</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div>The tomatoes are just ripening on the vine and by the looks of it, I will be very busy after the long week end making salsa. By then, the peppers and some onions will also be ready. I am also a big fan of fresh salsa and will make some with my sister when she visits.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Beefsteak Tomatoes</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_QAa66DzUNa5xJ92CG0p_Q4SP6Lqmzt1mo_ZR0UnAWNV6tIxT3GYhsPNnk4fH3SB1frXRn45sEYZ-7JA4UHaP7xLQsoLoh7OsHvvtT78i7vkRwfAGE1DgafReKhK3dUxhudwqN264g/s640/blogger-image-54396752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_QAa66DzUNa5xJ92CG0p_Q4SP6Lqmzt1mo_ZR0UnAWNV6tIxT3GYhsPNnk4fH3SB1frXRn45sEYZ-7JA4UHaP7xLQsoLoh7OsHvvtT78i7vkRwfAGE1DgafReKhK3dUxhudwqN264g/s640/blogger-image-54396752.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><b>jalapeƱo Peppers</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoJnIjkYOcKQ3yeBfVFQHRI-y8476fxuoN-AqeZN9cpBZ-bDNY5r4EDRcEHWpo5P13tSKdAUM7QTwLEGP_dJUgtAaSHdBGXI2_hRdAmlKKRpMaDvVaj5sVW9Gd7tdXZ0LyInXmUvKVg/s640/blogger-image--1715921770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoJnIjkYOcKQ3yeBfVFQHRI-y8476fxuoN-AqeZN9cpBZ-bDNY5r4EDRcEHWpo5P13tSKdAUM7QTwLEGP_dJUgtAaSHdBGXI2_hRdAmlKKRpMaDvVaj5sVW9Gd7tdXZ0LyInXmUvKVg/s640/blogger-image--1715921770.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><b>Pumpkins</b></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></b></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHnrWv8JLMG3XxRqph5CCh6GEChd6TcFN6rD3Z7_U0f4-IWwCLobPMgi0hhcEKIfkwcgmL84aI-MKCVttK5MZ4mWigYIV-ojUY_N7DSek7tFVEXpEOPGMZ3vOi6Ce9z2PiTEHX86oQQ/s640/blogger-image--1741121306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHnrWv8JLMG3XxRqph5CCh6GEChd6TcFN6rD3Z7_U0f4-IWwCLobPMgi0hhcEKIfkwcgmL84aI-MKCVttK5MZ4mWigYIV-ojUY_N7DSek7tFVEXpEOPGMZ3vOi6Ce9z2PiTEHX86oQQ/s640/blogger-image--1741121306.jpg"></a></div><br></b></div><div><b>Some Visitors to the Garden</b></div><div>These are just a few of hundreds of daily visitors to the garden.</div><div><b><br></b></div><div><i>Clearwing Sphinx Moth</i> - This moth looks just like a bee. It hovered and then landed on a leaf near our snowflake virbunum bush. This moth's larvae will eat the leaves of a number of different bushes but according to what I have read, it is not a pest.</div><div><br></div><div><i>Common Red Soldier Beetle</i> - this beetle was photographed on 'Hatties Pin Cushion' plant in my side yard. They feed on aphids and slugs so you really want these in your garden.</div><div><br></div><div><i>Spiders</i> - are in every garden and are beneficial by catching all kinds of bugs. The one below was rescued from our pool with about a hundred little babies on its back. What a neat experience watching these little ones collect themselves on the back of its Mom</div><div><br></div><div><i>Butterflies</i> - these nector lovers provide beauty to a garden so provide them with colourful places to visit. The marigolds throughout the urban garden along with echinacea and other blooms attracts many varieties.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTOIBObxI3y-unZKtM5a3R6n7-qxFYVXLItl6FhETa0JSDPto8DNMCBQeGaacfwNaGFZ06pUG9oaRv9-zX3nY6OYJRqFiTyeWk4jxyimDFgLhZXNsUMlCjXedLheyc6xGtS0SX_reUA/s640/blogger-image-576399265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTOIBObxI3y-unZKtM5a3R6n7-qxFYVXLItl6FhETa0JSDPto8DNMCBQeGaacfwNaGFZ06pUG9oaRv9-zX3nY6OYJRqFiTyeWk4jxyimDFgLhZXNsUMlCjXedLheyc6xGtS0SX_reUA/s640/blogger-image-576399265.jpg"></a></div><br></b></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657150902167204424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454838567892747633.post-82877412890824719192014-07-03T10:48:00.001-07:002014-07-08T15:11:08.401-07:00Beetle bedlam and Canning!!!Beetles, other than the lady bug and soldier beetle (family of the fireflies) variety are never a good thing in your garden. Today, I went through all the squash/pumkin plants to find beetles....it didn't take long before I found the cucumber beetles in the male squash plants and the Japanese Beetle on the sunflower blooms!!! In addition to these pests, this is the time to find leaf jumpers and insects like weavils and other such beetle-like insects that have a probiscus much like the sucking tube on a mosquito that are designed to suck the juices from leaves and young shoots. <div><br></div><div>Keep a healthy garden by disuading mold and mildew growth by allowing distance, light and breezes to move between plants, planting companion plants and use other plants that lure away the pests that diminish your garden harvest. I have learned to be very diligent and to pay close attention to leaf damage, wilt and yellowing of lower leaves and allowing the garden to dry between waterings. Remove any yellow leaves and other matter that can be composted unless you see a pest like the leaf miner, which you will deposit in the garbage.</div><div><br></div><div>The Ontario government site indicates that Starlings love to eat the Japanese Beetle and it might explain why there were so many in my yard over the past few days. Despite the bird feeder in the neighbor's yard, they were busy in my front and back grassed area. When we were putting the garden in and I was going through the sod, any and all grubs were removed and physically crushed so as not to spread the problem. Many of my neighbors were experiencing grub problems and purchased nematoids to combat them. </div><div><br></div><div>Other items of interest include; just allowing the grass to dry up in the heat thereby baking the surface clay in a hard crust making it impossible for the grubs to feed on new grass shoots and roots, spraying with a concoction made of cola, beer, lemon soap and lemon scented ammonia and spraying the plants..... see below.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbJVNtbmoOMMJvzjDrBjTgNoHqc-W2Lat7jvN-stmcNGUGJRU1eu3dPYii47EyNexe3S4C6r4Mmr2LPbp1xSdziwAxIf5HWBQyUKlw3LdEuYlRhj6AMTSDWHxzkeVJ1SlPwQVpJc9qg/s640/blogger-image--17345413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbJVNtbmoOMMJvzjDrBjTgNoHqc-W2Lat7jvN-stmcNGUGJRU1eu3dPYii47EyNexe3S4C6r4Mmr2LPbp1xSdziwAxIf5HWBQyUKlw3LdEuYlRhj6AMTSDWHxzkeVJ1SlPwQVpJc9qg/s640/blogger-image--17345413.jpg"></a></div>My neighbor's concoction is based on a recipe he received from a TV program many years ago....he has been spraying his lawn with the tobacco juice and soap...his lawn is enviable!!! I just might try this recipe!! Another great link for caring for your garden and specifically for ridding your garden of pests while attracting beneficial insects is....</div><div>http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=1324</div><div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFot0nkSEn4RrB-sE7g-odrH6n_osqjcW-0Vh7IIANdACS_iBXYC4R1DVN4UqzIxPwQTFX-JEVTDluBlAppcbOWx7wiew-tGhUzSLKiPwQTADspSoq1VN7dI1eiC-pol8_j2fzUVSvw/s640/blogger-image-424520950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFot0nkSEn4RrB-sE7g-odrH6n_osqjcW-0Vh7IIANdACS_iBXYC4R1DVN4UqzIxPwQTFX-JEVTDluBlAppcbOWx7wiew-tGhUzSLKiPwQTADspSoq1VN7dI1eiC-pol8_j2fzUVSvw/s640/blogger-image-424520950.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><b><i>Japanese Beetle </i></b>photo courtesy of: http://www.highmowingseeds.com/blog/controlling-japanese-beetles-in-the-home-garden/</div><div><br></div><div>I located two of these on a mature sunflower head. I tapped them into a cup of oil and within a minute they were dead. <br><div><br></div><div><u><i style="font-weight: bold;">Cucumber Beetles</i> </u> </div><div>These Yellow and black striped beetles were found neatly nestled into the large orange flowers of the male squash plant. These Beetles are not friends of the cucumber or squash patch. I had to look inside the flower to find the beetles mating. I used a jar filled with oil and tapped the flower over it. Flower after flower was inspected for these pests. This is a good example of a physical control of garden pests as long as there is due diligence in the morning and evening to find and remove them.</div><div> </div><div><b><i>POLLINATION</i></b></div><div>While I was out relieving the flowers of their pests, I was taking the opportunity to pollinate the female plants. The female plants have the immature fruit formed just beneathe their bloom called an ovary. I used a soft bristled brush to take pollen from the male and deposit it on the female plant. It worked better removing the male stem and brushing it directly on the female parts within the flower. There were a few 'fruits' that had formed but had expired because they were not pollinated. Today, just as the flowers are opening....it is overcast and no flying bugs, other than the odd white cabbage moth which you don't want in your garden. Missing this opportunity means no 'fruit' to pick.... just a lot of vines. I will have to be diligent in pollinating the plants to get them to produce.... thankfully, I have a good mix of male and female flowers. If I didn't, I would be asking my neighbor Sean across the street for help. He has actively looked into how to pollinate and by the looks of it... he has done a good job!! I have removed all of the fruit that did not get pollinated and placed them in the compost pile. The flower petal and male stem can be eaten.... high in bioflavins, it is a true anti-oxidant. You will know that you have properly pollinated all of the female receptors in its flower when the fruit beneath begins to grow rapidly thereafter. At this point in maturity, it is hard to tell one squash variety from another as they all seem to have the same appearance.</div><div><br></div><div>Cucumber flowers are smaller and you will need a soft brush to pollinate these ones. I tried removing the petals and polinating but both male and female parts are recessed into the flower base instead of protruding like the squash.</div><div><br></div><div>I found an interesting You Tube video with John. Although he is a little quirky, he has some pretty great information.... </div><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srfRonXRO4c">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srfRonXRO4c</a></div><div><br></div><div>Another interesting page that shows the importance of timed planting, bees and know how </div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">http://gardensouth.org/2011/06/15/evaluating-squash-pollination/</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1jPRBK9u9ws_EtsczH3B2z1Xnjv1Y_bW50qUJG9D84y1nF3ALsORS3zFHzsFflgi6AHdZiX8KDoHvev36R4hvOg1aYFC92LKpdMgXZ3HGpsWyIAG8KItjNDTusTi85mzr1Dv7Moc6bw/s640/blogger-image-1919403226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1jPRBK9u9ws_EtsczH3B2z1Xnjv1Y_bW50qUJG9D84y1nF3ALsORS3zFHzsFflgi6AHdZiX8KDoHvev36R4hvOg1aYFC92LKpdMgXZ3HGpsWyIAG8KItjNDTusTi85mzr1Dv7Moc6bw/s640/blogger-image-1919403226.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><b><i>CANNING</i></b></div></div></div><div>I was picking out a beet from the garden and noted the size.... it was a signal that I should pick the large beets peeking above the surface of the soil and harvest them for canning. Let's talk about preserving what you will need to start and some equipment/materials that I always have on hand.</div><div><br></div><div><i><br></i></div><div><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">TOOLS</b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">: wide mouth funnel - fits perfectly in the canning jars, tongs with heat resistant handles, a magnetized wand for picking sealing lids out of boiling water and a depth measuring tool. I have this kit and have used it for almost 10 years from Bernardin. The snap lids and rings are used on many of today's modern glass canning jars.</span></div><div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQeBtTze6bSgLak3s7gVVSyU_hlBDD11Fe-Op3GO75PJPlGQ20MuZ-E0EOgc6Lg30CgYFfsQeCJUyLlkJqPbOQ8TgUv4UgNCCxJp1BSzUnDARQdsV6kPUJa-Koe5NCnTi13KEyhllQA/s640/blogger-image--1037244682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQeBtTze6bSgLak3s7gVVSyU_hlBDD11Fe-Op3GO75PJPlGQ20MuZ-E0EOgc6Lg30CgYFfsQeCJUyLlkJqPbOQ8TgUv4UgNCCxJp1BSzUnDARQdsV6kPUJa-Koe5NCnTi13KEyhllQA/s640/blogger-image--1037244682.jpg"></a></div><br></div></i></div><div><i><b>BASICS</b></i></div><div>The basics in my kitchen are comprised of items necessary for creating a great pickle. The cheesecloth is used to help drain out excess water when I make relish. Latex Gloves are a must have when pickling items like beets or if your hands will be constantly wet. I will often use these inside rubber kitchen gloves to keep the heat of peeling hot beets from burning my hands.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-3LtHqv3OwPKHCHv7X9eH3nU9JzR-h8-26LgVUuWmbFNdQSloc6p21_IJWf2kDwlVp3Ur3M5G40LPETfWbMm_EnTI4CzJ2-J3VLFzrUbcfz4b9hfb-7fsF97bXPsHKiSfTqaQTieUg/s640/blogger-image-1102928564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-3LtHqv3OwPKHCHv7X9eH3nU9JzR-h8-26LgVUuWmbFNdQSloc6p21_IJWf2kDwlVp3Ur3M5G40LPETfWbMm_EnTI4CzJ2-J3VLFzrUbcfz4b9hfb-7fsF97bXPsHKiSfTqaQTieUg/s640/blogger-image-1102928564.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>I use the 'Basics' for making pickles.... the cheesecloth is for putting the pickling spice in and using an elastic to close the pouch with and for straining the excess brine out of the diced pickles or peppers used for relish and jellies. Gloves are for protecting your hands from moisture and heat.</div><div><br></div><div><b><i>JARS JARS JARS.....</i></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7eI3kydOlFt-IWgjgD3Y7Atc-_bKQVu_L82Q4F99BCo0PMNFOY1ElbrtnuK6wrxYp6uCe6bsGvw1AClYlwS02fhFUBVF_yH97AQFOIEn5eGvmPGtWZJZd-AdUlqDJ9mesxm3L7SEAQ/s640/blogger-image-482650708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7eI3kydOlFt-IWgjgD3Y7Atc-_bKQVu_L82Q4F99BCo0PMNFOY1ElbrtnuK6wrxYp6uCe6bsGvw1AClYlwS02fhFUBVF_yH97AQFOIEn5eGvmPGtWZJZd-AdUlqDJ9mesxm3L7SEAQ/s640/blogger-image-482650708.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div>1. antique jar from Italy (brand unknown), 2. Le Parfait (1L jar made in France), 3. Bernardin (1L jar of which I have many), 4. Antique jar (unknown), 5. Atlas jar (this one came from grocery store 'Classico Sauce'), 6 Mason (500mL - well known standard glass preserve jar), 7. Fido (made in Italy) with a chalkboard sticker.</div><div><br></div><div>GETTING STARTED:</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Preserving anything requires knowing how to get started. Here is a great clip showing you the beginning essentials.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Le Parfait has a great site for helping you prepare for your first foray into canning or using jars with the spring clip.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>http://www.leparfait.com/how-to-make-your-own-preserves</div><div><br></div><div><b><i>LET'S BEGIN!!! </i></b></div><div><b><i><br></i></b></div><div>1. Get the essential tools out and make sure they are washed with soap and water and clean. I have a stack of fresh clean cloths nearby which will be used for drying and to be placed on the counter where the cooling hot jars will rest. I also use my dining room table covered with cardboard and cloth to put the hot jars until they are cool and ready to store after pickling and hot-bathing.</div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div>2. Get the Canner and jars prepared. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The hot bath method is applicable for both kinds of jars used and I use the stovetop canner to hot bath the preserves after canning. The heat and timing are similar but always refer to your recipes and what they call for. Follow all directions carefully and ensure you test seals. Using the snap lids will let you know that the jar is sealed by making a 'snap' sound when the jar cools and the vacuum is formed. Improperly sealed jars will allow the food to spoil. Do not get discouraged if you have a preserve spoil..... I have had epic fails in the kitchen by foregoing hot bathing, not long enough or not submersed enough..... it takes practice and experience but once you get the hang of it and are organized, your garden produce will be preserved for those days in the winter when you need a little canned sunshine!!</span></div><div><br></div><div><b>STOVETOP CANNER</b></div><div> In the photo below is my stovetop canner with a demonstation bottle. The insert will hold 7 bottles of varying sizes up off the bottom of the pot when it is properly seated in the boiling water.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3wxtWV_bVLbWp88MCWVgppP_PBvPDLWEwQpWuqj7mVGa4UIgT6W0Waa98uYEqvQNInmVd1GMZ6kPq_nFuqdB7TarpTocEBfXbkSho0aG6RWPnLhAGDvTdGFN_NgBwi8As_Z9vo7gLyA/s640/blogger-image--2099706476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3wxtWV_bVLbWp88MCWVgppP_PBvPDLWEwQpWuqj7mVGa4UIgT6W0Waa98uYEqvQNInmVd1GMZ6kPq_nFuqdB7TarpTocEBfXbkSho0aG6RWPnLhAGDvTdGFN_NgBwi8As_Z9vo7gLyA/s640/blogger-image--2099706476.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The jars, when seated at the bottom, should have the water level at least a few inches above the tops. REMEMBER, the more jars you put into the pot, the higher the water level. If you need to remove water, simply use a Pyrex measuring cup or if you need to add water, do so with hot water from a boiled kettle (I always have one of these on standby!! It takes a long time to boil the water in a pot this size, so put it on the stove to boil while you pull together the ingredients you will need to make your canned goods. I also put all the jars I need and extra ones in the dishwasher (no other dishes because of food particles on them) and put it on the sanitize setting. Metal snap lids can be placed back to back in each of the cutlery sections and contained or put into the canner when it begins to boil (the magnetic wand is used to retrieve the lids in the boiling water). Keep the jars in the dishwasher until they are ready to be used.... I use mine hot right off the rack. This way I know they are sterile. If you do not have a dishwasher.....after gently washing with soap and water, rinse with hot water and put the jars in the canner. They can stay in the hot water until they are ready to use.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwiXrGfy0l3BQzxW4P5c6lEdFdtp-m0rRI32uLl0nY9yvmIcS7JS-EWuOBx3QJiBw6uP0_y7g82zey3B0C8DHDQ2bTRkWWSoZjxuapXKbxMqSa72Uyrk6SjeO7FbCs8hrLnQhGWNTyQ/s640/blogger-image-1729214836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwiXrGfy0l3BQzxW4P5c6lEdFdtp-m0rRI32uLl0nY9yvmIcS7JS-EWuOBx3QJiBw6uP0_y7g82zey3B0C8DHDQ2bTRkWWSoZjxuapXKbxMqSa72Uyrk6SjeO7FbCs8hrLnQhGWNTyQ/s640/blogger-image-1729214836.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>3. KEEP CLEAN Keep a neat and tidy workstation at all times. I have a double sink with one side filled with warm soapy water and the other one with a drying rack. Dishes used for mixing and canning tools get sticky, messy and can stain the counter tops. Just place all dirty dishes and utensils/tools in the sink and wash them when the jars are in the canner for hot-bathing. I also have a wash cloth for wiping down surfaces. Cleanliness in this environment will assure a good finished product free of contamination.</div><div><br></div><div>4. ORGANIZE FOR EASE OF CANNING.....<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I have a counter next to the stove. I place my cooking pot on the burner next to the counter. I will use this burner to prepare the recipe to be canned so I can ladle the product directly into a jar placed next to it (I use a wooden cutting board covered with a cloth to catch spills). The jars will still be hot from the dishwasher - place the funnel into the jar and use a steel ladle to ladle the contents of the pot carefully into the jar. Once you have filled the jar according to the recipe's directions (use the measuring stick), place a sealer lid on the jar and tighten using a ring. You only need to hand tight and not man-handle the snap lid sealing ring. ALWAY USE THE TONGS WHEN MOVING HOT JARS. THE CONTENTS OF THE POT WILL CAUSE PAINFUL BURNS IF SPILLED. Part jar can be place in the fridge and used within a few days. Do not try to hot bath a part jar... it will not work.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">5. HOT BATHING - each recipe is different but I will hot bath my jars almost always. Lesson learned on those recipes that did not get a hot bath....lots of tears when you find most of a large batch has spoiled. Make sure the water is boiling when the jars go in and continue to boil throughout the process. Pressure canner timings are different, always follow directions. Le Parfait uses a pressure canner and will have those canning times.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">6. COOLING OFF - make sure you do not put your jars in a cold spot or where there is a draft</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">. T</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">he process will be prematurely halted and a good vacuum may not form due to a buildup of condensation inside the jar and on the rubber seal. I</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">place the hot jars on top of cloth covered cardboard on my dining room table in the dark. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Do not tighten the ring - it will loosen up with the cooling process. As the jar cools, you will hear a snapping or popping sound. This is the lid being pulled into the jar and creating that vaccuum as air escapes around the seal. You will notice that the lid is now concave and cannot be pushed in. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> Be patient!! It is a very slow process, so allow it to do it on its own time. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">7. COOLED </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Those jars that did not seal (double check by trying to lift the lid). if you cannot lift the lid without prying, the jar is sealed. If the jar did not seal, you can try to hot bath it again... make sure the water covers the top of the jar, is boiling and stays for the entire time indicated on the recipe.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">7. STORAGE - I store my jars in a pantry with doors that close and keep them in the dark. Some people remove the rings (they will loosen as the jar cools) but I choose to leave them on. You can store the jars upside down to keep the top of the product covered in liquid.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">DO NOT REUSE THE SNAP LIDS. The seals for the snap lids are thin and designed for one use. A friend of mine tries to get multiple uses but lost a large batch and has not done that since. Seals for the clamped lids can be used over again until it begins to show wear and tear or become stiff and unpliable. You will save yourself a lot of grief if you inspect carefully before using. You can re-use the rings as they are only used to hold the lids down and do not come in contact with the canning product. You can purchase just the seals.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">BEFORE.....</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0bbnVqm7_G2g7IBzRLxCtxLyX9_hlDdWbrpjniI6o3O0DmUOkW3409g2yUhwrhMD_fgbrXcIMN5gPO1F4-vA9EsCuD2aGpbjLqPIbUSwDp7LWLm3fSVuX9oqlhHeLOJo5u2GYWjZilQ/s640/blogger-image--1574416499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0bbnVqm7_G2g7IBzRLxCtxLyX9_hlDdWbrpjniI6o3O0DmUOkW3409g2yUhwrhMD_fgbrXcIMN5gPO1F4-vA9EsCuD2aGpbjLqPIbUSwDp7LWLm3fSVuX9oqlhHeLOJo5u2GYWjZilQ/s640/blogger-image--1574416499.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">After!!! I can eat these beauties in about 48 hours. Recipe thanks to Jean Pare 'Company's Coming Preserves'. I highly recommend this preserve book for those just starting out and for those who love to add to a basic recipe. </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">http://www.companyscoming.com/cookbooks/original-series/preserves/1/PR/</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">I always like to support our Canadian Authors so I will not be posting her recipes on my blog. I have, however added or changed to accomodate my tastes from her basic recipes of which I will share. I think of this book as my bible and write all my amendments and observations on the page. I still love paper!!</font></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoi-2UX4dWFcK6ep6OoaqcW44L2UE0hI9k90eXUtETg9k_30KSXG2RuV5KUNRtV3LmLqVWeQyyp0mIg6TitUuTJ2DyyLEpa_pU_igHrkhQuDWDFQcWTOIQ_g3i9fnGlC6skEz5Ydc0xA/s640/blogger-image-1906511463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoi-2UX4dWFcK6ep6OoaqcW44L2UE0hI9k90eXUtETg9k_30KSXG2RuV5KUNRtV3LmLqVWeQyyp0mIg6TitUuTJ2DyyLEpa_pU_igHrkhQuDWDFQcWTOIQ_g3i9fnGlC6skEz5Ydc0xA/s640/blogger-image-1906511463.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">As we go along over the next few months, I will document the steps using pictures and tips written on the pictures so you can see and read what is going on. Now would be a good time to pull together your shopping list.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">1. Buy the tools or borrow from a friend if you are not sure canning is for you</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">2. Buy the book or borrow one from the library or internet</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">3. Buy jars or yard sale or friends - they come in many sizes, shapes and styles and are available almost everywhere. My first jars were given to me.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">3. Canning pot - my mother in law gave me this one - post on FB or Twitter or Kijiji to see if there is anyone looking to 'donate' or sell</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">4. Labels - make your own, purchase some - blackboard or paper stickers </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">5. Big cooking pot or dutch oven or deep frying pan to cook in</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">6. Apron - make, borrow or mcguiver one to protect your clothes</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">7. Oven mitts, kitchen gloves, cloths </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">..... any anything else.... like a good friend and possibly a glass of wine while chatting over processing your harvest!!!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Next week.... another look through the garden to see what's in and what's not!! A few pics of gardens from friends.... </span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657150902167204424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454838567892747633.post-89697717893421581922014-06-29T09:16:00.001-07:002014-06-30T17:57:06.286-07:00What's in bloom??Its hard to believe how just a few short weeks ago you could see the earth between the plants.... now I am thinning out between plants to make room for the maturing and quick growing ones. I have lots of interested visitors asking great questions about what I am growing and how I am growing my garden so well. There are a number of people interested in creating their own gardens. Do you need the kind of space I have to grow what you need? The answer is no. I have dedicated this blog entry for all those who grow in small spaces, whether they are in an apartment or have a small back yard. But first.....<div><br></div><div><b><i>A small visitor is cleaning up!! (Elongated Ladybug)</i></b></div><div><b><i><br></i></b></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">This is a very active visitor and honestly, it took a number of tries before I could get this creature focused and photographed!! I have never seen the elongated ladybug and this year that is the only variety I have seen other than the occassional chinese beetle. It is happy flitting from one leaf to another and seems to be attracted to the leaf miner. Last week's blog showed the leaf miner and the amount of damage this causes to the plant.... they bore throughout the plant's cellulose destroying the plant leaf. I have been diligent in removing the spoiled leaves and tossing them in the garbage - do not compost these!!!!!! If you do not remove the leaves and dispose of, they will lay their eggs in the soil and begin the process all over again.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3DsCMfC9s1nStyZ8aNIPzn-rNXY0xHmugUNpSNXmN7YkagPque_awxIO_rw4v5vqASCHP2iEUfEhKxzKAz5bvaJY0wVU73BDxXcIiTOPv4YUVCvU97M0PYDk3GA_VXCiiuzxuBzB1Rw/s640/blogger-image--937269074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3DsCMfC9s1nStyZ8aNIPzn-rNXY0xHmugUNpSNXmN7YkagPque_awxIO_rw4v5vqASCHP2iEUfEhKxzKAz5bvaJY0wVU73BDxXcIiTOPv4YUVCvU97M0PYDk3GA_VXCiiuzxuBzB1Rw/s640/blogger-image--937269074.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b><i>What's flowering??</i></b></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Lots of blooms around the garden including the tomatoes, peppers, squashes, pumpkins and potatoes. The squash plants are growing well and all over the trellis.... some have pushed their way out of the beds and are running along the paths!!!! All in all.... the heat and humidity this week have spawned many colorful blooms in both the perennial and the vegetable garden!!! Welcome to summer. The slow to start potato plants are growing in leaps and bounds this past week. We have filled up the boxes and put on the next two layers of boards to encourage the vines to create the potato tubers to the top of the above ground box. </span></div><div><b><i><br></i></b></div><div><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYR36RpE9mIkL5ZPtwwQNfqUsNpONuwpbOtO2dmT78c9BtQHrra0eX9571qPzJoIORBHQUtpNavhIXUDGODRJ71DFuQhND1YJ6z9vq4YIpnyeztUqa-3DXDETvE89AsTCn1F9w82CCvg/s640/blogger-image--1597687565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYR36RpE9mIkL5ZPtwwQNfqUsNpONuwpbOtO2dmT78c9BtQHrra0eX9571qPzJoIORBHQUtpNavhIXUDGODRJ71DFuQhND1YJ6z9vq4YIpnyeztUqa-3DXDETvE89AsTCn1F9w82CCvg/s640/blogger-image--1597687565.jpg"></a></div><br></i></b></div><div><br></div><div><b><i>Keeping the garden fed and watered.</i></b></div><div>A humid hot day will dry out a garden relatively quickly. Keep pruning sucker leaves from the tomato plants and trim out leaves in the 'cooler' parts of the day - early morning or late afternoon. I use the water from the rain barrels and water deeply 1-2 times per week. Try to water during the cooler part of the day to avoid evaporation. My neighbor freaks out when she sees me watering in the late afternoon but I have had no issues with doing this.... I just make sure that I water the soil and not the leaves of the plants. Make sure you have a granular plant food specific to the plants you are feeding. These are time released nutrients perfect for the constant demands of the plants.</div><div><br></div><div>Be diligent in removing unnecessary plant leaves or leaves subjected to leaf miner or worms to allow the fruit of the plant to receive the nutrients instead of leaves you cannot eat. Tomatoes and Brussel sprouts fall into this category. Brussel sprouts need to have the leaves trimmed off and only allow the top leaves to remain in order to feed the plant. I have many small buds forming in the joints where the leaves used to be. These plants will be harvested in the fall after the first frost.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Physical pest control</b>: refers to the physical removal and disposal of pests. This is the best way to control a possible invasion. Carry a can filled with vegetable oil if crushing them is not an option. Simply place the can under the leaf with the pest or caterpillar and tap the leaf until the pest falls into the container. If you are diligent, you will have a healthy pest free garden without using any pesticides.</div><div><br></div><div><b><i><u>SMALL SPACES</u> </i></b></div><div>I often hear the excuse of 'my place is too small' for a garden. Vertical gardening is seeing an upswing in popularity and especially with those living in close confines such as apartment living and condominium. I asked my friends to email me with their gardens to give you an idea of how beautiful and useful they really are.</div><div><br></div><div><i><b>Radika</b> </i>lives on the 3rd floor of an apartment complex with a tiny balcony. This has not stopped her from growing the rich reward of herbs she cooks with and tomatoes she uses in her traditional recipes. Of course flowers are also an important addition to her small container garden. Her daughters are able to learn to live green and enjoy the summer colours from the vantage point above the parking lot. Nice work Radika!!! The advantage of balcony gardening means she doesn't have to worry about the invasive squirrels, bunnies and chipmunks that us ground dwellers have to consider!!!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQ1bRPeQ5e7toCRfPiGw9IrtA3DKDMvB4VrquYtk6KND3_t0UItVsl5DA28Q140r3mYckEU-vTZyFAkdarNrqhsrOBAYbrsd5uk8KqNwcG33xkMKYE3VFcbEnfP8cPZh7Xu4WgDVGkA/s640/blogger-image-2140922056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQ1bRPeQ5e7toCRfPiGw9IrtA3DKDMvB4VrquYtk6KND3_t0UItVsl5DA28Q140r3mYckEU-vTZyFAkdarNrqhsrOBAYbrsd5uk8KqNwcG33xkMKYE3VFcbEnfP8cPZh7Xu4WgDVGkA/s640/blogger-image-2140922056.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Mary and Wendy </i>live on the second story of a house and have a small deck overlooking a parking lot. Their outdoor space is relatively windy and so they had a small wall constructed as a windbreak and a sunshade to keep the heat off the deck. They have chosen to grow tomatoes, peppers and herbs to use for cooking. The flowers add colour, privacy and life to a wonderful entertaining area under a shade cover. The railing boxes with the trailing flowers add depth, interest and a wind break on the deck. It looks great!!!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UExTkJTyq5jqk3nWYfqP5OBWapfYyvwWFEm6nzd9N9vZi2UrxP84mSkr1oY4aFU38IozNZeQGxlRqOZWRQHZAW4ybXqiVrzbbQEfcCNX8fVwxBoqV5TRvchbwdnr5_Peca1Xei8vcQ/s640/blogger-image-1186526809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UExTkJTyq5jqk3nWYfqP5OBWapfYyvwWFEm6nzd9N9vZi2UrxP84mSkr1oY4aFU38IozNZeQGxlRqOZWRQHZAW4ybXqiVrzbbQEfcCNX8fVwxBoqV5TRvchbwdnr5_Peca1Xei8vcQ/s640/blogger-image-1186526809.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><b><i>In my Urban Garden: Creating a strong attractive trellis</i></b></div><div>I am reminded when i see the giant leaves of the unknown squash plants in the garden (not marked from the student's plantings and an accident with my greenhouse tipping over and all the containers and tags getting scattered) that we will need a strong vertical support system for the quick growing plants. Today it is 40 degrees C with the humidity making it great for these growers but not so great to work in. Max and his brother Paul have painted and attached the horozontal cross members at the top of the trellis to support the weight of the plants that are climbing quickly.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07IgzfhQXY8UgiOER-Q3dTgKkd4jG2r__B4mjI1HWpRPScXc9HSBAbNtaIutcvwTBmVd1bdrIXb-woXsTzBTui1Qco_zLiU0TNN7eFA1bhYOpmn8w7hRXnsUU0YrmaLntLJ9AIUPVrw/s640/blogger-image--2045634012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07IgzfhQXY8UgiOER-Q3dTgKkd4jG2r__B4mjI1HWpRPScXc9HSBAbNtaIutcvwTBmVd1bdrIXb-woXsTzBTui1Qco_zLiU0TNN7eFA1bhYOpmn8w7hRXnsUU0YrmaLntLJ9AIUPVrw/s640/blogger-image--2045634012.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b><i>Growing out of the beds.... </i></b></div><div>I have pulled the deer fence down that surrounds the individual beds and allowed the vines to grow along the path and along the fence itself. We will have to secure the fence enough to take the weight of the squash and cucumbers. Max and I will change the fencing structure for next year's garden by allowing a path around the entire perimeter of the garden. What is really cool about the fencing is the marigolds growing right through them as if they were not there at all!!</div><div><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifURyiiEg6QIlYvWARz7kI9kF-qeaHD23LFdQcKYja90844J5t-bfJLDZmim2Dyqwk1FutQaP96Cc9Mle8xPWtxhIde71xuLN6JS8LFuMpXVsaPohee2lxpKqaP1G5uW-59ezaIdAS6g/s640/blogger-image-203116878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifURyiiEg6QIlYvWARz7kI9kF-qeaHD23LFdQcKYja90844J5t-bfJLDZmim2Dyqwk1FutQaP96Cc9Mle8xPWtxhIde71xuLN6JS8LFuMpXVsaPohee2lxpKqaP1G5uW-59ezaIdAS6g/s640/blogger-image-203116878.jpg"></a></div><br></i></b></div><div><b><i>Potato boxes are complete....</i></b></div><div>This incredibly fast growing potato vine has grown to the top of the box. I will paint the sides when I get a chance. The flowers are getting ready to bloom!!! We started out with 5 seed potatoes in each box and only two sprouted in one box and one sprouted in the other box. </div><div><b><i><br></i></b></div><div><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKYQTPP_oPLKJbZvhupWrsTPz4nfi3K3-VyIJNJpI-QOWMw9QYS-TtyWYwS_RW2Ehwr11fUTY8ezaEhgqfVp-A43kJzWno2Vl8fMerMhUgRucgdPYzfmmlubCHpA-NlV_E5n0S3L_vA/s640/blogger-image-934681359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKYQTPP_oPLKJbZvhupWrsTPz4nfi3K3-VyIJNJpI-QOWMw9QYS-TtyWYwS_RW2Ehwr11fUTY8ezaEhgqfVp-A43kJzWno2Vl8fMerMhUgRucgdPYzfmmlubCHpA-NlV_E5n0S3L_vA/s640/blogger-image-934681359.jpg"></a></div><br></i></b></div><div><b><i>Composting near the front beds....</i></b></div><div>A friend just dropped off two composters. I am giving one to a good friend for her garden and I am keeping a smaller unit just beside the Wegiela up in the front garden bed and next to the rainbarrels. How convenient!!!! Now I don't have to go all the way around to the back of the backyard to dump the front garden green waste!!!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtRhVK1Y1jsbLkE2xf6apC4beQr304UODy8pUk0rRujikisVdEokwBMYnQjLnZPJHw6yiDkYkn-ERzAa7oXqikTTPlWExTz1EWrniNc0aSh5I-LEDnlnSk8AOWV0lv_PCIqbTARfTUA/s640/blogger-image-33200506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtRhVK1Y1jsbLkE2xf6apC4beQr304UODy8pUk0rRujikisVdEokwBMYnQjLnZPJHw6yiDkYkn-ERzAa7oXqikTTPlWExTz1EWrniNc0aSh5I-LEDnlnSk8AOWV0lv_PCIqbTARfTUA/s640/blogger-image-33200506.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>We will continue to update our observations as we continue to grow and harvest our crops. I often wonder what would happen if our neighborhood decided to create their own urban garden. We could feed the neighborhood and trade off produce. I am growing tons of tomatoes but no zuccini...which I totally love. I have some squash and other items to trade and it would be nice to trade with someone close by. </div><div><br></div><div><b><i>In our bowl at dinner.....</i></b></div><div>Here is a great collection of greens and of course a beet.... I juice this in the morning and have a salad for dinner!!! The peas are so sweet and tender that you can eat them in their pods!! I use a pair of scissors to cut everything from the stalks in the garden and then into the salad bowl after washing in cold water and spin drying. Kids can easily help out in the kitchen when they can use a pair of scissors to cut the leaves into bite sized pieces. Beet tops can be cooked, juiced or simply added as additional greens into any salad. A simple home made salad dressing et voila!!!</div><div><br></div><div><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjirh4yNI-OI1zuBjwxff1ST6n3gGfVd4ijAgrGdL-pBfK41VvB61i9KJ8j7snhn4HS6iQWvOmTJIDgb2-JCgyk3E49kAv17lmC0hTLnde1vqis8nkycIaVQ7NcxyoyZbkGTGToaDET0Q/s640/blogger-image--142043184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjirh4yNI-OI1zuBjwxff1ST6n3gGfVd4ijAgrGdL-pBfK41VvB61i9KJ8j7snhn4HS6iQWvOmTJIDgb2-JCgyk3E49kAv17lmC0hTLnde1vqis8nkycIaVQ7NcxyoyZbkGTGToaDET0Q/s640/blogger-image--142043184.jpg"></a></div><br></i></b></div><div><br></div><div><b><u>CANNING</u></b></div><div>It should be just a few short weeks before we begin the process of picking our first tomatoes, peppers and possibly onions for preserving. I have ordered some Le Parfait canning jars & replacement seals from the 'Crate and Barrel' in the United States and 4 Fido Canning jars from 'Solutions' store in Maisonville. I normally use the Mason jars and have quite a number of them but using the old fashioned canning glass with the metal clip hold downs does not require hot bathing the preserves. I will have recipes and a how to use each of the different types of canning jars and tools. This summer I will be hosting a tutorial in my home on how to can garden goods with some of my dearest friends. It is always better to can with a bunch of gals who can share the work and the finished product!!!</div><div><br></div><div><b><u>FREEZING</u></b></div><div>We recently purchased a 'FoodSaver' for packaging berries and other garden pickings to store in the freezer. I will also be using it for the Apple Sauce I make. A few years ago, I lost most of my canned apple sauce due to a number of lids that simply popped over time due likely to the contents not being acidic enough..... I have decided to just vacuum seal the apple sauce and freeze it. Vacuum sealing prevents frost buildup and of course oxidation of the produce. This unit also came with a sealing system for bottles which is fantastic!!! No air, no oxidation.... so I use this vaccuum on my opened wine bottles so they do not spoil. I suppose I could just drink the whole bottle?</div><div><br></div><div><b><i>Next week in the garden....</i></b></div><div><b><i><br></i></b></div><div>Checking on the progress of the veggies and what's new to harvest....</div><div><br></div><div>A canning checklist to help you start your own canning. I have learned to always be prepared in advance instead of running around last minute to find what you are looking for!! This is an excellent time to call your mother or friends and ask them if they have any to donate.....yard sales and even thrift shops have been known to be good resources.</div><div><br></div><div>Happy Gardening. You can contact me through my google account or leave me a comment/question.</div><div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657150902167204424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454838567892747633.post-90466363540263436972014-06-23T07:05:00.001-07:002014-06-24T04:55:20.422-07:00Composting your garden waste<b>Composting your garden waste</b><div>We noticed over the past few weeks that there was an abundance of fruit flies in the compost. You want to feed your garden and not encourage pests to thrive in your garden unless they are beneficial. We pulled up our compost container, sifted through what was inorganic (yes, there were plant tags, bottle caps and an assortment of plastic) and what was a good organic to compost. We dug down about 1 foot using the garden claw/shovel and then sat the composter on top of this. We then anchored the composter down using the holes provided in the base with long plastic nails and used some of the composted earth around the edge to prevent animals from getting in. We only want to encourage worms to break down the materials. We then put the composted soil back into the composter and mixed it with new compost.</div><div><br></div><div><i>Compost</i><b style="font-style: italic;"> </b>is beneficial to the gardens by providing it with minerals that have broken down and become earth. We use this to top up our gardens throughout the summer. Materials that can be used in the compost are covered in one of our earlier posts. Remove the compost from the bottom access panel. Compost is ready when it is a rich black colour without the smell. </div><div><br></div><div><b>Composter </b>should be located in a sunny spot and one that is easily accessible to your garden and to the house. Do not locate too close to the house because it will smell while breaking down organic materials and might attract vermin. ( do not put any meat or dairy products in the compost). You should mix your compost regularly. We have a garden claw that works great!!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmg-i0T-c3zSGzMhDQRur0MTuGfylcOYWm7UDlKgK6wAN18rTwu_zulA3XnYphHod1u6OsfZPcXIwDkQDNJjCl9-FIS4vKL2GxeKLBpi1yb5cZ_x2-cf40PqUVRXTv6fL4PY6Q-1yO-Q/s640/blogger-image--809139217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmg-i0T-c3zSGzMhDQRur0MTuGfylcOYWm7UDlKgK6wAN18rTwu_zulA3XnYphHod1u6OsfZPcXIwDkQDNJjCl9-FIS4vKL2GxeKLBpi1yb5cZ_x2-cf40PqUVRXTv6fL4PY6Q-1yO-Q/s640/blogger-image--809139217.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNgf9Tt7_jD0LJ8YsPjD8upB0_8kLR0FxQHuOMoCBmZIGFV8xaVKIT1kUwHWleK3rshygjKdjFAVVAIFJ8k1WsKc5dJh3jeyt8LUUoDudlWtLXtYuB8DF-QC2pr8zHgrI8GBH_vUWAw/s640/blogger-image-1373617792.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNgf9Tt7_jD0LJ8YsPjD8upB0_8kLR0FxQHuOMoCBmZIGFV8xaVKIT1kUwHWleK3rshygjKdjFAVVAIFJ8k1WsKc5dJh3jeyt8LUUoDudlWtLXtYuB8DF-QC2pr8zHgrI8GBH_vUWAw/s640/blogger-image-1373617792.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><b><i>Do not compost any vegetable matter that has a living organism eating the leaves - these can be layed out on a hot surface such as the driveway and put into the garbage. This will prevent a spread that will destroy your garden veggies. This leaf miner shown on the Swiss Chard leaf is one example. Remove any leaves with this immediately. Be diligent and this physical form of pest control will pay off. If left, these pests will return to the earth and be ever present for many years to come.</i></b></div><div><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dQ7P2mu0bSIIOym8DdOyXt3C43jhclgtrt3ShBQQuLEqrMIx6WV3qe_2mkEyOtQbxqnI0OsZPiXyqHCtZghKA29WAemiwzh00Ye-4kNgljstkTse3fxlShPa5e2asl2yDfJ7fMTLlw/s640/blogger-image-963860138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dQ7P2mu0bSIIOym8DdOyXt3C43jhclgtrt3ShBQQuLEqrMIx6WV3qe_2mkEyOtQbxqnI0OsZPiXyqHCtZghKA29WAemiwzh00Ye-4kNgljstkTse3fxlShPa5e2asl2yDfJ7fMTLlw/s640/blogger-image-963860138.jpg"></a></div><br></i></b></div><div><b><i>What's in season to eat??</i></b></div><div>This week, the <i>spinach</i> is coming to an end with the plants going to flower/seed. I have clipped off these flowers throughout the preceding weeks but have decided that since I have lots of <i>lettuce</i>, <i>Swiss Chard</i> and <i>Kale</i> sprouting that I would let the spinach and <i>Arugula</i> go to seed for the fall planting. In most cases, these seeds will be sprouting in the early spring when the frost is out of the ground. No worries, I have already planted seeds that will produce more bounty in the fall. If properly cold-framed, these cold loving plants will grow all winter in a protected garden.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kvEHKLaLnlkGGEQegJ0cWCPNxKPWwOrMy8mYgLk7VNrmwiiDwPM_1lfbK_WsK7Vv1FBWeEwCepS0HMV136OOhUhTV1U-AwPVMVdxIznO5LP9zkUozYYkUvIAa-OJkFAn72hq3Ea7Hw/s640/blogger-image--2113671002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kvEHKLaLnlkGGEQegJ0cWCPNxKPWwOrMy8mYgLk7VNrmwiiDwPM_1lfbK_WsK7Vv1FBWeEwCepS0HMV136OOhUhTV1U-AwPVMVdxIznO5LP9zkUozYYkUvIAa-OJkFAn72hq3Ea7Hw/s640/blogger-image--2113671002.jpg"></a></div><div><i><br></i></div><div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10qM0SRuKLSiiLKQKBZQmbZY7neXqnggWXMGgtwIPaDzYLqeJfGW8KWscjxAJi1G0IMTnykmhAgVTIIxnCLatQxVPApFIx1SgcslR06DHJJDkKxA-HK2d8PsDF8_Dpf2eN6tCketM7A/s640/blogger-image-757737840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10qM0SRuKLSiiLKQKBZQmbZY7neXqnggWXMGgtwIPaDzYLqeJfGW8KWscjxAJi1G0IMTnykmhAgVTIIxnCLatQxVPApFIx1SgcslR06DHJJDkKxA-HK2d8PsDF8_Dpf2eN6tCketM7A/s640/blogger-image-757737840.jpg"></a></div><br></i></div><div><i>Beets</i></div><div>I am just thinning these out and using the smaller beets for their leaves and the bulb to juice with. I really adds a nice sweet flavour to my moring juice. Beets are ready to harvest from now until mid-summer. I have planted more beets to harvest in August when I begin to can for the winter.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQSCpQcQP_qzSKcuWr0ZyA7NT1VhgxirjeOAbyP-58kK8ddM4Xdu2KqknKQm1-CsAnC5CM6Uw4ubiERIxo4-irTbE5Adki3szeiEjSChIN6bu_a1IxEMRt28Juukd9bk3Yiuh9kAWikQ/s640/blogger-image-1453782522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQSCpQcQP_qzSKcuWr0ZyA7NT1VhgxirjeOAbyP-58kK8ddM4Xdu2KqknKQm1-CsAnC5CM6Uw4ubiERIxo4-irTbE5Adki3szeiEjSChIN6bu_a1IxEMRt28Juukd9bk3Yiuh9kAWikQ/s640/blogger-image-1453782522.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><i>Rhubarb</i></div><div>This lovely Rhubarb plant is growing well and in time for the late June strawberries. You will always find these ready to pick within the strawberry growing season. Do not eat the leaves - these are poisonous!!!!!! You can use the leaf juice as an additive to a soapy water pesticide.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYIgPgqgbVWknPJd6M2vanO95-SZfr9U5kVzF-X9ptMFkD8U0g_54PmYQm8mgkucLCX4VHT7nZZ93FEeLtZcYOCczFReOvQbjiaHbad01OP_MGT9__YsqXdkmMBBfWuZBFM-jD-31myQ/s640/blogger-image--1265409682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYIgPgqgbVWknPJd6M2vanO95-SZfr9U5kVzF-X9ptMFkD8U0g_54PmYQm8mgkucLCX4VHT7nZZ93FEeLtZcYOCczFReOvQbjiaHbad01OP_MGT9__YsqXdkmMBBfWuZBFM-jD-31myQ/s640/blogger-image--1265409682.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><b>What's coming soon.....</b></div><div><i>Peas </i></div><div>These are growing fast and the next two plantings will catch up soon. I had planted seeds for two additional crops. When the first one comes off, then it will be time to harvest the next one. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg294xresqd1_ajBRzWHSL4BUh2EnpAjsjgIEr15rE-CAijrRoi8NVuwcXWKEbMYeQvW5GjOorEmesPP1LNumPGdhSr3sfC8BuyHQQFj49VfKf60O0FSlpQK1jr4K56arV8JcUWlBeYhg/s640/blogger-image-1311859568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg294xresqd1_ajBRzWHSL4BUh2EnpAjsjgIEr15rE-CAijrRoi8NVuwcXWKEbMYeQvW5GjOorEmesPP1LNumPGdhSr3sfC8BuyHQQFj49VfKf60O0FSlpQK1jr4K56arV8JcUWlBeYhg/s640/blogger-image-1311859568.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><div><i>Tomatoes</i></div><div>I have clipped all the sucker stalks off of the tomato plants. These are all the leaf branches that form from the base of the plant and all along the stem. They draw water and nutrients away from the fruit, so you want to remove these with a sharp pair of scissors. I have found that all the down facing branches can be removed a few centimeters from the stalk. You will see a second stalk form that grows upwards - these produce the flowers that become the fruit. Be diligent and remove as many suckers from the plant. Leave the top leaves on which will draw the water and minerals to the top of the plant and these are closest to the life giving sun!!!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9p3Kx6wPXX5FamxKO0di04havnS1cqeAbtbzNXCcF3R_64mWRAJIF6HVloNopsAzRIhyIrO2p-Dc4hebQfmUtfnfFA_JesDrDW6ZVDM9qPGbIttb1RDoz3uBMr9RSQuqQ4cuks2J6Q/s640/blogger-image-1220169729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9p3Kx6wPXX5FamxKO0di04havnS1cqeAbtbzNXCcF3R_64mWRAJIF6HVloNopsAzRIhyIrO2p-Dc4hebQfmUtfnfFA_JesDrDW6ZVDM9qPGbIttb1RDoz3uBMr9RSQuqQ4cuks2J6Q/s640/blogger-image-1220169729.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><i>Peppers</i></div><div>These lovely productive plants are really putting out the flowers now and small peppers have begun to form. These plants will need to be watered at least 2 times a week and thoroughly as they need the water to produce big peppers. The tomato ladders have been put into this bed to provide support for the plants and to keep them from swaying in the winds that often course across the garden. Some suggestions are to plant a wind break to stop them from swaying. These plants show maturity and a readiness to produce flowers when the branch stalks turn a dark black colour at the joints. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqc6ELHj4NoznurA295VxkkKFTU43hwLNYrZ-slF4LDj9nMmGYKpVRKF0nOEI_Z0Tb1M8bRMdB77mEQhpLYBm9ZxBo9gUXTHKGJXG76E8xMOLXT3U_XyGPlw9ivNU8hnJkPgIuuon-wQ/s640/blogger-image--327011713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqc6ELHj4NoznurA295VxkkKFTU43hwLNYrZ-slF4LDj9nMmGYKpVRKF0nOEI_Z0Tb1M8bRMdB77mEQhpLYBm9ZxBo9gUXTHKGJXG76E8xMOLXT3U_XyGPlw9ivNU8hnJkPgIuuon-wQ/s640/blogger-image--327011713.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><i>Celery</i></div><div>This is coming along well and has turned a beautiful dark green. No matter that it starts out as a seed or is a cutting from the grocery store, this plant grows well amongst the carrots.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj13U0t3zJDN3sU4nRc26JNyuCaV7OduYtxL7-32krHkSg6brK4ap8Sij1DY7r_VDK460FjQEJ3B-G4cHdpwOWFUdYAF3VA8BOl93NqmOImO-U1HtwG9E6KcvpA_WS3A46Fxiib6dpSA/s640/blogger-image-850789524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj13U0t3zJDN3sU4nRc26JNyuCaV7OduYtxL7-32krHkSg6brK4ap8Sij1DY7r_VDK460FjQEJ3B-G4cHdpwOWFUdYAF3VA8BOl93NqmOImO-U1HtwG9E6KcvpA_WS3A46Fxiib6dpSA/s640/blogger-image-850789524.jpg"></a></div><i><br></i></div><div><br></div><div><b>What's coming later in the season?</b></div><div><i>Brussel Sprouts</i></div><div>These slow growers are putting out the buds for the sprouts and I am trimming the leaves beneath them as they begin to form. Same idea as the tomatoes. You want the energy to be put into the sprouts and not into the leaves other than the upper ones. Once the plant gets to the ideal height... yes, they can get really really tall, you will remove the tip of the stalk. This will keep the plant at the height you want.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9Cv7iTpj4aRSwPv4PUDqT64-2v4SQJz6c-0x5xkFBXmdhVSO1u59vLaqjzeZWAg99HZcwN5Y2u-XVy9737maregUmhguWpLKDgZTKvsA7heTnT0B4r-Rq5Eo7MA-J1Nl0WFhCCUvPQ/s640/blogger-image-1392019591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9Cv7iTpj4aRSwPv4PUDqT64-2v4SQJz6c-0x5xkFBXmdhVSO1u59vLaqjzeZWAg99HZcwN5Y2u-XVy9737maregUmhguWpLKDgZTKvsA7heTnT0B4r-Rq5Eo7MA-J1Nl0WFhCCUvPQ/s640/blogger-image-1392019591.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><i>Cabbage</i></div><div>I found a pupae still in its silk sack hanging under the cabbage leaves. I removed this and destroyed it to prevent the insect from devouring the cabbage as it grows. Physical removal works really well and should be done when these voracious eaters are found. A garden requires constant care throughout the growing season to ensure a good crop. You can see the leaves beginning to fold in to create the head of the cabbage.</div><div><br></div><div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvziOH7ZiDfBcyUmH0d9e_t69oBTsLAW5Kb4-s2HdzxwQ_Muqy_5CmufWTeL-X1YcqW3kO6rKG0eocsHY11uTwCLcAXngskVfbA1r0_Eh9O7e4lOz0PEn5C4W5oiqHtNt9vclkqVOEmA/s640/blogger-image-339579948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvziOH7ZiDfBcyUmH0d9e_t69oBTsLAW5Kb4-s2HdzxwQ_Muqy_5CmufWTeL-X1YcqW3kO6rKG0eocsHY11uTwCLcAXngskVfbA1r0_Eh9O7e4lOz0PEn5C4W5oiqHtNt9vclkqVOEmA/s640/blogger-image-339579948.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></i></div><div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><i>Carrots </i></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Carrots are still really small. They tend to grow their leaves super tall and then the root beneathe grows. These are slooooow growers like the Celery beside it. You can see just a little frill of carrot tops beside the celery.</div></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOC8dszRCJbDXrG2KtjcCIPKQzVm09Pg22XSQ80YNUjwdKCOr94MQY7BANjAGYZ_NMtPTWL57vAIVNKD-rn-Ea5aAf6e45wl8ftdKH7WRewTqaBhToK97gKSbLGSEbDGorPOKeGKNarQ/s640/blogger-image-1481467393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOC8dszRCJbDXrG2KtjcCIPKQzVm09Pg22XSQ80YNUjwdKCOr94MQY7BANjAGYZ_NMtPTWL57vAIVNKD-rn-Ea5aAf6e45wl8ftdKH7WRewTqaBhToK97gKSbLGSEbDGorPOKeGKNarQ/s640/blogger-image-1481467393.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><i>Squash and Cucumber vines</i></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">These are growing well and are now beginning to produce flowers. We are training them up the trellises in the front urban garden. I have melons like cantelope growing in the front flower bed for interest and of course, the lovely blooms. The deer fencing will come in handy to protect these while they grow in the garden.....although, I never had any problems with them growing throughout the perennials in the back garden. These will be ready in the late summer to late fall.</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdyYQlubBJEraxcMrfkjlhg-oDX0aDK_NHEQfOh8EtYTHvl8980Or_nk9K0Nrem_m_7wQsRzUhap3-a-sBgO_pc4vPuptYrwTUpk6ErstkiK8QCL1CItKroIUqDI2p1lXGrR3Bwg8_VA/s640/blogger-image-1638217492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdyYQlubBJEraxcMrfkjlhg-oDX0aDK_NHEQfOh8EtYTHvl8980Or_nk9K0Nrem_m_7wQsRzUhap3-a-sBgO_pc4vPuptYrwTUpk6ErstkiK8QCL1CItKroIUqDI2p1lXGrR3Bwg8_VA/s640/blogger-image-1638217492.jpg"></a></div><br></i></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><b>Attracting beneficial insects </b></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">A garden needs bees, butterflies, lady bugs and birds to visit your garden. The more attractive your garden to them, the better your crops will be pollinated and cared for. Early this spring, just when the dandylions were sprouting, the neighbors were waging an all out war to rid their lawns of these pesky 'flowers'. <b>BEES</b> love these 'flowers' and once they have come to visit your early blooms, they will be back later to visit your crop blooms. The bees this year are HUGE and hungry!! grow flowers like the marigolds in your veggie beds and other annuals to provide your perennial gardens with blooms all season long.</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I love <b>ladybugs</b> when I see them in my garden and this year, there are plenty of the little red/black polka dotted wonders. These are voracious eaters and are always on the lookout for aphids. I did notice this year that their shells look a little elongated and not the typical round shape.... I wonder why.... from what I have researched, these are in fact elongated ladybugs... of which I will attempt to get a pic of. In the meantime, remember, ladybugs start out as nymphs... so here is a pic of one so you do not confuse it as a pest.</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTH1aMYFfU9e5ZzlSY4ogmqHRvjPGL0Anvrbjb6IInnPp9eiu_1UagX3jv2C8ns8oPykDsffMmjee403g0WEMroHcVdBRHTo5fZHp2s1d2L4IEadIXKHsu3Mq8Ww4GFe8Wwm7O5qvLXg/s640/blogger-image--1974455692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTH1aMYFfU9e5ZzlSY4ogmqHRvjPGL0Anvrbjb6IInnPp9eiu_1UagX3jv2C8ns8oPykDsffMmjee403g0WEMroHcVdBRHTo5fZHp2s1d2L4IEadIXKHsu3Mq8Ww4GFe8Wwm7O5qvLXg/s640/blogger-image--1974455692.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><b>Butterflies</b> love cone flowers and many other blooms in the garden. There are a number of great sites you can visit to learn more. </div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">http://landscapeontario.com/butterfly-gardens-can-be-elegant</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><b>Birds</b> of all kinds love to eat the seeds from the sunflower - especially the finches. They also love the cone flower (echinacea) and any other flower, such as the thistle, that provide seeds. I leave these in the garden all winter long to help our feathered friends and then remove them in the spring before the plants begin to grow again. Grasses as well look amazing in the winter, provide cover and seeds for our feathered friends. Just remember, birds also love berries and if you want to keep them to yourself, you will have to net the plants. Drape the netting so that it is far enough above the fruit to prevent winged invaders and tight enough so as not to entangle them. </div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Yesterday, we had a large winged visitor attempt to visit our fish pond in the back yard. The Heron is an exceptionally big fish predator who can spot the flash of gold from way above in the skies. We live in an area often frequented by these predator birds and they can easily remove all your fish in a flash. I refurbished a wooden statue of a King Fisher and used an outdoor sealant on the wood to preserve it. The 'bird' sits beside the pond in clear view of other predatory birds. This usually works to disuade invaders as both species of birds are territorial and lone fishers. It also helps to provide plenty of hiding places for the fish such as these pond lilies and sentinel plants. There are also dwarf bullrushes and iris along one bank of this small backyard pond. </div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_t1FRQ7xV39eDrc58h5DDPA59lzuun4-Wz9ZH7tJQJpSdN5PD2QFy7KWAsu2RWaSRoHaV4ZmPc0DQ-kyfOyTRqZn2nO90sX4zICK1lkP1fNc5qkYZlm1sBuqUJ-gA5LaCS4BiCIYm-Q/s640/blogger-image-145161678.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_t1FRQ7xV39eDrc58h5DDPA59lzuun4-Wz9ZH7tJQJpSdN5PD2QFy7KWAsu2RWaSRoHaV4ZmPc0DQ-kyfOyTRqZn2nO90sX4zICK1lkP1fNc5qkYZlm1sBuqUJ-gA5LaCS4BiCIYm-Q/s640/blogger-image-145161678.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1B4BpTjVPgqjrDHytU9Q0vvzfOUbJdy59QVule50vUYNXicLLaBLsunfly04UlauZSnVtkf5G4uQ6eglOy23hgSrML3nfQUPB8btMAq0Cet4gHeCX2SiKQ3fsU1UE3DR0MfQj5SNxg/s640/blogger-image-1197474679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1B4BpTjVPgqjrDHytU9Q0vvzfOUbJdy59QVule50vUYNXicLLaBLsunfly04UlauZSnVtkf5G4uQ6eglOy23hgSrML3nfQUPB8btMAq0Cet4gHeCX2SiKQ3fsU1UE3DR0MfQj5SNxg/s640/blogger-image-1197474679.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><b>Pests in the garden</b></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Most notable of these are the squirrels and rabbits!!!!! We did put up the deer fencing all around the garden but what we neglected to do initially is secure the netting to the ground and so these critters were going under the fence. Tent pegs cured this problem. I also put bunched up deer fencing at the one entrance I use to enter the enclosed garden.... the animals seem to know that this is just plain dangerous and getting caught in the netting is not an option. The rabbits do not fear us in the least. I have let the clover grow next to the garden where they graze happily while leaving my garden alone. Given an easier food source helps!!!!</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">As promised, here is a photo of our backyard taken from the deck....</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RMrVQ44PkqxNPYHXXlyetuS8GJkyKN-Sv5Z2w6iHnd2Ads4ldiZjrVrzjpHaUeuH2ZbQn1yZUqXeu1BZrEN4Z_i-nYB6vGDkCI2XUvpdFMu62vFPFpOaE8BhisnX8-p1abzYmqJxlw/s640/blogger-image-200589082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RMrVQ44PkqxNPYHXXlyetuS8GJkyKN-Sv5Z2w6iHnd2Ads4ldiZjrVrzjpHaUeuH2ZbQn1yZUqXeu1BZrEN4Z_i-nYB6vGDkCI2XUvpdFMu62vFPFpOaE8BhisnX8-p1abzYmqJxlw/s640/blogger-image-200589082.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><b>Ecology</b></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">We are always looking for ways to conserve and save energy. We use a <i>rainbarrel, composter</i>,<i>clothesline </i>and a <i>solar heater</i> (pool). </div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">We are currently looking into <i>'Pure Energy'</i> which is a government sponsored solar panel project for our home. We just recently submitted photos of our interior roof and electrical service. We will keep you updated on this.....</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Try to reduce, reuse and recycle as much as possible. Save your nursery pots and either re-use them or bring them back to the nursery you purchased your plants from or put them into your curbside recycle bins. Use mulch in the garden.... can't afford a large delivery? Use grass clippings instead of mulch.</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">We use plantings and umbrellas (back deck) to reduce the sun shining on the house bricks by using ivies that do not damage the mortar or bricks (Endelman Ivy). This Virginia creeper can grow at an astonishing 30 feet per year once established. This creeper is 4 years old. I have one on three sides of the house... the varigated is on the front wall and in the fall the lime green leaves will show as bright pink and the darker green show as red. I keep the ivy off the siding and just train it along the brick. If it gets to tall, we simply clip it off using a telescopic pruner.</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHSqol4lpRj5wLhkBBsMtbWeU6S0IsXu4px4zVBF-7ULsv9GmkBspE7HqALeRd0NvcUhTpDqV7a0ifaan6Svy-c1C9eFCknvrX5pNOrrihgcoE0ZudZr_-YT73V8H_vjThSuV6SAaEEw/s640/blogger-image-81554393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHSqol4lpRj5wLhkBBsMtbWeU6S0IsXu4px4zVBF-7ULsv9GmkBspE7HqALeRd0NvcUhTpDqV7a0ifaan6Svy-c1C9eFCknvrX5pNOrrihgcoE0ZudZr_-YT73V8H_vjThSuV6SAaEEw/s640/blogger-image-81554393.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Next week...... we begin planning the canning event hosted at my house. There are a few of my friends who are interested in canning their veggies and making pickles. A few weeks ago, I made Jam with the strawberries I purchased at Heeman's Greenhouses and Strawberry Farm (East end of London, Ontario). Here is the recipe I used:</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><b><i>Strawberry Jam</i></b></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">4 cups of crushed strawberries</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">7 cups of sugar (I used organic unprocessed cane sugar from Costco)</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">1 package of Certo (used the liquid pectin)</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">1/4 teaspoon of butter (this is used when the rolling hot jam creates that pink foam - butter reduces it)</div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Directions are directly from the Kraft site:</div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/certo-strawberry-jam-52127.aspx</font></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong>BRING </strong>boiling-water canner, half-full with water, to simmer. Wash jars and screw bands in hot, soapy water; rinse with warm water. Pour boiling water over flat lids in saucepan off the heat. Let stand in hot water until ready to use. Drain well before filling.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong>STEM </strong>and crush strawberries thoroughly, one layer at a time. Measure exactly 4 cups crushed strawberries into 6- or 8-quart saucepot.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong>ADD </strong>sugar; stir. Add butter to reduce foaming. Bring to full rolling boil (a boil that doesn't stop bubbling when stirred) on high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in pectin. Return to full rolling boil and boil exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim off any foam with metal spoon.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong>LADLE </strong>immediately into prepared jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of tops. Wipe jar rims and threads. Cover with 2-piece lids. Screw bands tightly. Place jars on elevated rack in canner. Lower rack into canner. (Water must cover jars by 1 to 2 inches. Add boiling water, if necessary.) Cover; bring water to gentle boil. Process 10 minutes. Remove jars and place upright on towel to cool completely. After jars cool, check seals by pressing middle of lid with finger. (If lid springs back, lid is not sealed and refrigeration is necessary.)</span></p></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657150902167204424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454838567892747633.post-80320324834630814642014-06-18T07:44:00.001-07:002014-06-18T09:27:01.896-07:00How my garden is growing!!!<div><b>Protecting your produce using barriers</b></div><div><br></div>This past week, I discovered a rodent had dug up a few of the leeks despite the fact that we had surrounded each of the beds with 1 foot high of deer fencing stapled to the boxes. After a second visit, I simply ran a 5 foot deer fence all the way around the garden. This flexible plastic fence still allows me to pull it down to pick the veggies. It is hard to see it since it appears to be almost invisible. I have tied green ribbons on the top along each side of the fencing to let critters know that there is a barrier.<div><br></div><div><br><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggH0VQgPDgxY6OuXekpFU0XTZnXqVilcO31mJJktcFK6CP01pnrnXHQEcT89rIU9X4HgNBx_mZD9IQfANNMotX8cabX9fuK39qO6NrLRgYQ6xweMcrDMUKwOuw5kCAvoQ7iZNoSIqDw/s640/blogger-image-594772342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggH0VQgPDgxY6OuXekpFU0XTZnXqVilcO31mJJktcFK6CP01pnrnXHQEcT89rIU9X4HgNBx_mZD9IQfANNMotX8cabX9fuK39qO6NrLRgYQ6xweMcrDMUKwOuw5kCAvoQ7iZNoSIqDw/s640/blogger-image-594772342.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmC3XqtFfgHNZiMNvaFNp71qjWhGx-UzEjY-kkDo3A9lCRe4rzWOSM5y6Ld0INofKF5RWGu3Z3yOzqcFiMaR2Gh4Y5hOEOWWZ4Y22mIpptq2tkjBaGo9GmfFEPYPkeLwB01153rDkaA/s640/blogger-image-1630205656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmC3XqtFfgHNZiMNvaFNp71qjWhGx-UzEjY-kkDo3A9lCRe4rzWOSM5y6Ld0INofKF5RWGu3Z3yOzqcFiMaR2Gh4Y5hOEOWWZ4Y22mIpptq2tkjBaGo9GmfFEPYPkeLwB01153rDkaA/s640/blogger-image-1630205656.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The raspberry canes are just off the front porch and protected with 'cages'... one is a willow basket and the other is a chicken wire. Animals such as squirrels and chipmunks are abundant in our neighborhood and can be quite damaging to any plant it sets its scope on. </span></div><div><br></div></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJX9M-fr62T5tRpqtL-ZZ7auk4uDtcUZwbn5pXsp8m3vVHmCkTyEiUw_iCwjuA0YXeGfGZvGvNRRrqL1x4m1H64lYAY6t9_FPXEW_kDBpb_OSifVxHnSOQWOEEvuCWbtEBM2GQqXAqsA/s640/blogger-image--368592043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJX9M-fr62T5tRpqtL-ZZ7auk4uDtcUZwbn5pXsp8m3vVHmCkTyEiUw_iCwjuA0YXeGfGZvGvNRRrqL1x4m1H64lYAY6t9_FPXEW_kDBpb_OSifVxHnSOQWOEEvuCWbtEBM2GQqXAqsA/s640/blogger-image--368592043.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The walkway is truly lovely and is a welcoming entrance to our home. It was a great choice as it reflects all of the colours in our brick. The flowers are beginning to grow nicely along the curves including the Rhubarb located just as the path begins to curve.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gI9ATb_lDM6QDeLCZiQnVmRKyjtNd59XNKdSzPGyfTXb0uT-rsWcHib8GrTAq32sAECey2OxjHtPRvFF-k2mYdCT7uNAAlArCJa7g3Z7-LCSkrB1Ij7bN78dmFRIG5xXhpTmUNUyPw/s640/blogger-image-600957487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gI9ATb_lDM6QDeLCZiQnVmRKyjtNd59XNKdSzPGyfTXb0uT-rsWcHib8GrTAq32sAECey2OxjHtPRvFF-k2mYdCT7uNAAlArCJa7g3Z7-LCSkrB1Ij7bN78dmFRIG5xXhpTmUNUyPw/s640/blogger-image-600957487.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Here is a Hibiscus which I overwinter in the house. It is now full of blooms and is a lovely focal point on our porch.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMXHJ7AdUoNNmBZNOluIz_e1qecCQxvWmFARovFnL7bmAEWhBULZNfUzj2faoTBniHVakRE_bZGZNXJ-YdJJL-ug2naE-3K1NG_sRV0X92kV8hNdUnl4skkcynclvJoFoSlBcWKkY5Q/s640/blogger-image-287609205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMXHJ7AdUoNNmBZNOluIz_e1qecCQxvWmFARovFnL7bmAEWhBULZNfUzj2faoTBniHVakRE_bZGZNXJ-YdJJL-ug2naE-3K1NG_sRV0X92kV8hNdUnl4skkcynclvJoFoSlBcWKkY5Q/s640/blogger-image-287609205.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><b>Garden Bed</b></div><div>The front garden is filling up fast with many perrenials and annuals for continuing blooms. The columbine blooms have been clipped before producing seeds in order to keep the plant producing more flowers throughout the summer. The dwarf lilac has finished its blooms and I have snipped those off to encourage growth for next year's blooms. It sits near the corner of the step and has enough space to grow to its maximum height of 6 feet and 6 feet in diameter. Always take into consideration what the full growth of a perrenial will be so you don't plant it too close to other plants. Fertilize with a good perrenial slow-release formula in the early spring and mid summer for maximum growth.</div><div><br></div><div>Throughout the garden and around the back garden, I have flower pots filled with geraniums and a myriad of other all-season bloomers. <i>Geraniums </i>are a happy flower who like to have their spent blooms removed. Simply remove them at the point on the stalk that they grow from. support the stalk while removing the spent bloom by pulling it away gently. </div><div><br></div><div><b>Pruning </b></div><div>Since our winter was incredibly harsh this year, I had to do some radical pruning of the decorative bushes in the front and rear of the house. </div><div><br></div><div>The <i>Vibunum bush</i> (snowball) was once again infested with the Virbunum beetle. This small beetle will lay its eggs after boring a hole into the wood of the tree and then fill it with excrement. The beetle larvae will hatch and the voracious worms eat the leaves of the virbunum creating a lacy look that can involve a few branches in the first year or the whole bush within a few years. Looking for circular 'scabs' on the woody parts of the tree in the early spring and 'bent' end branches are signs of an infestation. It is far easier to prune and discard these branches and stalks before the tree leafs than it is to wait and try to deal with them as they eat away at the plant. Some of the trunks were sizeable 3 or more inches in diameter. These need to be removed a few inches above the base of the tree. I noticed that the entire length of the old wood had been bored into. The bush had to be radically cut and all but a few branches on the tree have remained. No worries though, this bush will come back stronger over the next two years and produce large white balls.</div><div><br></div><div>The <i>Weigela </i>bushes suffered through the cold extended winter and the bush in the front garden bed only had a few viable branches left. I kept these in order to allow it to bloom but then removed all the other woody branches just above where new shoots were forming. These bushes should be trimmed yearly to remove branches at the base that are larger than 1-1.5" wide. This allows the bush to renew itself and grow stronger each year. Remove all dead branches and make sure you allow for the center of the bush to be open enough to allow air movement. A good fertilizer and fresh soil around the tree will encourage healthier roots and more blooms in the fall. Our Weigela bushes bloom twice per season and the hummingbirds love visiting them.</div><div><br></div><div>The <i>Forsynthia </i>tree was looking far too leggy after improper pruning over the past years. This is an easy remedy - remove all trunks over 1.5" wide to just a few inches above grade. A radical pruning, which is what we did this year means that all trunks are cut to a few inches above ground and all new shoots are left to grow. This beauty will flower in the spring and this time it will resemble a bush and not a leggy tree.</div><div><br></div><div>The <i>Lilac </i>tree in the back garden is spectacular but the blooms are 8 feet. this bush can be trimmed down to a height where blooms can be encouraged to grow all around the bush. Trimming this one needs careful consideration as this bush will set flowers in the growing season for next year. All flowering bushes should be trimmed after they flower. I take off all the old flower heads and remove the branches to the joint at which new branches will form.</div><div><br></div><div>Pruning is a necessity to encourage new growth and to get rid of old growth.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Gardens </b>throughout the property often incorporate lots of colour and textures...and the occassional decoration in pots and in amongst the flowering beds. at the back and side of the house. Having all this colour through the growing season is soul inspiring.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogt3_qM0WbhkIF0LcwzUpGx_hCv1nVu-Uk2IgPP-cbl-lRZMXr9ntgC_PskLCdbQSi9vR0JCiWNalTva1AOq1m103s-5pipc6mALdE4ydCSvchliyBbhNhA5sp1vDWG78pO72Wa_HAw/s640/blogger-image--1597870555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogt3_qM0WbhkIF0LcwzUpGx_hCv1nVu-Uk2IgPP-cbl-lRZMXr9ntgC_PskLCdbQSi9vR0JCiWNalTva1AOq1m103s-5pipc6mALdE4ydCSvchliyBbhNhA5sp1vDWG78pO72Wa_HAw/s640/blogger-image--1597870555.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUR7-TKLvuwULMT3sVuEX6h-_jomJqdD8a3O3op2dUzNXpaC7wsibPo7sPqdaOsQ04F6gsURJhh-aHnO3GAi9B8d7Bsn-l_OPcbhBHKvXrABFIbaJKMR3yVD3g3brBsMCrgpdh3gC_9Q/s640/blogger-image-1685494594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUR7-TKLvuwULMT3sVuEX6h-_jomJqdD8a3O3op2dUzNXpaC7wsibPo7sPqdaOsQ04F6gsURJhh-aHnO3GAi9B8d7Bsn-l_OPcbhBHKvXrABFIbaJKMR3yVD3g3brBsMCrgpdh3gC_9Q/s640/blogger-image-1685494594.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPo2QmtqngVmV9CLRm2bkr8GaQ8MyfMf4vo58wshERrnA7xKq6NRx6XWptj34l_o9YA7gWvalB00M1g7K90aMA9Xo70L57WK6vnfYtIO5NwL5WYOUtTi5FMN-g5rAwljOE1qkBkX4wQ/s640/blogger-image--1067576092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPo2QmtqngVmV9CLRm2bkr8GaQ8MyfMf4vo58wshERrnA7xKq6NRx6XWptj34l_o9YA7gWvalB00M1g7K90aMA9Xo70L57WK6vnfYtIO5NwL5WYOUtTi5FMN-g5rAwljOE1qkBkX4wQ/s640/blogger-image--1067576092.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Our lovely Peonies bloom in June above the geranium perennial, as does the Tiger Lily and the dwarf lilac. So much colour to welcome in the summer months this week.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjej-J8CeqEuZJ338njqba0RBk1XnjMe1av25XrBljm3D1zHUVl0AObV7ifsnyOt9KouSuUFRcdVHzkVrevBRViIEdKSPGMs_VUiiAc5yKoWuwyIv_wnIKkUOgvMmsl7u7YhJ_O8oklIQ/s640/blogger-image-30868622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjej-J8CeqEuZJ338njqba0RBk1XnjMe1av25XrBljm3D1zHUVl0AObV7ifsnyOt9KouSuUFRcdVHzkVrevBRViIEdKSPGMs_VUiiAc5yKoWuwyIv_wnIKkUOgvMmsl7u7YhJ_O8oklIQ/s640/blogger-image-30868622.jpg"></a></div><br><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwH2a977pnJTbM2AYRmb4iIogd7YfW7-2YTW_ptoSnrL0BZmNolVDM2bmX0q42mdOQ38yroAPUWWXW0JkIi9PmXvpPH6sf4iO7R7LApmsiQSlTSgxjkKkkAqoH9XgFPrDTzRH7vGCtbg/s640/blogger-image--581735853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwH2a977pnJTbM2AYRmb4iIogd7YfW7-2YTW_ptoSnrL0BZmNolVDM2bmX0q42mdOQ38yroAPUWWXW0JkIi9PmXvpPH6sf4iO7R7LApmsiQSlTSgxjkKkkAqoH9XgFPrDTzRH7vGCtbg/s640/blogger-image--581735853.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The front beds as well as one in the back showcase a few squash and melon plants... what survived multiple attacks by squirrels and chipmunks!!! Only one watermelon plant survived the onslaught of a naughty chipmunk that easily made its way through the square fencing in our original garden. Now with the Vibunum bush cut right back, the sun is able to shine into this small patch to provide the necessities for the squash, sunflowers, chive and lettuce that a few of which have sprouted from last year's seeds, including tomato plants. I removed most of the small tomato plants which will not produce in the short growing season.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Urban Garden Pics</b></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLa76oAt5ni_wU2P_-QHwlEnW29cxOyAsmH9uCW0HYSzd4mOQXfTRbDce1wJjj4t2iYoINVoZo3F8cXS_CP90imA4aJsshN7YeLTwu9SdnTkPcCyavAR4Svv-9ohwSKE3BPSSJPy3xQ/s640/blogger-image--705640490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLa76oAt5ni_wU2P_-QHwlEnW29cxOyAsmH9uCW0HYSzd4mOQXfTRbDce1wJjj4t2iYoINVoZo3F8cXS_CP90imA4aJsshN7YeLTwu9SdnTkPcCyavAR4Svv-9ohwSKE3BPSSJPy3xQ/s640/blogger-image--705640490.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Lots of Kale and beets surrounded by lovely blooming marigolds.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcMxYR5FGMJd8NHxJ9QWaWq1nau1liB-kDxJvz_9m8Y-UIlBMsP-zx081UuutIPtaTchLKGWpHGIKPEEtPIXEHzVYQGs3zu1WJ4LatQIw4MyRCgMNQQQbEwHzrHlTovTa25oZxwr4XQ/s640/blogger-image-2142385560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcMxYR5FGMJd8NHxJ9QWaWq1nau1liB-kDxJvz_9m8Y-UIlBMsP-zx081UuutIPtaTchLKGWpHGIKPEEtPIXEHzVYQGs3zu1WJ4LatQIw4MyRCgMNQQQbEwHzrHlTovTa25oZxwr4XQ/s640/blogger-image-2142385560.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Tomato plants are filling in so fast and look at all the blooms!!!!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-dJpBGaJjrvhXUDmXmw1Lm04iyZH0AhPApPMbaeJprMGZkBl5xPfShlCrCAjFNtTC6HmWovfeglVf3kvdR8L9Sep6jphtMWM1FyNP3fjOuA-9Z0gMB0UXiiZpfav0_pnqs9el480Khg/s640/blogger-image--1118967939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-dJpBGaJjrvhXUDmXmw1Lm04iyZH0AhPApPMbaeJprMGZkBl5xPfShlCrCAjFNtTC6HmWovfeglVf3kvdR8L9Sep6jphtMWM1FyNP3fjOuA-9Z0gMB0UXiiZpfav0_pnqs9el480Khg/s640/blogger-image--1118967939.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The lettuce patch with spinach, Swiss Chard and lettuce</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipR9sgRaSeuZVxf93jKEFeIRGx2URsfea1BhsHz8ebcsHeeGzMoxWREjUoZFNA672lG64vbBu85cz_GV7rtnAeHEMq8xrk_x7KfmS3dPN8IfQdYuczeQs2KNeOxh35yHdrd6kKHIPmGg/s640/blogger-image--1645563086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipR9sgRaSeuZVxf93jKEFeIRGx2URsfea1BhsHz8ebcsHeeGzMoxWREjUoZFNA672lG64vbBu85cz_GV7rtnAeHEMq8xrk_x7KfmS3dPN8IfQdYuczeQs2KNeOxh35yHdrd6kKHIPmGg/s640/blogger-image--1645563086.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKeFhnICN3WcAyl5Jpm2xZ9J0PYNDF0ACocF82W-iod-bRHYNMEB7WN-lTyTh1W0dojJdAdZvvGwO8Be9gJtDqGkB6nyfpM-NO7lQ-cbO1BcxfIX6p_fb4VhlsdSgumjo-tWhIwDT89A/s640/blogger-image--244529608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKeFhnICN3WcAyl5Jpm2xZ9J0PYNDF0ACocF82W-iod-bRHYNMEB7WN-lTyTh1W0dojJdAdZvvGwO8Be9gJtDqGkB6nyfpM-NO7lQ-cbO1BcxfIX6p_fb4VhlsdSgumjo-tWhIwDT89A/s640/blogger-image--244529608.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqo-NZcdLbELe7SBxXz2t1PcDQlzV8PPJbRAA8Qe2jPb9ibNRaBgRXVmttdx0RFkIjwxjQTAvjoEoCPqaGbAgFtTy7E65lFzlf3gb6H6SLW6OS2T-tyXFA2iFisHstoB2ue91HmrIfQ/s640/blogger-image-456122631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqo-NZcdLbELe7SBxXz2t1PcDQlzV8PPJbRAA8Qe2jPb9ibNRaBgRXVmttdx0RFkIjwxjQTAvjoEoCPqaGbAgFtTy7E65lFzlf3gb6H6SLW6OS2T-tyXFA2iFisHstoB2ue91HmrIfQ/s640/blogger-image-456122631.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><b>Making Tea</b></div><div>Last night I sat on my porch reading emails and enjoying a steeped cup of tea using the camomile blooms and Lemon Balm. They are both growing so well. I just picked the Lemon Balm leaves (planted in the squash bed as a companion plant) and ripped them up and then added the flowers. I purchased a lovely ceramic tea mug with a large open screen perfect for steeping tea.... It was a lovely way to end a hot and muggy day in the garden. Remember to use your herbs by making teas or adding to your salads.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYdsH4BC8vKMT8gxwjSnqzP8tyraOuUhOupXTGJEL_hg_bK_4QkgOiZeogqFNhdE4D9m1G1qbQFXlum5bjf7_OBTuI-2XuV5-pBzgCKlroJZygw5usRJDe3Ni9YjKsAVzBytA-m48ig/s640/blogger-image--385803110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYdsH4BC8vKMT8gxwjSnqzP8tyraOuUhOupXTGJEL_hg_bK_4QkgOiZeogqFNhdE4D9m1G1qbQFXlum5bjf7_OBTuI-2XuV5-pBzgCKlroJZygw5usRJDe3Ni9YjKsAVzBytA-m48ig/s640/blogger-image--385803110.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><b>Juicing</b></div><div>I love to juice fresh Swiss Chard and Kale. There is nothing better than the sound of fresh picked greens and I have to say, the greens in the garden are not bitter at all. The grocery store purchases pale in comparison with the beautiful green and the crisp texture of a plant picked in its prime. I juice together the following in the morning. This is my breakfast....</div><div><br></div><div><i>Swiss Chard</i> - 8 big leaves (pick the outer leaves of the plant - these are bigger and older and allows the plant to produce more.</div><div><i>Kale</i> - snap off a handful of Kale - again, choose the outer leaves of the plant. You can continue to pick these throughout the growing season</div><div><i>Apple</i> - any apple will do.... Sparta apples have a nice scent and add a flowery taste to the mix.</div><div><i>Carrots</i> - two of these add just the right sweetness (can't wait for my crop to be ready)</div><div><i>Beet</i> - when available. Currently I am eating the beets that I am thinning out of the garden and using the leaves in the juice.</div><div><i>lemon </i>- just a little lemon goes a long way and keeps this mix at a healthy ph level</div><div><i>ginger root </i>- I keep the ginger root in the freezer and then rasp a small amount into my juice.</div><div><i>Barley greens -</i> just in case I didn't get enough greens (smirk), I will mix in 3 tablespoons of greens. </div><div><br></div><div>This is a healthy way to cleanse your body every day.... detoxify and feed each cell with proper nutrition.</div><div><br></div><div>That's it for this week..... see you next week with more recipes and pics of how our garden grows in the Urban city. We will also talk about composting and tips to keep the fruit flies away. We will also look at planting for the birds - feed them without buying expensive feeders and bags of food - Finches, Cardinals and Hummingbirds are just a few that visit our garden. Also look at flowers that attract butterflies and bees!!!</div><div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657150902167204424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454838567892747633.post-29039867592781867522014-06-02T10:00:00.001-07:002014-06-04T18:39:03.272-07:00Harvesting our first crops<div><br></div>Sunday June 1<div><br></div><div>It has certainly paid off to have the cooler crops seeded 4 weeks ago. The weather has been very cooperative with hot sunny days and cooler but warm evenings. Using the reemay cloth for the first 3 weeks to protect the plants and seedlings in the cold and windy days has really paid off. We cut the first leaves from the spinach, Kale, Swiss Chard and lettuce. it is by far better to just snip using sharp kitchen scissors than pinching off... lost a few plants which got pulled out. Some of the leaves were folded with a little critter inside. These I removed and stepped on. I also removed any leaves that showed any spotting. These plants will continue to produce leaves as long as the seed stems are not given an opportunity to mature. One plant had a flower growing in the center. Simply pinch this out to allow the plant to produce more leaves. I came across a really amazing and quick salad dressing:</div><div><br></div><div><b><i>Spinach Dressing</i></b></div><div><b><i>1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar</i></b></div><div><b><i>1 tsp dijon mustard (I also have a honey dijon I use so honey is unnecessary)</i></b></div><div><b><i>1 tsp honey</i></b></div><div><b><i>salt and pepper to taste</i></b></div><div><b><i><br></i></b></div><div>I will also add sunflower seeds and organic Sunmaid Raisins to the salad for a bit of crunch and sweetness. You can add strawberries, cranraisins etc. The freshly picked greens are sweet with no bitterness. So unlike the salads you purchase at the grocery stores.</div><div><br></div><div><b><i>Taking advice</i></b></div><div><br></div><div>No matter how little or how much experience you have, when someone offers you advice, it is always wise to listen and take note of what they are saying. Most advanced gardeners will speak from personal experience and may save you some grief in the long run. Not having grown a vegetable garden in years, the experienced neighbor gardener came over to look at the garden and made a few recommendations for bug, pest and disease (fungal) control. She noticed that the leaves were curling on the Brussels sprouts and the bean leaves needed attention. She produced a sulfur powder which she deposited on the questionable plants. Sulfur with deal effectively with fungus. She also used a powder on the underside of the rose plant which had some spots on the leaves to prevent bug and mildew damage. It reminds me to review and document pests that come to visit the garden and how to effectively (with natural products) combat losses to the garden. Keeping an accurate diary on the day to day will help remind you next year of what worked well and what does not. </div><div><br></div><div><b><i>What I have learned this week</i></b></div><div>Planting <i>beans and peas</i> need to happen in warm soil in order to get these started. They are quick to break the warm soil and reach for sunlight just 7 days after planting. Those that were planted too early did not sprout at all. One author I read offered the 'bare foot' advice. If the soil is warm enough for your feet to rest on without getting cold, then it is bean growing season!! Starting these beans in the vegetable patch and then planting more every 10 days will keep us in beans for the entire summer. I will trim out the older plants to encourage more growth when they look sad to encourage them to continue to produce. The whole idea of a plant is to produce seeds in order to reproduce.... remove them before they produce ripened seeds (past the point of what we consider edible).</div><div><br></div><div>Planting <i>squash and other vine growers</i> - The transplants did not fare as well as the direct seeding method in my garden. That being said, the ones that were seeded weeks before transplanting did fairly well. Covering these beds would have been a better option early in the growing season to encourage better growth. With the recent hot weather and good rainfall, the squash have begun to grow very fast now that they are established.</div><div><br></div><div><i>Grass Clippings - </i>I used a thin cover of grass clippings and allowed them to dry on top of the garden soil to which I will add to as the season progresses. The nitrogen and phosphates provide a natural fertilizer and mulch to the plants. I have put the grass clippings in all of my vegetable pots, planters and out in the back yard around the perennials to reduce the digging from squirrels and so far, so good. The marigolds around the garden are in full bloom and are filling in around the veggie garden.</div><div><br></div><div><i>Planting distances - </i>ensure you are spacing your plants a recommended spacing apart (you will find these on the tags provided if you purchase plants or on the back of the seed package. Overcrowded plants produce less not more. I thinned out the tomato plants and offered them to friends around the neighborhood. FB was a great tool to getting the word out and all the plants were spoken for and picked up within 24 hours. There is nothing like growing your own tomatoes, even if it is amongst your flower beds or in your flower pots.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vfH0ozeDKftR__2xNBuAvfRHCkVWEfjxw8kk9Eq5dBcvw7YSphE9jkL1DjfjbYkqXUcjWCEA_fJSTi0qdw7yDWxi0Bf6BD3sjjCD-slp02Dcv06-141Ca-6TAocCBkSunvlEnrZcmA/s640/blogger-image--1663537870.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vfH0ozeDKftR__2xNBuAvfRHCkVWEfjxw8kk9Eq5dBcvw7YSphE9jkL1DjfjbYkqXUcjWCEA_fJSTi0qdw7yDWxi0Bf6BD3sjjCD-slp02Dcv06-141Ca-6TAocCBkSunvlEnrZcmA/s640/blogger-image--1663537870.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4MxNpRn-L6or1fWjMffc_6Ew8YgAigCbHXBjMFa6Ax_MXxma1tKg8d3TIlNN0auYPgyQpB3wZyd2mz223_oNXFmequxUXelM5KSSO4zdr7zCjn8Z2DsrApgdq_T5s1F_mAW322j5lg/s640/blogger-image-1764284356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4MxNpRn-L6or1fWjMffc_6Ew8YgAigCbHXBjMFa6Ax_MXxma1tKg8d3TIlNN0auYPgyQpB3wZyd2mz223_oNXFmequxUXelM5KSSO4zdr7zCjn8Z2DsrApgdq_T5s1F_mAW322j5lg/s640/blogger-image-1764284356.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><b><i>Creating a walkway </i></b></div><div>Max has ordered a mix of three different sized pavers after pricing out the cost of pouring concrete. It will cost 1/2 the price but will be more work intensive. Max is using some pretty neat products to create the curves around the beds and used as a guide to cut the blocks. So here's the prep:</div><div><br></div><div>You will need to use <i>chips and dust</i> to use as a fill and then a tamper (we rented one for half a day for about $50 (after insurance, rental and gas) which shakes the chips and dirt so that it compacts and creates a strong and firm foundation. Max makes sure that the walkway is angled away from the house and directed down the driveway, so using a large level is critical. After the walkway is prepared and sits for a few days.... better after a rainstorm, it is time to place the stones. Creating a pattern using 3 different sizes of stones and making up for the uneven edge of the concrete steps, driveway and the curve of the decorative perennial/annual garden were the challenges that were solved using a stone cutter (Stihl rental), pathway edging (can manipulate by strategic cuts and nailing into place using 10' pegs). A layer of fine sand is then spread over the walkway - this will help to level the stones and make up for any imperfections between the ground and the stone. Once the stones are laid and are solidly in place with no rocking motion, you can brush the sand in the crevices between the stones to set them.</div><div><br></div><div><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTXstG0qYJ4Fzs8KWKV2v3HmIMV1wPxIik64cBAWxhn78XlMEMUOQGOBcn-44FDKo0brZzPD-nEF_XEXtCHZ3fQLs4VCm-NE49U9CsNqrLXxJXTFfDfxtgw79RSZZ_0cKYsC0OplyKsg/s640/blogger-image--1703747085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTXstG0qYJ4Fzs8KWKV2v3HmIMV1wPxIik64cBAWxhn78XlMEMUOQGOBcn-44FDKo0brZzPD-nEF_XEXtCHZ3fQLs4VCm-NE49U9CsNqrLXxJXTFfDfxtgw79RSZZ_0cKYsC0OplyKsg/s640/blogger-image--1703747085.jpg"></a></div><br></i></b></div><div>In the photo above, you can see the bare patches where the earth mounds were sitting for a few weeks, so I put a grass mix on the patches and just in time for the heavy rains that followed. The plantings on the S curve are a mix of perennials and annuals. I love growing a garden that is always in bloom. Maturing perennial plants really add to a garden's interest. The Chrysanthemums have been in my garden for years and so I broke the plant into a number of new plantings and gifted the small ones to friends to add to their gardens. The walkway in this photo already has the chips and dirt and been tamped down to create a hard pack walkway.</div><div> </div><div><i style="font-weight: bold;">Plastic border - </i>This border can be used as a rigid straight edge or they can be clipped (using tin snips) between the nail holes as shown above. Max will score the curve the edge makes over the stone and then cut it with the stone cutter.</div><div><br></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtr7njJu0JM4D_HhpQ3ZHyxtU4W4IFsiHTyO5Fw_bINmACmG-t060rRAdGx_K2TnhCONZCNccc95hB6F2-dlnFy8nOUM30a4Mv7EYtrQrMOPYsoEGNdhWg1142CKRpVtfAWbHJn0aNvw/s640/blogger-image-595111750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtr7njJu0JM4D_HhpQ3ZHyxtU4W4IFsiHTyO5Fw_bINmACmG-t060rRAdGx_K2TnhCONZCNccc95hB6F2-dlnFy8nOUM30a4Mv7EYtrQrMOPYsoEGNdhWg1142CKRpVtfAWbHJn0aNvw/s640/blogger-image-595111750.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvplWs-PoRojtbE3Se1dbU-TFJUzQMOZ5JwZBFT0Gc8AczLFK5CYL5Ym4zAkbcHaPdVreLprEv2kSkXpjp4xr0cPN3FJWnTn3ZPTlWrb9mWDplQ0LHJRA4MEux1ozYFul-ll7ArTXtw/s640/blogger-image-1377739581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvplWs-PoRojtbE3Se1dbU-TFJUzQMOZ5JwZBFT0Gc8AczLFK5CYL5Ym4zAkbcHaPdVreLprEv2kSkXpjp4xr0cPN3FJWnTn3ZPTlWrb9mWDplQ0LHJRA4MEux1ozYFul-ll7ArTXtw/s640/blogger-image-1377739581.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-TmjuEOYFNjWELZ3y2iDGN2pMDc5bZONB88AoUDD2Vah4SZZAg4r6egkIq3gqVlm2W6eSCC1zFc5gjm71nc9NWoxe2ZjKUlFh_eKjuUx_ukt8xxARSv8P_AILFP_UTw4IHszSaxOikg/s640/blogger-image-1504542571.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-TmjuEOYFNjWELZ3y2iDGN2pMDc5bZONB88AoUDD2Vah4SZZAg4r6egkIq3gqVlm2W6eSCC1zFc5gjm71nc9NWoxe2ZjKUlFh_eKjuUx_ukt8xxARSv8P_AILFP_UTw4IHszSaxOikg/s640/blogger-image-1504542571.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4F0W-o5omhMVqcnzSdroAbnh07W5UmdWDs7upQCo3tX_1OhZqdDGKKXtRbBdt28JZYjO7Qlu6T_ydhbUtG_VYC_CB5jINZqzUQq_Le5_fYMiBk997Pi38weUp-sOzcZhEdGwuBSfIqw/s640/blogger-image--1060644736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4F0W-o5omhMVqcnzSdroAbnh07W5UmdWDs7upQCo3tX_1OhZqdDGKKXtRbBdt28JZYjO7Qlu6T_ydhbUtG_VYC_CB5jINZqzUQq_Le5_fYMiBk997Pi38weUp-sOzcZhEdGwuBSfIqw/s640/blogger-image--1060644736.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>You can see the sand sitting on top of the courser chips and dirt beneath it. The pattern is looking great!!!</div><div><br></div><div><i>Growing so fast!!</i></div><div><i><br></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsOmzbGdn8VPEb85Moh5u10eVcr9GCgcHpLd37L9vcn-K-2amrCmNOZD0tqqoGBRFN3tV47exm0cuQ9fepwxhl4u-E_6rWKtU6wmeqJLMeP2NLiM8-eHtgUP38u4_xmVERBxkzr_xniw/s640/blogger-image--2027132239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsOmzbGdn8VPEb85Moh5u10eVcr9GCgcHpLd37L9vcn-K-2amrCmNOZD0tqqoGBRFN3tV47exm0cuQ9fepwxhl4u-E_6rWKtU6wmeqJLMeP2NLiM8-eHtgUP38u4_xmVERBxkzr_xniw/s640/blogger-image--2027132239.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The greens are growing so fast. I purchased lettuce for cheap, cheap, cheap at the local grocery store garden center - they were going to seed. I simply cut each plant out of the 'salad bowl' and placed them in my garden after I removed the heavy flower stocks and any poor leaves. Do not let the lettuce go to seed until the end of the growing season. These will create new plants in the next growing season. No need to save seeds or plant any. I still have lettuce growing in the back garden and now seeds from plants a few years ago.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQV_bZR0UVM4MdU8foXzckhasQ-f7dlXedGHkGKAromDDW1MstrhFFhNoIKmqZuHNM9ZjAIDyUA8cr8Id_VKqgo22q52E2kzJbJHCuWZGXkv4TGmOZTifVv0KJYOIM5UapR3XxVYgxmg/s640/blogger-image--928611348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQV_bZR0UVM4MdU8foXzckhasQ-f7dlXedGHkGKAromDDW1MstrhFFhNoIKmqZuHNM9ZjAIDyUA8cr8Id_VKqgo22q52E2kzJbJHCuWZGXkv4TGmOZTifVv0KJYOIM5UapR3XxVYgxmg/s640/blogger-image--928611348.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMXl_wmhpBG6jOq9ri5jyEZ_iW4K-ZuHJK49R-D8aUHM4de5tS905tMCl9PVgXYUyAOhXWPi23kqzwuJZfOG8vVAfYrV8Gk6OqE81yCTaN_RpZG_Uz_qhnVP2CaUvYp72ikWalmLORw/s640/blogger-image-1907435695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMXl_wmhpBG6jOq9ri5jyEZ_iW4K-ZuHJK49R-D8aUHM4de5tS905tMCl9PVgXYUyAOhXWPi23kqzwuJZfOG8vVAfYrV8Gk6OqE81yCTaN_RpZG_Uz_qhnVP2CaUvYp72ikWalmLORw/s640/blogger-image-1907435695.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEoLzx4AQpYikANNMRQ9ITdy0JqPPneOtlYDX3eukw8sDIC8imyqT85oJ4Mu4PUrQnZ0_x1Ix1M15yTZhkhmb6EQzdEHusE1Xrky9ZFil6pE2nK2coz2SMb2JkhdvctiykMsXa0wC6HA/s640/blogger-image--1380116786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEoLzx4AQpYikANNMRQ9ITdy0JqPPneOtlYDX3eukw8sDIC8imyqT85oJ4Mu4PUrQnZ0_x1Ix1M15yTZhkhmb6EQzdEHusE1Xrky9ZFil6pE2nK2coz2SMb2JkhdvctiykMsXa0wC6HA/s640/blogger-image--1380116786.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">With them nestled into the garden, they will be ready to eat after a few days. I cut my leaves because pulling leaves off will often times pull the plant out of the ground. Use clean kitchen scissors and make sure you clean them afterwards.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I am still reading voraciously through many urban garden books getting ideas for next year. I will give a list of the ones I love and ones I want in my own library. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I must admit, when anyone comes by and expresses joy and appreciation for all our hard work, it feels really good. Being raised by European parents who always had a vegetable garden, its interesting to note how many of our admirers are European as well..... our garden brings back some great memories for them and we hope some new memories for our youth who may not have one growing up. Having a garden to eat from and one that looks great makes all the difference in the world!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657150902167204424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454838567892747633.post-268883988965920132014-05-23T19:14:00.001-07:002014-05-26T17:47:10.781-07:00Visitors to the Garden<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>May 22nd 2014</div><div>The city of London started a pilot program called 'Growing Naturally' this year. A program to help teach homeowners how to be more ecologically aware in their own properties. It was a pleasure meeting Megan after months of emails back and forth which started with a question about bylaws regarding urban gardens. She was so thrilled to see all the things we were doing to support our urban garden using the rain barrels. She really liked the wattle fence and the fact that we took a lot of effort to create an esthetically pleasing raised bed gardens. I like how interested she was and understood how much effort and work it took to create. We headed to the backyard and over to the original garden plot. Looking in, we discovered a little chipmunk horribly tangled into the deer fence i had left hanging over the fence and draped over the remaining squash plants. I excused myself to retrieve a pair of scissors and leather gloves. I gently held the chipmunk still while Megan helped to pull the fence away as I gently cut the links binding its neck until I could free it. About a dozen snips later, the chipmunk scattered off through the small spaces of the wire fence. So that's how they have been getting in to that garden over the years.... chicken wire would have been better!! </div><div><br></div><div>Megan knows gardens and we chatted some more about the different variety of trees and flowering plants. She knows the Green Industry's teacher I substitute for in the high school a few blocks away and is pleased that the students will be coming for a visit tomorrow to prune my trees in the backyard. Great opportunity for them to learn techniques of pruning through experience as opposed to just reading about it. I am still learning the nuances of pruning effectively.</div><div><br></div><div>What a great visit!! I look forward to Megan coming back throughout the growing season to document the progress of our gardens. She wants to use our garden as an example of urban gardens in our beautiful city. We are standing in the middle of the road and she notes the beautiful trees lining the street. They are beautiful in the deep purple pink leaves and flowers. Megan passes me an envelope filled with great information and a print out of our water usage over the past year. We are keeping within the average home owner.</div><div><br></div>May 23rd 2014<div><br></div><div>Today is overcast and cold!! The winds have picked up and the Tech design class heads out in the last half of the class to fly their hand made kite. With winds around 40 Km/hr, it only takes a few tries to get airborn above the track at the back of the high school and a hundred meters from the water collection pool where we planted some indigenous grasses and irisis. These young men have built an amazing kite that soars 60' up in the air and later had to be coaxed down with a resounding crack of a support stick that snaps upon impact. AWESOME job!!!! We head into the school shivering from the cool drizzle.</div><div><br></div><div>The Green Industry's class meets up in the classroom and we head off to my house for a hand's on pruning exercise in my backyard. The students rounded the corner of the house after drifting through the front urban garden and naming flowers and were pleasantly surprised by a lovely backyard. It was fun seeing them go from tree to tree to see what they were. I had developed 4 cards showcasing the bush to be trimmed and a 'how to' instruction. With everyone wearing safety glasses and pruners, they got into groups of 3 and headed to their assigned task. Time, of course, went far too fast and we had to walk quickly back to class!! </div><div><br></div><div>May 24th - replacing the pavers</div><div>Today, Max begins the removal of the front walk paving stones and the partial removal of the basketball post concrete. We mean partial removal because somehow this concrete is incredibly dense and difficult to remove. A number of neighbors popped in to give a hand and they managed to remove 4" off the top. Just enough to lay the concrete with a good margin of strength. Right now the front walk looks like the face of the moon with craters and mounds.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZv3rU_fhftK3UrgfrmKyybYapXYI_9z4UrmxNHnspevVB-xBCuvhX0Gdy7ToBUTUThvv25lq990yaK8SMfhu6B_xnTXA9E9sTYIBeWVcHcoNoFnakptgMeWf1s-jhgdvFPJUcr0j1gA/s640/blogger-image-922111966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZv3rU_fhftK3UrgfrmKyybYapXYI_9z4UrmxNHnspevVB-xBCuvhX0Gdy7ToBUTUThvv25lq990yaK8SMfhu6B_xnTXA9E9sTYIBeWVcHcoNoFnakptgMeWf1s-jhgdvFPJUcr0j1gA/s640/blogger-image-922111966.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixozt53VbGV6xSQk_XH5BwCwQlhk-WOrj44dJipd-m4XqKKdLGB9bVC1UQwqjv6w3QAkunxAwHjGK6cQ5OOFIQucvWy2FBt3FQFaF1AZ6orW9EkTktegYVpcgyrrXdbfTZ40gwcy-R5A/s640/blogger-image--1902866067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixozt53VbGV6xSQk_XH5BwCwQlhk-WOrj44dJipd-m4XqKKdLGB9bVC1UQwqjv6w3QAkunxAwHjGK6cQ5OOFIQucvWy2FBt3FQFaF1AZ6orW9EkTktegYVpcgyrrXdbfTZ40gwcy-R5A/s640/blogger-image--1902866067.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>This will be completed this week but in the meantime, we have put up a series of white flags to cordon off the work site.</div><div><br></div><div><b><i>How does the garden look?</i></b></div><div>The tomatoes are growing well.... except for the one in the right hand corner. There appear to be a lot of ants in the garden. I have sprinkled chili peppers and ground chilli on the plastic mulch. I still have the top of this bed covered in deer fencing to keep the critters out. Today I planted another tomato plant in the empty spot and planted some more in the back yard garden in tomato cages. These were from the student's greenhouse seedling.</div><div><div class="separator" style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYehkH7CvkmTb8rKNexl84iwEm3T2CRD33T4cqsjYJ8H9y4vTGAtz6_QC3Ept_Py2KyeiKhK_oLHofS4kt_BfR9LDMhTc8pzMYut6mG6BsZKOSItU9FYRCNFhSUDGtjn8DN6OmcHipg/s640/blogger-image--691074087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYehkH7CvkmTb8rKNexl84iwEm3T2CRD33T4cqsjYJ8H9y4vTGAtz6_QC3Ept_Py2KyeiKhK_oLHofS4kt_BfR9LDMhTc8pzMYut6mG6BsZKOSItU9FYRCNFhSUDGtjn8DN6OmcHipg/s640/blogger-image--691074087.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Kale is growing well and soon, I will have to thin them out.</div><div class="separator" style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-eHsV3E-1VeDbj7-33Gxau37Fox1f8wZqcdAQl7rJHwYpDMGnqblFJ1kzjEEbP7AaC7jQ3rrDlSFnqhOm3_s__Jo0QUKI7ZcAhT963t6kTV2A9etdw32x0L8NjvDv-g6kmmBLuO6aaA/s640/blogger-image-1619919141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-eHsV3E-1VeDbj7-33Gxau37Fox1f8wZqcdAQl7rJHwYpDMGnqblFJ1kzjEEbP7AaC7jQ3rrDlSFnqhOm3_s__Jo0QUKI7ZcAhT963t6kTV2A9etdw32x0L8NjvDv-g6kmmBLuO6aaA/s640/blogger-image-1619919141.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The Gladiolas are coming up but unfortunately, the squirrels have dug up some of the other bulbs that have not yet sprouted. They are busy in the neighborhood as well as the bunnies who have helped themselves to the neighbor's lettuce. The deer fence and skewer sticks seem to be working for the vegetable garden. I have noticed the bees are coming to the garden but cannot see the deer fence to stop bumping into it. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8754M-lHZRp9WGFlcpHUxzrbhiOK2egyzkrkudBFR5hbyHpKrEaJJZqJmLfywubs-TsGc4Ig_iadz7Ijv_MXVPBe7huDwJ1ZePIuJYhEOOpJw8kUD2m0eD3Wuldb1ZzsYQ6DZWUGhRw/s640/blogger-image-1410408798.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8754M-lHZRp9WGFlcpHUxzrbhiOK2egyzkrkudBFR5hbyHpKrEaJJZqJmLfywubs-TsGc4Ig_iadz7Ijv_MXVPBe7huDwJ1ZePIuJYhEOOpJw8kUD2m0eD3Wuldb1ZzsYQ6DZWUGhRw/s640/blogger-image-1410408798.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The onions and peppers are growing and establishing themselves. I still have the top of this bed covered in deer fence to keep the squirrels out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbGQYkxG2ffJl11VLBebnxs7j0hafZM7-77M9xpfKO6jlmQFFRJLjSWPnLUiC0u1LrQzjIkXgRCYixgDVGs3JlawsQsKmyq3yTLDiqgXtGSl2txukLHCLBiLmRQetVj7sNpck_WTSHGQ/s640/blogger-image-946530182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbGQYkxG2ffJl11VLBebnxs7j0hafZM7-77M9xpfKO6jlmQFFRJLjSWPnLUiC0u1LrQzjIkXgRCYixgDVGs3JlawsQsKmyq3yTLDiqgXtGSl2txukLHCLBiLmRQetVj7sNpck_WTSHGQ/s640/blogger-image-946530182.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>A pretty sunflower that has bloomed today!! This was seeded by the class.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8msvCgKJOlEGoTSQlHuP7TNqlPvXEF7cdnfXu0AcODoxjeSXkvWNBf8b2Rp9gT_bO1cMMKDh1atv_RGvVcaUkuaZz81yfxDlS2qyembytnXbfBB_hCqU-0jsJtMyl-Ww5vW7OaMSKw/s640/blogger-image-945807543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8msvCgKJOlEGoTSQlHuP7TNqlPvXEF7cdnfXu0AcODoxjeSXkvWNBf8b2Rp9gT_bO1cMMKDh1atv_RGvVcaUkuaZz81yfxDlS2qyembytnXbfBB_hCqU-0jsJtMyl-Ww5vW7OaMSKw/s640/blogger-image-945807543.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Our lovely bistro set gifted to us from a neighbor. It looks so lovely and fits in beautifully with our garden design. It is a nice place to sit to look at the garden. You can just see the white rain barrell just around the side of the house.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vTVvnvrNYlhc_gnxJVKZSIQBtuNHTl3-M3JtX2GK81lU1kVYb1sXrNSd9M4IwGRh9e5ZYfpNut2AlVMstNKEnyt-nTOwpMIKAa83MkOjI4OTMK97Id7cn-fqGJvZ0xbsEFBwwfoagw/s640/blogger-image--1083989513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vTVvnvrNYlhc_gnxJVKZSIQBtuNHTl3-M3JtX2GK81lU1kVYb1sXrNSd9M4IwGRh9e5ZYfpNut2AlVMstNKEnyt-nTOwpMIKAa83MkOjI4OTMK97Id7cn-fqGJvZ0xbsEFBwwfoagw/s640/blogger-image--1083989513.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><b><i>How do we water our garden from the water barrels?</i></b></div><div>I purchased a pony pump - an external pump you can hook up to the barrel spout with a hose and run your watering hose to the output port. This gives us enough water pressure to water our garden and run a sprinkler. It is a low current draw costing just pennies to water the garden with good rain water. Today I topped up the fish pond using the second rain barrel. All 220 litres of water were used to top up 5 inches in our fish pond. I will post a You Tube video next week on how this mighty little pump works.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5o2VyoHEDWlpF_vq82KEqfLjNadw-W05ivq_dG6HA2S9e8TtR6j2GU1BumTQdeSnItcO-5YD8kA8nSfz0EqL_oj4nqc-xsB9OX7d9sdJdHj4SxOATbNvG3CmqBdsUKY1wU5biNVuhw/s640/blogger-image-194603086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5o2VyoHEDWlpF_vq82KEqfLjNadw-W05ivq_dG6HA2S9e8TtR6j2GU1BumTQdeSnItcO-5YD8kA8nSfz0EqL_oj4nqc-xsB9OX7d9sdJdHj4SxOATbNvG3CmqBdsUKY1wU5biNVuhw/s640/blogger-image-194603086.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><b><i>Next week in the Garden.....</i></b></div><div>We will be finishing the front walkway and placing decorative pots on the curves. We will look at spraying our apple tree and removing the suckers on the interior branches now that the blooms are almost gone. The pear tree has produced a number of blooms which when they begin to produce pears, only one will be allowed to produce until the tree becomes established for next year. We are training the branches horozontally to produce a stronger and more productive tree. </div><div><br></div><div>We will also look at more photos of the garden as the plants begin to take shape and flower. The beans are slow to sprout so I have planted another row of beans along the uprights at the front of the bed. The peas are growing well and fast now that the leaves have come up.</div><div><br></div><div>Check out 'Growing Naturally'. The tips and information on conservation and growing indigenous SW Ontario plants, trees and bushes is invaluable. Thank you Megan for the package. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3iV3b9gfp09ILGJHIBiyCxROOZN9XBBrF-0wFSGf1RgObiVhPQ5zzg4UDUDdjs5NAT77bQQ27wgIypp5OrVMxGHN0ILhLbZ7xVI_BIujsGUF5Ii8ELlLbdhjWBYoZTa2Xdh7Zk_ZWLg/s640/blogger-image-1700937209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3iV3b9gfp09ILGJHIBiyCxROOZN9XBBrF-0wFSGf1RgObiVhPQ5zzg4UDUDdjs5NAT77bQQ27wgIypp5OrVMxGHN0ILhLbZ7xVI_BIujsGUF5Ii8ELlLbdhjWBYoZTa2Xdh7Zk_ZWLg/s640/blogger-image-1700937209.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657150902167204424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454838567892747633.post-56462698841982096692014-05-07T20:09:00.001-07:002014-05-11T19:15:13.814-07:00Greenhouse and a Tree Farm visit<b>Heeman Greenhouses </b><div>This gem is located in the east end of London and is by far one of the largest greenhouse operations I have ever seen. I decided to like them on FB a few weeks ago and discovered that they offered courses. For $5 I could go and get a class about basic gardening. You might think, hey, don't you already know a lot about gardening? You can never know enough about gardening!!! I was certainly not disappointed when the topic of pruning came up. I have been so accustomed to pruning my own shrubs, trees and plants that I hadn't really thought of specific techniques only experience with years of gardening. Florence also spoke about the importance of using specific potting soil and of course plant food to keep those blooms coming. I later chose to purchase granular fertilizer to mix with the potting soil before putting the plants in. I will emphasize as she did - only use POTTING mix for planters. For my vegetable gardens I have a tri mix - topsoil, sand and compost. If you find that the earth dries too quickly, mix in some peat moss. I also purchased tomatoe granular fertilizer, which I just put under the plastic mulch to feed the plants slowly.... caution: too much fertilizer or too close to new roots can damage the plant. A little goes a long way and keep it a few inches from the base of the plant. </div><div><br></div><div>This greenhouse seemed endless with row upon row of plants. I chose herbs, geraniums (my all time favorite annual which I overwinter in my garage and will plant the older ones in and around my garden), creeping petunias and wave petunias along with a number of other flowering plants. It is so important when growing a veggie garden to also take into account the kinds of insects you want to draw into the garden and others you want to keep out of your garden. I also picked up some pepper varieties and found some Canadian produced seed potatoes to put into our potato boxes.... that's right, bred to become seeds??? It helps to go to an established greenhouse for many varieties of plants you may not find at your local grocery parking lot.... although my favorite one is in the parking lot at our local Loblaw supermarket.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-crkS08MxeCzLkWgG-Bu9LyRyb6ZnspggaoGiYMKw9n9jBBgAvzaiRhDsBMv_nL7Ymmap_6Pud9Z8kztbnJwLaK8vhDBnvn_IYmNxUK6fvr7BaFz6wrpgxh8MjrIBk0tVgCS8_YJ1Tg/s640/blogger-image-460211978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-crkS08MxeCzLkWgG-Bu9LyRyb6ZnspggaoGiYMKw9n9jBBgAvzaiRhDsBMv_nL7Ymmap_6Pud9Z8kztbnJwLaK8vhDBnvn_IYmNxUK6fvr7BaFz6wrpgxh8MjrIBk0tVgCS8_YJ1Tg/s640/blogger-image-460211978.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>For as far as the eye could see.... there were plants hanging everywhere!! Thousands of bedding plants.... this greenhouse actually pulled their impatiens out of the greenhouse due to a mildew that kills the plant and consequently infects the beds they are planted in. They had a number of alternative relatives that are not bothered by this wind borne problem.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdO-yWwWsi9gU-7XtF79dcBpoYi968JChvm01UX8bSPapBQBowsDxnmjvTaq-AOnOsj94SpeRYLlYc1ftqHk4lJtq2Xzm4FuK7u4FlQ833aa3d5u9WbhZmqN8-vm7frTGuYlUHEr5MlA/s640/blogger-image--384231474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdO-yWwWsi9gU-7XtF79dcBpoYi968JChvm01UX8bSPapBQBowsDxnmjvTaq-AOnOsj94SpeRYLlYc1ftqHk4lJtq2Xzm4FuK7u4FlQ833aa3d5u9WbhZmqN8-vm7frTGuYlUHEr5MlA/s640/blogger-image--384231474.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Overhead were trees!!!! Held in place by clips and suspended into the ceiling of the Greenhouse. Wow, this place is breathtaking!!! Oh, about that $5... they offered me a $5 coupon off the purchases I knew I would be hauling out of there. The prices were great and the staff - amazing!!! I will be back.</div><div><br></div><div><b>The Covered Urban Garden</b></div><div>I contemplated how this was going to look and debated on how I should go about putting this together the best way I could without creating an eyesore. The seeds I planted on the 27th of April had not yet popped through the ground. I planted a few seedling marigolds to see if they would take to their new environment. Wind whipped and cold... the marigolds did not survive. These guys are a hardy plant so now I had to decide to put up the reemay cloth and see what response I would get after it was installed. I purchased 5 dollar store green posts (see pic below) and sunk one in each corner and one in the middle of each raised bed. With the tomatoes, I installed the black mesh deer fencing by looping the mesh through the top and pulling it tight to the next post until all 4 posts had fencing. I then stapled the fence to the box using staples from a heavy duty staple gun. I then installed the reemay cloth and pinned down using clothes pins. </div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuExG5di9uzu4gHdOHX2GR20JnoRMkx1g6sp34Rtwidchyphenhyphen2N2SYnW8w3kr229CrPkyqJGj4KkxQpnwVrGcOa25jcRuPIUDFwzlQqRZdVW-WQwKlT83Wdzt308OjlYBoto_WK0tOc4gA/s640/blogger-image--1284035024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuExG5di9uzu4gHdOHX2GR20JnoRMkx1g6sp34Rtwidchyphenhyphen2N2SYnW8w3kr229CrPkyqJGj4KkxQpnwVrGcOa25jcRuPIUDFwzlQqRZdVW-WQwKlT83Wdzt308OjlYBoto_WK0tOc4gA/s640/blogger-image--1284035024.jpg"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuExG5di9uzu4gHdOHX2GR20JnoRMkx1g6sp34Rtwidchyphenhyphen2N2SYnW8w3kr229CrPkyqJGj4KkxQpnwVrGcOa25jcRuPIUDFwzlQqRZdVW-WQwKlT83Wdzt308OjlYBoto_WK0tOc4gA/s640/blogger-image--1284035024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGneEeHW7uX-VXLaInyLdhJzCec0p81B6fOdn6erD2YEexs07AAQXWv0XSijmZRmpY7nPciuDxOwhrcEY58hlh8MUtjzrD_9kpZurt_w35qQywsVc5DR9kh5T8fqhsrvFjI3ayAgLYIA/s640/blogger-image-242860260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGneEeHW7uX-VXLaInyLdhJzCec0p81B6fOdn6erD2YEexs07AAQXWv0XSijmZRmpY7nPciuDxOwhrcEY58hlh8MUtjzrD_9kpZurt_w35qQywsVc5DR9kh5T8fqhsrvFjI3ayAgLYIA/s640/blogger-image-242860260.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I did trim off the excess cloth which can be used to cover the pots after placing them next to a wall and out of the wind. This front yard has no wind break to stop the cold winds from blowing constantly across the beds. I have pegged each corner at least twice and to prevent the covers from being ripped off and slung into someone's tree... I have also weighted down each cloth with at least one paving stone.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6JSlq9lnTqKeutGGvPh3tAif0y7NiF4qwn2LLb4qb0PoKxZVpFXdjta08riuTzfT8ByIv1mHsQU3HfB6UUW8LVzLE_bMnW2nrg7ARprYin9cvMtcZTCaGpGjCh1lbxE958oSITDDnw/s640/blogger-image--305980683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6JSlq9lnTqKeutGGvPh3tAif0y7NiF4qwn2LLb4qb0PoKxZVpFXdjta08riuTzfT8ByIv1mHsQU3HfB6UUW8LVzLE_bMnW2nrg7ARprYin9cvMtcZTCaGpGjCh1lbxE958oSITDDnw/s640/blogger-image--305980683.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The front view shows the tomato cages we purchased to tie up the beans and peas in order to keep them off the ground and make them easier to pick.... also, it allows us to maximize the box by planting other veggies in there such as carrots and cucumbers. Always remember to note which plants are companions and which ones are not.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Thursday May 8th</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This was indeed a very busy day that got started when my best friend came out to help with the garden. There was a lot of work to be done and we got down to business!! Today is incredibly warm and later I would find a nice farmer's burn on both arms.... I did wear a big rimmed hat but should have considered a cotton long sleeve. Deer netting was put up to surround the beds. The stakes that were put in were ideal for hooking the deer netting into them and then pulling them tight to the wood and stapled. To create a more rigid fence, we simply weaved green garden cording along the top and pulled tight between the stakes. This was back breaking work for sure and we took a number of breaks along the way. Once the fencing was placed, it was time to plant the marigolds around the beds. They are almost ready to bloom and so will provide the garden with colour while keeping at bay some of the less desireable garden visitors such as the hundreds of rabbits and squirrels running rampant in the neighborhood. I also snuck in a couple of veggies that I had grown into their proper beds such as the Kale and Lettuce. The weather indicates some really good weather over the next week. When temperatures drop again, as they usually do in the spring, we will put the cloths back over the beds to keep them protected from the wind and the temperatures. This cloth will also be used in the extreme heat of the summer when the plants will need some shade from the scorching weather.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnE6yV3kyiS695ZEavzxfPtE7HdgEUZpqealaWQSH3yaQImAEvD1gLXhEH-cD4i13ePtdzegfx_dJb87NoWuYmgHJWj9rMID9XR5LPra05_awNHHOM0gwVHzUMNDRf2sRkv2F8vvaBkA/s640/blogger-image-1588025928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnE6yV3kyiS695ZEavzxfPtE7HdgEUZpqealaWQSH3yaQImAEvD1gLXhEH-cD4i13ePtdzegfx_dJb87NoWuYmgHJWj9rMID9XR5LPra05_awNHHOM0gwVHzUMNDRf2sRkv2F8vvaBkA/s640/blogger-image-1588025928.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Max is in the process of installing two identical trellises that will face each other and to which we will be planting our squash plants and pumpkins. He will install a construction quality mesh to join the two on the top to allow the plants to climb across and create some interest to the garden. We will also be planting the vertical herb garden over the next few weeks. After all, there are only so many hours in a day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The warm winds and high 20 Celsius temperatures have brought out the mating toads!!! Their songs welcome the warm glow of the evening and we find ourselves pumping off the water from the cover of the pool. The toads in previous years have laid their eggs in the pool thinking it is a pond....which is just mere feet away and just off the lower backyard deck. The fish will feast well this year now that the only water source is in their environment. We love watching the tadpoles grow. There are plans to grow strawberries hydroponically above the fish pond and have the water diverted to the strawberries after the filter and back into the pond. We have a UV/filter unit to keep algie and bacteria under control and it works amazingly well. It was one of those word-of-mouth finds and it has been a real time saver.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Many neighbors have dropped by to chat over the past few weeks and ask about the garden. Yes, it is unconventional. Thank you, we really try hard to make it look as nice as possible. Yes, I should have shares in the local nursuries. Yes, this is to be used as a teaching tool as well as feed our family. Yes, I have been canning for years and yes, the tomatoes are already spoken for. Yes, I weaved the fence and yes those are flowers and soon to be growing bulbs. Yes, we do have a lot of wildlife in the neighborhood. No, I don't think anyone will try to damage the garden or take what is not theirs.... but then, as I told a student last week when she asked the same question.... that is the risk we are willing to take but generally speaking - most neighbors have been watching the progress and have seen the amount of effort taken to create the garden in the first place. We have an incredible amount of support from our friends and neighbors and most understand that my family's health depends on a productive and healthy garden.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The clematis trellis is looking amazing!! It is growing well after splitting it from the main plant and ensuring the root base was shaded by the wattle weave around the base of the trellis. Florence from Heeman's did mention that there are three different clematis genus which require very special attention when it comes to pruning these beautiful climbers. Make sure you know which one you have or you will be learning through experimentation. There are three classifications A, B and C or 1,2 and 3.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/clematis/2002095824028038.html</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVY5YEivPLhtg_BeDoOEs06eT5XesrjEyqhOOcv_rDU66KNL38Bt6Co3cs5Zj_1pDvSj4jXWjfMQytnQrN8tQB3twFKd2noERVdo1TwWsCbLd5mjSo05Y4320CloHIo_KCyZ10CVcLmA/s640/blogger-image--214202105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVY5YEivPLhtg_BeDoOEs06eT5XesrjEyqhOOcv_rDU66KNL38Bt6Co3cs5Zj_1pDvSj4jXWjfMQytnQrN8tQB3twFKd2noERVdo1TwWsCbLd5mjSo05Y4320CloHIo_KCyZ10CVcLmA/s640/blogger-image--214202105.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Friday May 9th</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Today my friend Mary and I are doing a road trip!!!! We will meet at Heeman's nurseries and greenhouses and then travel to meet Steve, the Tree Wrangler in Elmira, Ontario. He heads up a tree farm and nursery and they have the dwarf fruit trees I am interested in and the berries we want to grow on our deck for fresh desserts and freezing. It will be a full day with my friend and we are both looking forward to hitting the open road. I will need to also pick up some organic apple tree spray - Max wants to eat the apples from our quad apple tree - this tree has 4 different apples that grow on it. We will have to come up with a creative way to keep the squirrels out of it as they are notorious for taking sample bites out of as many apples as they can... so perhaps the remaining deer fencing will come in handy after all!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Mary and I arrived at 3 pm at Wiffletree Farm and nursery and were met by a young man who took care of us since Steve was unable to arrive in time from a road trip. I was impressed with his knowledge and how he answered all of our questions. I purchased an Asian Pear tree which he picked out of a walk in freezer. The tree had exposed roots clean of earth and because it was asleep, it did not matter. The young man offered to top the tree and handed over some tree training elastics after explaining to me how to use them and why they should be used. I had never come across this way of training and with some practice and a few broken elastics.... and one snapped branch... I got the hang of it. I have been advised to remove the blooms when they come for the exception of one... just to see what the fruit is like. This way, the energy is diverted to growing and strengthening the tree in order to help it to support a harvest the following year. This tree is 3 years old and I had to dig a hole that was 2 1/2 feet in order to bury it to the earth line. We also picked up two raspberry canes... one that will produce a black raspberry with the advantage of not spreading out of control and of course a red raspberry cane.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HLvDJdQAU_yRcca4P5Cym6InNEl7L6KdGsuSqQQNpwAahrMs9BYcuqocBBLHbxgOqYukzubrBxvI4SnAzvmk8EiRerXY6A4vC4yBxfCFzRQyjZ6yXuXy0FYDiFxpj1qmTHVCSSgJpg/s640/blogger-image--935683299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HLvDJdQAU_yRcca4P5Cym6InNEl7L6KdGsuSqQQNpwAahrMs9BYcuqocBBLHbxgOqYukzubrBxvI4SnAzvmk8EiRerXY6A4vC4yBxfCFzRQyjZ6yXuXy0FYDiFxpj1qmTHVCSSgJpg/s640/blogger-image--935683299.jpg"></a></div><i>Raspberry Canes</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><br></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="font-weight: bold; clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUerIgTLcKmUYhyq2fedmSSPY2jWMrL2b8iUWrpsAV3XEyYEp7PEMXuqCKzM8vOWpI2D-GgOHlLeMswjVpT5D771tHpvQdqiyn-aAo_BGj1e_sBKq0jlenSmB1QsRbDyN160gz8QtbVg/s640/blogger-image-1704592921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUerIgTLcKmUYhyq2fedmSSPY2jWMrL2b8iUWrpsAV3XEyYEp7PEMXuqCKzM8vOWpI2D-GgOHlLeMswjVpT5D771tHpvQdqiyn-aAo_BGj1e_sBKq0jlenSmB1QsRbDyN160gz8QtbVg/s640/blogger-image-1704592921.jpg"></a></div><br></div>While I was on our road trip, Max and Mitchel created a new focal area in our front garden. It really looks amazing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ri40Fy4vDONjHRRKsk5cAImTR_sHwg4OBzi6r5nQSGFJCOifA5bfXOftZX_6v3xiHcUP5Cf_FxbUqWymg51SwHKKUtSCJoBS6xVaYaoAbvl2Hz7_tXOlZaetY2Apij1uCee_9GS_4g/s640/blogger-image--1363959891.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ri40Fy4vDONjHRRKsk5cAImTR_sHwg4OBzi6r5nQSGFJCOifA5bfXOftZX_6v3xiHcUP5Cf_FxbUqWymg51SwHKKUtSCJoBS6xVaYaoAbvl2Hz7_tXOlZaetY2Apij1uCee_9GS_4g/s640/blogger-image--1363959891.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Saturday May 10th</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Picking up the water barrels from the local Optimist Club. They get support from the community while passing on some significant savings on to us. A barrel with a downspout adapter will cost us $65 and a second barrel to tie into the first one will cost us an additional $55. Basically I am getting two for the price of one. We will install these on the side of the house that is completely shaded on stands so that we can use gravity to feed the veggie gardens. Eventually I hope to install a drip system on a timer connected to the rain barrels. I am working on motion lighting and an old watering trick to disuade unwanted nightly visitors. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLfqJFrA8JjDd6dkhPnPJKPBa2e2b0nVFI7Figy9jC1_31i7lmm9TrfBJpqh2xlxmU3a04lf_0e8owu2JU3Q2r8tto7JFohQX-c9cqWfbGykQKLEgkzPw1CiD14PxoadyDuc73YOiow/s640/blogger-image--1233517545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLfqJFrA8JjDd6dkhPnPJKPBa2e2b0nVFI7Figy9jC1_31i7lmm9TrfBJpqh2xlxmU3a04lf_0e8owu2JU3Q2r8tto7JFohQX-c9cqWfbGykQKLEgkzPw1CiD14PxoadyDuc73YOiow/s640/blogger-image--1233517545.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8xqOFPDb36fnfglkc8QrkaZTSTc2HHfHFHzS_zsLu8Ii-rdS7tYzIazFtD2fph1GQbWHwpOQfYRn0gqqqqRiARWoOuCPEWZIONhpso0GlD-CkW2pelylrA8z5ycB5z7AW9sIqkT9Bhw/s640/blogger-image-726589883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8xqOFPDb36fnfglkc8QrkaZTSTc2HHfHFHzS_zsLu8Ii-rdS7tYzIazFtD2fph1GQbWHwpOQfYRn0gqqqqRiARWoOuCPEWZIONhpso0GlD-CkW2pelylrA8z5ycB5z7AW9sIqkT9Bhw/s640/blogger-image-726589883.jpg"></a></div>These rainbarrels are large and came with a downspout adapter. I was able to purchase them from a local fundraiser (South-West Optimist Club). Later in the afternoon, I built a stone pad for each barrel on the side of the house with the interlocking blocks from our front walk which will be replaced with poured cement in the coming weeks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Max installed two identical upright trellises in the boxes closest to the front of the house. To make it stronger, he used metal tie down strapping and screwed them into the inside of the boxes. The gap from the lower bar of the trellis was filled with a block of wood the exact dimensions of the gap. This allows the trellises to support the weight of the growing squash vines. Max will, over the next few weeks shape a construction grade mesh to fit the top of each trellis to connect each other to afford it more strength.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRRQd3rSzVOgx7s0w-PjoaBNeY42uzUyuXcei18gIkCY6sBWjRZoBVkYoVnX26D7Cf_54gWZWdrRZDMYC1b21g50Jf-XFN-Q2ZqnPPMCItbT1F0a1_iseo8B6_PqDyceyCSI5RDGhfQ/s640/blogger-image--719729851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRRQd3rSzVOgx7s0w-PjoaBNeY42uzUyuXcei18gIkCY6sBWjRZoBVkYoVnX26D7Cf_54gWZWdrRZDMYC1b21g50Jf-XFN-Q2ZqnPPMCItbT1F0a1_iseo8B6_PqDyceyCSI5RDGhfQ/s640/blogger-image--719729851.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Sunday May 11th</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Mother's Day! I was served with a breakfast in bed and then an hour later.... the entire family started to clean up and prepare for our parents to arrive. Many hands made light work and of course a lot of great conversation while we worked. Our children love the garden for so many reasons and we love working together and spending time with each other. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>My Garden Flower beds and pots this week....</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="font-weight: bold; clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhepCt5hWROITb1fQOti6DcdujdWwk4lZfo4UZP5Am2L1zjymkBg6tBJoQfkLOE970o0IKr8ZfYZur7uZtKMwMaqpOoWL1QKumkLZsIrguEc1rfBAOkSxL1t8OpHdST83a8VZdv8qjiIQ/s640/blogger-image--1830067006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhepCt5hWROITb1fQOti6DcdujdWwk4lZfo4UZP5Am2L1zjymkBg6tBJoQfkLOE970o0IKr8ZfYZur7uZtKMwMaqpOoWL1QKumkLZsIrguEc1rfBAOkSxL1t8OpHdST83a8VZdv8qjiIQ/s640/blogger-image--1830067006.jpg"></a></div><i>Helleborus - this beautiful early spring perennial grows exceptionally well just beneath our Japanese red maple. It's flowers are long lasting and eventually as they age, will turn green and in late summer produce seed pods. The older leaves are broad and look semi-tropical. This has to be one of my all-time favourites!!!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><br></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXV8DggcDPvgHpRLEiGkvFOqnsAvQckYW0S3ZRmqdfjcHmdU6j29chPqZieZweNcmzdbDu1RtV9D1QegFQwb0e-YcipAbBmEWba1mi7Xag1W6VmZLfvst1LxMibNx9U2i2qkuL4Vq2A/s640/blogger-image--442774206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXV8DggcDPvgHpRLEiGkvFOqnsAvQckYW0S3ZRmqdfjcHmdU6j29chPqZieZweNcmzdbDu1RtV9D1QegFQwb0e-YcipAbBmEWba1mi7Xag1W6VmZLfvst1LxMibNx9U2i2qkuL4Vq2A/s640/blogger-image--442774206.jpg"></a></div><br></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>Peony - This beauty grows fantastically fast in the warm sunshine. It's rose-like fragrance is heavenly and well anticipated in June/July each year.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><br></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>What to plant in pots??</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Pots will always need to be blooming for the duration of the summer so find flowers to fill the pot that will such as geraniums, an ivy or other 'spillers' like wave petunias <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">that flow out of the pot and a grass or other plant that gives height and interest. Use a good potting soil and add some slow release fertilizer specific to flowering plants and add a teaspoon more in July.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">NEXT WEEK.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">How the garden is doing and what is planted together to encourage maximum growth.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657150902167204424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454838567892747633.post-66713053089906554362014-05-05T18:15:00.001-07:002014-05-05T20:05:33.984-07:00Protecting your gardenThis growing season is getting off to a slow start and with that slow start, there are blustery cold winds and rapidly changing temperatures. I found a surprise at our local DollarRama. I found a frost cover that looks remarkably like the TM Reemay cloth. These sheets of cloth work amazingly well at keeping the plants covered but still allowing the sun and rain to filter through. Warmer soil means better seed propagation and extended growing seasons. One cloth covered my 16' flower bed in front of the raised beds.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnMg5V8Y_7EbNsIF6o7VfIFDZzkGYcfmS-NfQi8VWgtn46p514dNgQrUJ0HL_QxQgiLdgcUR0nT5i7CK-7rbzUnfXhhjOHJVhlQu4g0GU9OF4cnry2ih7LcA5QuzU6S8Bj8UxRr7jjg/s640/blogger-image-47018791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnMg5V8Y_7EbNsIF6o7VfIFDZzkGYcfmS-NfQi8VWgtn46p514dNgQrUJ0HL_QxQgiLdgcUR0nT5i7CK-7rbzUnfXhhjOHJVhlQu4g0GU9OF4cnry2ih7LcA5QuzU6S8Bj8UxRr7jjg/s640/blogger-image-47018791.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>I purchased enough packages to cover each of the beds (our beds are 4' x 8') If the weather continues to be cool, I might have to cover each of the beds until the seedlings and weather are compatible!! I am also thinking of soaking them in Tea so they do not look like snowbanks after the long winter we had or I might draw the ire of the neighborhood!! The reason why they are white is so they are not roasted with a darker color. They can be used in the heat of the summer when plants are baking in the really hot summer sun.</div><div><b><i><br></i></b></div><div><b><i>Grocery Store finds and seed cups???</i></b></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvY4aBkaRbnlWN7YnRl6UGde-LVK3_x3SbfVjDAXnDKFZfIa02r3x34ASi3uirgetIOP4KOPhgPdMe8i_Wg5gDuRA4rg1g0ctwrxtP3f3gncPrRKSuvxqTRiMk1AaJJ3lPpYBsK-fLaw/s640/blogger-image-555328825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvY4aBkaRbnlWN7YnRl6UGde-LVK3_x3SbfVjDAXnDKFZfIa02r3x34ASi3uirgetIOP4KOPhgPdMe8i_Wg5gDuRA4rg1g0ctwrxtP3f3gncPrRKSuvxqTRiMk1AaJJ3lPpYBsK-fLaw/s640/blogger-image-555328825.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>I purchased inexpensive dollar store plastic dishes to house my recycled finds - yes, those are the used keurig cups from my coffee maker. I simply removed the foil, allowed the coffee grounds to dry before tapping it into my compost container. These cups have a paper filter with a convenient drain hole already punctured into the bottom when it is used. I have Kale growing in these cups from cuttings. They will be put into the garden in a few weeks once they have established roots. Simply pull the edge of the paper filter and remove it from the cup or lift the plant out gently if the roots are not attached to the filter. Its great to start a garden with grocery store finds especially when the plant begins life at a more mature stage.</div><div><br></div><div><b><i>Taking advantage of the sunshine</i></b></div><div>The front of my house in the early morning is bathed in sunshine until mid afternoon so it is time to take advantage of the sun away from the wind. The small greenhouse houses the seeds that are just sprouting. The flats fit nicely on the steps but would look much nicer in the garden!! The front door is really starting to look welcoming. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3q7LEJJXhZreXJYspr3YOQX7X-PDS7A0wL7XCDBGxW_HoDldyRKUnQGgboyhyphenhyphenHEN4Hn1XvWCprVOqSBdoB-XtiCFEltUUxgTJXD2at8d1rB-p5rvDqfKyOWYgjVGR5fz54yhy6jxNcA/s640/blogger-image-56092971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3q7LEJJXhZreXJYspr3YOQX7X-PDS7A0wL7XCDBGxW_HoDldyRKUnQGgboyhyphenhyphenHEN4Hn1XvWCprVOqSBdoB-XtiCFEltUUxgTJXD2at8d1rB-p5rvDqfKyOWYgjVGR5fz54yhy6jxNcA/s640/blogger-image-56092971.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjay6D15XC5usbbtaz1RsOGHQe15lVjWFOiIhs7Whxa7sK59tUuw0IvA06Vyh8jEntrEx1TL1R1urIpdwzip7bhVQ9DHypB071T-T0C53ZTP0QgGUvVL8QF34rXGDf2pfpifkxtj5wMXw/s640/blogger-image--1163152005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjay6D15XC5usbbtaz1RsOGHQe15lVjWFOiIhs7Whxa7sK59tUuw0IvA06Vyh8jEntrEx1TL1R1urIpdwzip7bhVQ9DHypB071T-T0C53ZTP0QgGUvVL8QF34rXGDf2pfpifkxtj5wMXw/s640/blogger-image--1163152005.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmCmR-IOA4_PRmP6q33jiN-ogI1Os802cbjDtEB0wDV1bKwHaAIHK_bwe0YXqi7LI2p64sYvi68eU5DzWFSLierp3RWjSGjur6yrMglHitdbPr6tr78rKmN287opTTEWtXxaeTL1VcA/s640/blogger-image-211034492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmCmR-IOA4_PRmP6q33jiN-ogI1Os802cbjDtEB0wDV1bKwHaAIHK_bwe0YXqi7LI2p64sYvi68eU5DzWFSLierp3RWjSGjur6yrMglHitdbPr6tr78rKmN287opTTEWtXxaeTL1VcA/s640/blogger-image-211034492.jpg"></a></div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The glass in the door and the sidelight will be replaced to give it a more modern look. </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickLBzGj7o-n9IG8CmpbBfZtCdXBED0A09TxXEaW42P8ZqLAEaO94rE1IIeHG9_UZj2JxjTTfzOZgKcldNGg1ECBYHa0E-dFz4upSxfuDmWaENugGwmGG3P00Uxjw04RqBeFkRzx60Xw/s640/blogger-image--957082724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickLBzGj7o-n9IG8CmpbBfZtCdXBED0A09TxXEaW42P8ZqLAEaO94rE1IIeHG9_UZj2JxjTTfzOZgKcldNGg1ECBYHa0E-dFz4upSxfuDmWaENugGwmGG3P00Uxjw04RqBeFkRzx60Xw/s640/blogger-image--957082724.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The bricks from the walkway were removed to accomodate the clematis that I split from the one growing on the other side of the garage. The walkway will be rebuilt with a more modern update and to frame the new flower bed a few feet away. The clematis did well in the transplant and is sprouting some leaves.</div><div><br></div><div><b><i>Reflection:</i></b></div><div>It is a lot of work and a labour of love to pull all the over-wintered pots of Geraniums and bulbs out of the garage each morning, only to return them at the end of the day. It is still too cool to leave them out overnight. Seeding and watching everything grow is all worth the effort and really.... I love being in the garden. Today I was substitute teaching in our local high school where the students were so excited about transplanting the seedlings and just being involved in the greenhouse. Teaching our kids about gardening and sustainable living is actually interesting to them. Surrounded by all these young people who were involved, engaged and solving an infestation of the arugula like pros!! One young man spoke to me of a plant he has taken great pride to grow at home in his room. He did not realize how much he would ultimately enjoy taking the course and now he is hooked. </div><div>My own children have become involved and interested in the urban garden and the seedlings. My son is keen to get involved in any project that we are involved in and has become adept at using the power tools to create the above ground boxes. He is quick to help take the plants in and out of the garage with me and is now getting up earlier on the weekends when he knows that he is needed for another project. Our daughter loves the greenery and in the summer, she will begin her home gardening business in the neighborhood.</div><div><br></div><div><b><i>This week....</i></b></div><div>On Tuesday, I am heading out to <b>Heeman's</b> for a quick class in planting. I am always keen to learn techniques from others.</div><div>http://www.heeman.ca</div><div><br></div><div>I am heading to <b>Whiffletree Farm</b> on Friday with my friend Mary. We are looking forward to meeting Steve. He is the quintessential Tree Hustler. You can find him on FB </div><div><br></div><div>https://www.facebook.com/treehustler</div><div><br></div><div>http://www.treehustler.ca</div><div><br></div><div>http://www.whiffletreefarmandnursery.ca/cold_hardy_fruit_trees_and_plants_s/1819.htm</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657150902167204424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454838567892747633.post-34955593979467573782014-04-23T20:21:00.001-07:002014-04-27T19:43:57.201-07:00Completing the Urban Garden<div><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><i>Monday April 21st</i></b></div><div><b><i><br></i></b></div><div>We have completed the installation of the boxes. This has taken 3 full days and a lot of sweat equity to level each of the boxes on what appeared at first to be a relatively flat front yard. We could not have been further from the truth!!! That being said, the look is fantastic!! </div><div><br></div><div>We have decided not to remove the sod from inside the boxes because the ground is completely clay beneath a thin layer of topsoil. I have also discovered a number of grubs (removed from ground and pressed between gloved hands - they are voracious eaters who destroy root systems) within the roots of the grass plus plenty of healthy worms. I have attempted to remove as much of the good soil from the roots by rubbing two pieces of sod together (earth sides facing) which worked exceptionally well.... only later i was to discover very painful wrists as payment. I used the recovered earth to fill in the gaps made to dig in the boxes when levelling them into the ground.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwP00Yobk2FcCviSZFWwSynM4XGyaLj88uiQrGpTOH9svBB9wx5Ql7ZGPsywoEIw7rfy2PCpMrtanVFGNgATwWyJji9UYPgCKlTCvxpHQEiUwoUVetC7KDZow4npefkQRd2CcflPKBQ/s640/blogger-image--1146753958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwP00Yobk2FcCviSZFWwSynM4XGyaLj88uiQrGpTOH9svBB9wx5Ql7ZGPsywoEIw7rfy2PCpMrtanVFGNgATwWyJji9UYPgCKlTCvxpHQEiUwoUVetC7KDZow4npefkQRd2CcflPKBQ/s640/blogger-image--1146753958.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b><i>Tuesday April 22nd</i></b></div><div><b><i><br></i></b></div><div>I am working on a number of projects today. It is a brisk but bright morning, a sharp contrast to the weather yesterday. First I head out to the high school where I will be volunteering and supply teaching in the Green Industries/technical programs. I get to look around the greenhouse and the classroom. How exciting to have such a great program for students to explore techniques for seeding/transplanting and growing a multitude of different plant species. </div><div><br></div><div>Later in the morning, I head out to visit a few local greenhouses to get an idea of how greenhouses in industry operate and how they manage plants. Interesting that some of the local greenhouses will receive plugs - plants that have been started by seed/tuber or cuttings that the nursury will grow to maturity. There are so many plants in the greenhouse and nursery. The humidity hangs in the air as employees bustle about watering everything despite already looking damp. I learned with my own greenhouse that watering often is key to a plant thriving even in a humid environment.</div><div><br></div><div>The afternoon sees me lining the beds with a permeable cloth that will allow water through but not weeds. The middle of the beds are lined with paper leaf bags or newspapers. We have also decided to use chicken coop wire to line the bottom of each bed and over top of the paper. There are many rodents in our area and we hope to deter digging under the beds. Some of the beds are shallow. We have anchored each wire lining in place with stones until they are filled with earth.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b><i>Wednesday April 23rd</i></b></div><div><b><i><br></i></b></div><div>I have decided to put a trellis up on the left side of the garage to match the one on the right. I have taken a picture and head off to Home Depot to pick up a match and then to purchase more lining cloth. Max will be picking up more chicken coop wire. The trellis is an exact match from the one I purchased a few years ago and the clematis that is in the original one is split in two and put in the ground once I have removed the paving stones and chips and dirt. Clematis like to have their roots covered and shaded, so I create a mini wattle fence at the base of both trellises.</div><div><br></div><div>Max and I finish the beds with paper and the chicken coop wire he has picked up from our local TSE store. He has also visited with Fisher Landscaping supplies and has ordered 6 yards of mixed soil and compost. It will arrive tomorrow morning.</div><div><br></div><div><b><i>Seeding</i></b></div><div><b><i><br></i></b></div><div>It has been a harsh few weeks with plants expiring due to the cold in the garage after a few days of the doors being opened while we were working. One of the trays capsized when the greenhouse was being rolled out of the way and most of the plants broke...... sad moment. I decided that I would get the seeds sprouting using wet paper towels after discovering that a number of seeds that had been planted in starter trays did not sprout and it was a few weeks before discovering that they would never sprout at all. So, I grabbed some glass jars and colourful dollar store parfait glasses and set to work to create markers and start the seeds sprouting.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2EJEU-5F2tSptChYVFPmy_CwafiSM54ExO6AADZOFI3FccWoQrkvUL61nupA1DhdrD4xhK-WNV7iZ691fTb98AJXbf5GjOlBSuqia5Gy98kDlHehqmE24Amt2b7D60Gs1Wtso9G_Qg/s640/blogger-image--1544395989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2EJEU-5F2tSptChYVFPmy_CwafiSM54ExO6AADZOFI3FccWoQrkvUL61nupA1DhdrD4xhK-WNV7iZ691fTb98AJXbf5GjOlBSuqia5Gy98kDlHehqmE24Amt2b7D60Gs1Wtso9G_Qg/s640/blogger-image--1544395989.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2ZVuGfRM7jsMjZlAAQWQTRW73pjva3cSWm5-54ynB8_CM_JBgkllwYm-ITZVtBzzOpgjfbYtqctdmX_PuqxLKqgx5oV-5OsJRHOAoPGzXi18UHaFqeBhBQXIRo8prc_wAlkNlgG5qw/s640/blogger-image-2075682631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2ZVuGfRM7jsMjZlAAQWQTRW73pjva3cSWm5-54ynB8_CM_JBgkllwYm-ITZVtBzzOpgjfbYtqctdmX_PuqxLKqgx5oV-5OsJRHOAoPGzXi18UHaFqeBhBQXIRo8prc_wAlkNlgG5qw/s640/blogger-image-2075682631.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgachNxsVD6XrODYZwfRNgY7ivTTsCBTRHyyy8syUQAhYacmZ3uBuYUyVP1gkI_Zqjo66EmXYifYNg4YGehIzEvcL567DAqiJ-WFsk-Iu0FxmK4KZl9yOd5XjLvr5PO04-itt-v4yId5A/s640/blogger-image--1129198609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgachNxsVD6XrODYZwfRNgY7ivTTsCBTRHyyy8syUQAhYacmZ3uBuYUyVP1gkI_Zqjo66EmXYifYNg4YGehIzEvcL567DAqiJ-WFsk-Iu0FxmK4KZl9yOd5XjLvr5PO04-itt-v4yId5A/s640/blogger-image--1129198609.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUl7RASDzvUlvL6-o98TdaXOoTfyJV6XpcdHk1bA3NDFPsSkWPvJeVHXv4egZdDfKGObRtGjkMbc-_Sx0Uv2Bjd1b7PnCaW-3BWPZkI8OIVr0_dCRB5e7mFOAhHtT4XpVuyqT0J-fQZQ/s640/blogger-image--1721921587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUl7RASDzvUlvL6-o98TdaXOoTfyJV6XpcdHk1bA3NDFPsSkWPvJeVHXv4egZdDfKGObRtGjkMbc-_Sx0Uv2Bjd1b7PnCaW-3BWPZkI8OIVr0_dCRB5e7mFOAhHtT4XpVuyqT0J-fQZQ/s640/blogger-image--1721921587.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip802UOSnfHmTx-IxHQFWMXsZJDODi95WNgsbM5cvi5AnoN9nBEGx4F7MpuYJQE1MBM-FU98nwDLf2n7JgnLvAXjunAUmeuTLfmyw1xAo98AgbBB1vDH3Tx-eqljlmPv9RpeOjDU1mVw/s640/blogger-image--1881103530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip802UOSnfHmTx-IxHQFWMXsZJDODi95WNgsbM5cvi5AnoN9nBEGx4F7MpuYJQE1MBM-FU98nwDLf2n7JgnLvAXjunAUmeuTLfmyw1xAo98AgbBB1vDH3Tx-eqljlmPv9RpeOjDU1mVw/s640/blogger-image--1881103530.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>I purchased some white shelf paper (one side adhesive) to use on the bottom of the seed pack to adhere it to the stick which slid nicely over the wide end. The shelf paper could be written on and stuck to each of the containers. It is important to note which seeds are which.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Thursday April 24th</b></div><div>We took delivery of 8 yards of mixed soil today. It doesn't look like much in the driveway but hours later, we finally finished loading up all of the beds with soil. The weather today is nice but terribly unpredictable with fluctuating temperatures and winds. This is turning out to be a difficult spring to guess what needs to happen when.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-8d81CbHsH7KPK7Tc0JBeh4SXlACh13VhqpeBF43-mLx4FZhj-ZFEYvH63bk88t9I_RbeQpuQ-P7HeobYK3nt7eha1v6SuIl6ExSBS3bzRU4SL51dGh1HNRFJri8m4-WI3mEAGTkKg/s640/blogger-image--133160188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-8d81CbHsH7KPK7Tc0JBeh4SXlACh13VhqpeBF43-mLx4FZhj-ZFEYvH63bk88t9I_RbeQpuQ-P7HeobYK3nt7eha1v6SuIl6ExSBS3bzRU4SL51dGh1HNRFJri8m4-WI3mEAGTkKg/s640/blogger-image--133160188.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b>Friday April 25th</b></div><div>I am at our local high school to talk about my urban garden and have created a slide show for the students to see what an urban garden might look like depending of what type of home you live in. I also stayed to plant some seeds in starter trays to prepare for the sale in a month. Later in the afternoon I planted 50 Gladiola bulbs, Day Lily, and Frescia bulbs in the front bed tucked neatly behind the wattle fence. I placed some twigs allong the bulbs to dissuade our furry visitors.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Saturday April 26th</b></div><div>Today is too cold and raining. I have to admit I am sore and tired so today is a stay in and relax day.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Sunday April 27th</b></div><div>A big shout out to my son who is now 20!! Happy Birthday. He is serving in the Armed Service so I am spending his day in our urban garden planting seeds. I will cover all the beds in a protective black mesh, water the gardens thoroughly and then place burlap over top to keep the day's warmth in. The seeds will take about two weeks to germinate and begin to pop up. I have plastic to lay over the plants overnight to prevent damage from any late frost. In France, cloches were used - they looked like little glass bells and enabled a grower to plant early by acting like miniature green houses. You can still purchase cloches but it is an expensive way to start a garden especially when an inexpensive clear plastic drop cloth can be used instead. Its not attractive but it only will be used for a few weeks in the spring.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOxI__lzNBQVFQzvujZTcp1rOpr_Bo1aM410hdlVepKcOa0CvybqekXab0y38aiUpDeWEs7nJRuA-N2hpfh3NjerrBD5GkCuXexfF5TT9Wazw9KYCUOqb4DZOsbADK5fHU19bgknl_VQ/s640/blogger-image-1008095689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOxI__lzNBQVFQzvujZTcp1rOpr_Bo1aM410hdlVepKcOa0CvybqekXab0y38aiUpDeWEs7nJRuA-N2hpfh3NjerrBD5GkCuXexfF5TT9Wazw9KYCUOqb4DZOsbADK5fHU19bgknl_VQ/s640/blogger-image-1008095689.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Pulling plants out of the garage every day to get sun!! I have seeded more marigolds to place around the garden beds. The tomato plants are looking a wee bit sad but they are growing now that they have longer time in the sun and under a grow lamp.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXjrL0JgyRzf4JArYVTp-GcW4wQV_XRT86FS8Uar-wOsBcFO4ueVkV_V82SfNjPIGd9nCydSO5ByRjIKSWAG4tcHTXauka2146JkYsbBvUAP2iB0pJQik49XUvXv4OigprIITi4fXLw/s640/blogger-image-438671247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXjrL0JgyRzf4JArYVTp-GcW4wQV_XRT86FS8Uar-wOsBcFO4ueVkV_V82SfNjPIGd9nCydSO5ByRjIKSWAG4tcHTXauka2146JkYsbBvUAP2iB0pJQik49XUvXv4OigprIITi4fXLw/s640/blogger-image-438671247.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>I split my clematis in half from the bed on the right side of the garage. I purchased a matching trellis and then weaved the smaller willow branches on the base of both of them. This helps to keep the roots in shade. The clematis needs to have roots in the shade in order to grow properly and bloom.</div><div><br></div><div>Our budget and planning will be illustrated in our next installment of our blog.... in the meantime, I have plenty of work to do for other projects I am doing.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657150902167204424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454838567892747633.post-59730571458178471212014-04-19T16:56:00.001-07:002014-04-19T18:46:53.111-07:00The Easter Weekend brings great weather for building above ground boxes.It's early Friday morning and my neighbor Craig ambles over to talk to us. He mentions he is trimming a pussy willow tree in his back yard. His son is creating a vegetable garden beside the tree which will cast a shadow on the bed when the leaves sprout. I have been looking for a willow tree to use the branches for a wattle fence. What are the chances that I would be offered cuttings so close to home? I head over to his back yard and I am thrilled to find enough branches to create not only the small bedding fence but also plenty of thicker branches to use as supporting stakes. The much smaller willow branches will be used to weave planter pots to decorate the front garden. Well, Craig got rid of his branches and I got myself a lot of great twigs.<div><br></div><div><b>Wattle fence preparation</b></div><div>The willow cuttings are sorted by size and the pussy willow ends are kept on until the fence is weaved between the upright posts. These branches will be kept in a large garbage can filled 1/3 full with water. I need to keep these branches alive in order to keep them flexible enough to bend without breaking. Willows love water and will root if left long enough in the water. These can be planted to make a live wattle fence but be careful.... these trees can grow super fast. The two small branches I planted in the backyard 2 years ago are already 8' tall and a 3' spread. Its not recommended to grow these trees on your city lawn... they could be on the banned list, so check with your city bylaws on trees. You can clip the pussy tips when you begin to weave the fence.</div><div><br></div><div>Wattle fences have been made since mankind started to raise animals for food or planting beds to keep animals out. In Cuba, fences were made with fast growing cacti succulents. It is a great way to reuse natural materials and very inexpensive if they are given to you. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3z_mZ7VRmPp1p_D7l9KHKAqF8Sw887PVp9u34cvuNtsD-RjQGVEzP4AcJMAkzwXl8sJlzoxx7AZZfl3oE02fyDNFCzppolbFRLlOlUhR6-L5cX9mEsqSBHIqlw-041WiV7YUIz9S0SQ/s640/blogger-image--563807544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3z_mZ7VRmPp1p_D7l9KHKAqF8Sw887PVp9u34cvuNtsD-RjQGVEzP4AcJMAkzwXl8sJlzoxx7AZZfl3oE02fyDNFCzppolbFRLlOlUhR6-L5cX9mEsqSBHIqlw-041WiV7YUIz9S0SQ/s640/blogger-image--563807544.jpg"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3z_mZ7VRmPp1p_D7l9KHKAqF8Sw887PVp9u34cvuNtsD-RjQGVEzP4AcJMAkzwXl8sJlzoxx7AZZfl3oE02fyDNFCzppolbFRLlOlUhR6-L5cX9mEsqSBHIqlw-041WiV7YUIz9S0SQ/s640/blogger-image--563807544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKu38DNdC_VHUQ3TNGD4z7_gyulyhgq_dfDPkOq9YkjEZKweb3Y6ARvlKX2bqFQQpr2oVpAdyzXvU8XOErpAeDWE8uithy2d7_vepgf90b4_XGtO00LfOFKS-1W23RergL1rlpeJ3L-Q/s640/blogger-image--1104961083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKu38DNdC_VHUQ3TNGD4z7_gyulyhgq_dfDPkOq9YkjEZKweb3Y6ARvlKX2bqFQQpr2oVpAdyzXvU8XOErpAeDWE8uithy2d7_vepgf90b4_XGtO00LfOFKS-1W23RergL1rlpeJ3L-Q/s640/blogger-image--1104961083.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div>Sorting the willow sticks on the front line and prepping them within a short time of being clipped ensures we will have nice flexible branches to work with. <br><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1W0WB88xjv8TM2skYh8Jwd_RQL25BuDFo8udZuBvxmzLbUvSeWyCp99kYKtSNAddI7JWQ0eAgaluA9DNJMHtZt7VcUkZ467KSXbnD9neosvY2W1fcChMV5b6-CHlBxaMAVUZJf4Zdg/s640/blogger-image-1999341451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1W0WB88xjv8TM2skYh8Jwd_RQL25BuDFo8udZuBvxmzLbUvSeWyCp99kYKtSNAddI7JWQ0eAgaluA9DNJMHtZt7VcUkZ467KSXbnD9neosvY2W1fcChMV5b6-CHlBxaMAVUZJf4Zdg/s640/blogger-image-1999341451.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhLWHliWljeg1pTeB6-fHXidf2xF0dFOTi6zUufkwuMgwbqsZu6n9G7EGSMTaIE0o6Q5rCMmiUrcNwZ9eqMIXHWGn9WoO1Sr2nE-LTr-fLoe4bgWWI3j1NvQjjVXuUdtrZwJZ1CxPkA/s640/blogger-image--1648314313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhLWHliWljeg1pTeB6-fHXidf2xF0dFOTi6zUufkwuMgwbqsZu6n9G7EGSMTaIE0o6Q5rCMmiUrcNwZ9eqMIXHWGn9WoO1Sr2nE-LTr-fLoe4bgWWI3j1NvQjjVXuUdtrZwJZ1CxPkA/s640/blogger-image--1648314313.jpg"></a></div></div><div>Mitch is using the circular saw to create stakes with the larger willow branches he cut to 4' lengths.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Building the above ground boxes</b></div></div><div>Max has been measuring and marking the ground where he will be installing the boxes. He has elicited the help of our son Mitch who is eager to use the power tools. This has become a family project and its good to see the kids just as excited as we are!!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AXfh2u3WSKoW09dHij7i1B3z7Jvj-TCZaiVq1DrL0xMhwKeOpH7ZsirZFU68pPzZ23jdf5Tncq-PZShpKsUmQ-mnEardel_omcw89yFqEFmzOWctqqw-KIIR0KVCB_nzLRHy2KFFzA/s640/blogger-image--1263099976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AXfh2u3WSKoW09dHij7i1B3z7Jvj-TCZaiVq1DrL0xMhwKeOpH7ZsirZFU68pPzZ23jdf5Tncq-PZShpKsUmQ-mnEardel_omcw89yFqEFmzOWctqqw-KIIR0KVCB_nzLRHy2KFFzA/s640/blogger-image--1263099976.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Measuring and marking for the boxes to be installed in our urban neighborhood. We are fortunate to have large front lawns and big back yards. Urban gardening does not have to be just about larger yards when you consider most new homes do not have them. Vertical gardening in those instances are the best alternatives.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDyVJlgnzZYuiMzDfmWqFbxAkfPb33KDh6JOcr4AewalyHUI4U4IN-8Ccktfrziao4nUS9BzVS48CbM8qMeo5KPV18AaAJKS_Zw6K5C4h1Om6Y_7mRHiNbLbmakYQVQWyrd-KJda6TOw/s640/blogger-image--99892829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDyVJlgnzZYuiMzDfmWqFbxAkfPb33KDh6JOcr4AewalyHUI4U4IN-8Ccktfrziao4nUS9BzVS48CbM8qMeo5KPV18AaAJKS_Zw6K5C4h1Om6Y_7mRHiNbLbmakYQVQWyrd-KJda6TOw/s640/blogger-image--99892829.jpg"></a></div><br></div>The potato boxes are getting ready to be inserted into the ground.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Making an attractive and welcoming garden includes the house.</b></div><div>We want people to feel that they can feel welcome to pop by and talk about our project and spend some time talking to us about their projects. One thing gardeners love most..... talking about the gardens they love and swapping tried and true tips. Today, I headed down the road to 'Diamonds and Toads' in St. Thomas to pick up some Annie Sloan Chalk Paint TM from the proprietor Michelle. She is amazingly talented and has some incredible ideas. She is sending me some information on using the paint for the great outdoors. I have picked up 2 quarts for $90. Yes, its expensive but a true quality paint that will cover anything you need to paint with little to no prep. It does not need special care for outdoor use and keeps its color vibrant despite heat, cold and rain. It is easy to paint 3 coats in an afternoon. The paint is rich and as thick as a good yogurt and is remarkable in the coverage!!!!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCUqYf-9U2AC0r4cRvyHrQx1KS7gOA_rZ_DfhSvDKmLZBBlgeZALgzBXyibT0vt4HCOtrDAMNkiqwJAD3uTQhd5myYvK7-dL45fcnyThPhfA2uhc0dxkKHAeIuU-KhSVJKLgB321rkA/s640/blogger-image-1107602024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCUqYf-9U2AC0r4cRvyHrQx1KS7gOA_rZ_DfhSvDKmLZBBlgeZALgzBXyibT0vt4HCOtrDAMNkiqwJAD3uTQhd5myYvK7-dL45fcnyThPhfA2uhc0dxkKHAeIuU-KhSVJKLgB321rkA/s640/blogger-image-1107602024.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>I use some minor prep work by washing the door down with TSP and hot water. I rinse it off with warm water then begin taping around the trim. Prep time about 40 minutes.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheNHr_RaF39kRKlwVSRInJEu09BjOYeOWDocF-ZBlW9kiYEFxeUPnkZeXGXqD6KqgQ5smBVcg1upJaHEBcyYK_cLbIH0eCzkrGJk9Z9Nf0PKM8k-NRpP1i6l3YhbzciVXDOfH7dJDo5Q/s640/blogger-image--1077128620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheNHr_RaF39kRKlwVSRInJEu09BjOYeOWDocF-ZBlW9kiYEFxeUPnkZeXGXqD6KqgQ5smBVcg1upJaHEBcyYK_cLbIH0eCzkrGJk9Z9Nf0PKM8k-NRpP1i6l3YhbzciVXDOfH7dJDo5Q/s640/blogger-image--1077128620.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The new look using 'Emperors Silk' Chalk Pain nicely framed by the dark chocolate trim.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEu61GRBwWTlNUBYH3_22hMFLermaRKZH2UzD3phmSUyJkZYahVmiq31u1_twbgtEr2CKrrhvY5e1t8XMdvH_O96Dwr-2NuVWHipoAkS8bqlVJVEF9-uxEznNlASWKBk5D4x1oBOfLA/s640/blogger-image--1308961500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEu61GRBwWTlNUBYH3_22hMFLermaRKZH2UzD3phmSUyJkZYahVmiq31u1_twbgtEr2CKrrhvY5e1t8XMdvH_O96Dwr-2NuVWHipoAkS8bqlVJVEF9-uxEznNlASWKBk5D4x1oBOfLA/s640/blogger-image--1308961500.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The potato boxes are sporting the lovely rich 'Emperors Silk' red paint. I have a few more projects that I painted, including our house numbers above the garage and a milk can which is recieving some other touches before it heads outside as decoration for the garden. You can see the willow branches still in the water just waiting for me to create that new fence.... can't wait to start the weaving!!!!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOD5R5MvVSsOhC5YYh5U6jTiWxmCZiZxK7bfnZj1bcYM90dPn3J_9nQ5sAfMXqWQa3rllhAekdxfvKh-yDfumY36I07jRkalEyrfEUIDNrens5QTU9Uewoa346v9uiFN04ZZRYiKS6MQ/s640/blogger-image-1115898519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOD5R5MvVSsOhC5YYh5U6jTiWxmCZiZxK7bfnZj1bcYM90dPn3J_9nQ5sAfMXqWQa3rllhAekdxfvKh-yDfumY36I07jRkalEyrfEUIDNrens5QTU9Uewoa346v9uiFN04ZZRYiKS6MQ/s640/blogger-image-1115898519.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>The first 3 planter boxes have been levelled and screwed into stakes driven into the earth. We have another few boxes left to build. The Wattle fence will go the entire length and curb side of the two rectangular boxes butted up to each other. The front lawn is sloped to the road so Max will install the remaining boxes slightly higher to offset the rise in the land nearer to the house. </div><div><br></div><div><b>Greenhouse Plants</b></div><div>It has become disappointing for some of the plants to have expired (tomato plants need to be warm) with the cold air blowing through the garage with the door being open for the past two days. Although everything was tarped and we kept the grow light on, it wasn't enough. It is a lesson learned in this new venture. I do have a contigency plan to purchase many vegetable plants in the spring once planting season has begun. It will be noted for next year to create a better growing area in the basement away from the cooler climate of the garage now that we have a grow light. When I was a young girl, my Mom only seeded her garden in the early spring. Normally I would have put the seeds in the ground in March/April but this season has been incredible challenging with the cold and snow slowing our construction by 2 weeks. The soil will be ordered this week and I will begin the first sowing of seeds as soon as that happens.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Bulbs</b></div><div>I have purchased some flower bulbs which will create a colourful and welcoming environment. These will be planted as soon as the wattle fence is built and soil put in. We will have to make sure our furry friends can't help themselves to a yummy easy meal.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Next Week - </b></div><div>Planting bulbs </div><div>Planting new seeds</div><div>Projects to beautify the garden</div><div>Wattle fence weaving</div><div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657150902167204424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454838567892747633.post-27893364226300063532014-04-12T18:26:00.001-07:002014-04-14T20:00:37.074-07:00Creating excitement<div>Our neighbors have been showing a great deal of interest in the activities this weekend of Max spray painting the lawn with a bright orange can of marking spray. He is in the process of creating the ground work for installing the beds by marking out exactly where the beds will be placed. He has made sure that a lawn mower and ourselves will fit in between the boxes should we have to expense out costs over a few seasons. I have been transplanting on the front porch surrounded by flats of plants and neighbors have popped in to see how things are going. Not everyone will be on-board with your plans for an urban garden, so making it as appealing as possible and having great curbside appeal will help to dissuade fears of 'guerrilla gardening' (things just haphazardly arranged with no concern for esthetics) . Gaining interest and encouraging discussions will also include a small lawn sign with a link to our blog....so even the shy ones can be included in our adventure or the not so friendly neighbor across the way. Always find out from the city what the bylaws, if anything are and then comply to those. The better your garden looks and the more appealing it is to visitors walking, biking or driving by, the better opportunity for them to start one themselves or to respect the one you have created.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Note: </b>look up your city bylaws to ensure you are following the law and that you will not have to remove what you worked so hard to install. Our house is zoned as R02 and as such, we have to have approximately 10 feet from the curb as the road allowance. You should also be aware that you could be faced with a stiff penalty for trimming or killing the tree(s) without permission from the city - trees that are typically considered boulevard trees and which are within the allowance. In our city, it could cost you thousands of dollars for an amateur attempt at trimming of which one of our neighbors is facing. The city has arborists and are responsible for any and all trimming of trees on city property. If you have any questions, the City Manager office will be more than happy to help. Taking things into your own hands is just asking for trouble!! There is also a list of banned trees in our city and if you plant them, you will have the responsibility of removing them yourselves. When I first moved into our house, the entire back property line was planted with Hawthorn bushes!! These nasty needle sharp thorns were a challenge to remove. There are better trees that can be used as ornamental trees that attract butterflies, birds and beneficial insects for pollination for your garden. </div><div><br></div>This weekend, the weather is in the double digits. It is a great time to clean out the garden beds and pull the early weeds and plants that you do not want now that the earth is warm and wet. We have a number of large wheeled garbage containers which we use specifically for green curb pick-up and a complement of paper yard bags. The previous home owners had planted a number of perennials and not all of them desireable. It is a constant battle trying to curb those that spread seeds throughout the garden with the assistance of my cat and the myriad of rabbits, so it is wise to pull them early and before they get a chance to produce seeds. This week, with the snow gone, there are a few flowering shrubs that have a fair bit of rabbit pellets beneath which indicate a healthy population and I expect they will want to visit the gardens which is part of the reason why we chose the above grade planting boxes. The pussy Willow in the far corner of the back yard has been chewed on and many small green branches have been severed and are laying on the ground which again point to the long winter and the healthy 'rodent' population. The snow banks have damaged a few smaller trees and these have been carefully trimmed below the damage and above the new buds. <div><br></div><div><b>PLANNING</b></div><div>It is always best to create a plan and then to implement it by outlining where you expect things to be placed. Max wanted a little bistro set to be in the front nearest to the house. This way, we could have a coffee, work or just read the paper in the morning before gardening. We have a neighbor who has gifted us with one they no longer use. Free is alway welcome!! Of course, she will be gifted with some sun-kissed, freshly picked ripe tomatoes this summer as a thank you!! We want to have more than an urban garden, we want an experience we can share with others. It is important to create feel good, welcoming and healthy environments.<br><div><br></div><div><b>Outlining the garden</b></div><div>Materials: </div><div>1 spray can - orange marking spray</div><div>1 36" wooden stake </div><div>String</div><div>Measuring tape</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBP-vtFiF3gFInjHkUGSflrJ76SnZqcRrTbDh0GVa0XiZ8SxgM4SkaTCEogu7Kf7lNh3BygAKsXJ-mH4YDFh-VG1IxMkKus3pUaoIKCA9t0cAt_DuE7QpdoXJ2rxbwfN8QdO1SuwmYg/s640/blogger-image--1678234331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBP-vtFiF3gFInjHkUGSflrJ76SnZqcRrTbDh0GVa0XiZ8SxgM4SkaTCEogu7Kf7lNh3BygAKsXJ-mH4YDFh-VG1IxMkKus3pUaoIKCA9t0cAt_DuE7QpdoXJ2rxbwfN8QdO1SuwmYg/s640/blogger-image--1678234331.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Max has hammered the<b> 36" stake</b> into the ground to signify the middle of the small sitting deck. He will not only use this to mark out the round sitting deck but he will also use it as a center guide for the boxes and paths. Max selects a length of <b>string</b> that will represent the radius of the circle - equal to 1/2 of the total diameter. With one end tied to the stake and the other end tied around the<b> spray can</b>, Max will walk around the stake with the string taut and spray a perfect orange circle. He shortens the string by 6" and creates a half arc at the top and in parallel with the first circle. Rocks will be placed between these two lines and create some interest to the garden and allow for flowers to be planted. The plants within the circle have been dug out and relocated above the circle knowing that it will rain overnight. This rain will help to get the transplants started in their new home. Within hours the thunderstorm hits and sends a deluge of rain to the warmed earth below.</div><div><br></div><div>Max has used a <b>measuring</b> <b>tape</b> from the stake to the farthest point where the flower bed will be planted to dress up then vegetable garden. Paths will be 24" wide throughout the garden and materials are discussed. We are using raised beds so we have many options. Depending on how much we have in our budget, we can use anything from crushed gravel, pea stone or mulch. Mulch is relatively inexpensive but will have to be topped up yearly.</div><div><br></div><div><b>G<i>row Light ( http://www.hydrofarm.com/our-brands/jump-start.php</i></b><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><i> )</i></b></div><div>Despite our best efforts to encourage growth of our seedlings, it has become clear that the weather is less than cooperative and our plants require more 'daylight' and warmth afforded to them. Today I purchased a Grow light (Jump Start 4') and one that could provide enough light for not only the seedlings but also the outdoor potted plants I stored in the garage to over-winter. It is a nuisance to drag out the pots on the days in the spring that are in the double digits, only to drag them all back in again before the temperatures drop. Yesterday, I spent hours folding paper pots and transplanting the tomato plants that are looking rather sorry from lack of light. I cleared out a corner of our garage and suspended the adjustable light hanger with 4' bulb and angled to reach all the plants. The best part... this unit was on sale for $60 off!!! This unit can be used all year round to produce lettuce and other veggies. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOV-POsSUkSL_ux60BoVXDSWm4-t1yQ3zFiJ3HchYBZJQh-KCA55hhyZnEd3rRHdj4Tdx_EyHzY-wrVytJy7RlUGCi-Mg813G7Py26FSV6_fy3Nnc-GfI6NvtgezK0kwrr9cBFybHz8g/s640/blogger-image--958905086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOV-POsSUkSL_ux60BoVXDSWm4-t1yQ3zFiJ3HchYBZJQh-KCA55hhyZnEd3rRHdj4Tdx_EyHzY-wrVytJy7RlUGCi-Mg813G7Py26FSV6_fy3Nnc-GfI6NvtgezK0kwrr9cBFybHz8g/s640/blogger-image--958905086.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksw6Njw1bDicd9s9Pc5bMGMSSateiZATpwAQ1llurvLFkFm1lWAfffiQwXciBe858hpbjY8ATGR5oNji3QhMcO-rIsZj68IR5IVxd5svNzx-6ttzUdF-7h6_Om8kPirdJGdqu-o_8RQ/s640/blogger-image-125155714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksw6Njw1bDicd9s9Pc5bMGMSSateiZATpwAQ1llurvLFkFm1lWAfffiQwXciBe858hpbjY8ATGR5oNji3QhMcO-rIsZj68IR5IVxd5svNzx-6ttzUdF-7h6_Om8kPirdJGdqu-o_8RQ/s640/blogger-image-125155714.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div><i>Tomato plants:</i> These plants need to be transplanted so that the roots are at the very bottom of the paper pots and filled to just under the first set of true leaves. The hairs on the stalk will produce roots and help to create a stronger stalk. Healthy leaves should be emerald green and rigid. Some plants might seed but then do not thrive without ideal conditions of light and moisture. This of course is what we are currently dealing with and of course the fact that the light from the windows encouraged horozontal growth.</div></div><div><i>Peppers</i><i style="font-weight: bold;">: </i>These have been consistently good growers and all from seeds harvested from store bought peppers. Their growth has been remarkable even without a grow light. They too require top lighting to give them upright stature.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidsytKATF71dlz0SJ75gqWR97PD-xpNJpBtGsGmbk0tLtoOtGFtxg2ntKCo65MHMxXPwCg8yL-1AJF1TejDk52OxTi4TrsczR4HUWvLRV-6tNb090yLt7t2dHvPGMpPCSah28k1wnojg/s640/blogger-image-938217064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidsytKATF71dlz0SJ75gqWR97PD-xpNJpBtGsGmbk0tLtoOtGFtxg2ntKCo65MHMxXPwCg8yL-1AJF1TejDk52OxTi4TrsczR4HUWvLRV-6tNb090yLt7t2dHvPGMpPCSah28k1wnojg/s640/blogger-image-938217064.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><i>Marigolds: </i>are in the flat to the far right and most of these have little flower buds in the middle. These seedlings have grown remarkably fast and most of the seeds took. For the few cells that did not, I have placed seeds in those cells to get a better yield. I have another flat that I will have to seed as well because there were fewer seeds that took in the first planting. Having these already blooming and in the garden will help when the transplanting begins to discourage cats and attract bees.</div><div><br></div><div><i>Squash</i>: These seeds take longer to germinate. Without a heating pad, these seeds took a few weeks and of course not all seeds took. It is by far easier to sprout these first in a glass container with wet paper towel to see which ones are viable and plant only those that will produce a plant. In the second photo below, you can make out the root shooting out and downward from the seed coating. Once the first leaves are out, I will plant them into a paper pot. These seeds are from a peppercorn squash.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePn8ytoEXQGJalIfYG-IiL93LfwnZW_4rBOMfhPCSNc3Myyr3QHxaiQYlpwfI9RPwLzPdVyMdZLIxnyOmTpZA0GV05t7vIpTAMUfWKZy3NuM98B-6-FA-9MBM9x0Gf62WDl2jL6elmg/s640/blogger-image-25093142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePn8ytoEXQGJalIfYG-IiL93LfwnZW_4rBOMfhPCSNc3Myyr3QHxaiQYlpwfI9RPwLzPdVyMdZLIxnyOmTpZA0GV05t7vIpTAMUfWKZy3NuM98B-6-FA-9MBM9x0Gf62WDl2jL6elmg/s640/blogger-image-25093142.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCdUBKfuIfrbLdO0Ypg4LNJfnIHiHAcuRUpzPQC25TbIk475lzBiz_R550IWetOpArTIGC1qj1H2BhBraqEtDetNRfd_ARWnxsXv2Ze2SBBQbGFgYAZHxAvCZKOfqrk7vH2d9QtgPvQ/s640/blogger-image-1740510590.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCdUBKfuIfrbLdO0Ypg4LNJfnIHiHAcuRUpzPQC25TbIk475lzBiz_R550IWetOpArTIGC1qj1H2BhBraqEtDetNRfd_ARWnxsXv2Ze2SBBQbGFgYAZHxAvCZKOfqrk7vH2d9QtgPvQ/s640/blogger-image-1740510590.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><b><i>Hints and Tips</i></b></div><div><b><i><br></i></b></div><div><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Lettuce, Swiss Chard and leafy greens: </i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">According to my friend Pat, who has years of farming experience - these should only be planted directly into the garden and I whole-heartedly agree!! These do not grow well at all without being directly under a grow light or sowed directly in a garden. </span></div><div><br></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><i>Potatoes: </i>According to Pat, when growing potatoes in an above ground growing box, you should line the bottom of the box above unturned ground with rotting leaves. She suggests that you place raked leaves from the garden beds into a black garbage bag and place it on the black asphalt driveway to really break it down quickly. She warns that it will be stinky but will serve the purpose of keeping bugs out. We will be building the boxes from the ground up by using four 36" stakes inserted into the ground forming a square. The four sides will have wood slats screwed into the stakes on ground level. Note: We will show you a step by step pictoral of our potato box build over the next few weeks.</font></div><div><br></div><div><i>Technology, Innovation and tried and true advice:</i></div><div><i><br></i></div><div>Using technology and innovative ideas to help grow a garden while implementing tried and true methods gives any beginner urban grower an advantage. Any advice from someone with experience is very worthwhile and will pay dividends in saving money, time and aggravation. Networking with other urban gardeners, books and online blogs are great resources as are local growers and the Farmer's Almanac. </div><div><br></div><div>As an Electronics Technologist, I will eventually want to incorporate some innovative additions to the ever evolving garden. I hope to eventually put in automatic drip irrigation, motion detect 'rodent' tripped sprayer and photocell controlled underlighting for the boxes. I will also integrate a few pinhole cameras to monitor the garden for little visitors and hope to get it streamed. I also want to use a waterproof camera in our fish pond to check on how they are doing... a live fishtank!! We cover the pond through the winter and until we remove the cover, we cannot see how they are doing. Our neighbor just lost all of his fish because the pond froze solid. Either his heater failed or he didn't use one. </div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Adding to the wish list would also involve using our fish pond in the back of the house to provide nutrients for a hanging strawberry garden which will provide shade, interest, filtration and best of all - food!!! Hydroponic growing at its best.</font></div><div><br></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><b><i>This coming week in the garden:</i></b></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">We will be cutting the pieces for the potato boxes and preparing them for planting. The planter boxes will be put together and hopefully I will hear back from a local business about the possible use of Chalk paint as opposed to wood stain that will leech into the soil. Investing in proper materials and protecting your investment are the important foundations for an Urban Garden.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">We will also check in to how the plants are doing now that they have a grow light to give them a much needed boost. </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657150902167204424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454838567892747633.post-47517101857791741152014-03-25T15:41:00.001-07:002014-03-29T12:42:32.786-07:00The longer days signify fast growth.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>This week in the seed growth is wonderful. The snow was falling until an hour ago when the sun finally came out and the greenhouse is drenched in the late afternoon rays. <div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbI1Lj2MYLzKkKYD8IhHawVx6Xow43AUHVLeeI7EzTLZYPF8smFZsQG4f_JhpbM-8OY4NnN0OKl34YSWz28rftBQ8wrTMUiGA1fy4dnnHxnPiOPaXR-EYP14OytkpYarLLgY42F0eSw/s640/blogger-image--39249007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbI1Lj2MYLzKkKYD8IhHawVx6Xow43AUHVLeeI7EzTLZYPF8smFZsQG4f_JhpbM-8OY4NnN0OKl34YSWz28rftBQ8wrTMUiGA1fy4dnnHxnPiOPaXR-EYP14OytkpYarLLgY42F0eSw/s640/blogger-image--39249007.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The <b>cucumber</b> seeds are fast sprouters in the extended daily light. The ones planted weeks ago are upstairs and have already produced the tendrils. these help to anchor the plants and soon, they will have to be staked to avoid attaching themselves to everything within reach!!! The snow is still on the ground today and yes, it snowed all day!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The <b>parsley </b>from last year's garden, which was wintered in the garage has become very green and is growing fast. To help to bush it up, it will need to be trimmed the next time I put on a pot of soup.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The <b>tomato</b> plants are growing and with the help of an overhead ceiling fan, are getting stronger by the day. I will be digging them in as soon as the above ground beds are built. First, we have to wait until the snow is off the lawn and the ground softens.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Marigolds - </b>these are growing well, so well, that i have planted another flat. These will be beneficial for the garden to keep out pests and the more the merrier. They are also a great colour addition to the garden. Do not deadhead these at the end of the season. Allow the seeds to mature then pluck them to save the seeds for the following year. These are prolific seeders and will often re-seed the garden. If this happens, just thin out the seedlings to allow the plants room to grown. They are beneficial in attracting butterflies and bees to pollinate your veggies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><i>Let's talk about composting.....</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><i><br></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Composting </b>is a science that when done properly, can provide your garden with nutrients from your kitchen scraps. We compost so many things in our garden compost container. Ours is one we purchased from the city years ago. It is black and has air holes for circulation and a door on the bottom in order to remove the compost. It is best installed in a sunny spot which is easy to access. This winter, Max had to snowblow a path to our composter so we could reach it!!! Despite the cold weather, the composter actually is quite warm in the middle. The breakdown of organics produces heat as a by product. This heat helps to break down the organics. If you don't have a composter, you can build your own using chicken wire. Loosen the earth for about 8 inches below the surface to allow you to turn some of your scraps into the ground to get the process going. The worms will love helping you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">What goes in?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUdSur3vsocM7wn_ibgP-KACZxHVMYpb-2uV9pHCQOIYagX7WBB9V9Iv1D3YG1HiZ51PBPeAoazmFi09T0bQq7xe5QM1_BjwSh5EwgBRGrltcygDW75aYnxp8BqcpsQnEtq_JLCQqPw/s640/blogger-image-1878598391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUdSur3vsocM7wn_ibgP-KACZxHVMYpb-2uV9pHCQOIYagX7WBB9V9Iv1D3YG1HiZ51PBPeAoazmFi09T0bQq7xe5QM1_BjwSh5EwgBRGrltcygDW75aYnxp8BqcpsQnEtq_JLCQqPw/s640/blogger-image-1878598391.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>What does not?</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4BG9w-Ue_Cyeqagi2yT97Ui5FPGTBviY2DnfzH8JoVZhloUQh76bQzxBvVTACreII8YCF3OKEwzOKIn5XyOwTm162-DyJTXHKa9wfl1Lp1ZXzPZiYxln5YmED5QSSPwYUkax4tBHPA/s640/blogger-image-519360739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4BG9w-Ue_Cyeqagi2yT97Ui5FPGTBviY2DnfzH8JoVZhloUQh76bQzxBvVTACreII8YCF3OKEwzOKIn5XyOwTm162-DyJTXHKa9wfl1Lp1ZXzPZiYxln5YmED5QSSPwYUkax4tBHPA/s640/blogger-image-519360739.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><b><i><u>Companion Planting</u></i></b></div><div><b><i><u><br></u></i></b></div><div>To improve and encourage plants to grow, companion planting is the way to go. This takes careful planning in advance. Know what your plants need and then provide the right space to grow these plants together. My father-in-law loves Basil and Tomato sandwiches and no wonder, these two plants do well together. Know what to plant and how to plant them together!! Heeman's, a grower east of London has some great tips and charts:</div><div><b><i><u><br></u></i></b></div><div>http://www.heeman.ca/guides/edibles/1299-companion-planting</div><div><br></div><div>http://www.londoncommunitynews.com/news-story/1354737-expert-gardening-tips-from-local-gardening-experts/</div><div><br></div><div><b><i>Tomato film</i></b></div><div><b><i><br></i></b></div><div><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwO6aVkejTB2EIlwxjqu0Xy8YCSAkPBs8nN7CKLYvpBillYiKm0pnyJm5y8UwElBUYs3HeEQ9bvAtAFsPYLy_S0LGCVFWpCf__oYEo4-jczUTeJDeMUCici3ovOGIaWJ26hefL7pq9rQ/s640/blogger-image-491680630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwO6aVkejTB2EIlwxjqu0Xy8YCSAkPBs8nN7CKLYvpBillYiKm0pnyJm5y8UwElBUYs3HeEQ9bvAtAFsPYLy_S0LGCVFWpCf__oYEo4-jczUTeJDeMUCici3ovOGIaWJ26hefL7pq9rQ/s640/blogger-image-491680630.jpg"></a></div><br></i></b></div><div>I found this handy 3' by 25' tomatoe film to help grow my tomatoes while protecting them from the late summer blight that yellows the leaves and reduces production just as you are heading into the pickling season!! This sheet is perforated to allow water to pass but prevents the earth from splashing up in heavy rainfalls. You can cut X's into the sheet to allow the sheet to be placed over the plant and pulled down to the soil surface. Planting the tomatoes sideways allows the tiny roots to form along the stem, making the plant healthier and stronger.</div><div><br></div><div>This sheet is 3' wide and the 6" around the perimeter of this sheet will be used to plant the marigolds. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of growing these flowers or nasturtiums to reduce the amount of pests in your veggie garden. You can stake the sheet down with pegs to prevent it from blowing around or by stapling it to the raised box edge. If you need to overlap the sheet, do so using an overlap of 4-5". </div><div><br></div><div><b><i>Planting Beneficial Marigolds</i></b></div><div><b><i><br></i></b></div><div><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiygA86loZCp9mv1mO20Vi4bviwP3FPPJ_LAFZ9Htsd9nZ7zJU-45OW7GhcHBMzhKzBVq5xtvCVwlfSLVN0adtVfGzOnD7C4JwyJXkem5XLNhuYI9RQdt74hyphenhyphenAxSlq1KurqIwh5LhVRwA/s640/blogger-image-487222572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiygA86loZCp9mv1mO20Vi4bviwP3FPPJ_LAFZ9Htsd9nZ7zJU-45OW7GhcHBMzhKzBVq5xtvCVwlfSLVN0adtVfGzOnD7C4JwyJXkem5XLNhuYI9RQdt74hyphenhyphenAxSlq1KurqIwh5LhVRwA/s640/blogger-image-487222572.jpg"></a></div>Photo courtesy of A.E McKenzie Co. </i></b></div><div><br></div><div>The marigolds (Cracker Jack) should be spaced 12" apart. This old variety will grow to 3' tall. It is also great to shade roots of plants where soil is exposed and will provide lovely colours while doing so. Dead head the flowers to promote more flower heads. At the end of the season, I will allow the last of the dead heads to mature the seeds, which I will store in the garage in a moisture proof packet once the seeds are dried. You can also place the seeds in your garden to get an early start in the spring. Either way, you will not need to purchase any more packets. </div><div><br></div><div><b><i>Making Garden Labels</i></b></div><div>All seed companies now have their seed packet photos available online. I simply use a word program or Martha Stewart Craft Studio on my iPad to create labels using picture and text. I then use a clear sticky polymer sheet to cover both sides of the label. Cut out leaving a 1/8" boarder around the label in order to keep moisture from reaching the paper inside. As you can see, I created many labels on one sheet to save paper.....how Eco friendly is that?</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLuzQ6yntp2t7n-1MtuA1Iueox3_Fmh7WsbyTvEBtGimKU6U8u1WRP5YSCXc4r-SZKjhekMG-oaLFAPTVR3OiascEvaCl8b_yavqzOHZX6nShp0R5SYL26D5nYCKy93tJKdrzFdn3Zpw/s640/blogger-image-1046097331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLuzQ6yntp2t7n-1MtuA1Iueox3_Fmh7WsbyTvEBtGimKU6U8u1WRP5YSCXc4r-SZKjhekMG-oaLFAPTVR3OiascEvaCl8b_yavqzOHZX6nShp0R5SYL26D5nYCKy93tJKdrzFdn3Zpw/s640/blogger-image-1046097331.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart Craft Studio and internet photos from A.E McKenzie Co.</div><div><br></div><div><b><i>New Garden Design</i></b></div><div>With all the many design elements we came up with, we knew the first design was more designer than friendly. Max and I decided to change the design to maximize growing space and to increase curb appeal. There are many considerations for growing Urban gardens and these were the main design elements:</div><div>1. Make it so that you maximize growing space.</div><div>2. Above ground planters to increase growing time and allow for cold frame installation.</div><div>3. Curb appeal.....while it is your property, others still have to live across the street and next door.</div><div>4. Consider the heat/amount of daylight. Is it morning or afternoon sun? </div><div>5. Do some plants need shade?</div><div>6. Companion planting</div><div>7. Pest control</div><div>8. Watering?</div><div>9. Unwanted neighbor intrusion - make sure the garden is not easily accessible to the street. Place a barrier garden or unique fence and plantings to be enjoyed by those walking by. We do not have a sidewalk but many people walk their dogs on the edge....some leave gifts!!!</div><div>10. Be willing to network with curious and friendly neighbors. We will have a sign with our blog link available so that our shyer neighbors or visitors to our neighborhood can see what we are doing.</div><div><br></div><div>Our new design will incorporate these elements......so here it is!!!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQL_q-u_qmlGaozLkrL7bZzhUarafoFLfbTJvNlSmNLpGV91TZ0oRDRpV7sZa25iUOm3oLb-20rS77l4kaoNGJtQBUluItwGwcJxZmrOmFwAjNx1tRBAXBedM3rCZ2oBzVQ777wDMsPA/s640/blogger-image--1269877096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQL_q-u_qmlGaozLkrL7bZzhUarafoFLfbTJvNlSmNLpGV91TZ0oRDRpV7sZa25iUOm3oLb-20rS77l4kaoNGJtQBUluItwGwcJxZmrOmFwAjNx1tRBAXBedM3rCZ2oBzVQ777wDMsPA/s640/blogger-image--1269877096.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>All the rectangle beds are 4'x8' except for the two facing the front of the house. These two will be 4'x7'. It is much easier to construct and section for plantings. With a 4' span and access from all sides, this will reduce the strain of stretching across. The street side has the bowed shape allowing us to errect a taller climbing fence that blocks the view from the street and a showy garden of bedding plants and flowering bushes relocated from the back yard. We will be taking a trip out to Elmira to a nursery to obtain any other fruit and berry bushes. </div><div><br></div><div>We are also considering making a wattle fence to decorate and separate our front garden from the street. It is a weaved fence using green wood that is still flexible enough to weave. It can be made into panels that can be removed before the winter to prevent damage from snow plows. It is a great way to recycle tree trimmings. Now we just have to find a good source of materials. There are laws about moving wood from one location to another now that the forest city has been hit by the Ash Borer.</div><div><br></div><div><b><i>Hints and Tips</i></b></div><div><b><i><br></i></b></div><div><b>Repotting seedlings - </b>we planted two seeds into each pot. Once the first leaves are out and the plant is sporting a strong stalk, it is time to repot them into their own space. I do this before the roots intertwine making it impossible to separate. While most seed packets tell you to plant 2 or 3 seeds in each cell and then thin out, I will actually repot both seedlings into the newspaper pots. Use a proper potting soil or mix a potting soil with parts of compost and topsoil. I prefer potting soil because of the peat mixed in to hold the moisture. Tomato plants and their seedings are water hogs and I find the potting soil helps with this. Once the seedlings have been repotted, I usually keep them out of the greenhouse to make way for more seeding as the room is limited. They can then continue to grow bigger and then be planted directly into the ground without being shocked. Plants will need to be hardier off before planting. We will talk about this next week. </div><div><br></div><div>The <b>marigolds</b> will not be repotted because I have only planted one seed per cell (any seeds that did not start will have another seed placed in the cell). I want to get these flower seedlings to become pot bound - a process by which the roots fill and crowd the cell or pot. This will force the plant to produce flowers. I want these to be flowering before I place them into the vegetable beds. Once they flower, they will grow and flower non-stop (dead-heading encourages this by nipping off the dead flowers before they produce mature seeds). Flowers that are properly kept will grow quite large and fill out between each other. </div><div><br></div><div><b>Seed sharing</b></div><div>This is a great way to introduce new produce into your garden and for someone to benefit from your seed cache. Too many seedlings in your greenhouse? Great way to meet your neighbors by either selling them at the end of your driveway or gifting them. </div><div><br></div><div><b>Plan ahead for your produce for storage </b></div><div>Knowing your luck, you will have a gazillion tomatoes and not know what to do with them all now that your neighbors and office mates have reaped the benefit. You should have a game plan as to what you will be doing with your tomatoes. <b>Preserving your harvest </b>will be an ongoing process as your harvest begins to mature. I have a large chest freezer, which has been emptied and defrosted. It is unplugged for now just waiting for the season to begin. As the tomatoes ripen on the vine, what I cannot use will be placed on trays and put into the freezer until I have enough of them to make tomato sause or salsa. Veggies, like green peppers can also be frozen fresh without cooking and can be used for salsa and sauce. </div><div><br></div><div>If you will be canning your produce, you will need to purchase jars. I am always looking for <b>mason jars</b> and will accept any jars gifted to me. Glass tomato sauce jars from the grocery store are often mason jars disguised under a label. I always buy tons of lids and seals when they are on sale for just this purpose. I do not re-use seals. For the money you save, it is not worth losing an entire batch of salsa or sauce when the seals give way a few weeks later. I can't tell you how many I lost in the first season..... sigh!! Garage sales are usually the perfect place for finding jars. </div><div><br></div><div>I am growing <b>pickling cucumbers</b> and <b>dill</b> this year. While dill is usually cheap in the market, it is easily grown in amongst your flower beds. I love the aroma of fresh dill!! This can also be dried upside down in a warm place and put into mason jars for storage in a dark pantry. </div><div><br></div><div>The <b>apple</b> sauce I make from my quad apple tree is frozen after it is made, so jars are not required. </div><div><b><br></b></div><div>I am<b> </b>growing<b> bush beans, wax beans and green beans</b> this year.... to get a good steady supply, you will need to plant seeds for new plants about every 2 weeks. Once the plant slows in production, simply cut it down to about 3 inches above the ground. Do it right and the plant may well give you another production. Keep a diary on what works best and try to replicate what you do right for next year. Beans can be frozen but only after blanching them (quick steam bath)... they can also be pickled... yum!!!</div><div><br></div><div><b>Water melon</b> and <b>cantaloupe</b> can be 'balled' (a metal tool that scoops melon into ball shapes) and frozen for a sweet mid-winter treat. Simply place the freshly 'balled' or cut melon pieces on a cookie tray lined with parchment paper. Freeze the fruit balls and then place in a freezer bag in portions that can be used for a snack or desert for your family. I have a vaccume sealer but you can also just insert a straw and suck out the air in a resealable ziplock bag. This prevents freezer burn.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Carrots, potatoes and squash</b> can be stored in a cool place for many months in the dark. My mother used to use a bushel container filled with sand and would push the carrots into the sand to keep them fresh. My garage is always around 5-10 degrees C in the winter and is a great cold storage for my potted plants as well as for produce kept in paper leaf bags filled with newspaper or shavings. Cooked squash can be frozen for future use.</div><div><br></div><div>So you see, once you know how you can store your harvest, you can have a plan in place for collecting jars, creating cold-storage space, and purchasing a chest freezer if you do not have one. You may also consider purchasing a storage unit for your jarred goods.</div><div><br></div><div><b><i>NEXT WEEK</i></b></div><div>We will begin the process of planning out the garden plots to maximize the sun exposure, companion planting and vertical growing.......</div><div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657150902167204424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454838567892747633.post-80974252023870566432014-03-17T16:18:00.001-07:002014-03-17T17:05:17.003-07:00Time to plant melons and squashIt is a great day to plant your melons and squash and of course any other vegetable you wish to get into the ground and produce earlier. I am trying to maximize space in my tiny greenhouse by planting two seeds in each cell. These will be separated and repotted when they have their first leaves on. The cucumbers I planted weeks ago are now 5 inches high and are now growing rapidly in the newspaper pots they were transferred to. <div><br></div><div><b><i>SEED PACKETS</i></b></div><div><b><i><br></i></b></div><div><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1H53FDqVSY62sAVJ5qnVuDElsp1D3x_Y6MnpoLQ2crlCAXr1uIzKa8PmXdK3QhYVi72jf_VhsMgtCh5aCQPzzscdrfo2luwGbmzyvEq93pXHANq36LOcEvaHEbta9sZKGalcjoOLheQ/s640/blogger-image--1274933406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1H53FDqVSY62sAVJ5qnVuDElsp1D3x_Y6MnpoLQ2crlCAXr1uIzKa8PmXdK3QhYVi72jf_VhsMgtCh5aCQPzzscdrfo2luwGbmzyvEq93pXHANq36LOcEvaHEbta9sZKGalcjoOLheQ/s640/blogger-image--1274933406.jpg"></a></div><br></i></b><div><br></div><div>The dollar store had seed packets available @3 for $1. These were the essential ones most people would purchase . The ones pictured above were finds from the local big box hardware store. Even Martha Stewart has a nice selection of organic seeds!!! These are great finds for the beginner gardener as these give you a limited but good variety of seeds to sow in a small bed. Once you have grown the produce from seeds, you can always save the seeds they produce for next year. Gathering seeds will be just as important as finding the right seeds to plant this year. Seeds this year have cost us approximately $100. To purchase the same amount of plants these will produce or to purchase the produce would cost hundreds of dollars more. A mellon vine can produce a dozen or so in a season and at $3 per mellon, you are almost half way to the cost of your seed. Determine what you want to grow and how you will store your produce. Keep the packages for the information and what the veggie looks like. For tiny seeds such as celery, carrot and beets, seed tape is a great choice. You can easily plant these tiny seeds by simply unrolling the tape containing the seeds placed at the exact distance for growing. This reduces the amount of thinning necessary for plants to get the space they need to grow. </div><div><br></div><div>With experience, you will be able to recognize the leaves of plants as they begin to mature. If you have way too many plants or seed you wish to share.... this would be a great opportunity to meet your neighbors or swap plants with other gardners. I know my young mother of two Sarah is too busy to plant right now but with me helping her in her garden each year, she can have a very productive and healthy way to feed her girls.</div><div><br></div><div>In the months ahead, I will show you just how to store and preserve your harvest!! It is best to shop for seeds now as we enter into the growing season to get the best selection. </div></div><div><br></div><div><b><i>WHICH SEED IS WHICH???</i></b></div><div>Using the seed packet to note which seeds are which will eventually get soggy. My daughter came up with a way to keep track of seeds, especially in flats where many different varieties are planted. I liked her ingenuity so here it is... The writing is facing inwards and they are clipped where the seeds are planted. This way, we can still use them to dry our clothes on the line in the summer when they are not needed in the greenhouse. I did purchase a roll of clear plastic with adhesive on one side to waterproof the seed packet for outside in the spring.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoELifHdlDZ9SQYpTwRG_Y2vPwWjvCblbP-4ZIghsF9r35-Fam2j5EtVBA7sEyK1COScc3mriLNw7swvG2I3AyYePZ1cLDNxFZj4a-JCs_VUVGZtr6YgSK8hU1CMi0lyrtQGxHdZ4GPA/s640/blogger-image-934514092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoELifHdlDZ9SQYpTwRG_Y2vPwWjvCblbP-4ZIghsF9r35-Fam2j5EtVBA7sEyK1COScc3mriLNw7swvG2I3AyYePZ1cLDNxFZj4a-JCs_VUVGZtr6YgSK8hU1CMi0lyrtQGxHdZ4GPA/s640/blogger-image-934514092.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3HyOkUutdGeS3cZOvdBbdmldOcLfuop82bQyMXODzdL1YWr3BPCci65GklyUIeTLTrK3pMpC0J6_MfOR_DEVBLM1N-gW2CcG-uHHtw6EPvrNK_WZVPFY9aQ0e45aR-TPalVvPwCstjQ/s640/blogger-image-1407728434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3HyOkUutdGeS3cZOvdBbdmldOcLfuop82bQyMXODzdL1YWr3BPCci65GklyUIeTLTrK3pMpC0J6_MfOR_DEVBLM1N-gW2CcG-uHHtw6EPvrNK_WZVPFY9aQ0e45aR-TPalVvPwCstjQ/s640/blogger-image-1407728434.jpg"></a></div> </div><div><br></div><div><b><i>GROCERY STORE FINDS</i></b></div><div><b><i><br></i></b></div><div><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0jbm-EgbqvkB6bhMuDvOWZXChS8CUfZWqYJQe7klKy8C0258tYMe5iDM9FxCcfaGjo5tIjsBmPzjaer7s0t397D1X1nXky6Nv3tE25rGdRDLbAFoxR7OcpxccFvAcTMMieQ4UBrLUg/s640/blogger-image-1396339405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0jbm-EgbqvkB6bhMuDvOWZXChS8CUfZWqYJQe7klKy8C0258tYMe5iDM9FxCcfaGjo5tIjsBmPzjaer7s0t397D1X1nXky6Nv3tE25rGdRDLbAFoxR7OcpxccFvAcTMMieQ4UBrLUg/s640/blogger-image-1396339405.jpg"></a></div><br></i></b></div><div><b><i><br></i></b></div><div>With each trip to the grocery store, I select fresh produce that can easily be rooted to produce another plant. Those <b>green onions</b> with the roots still intact can be cut about 1/4 inch above the roots and placed in a cup of water overnight. You can then place these into seeding cells. For each cell that did not produce a plant from seeds, I simply pushed my index finger into the middle of a vacant cell, placed the roots in and pushed the soil back in place around it. <b>Boston red leaf lettuce</b> (pictured above shows new leaves forming) does not have roots but amazingly, just like the celery, I just cut off then ends about 1 1/2 inches from the bottom and placed in water. Small roots will form after you notice the greenery beginning to sprout leaves up through the middle. I then potted these in paper pots as well. These will mature faster than it will from seeds. Just about all veggies including the<b> tops of carrots and beets</b> will produce a new veggie. <b>Potatoes</b> in our cupboard are kept in the dark and allowed to grow eyes. These eyes will eventually produce vines that will grow our potatoes. Once the ground is ready, I will place these potatoes on the bottom of a potatoe box to produce over 100 pounds of them.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b><i>THE GREENHOUSE IS GROWING!!!</i></b></div><div>The asperagus is now a bunch of ferns growing every which way. I had hoped our spring would have arrived this month with the warming to the earth so necessary for planting these early producers. Only these will not produce for another few years yet to come. The far corner of our garden that has an abundance of daisies will be greatly thinned to accomodate for these new inhabitants. I look forward to harvesting these beauties in 2016.</div><div><br></div><div>The marigolds are growing quickly now that the roots are filling up the tiny cells they were seeded in. This week, I will be planting more Marigolds in paper pots now that I have run out of seeding cells.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHs_CILQGob9Oa3P8UWjhJNwLaqjqQ_2Nvv0Hv23VtwbfZyCb_QwmeKFN8JXkwA-G0Im94eLoylGUkU8tAtHfOxZNUQbq1ctFg_7_dynPGgGjq09LsUr7STlEGDkEuCMFSFi-J83bSQ/s640/blogger-image-1907975249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHs_CILQGob9Oa3P8UWjhJNwLaqjqQ_2Nvv0Hv23VtwbfZyCb_QwmeKFN8JXkwA-G0Im94eLoylGUkU8tAtHfOxZNUQbq1ctFg_7_dynPGgGjq09LsUr7STlEGDkEuCMFSFi-J83bSQ/s640/blogger-image-1907975249.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><b><i>OUR URBAN DESIGN IS DONE.....</i></b></div><div>The design we agreed on is shown below. The 'clown face' at the top is a sitting deck with room for two to have coffee in the morning sun. The dark area on either side is our existing garden where there are small bushes and some plantings. The dark triangles in the flower shape are the above ground planting beds that will have a small climbing fence at the outside edge. The paths in between (lighter colour) allow us to move around and cultivate our plants from all sides. The openings will eventually have raspberries and other low lying fruit bearing bushes planted. This will keep nocturnal visitors from freely entering the garden patch. The raspberry canes will be donated by our neighbor and planted once the boxes are completed. The stone front steps at the top of the picture and to the right have the wall of the garage to one side. This is the wall that will incorporate our vertical herb garden. All other areas are grass and places to plant some of our perennials from the back garden in order to dress up our vegetable garden. A small sign will be placed at the end of the driveway (black) offering a link to our blog so that our neighbors can see how our garden grows.</div><div><b><i><br></i></b></div><div><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYodP3Y19IE0a_AyThe204-lo6ybcqhOzOVAOrOsMK5cOeQhgPDmsD3tdgfodhNhXsgbRbnY6O-RO5FwknuZFz9pb3AUu2hpYbi5AvyvLHOM4V5mD_LGJ4_jImUzC4qAyi8F87ktHHRQ/s640/blogger-image--1573773148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYodP3Y19IE0a_AyThe204-lo6ybcqhOzOVAOrOsMK5cOeQhgPDmsD3tdgfodhNhXsgbRbnY6O-RO5FwknuZFz9pb3AUu2hpYbi5AvyvLHOM4V5mD_LGJ4_jImUzC4qAyi8F87ktHHRQ/s640/blogger-image--1573773148.jpg"></a></div><br></i></b></div><div><b><i>We welcome you to share your experiences as an urban gardener and your hints and tips to make a garden as productive as possible. This coming week:</i></b></div><div><b><i><br></i></b></div><div><u><b>PLANTING CHART</b></u><i>: We will have a chart compiled to let you know what plants work well together and what plants do not. Encouraging plants to grow and planting flowers like the marigolds discourage cat visitors while encouraging bees to come and pollinate the flowers that both vegetable and fruit plants produce. Bees and other pollinating insects are beneficial to our gardens. Some plants discourage non-beneficial insects to stay away. </i></div><div><i><br></i></div><div><u><b>PREVENTING ANIMAL INTRUSION:</b></u><i> The raspberry canes I mentioned earlier... some of them will be placed across the beds where new seedings are growing to discourage cats and squirrels from digging into the newly seeded earth. Rose canes also work well from the heritage roses. Some soil additives can also help deter squirrels.</i></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657150902167204424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454838567892747633.post-86828474271743592462014-03-11T17:22:00.001-07:002014-03-11T20:27:48.118-07:00Repotting on a surprisingly sunny warm day...Today was a great opportunity to get outside into the warmth of an unusual day amongst many cold and bitter ones this winter. I do not teach on Tuesdays and I was able to elicit the help from my brother-in-law Paul. He is always up for helping out no matter what the project. <div><br></div><div>I have so many leeks that I felt needed to be repotted because there were a number of seeds in each seeding cell. So, we dragged the potting soil and 3 dozen paper pots outside. The garage wall is in the sun from early in the morning to late afternoon. When the late afternoon casts shadows across it from the roof line, the heat stored in the bricks radiates outwards. This is the wall that we will do a vertical herb garden on within the next month. Today though, we are out of the light winds and sitting on the front concrete steps folding more paper pots. Hard to believe how many pots we really need. We decide to leave them outside to take in the sun until we could make room inside, so we used a ladder and a clear drop sheet - like using a cold frame.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4fzu6HR3EawTfvgOjz_R3twMeabFhnkXxobr99Dfs0tnBrgQ00G7IiAU0qHLcEibJiMNrsW-krsbbbV4WEmE9ekfSafOpFhHyNzhcBjDPq7nEZtGS2VQKgJcS0e788eQi6-_UTOsjg/s640/blogger-image-1583253604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4fzu6HR3EawTfvgOjz_R3twMeabFhnkXxobr99Dfs0tnBrgQ00G7IiAU0qHLcEibJiMNrsW-krsbbbV4WEmE9ekfSafOpFhHyNzhcBjDPq7nEZtGS2VQKgJcS0e788eQi6-_UTOsjg/s640/blogger-image-1583253604.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>This gave us time to pull together a wire shelf system in the kitchen to accomodate the transplants. A few minor adjustments and some wire to hold the middle together lend it strength to accomodate the wooden top shelf. This is a very bright kitchen during the day and we are running out of room anywhere else in the house. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhozgbb60d2H15_GD8PVsMma3uG0p08zpzIi4gKzOl6EbDJRrbhiBhbpNnfkejQ3XV7IAJLFTSZskj31BYmkJIPxtmmBUvKJw3z0xWVUIpR5Q37-GYG4PUD8dm9KJcQ-XS4km798FyGcw/s640/blogger-image-429165912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhozgbb60d2H15_GD8PVsMma3uG0p08zpzIi4gKzOl6EbDJRrbhiBhbpNnfkejQ3XV7IAJLFTSZskj31BYmkJIPxtmmBUvKJw3z0xWVUIpR5Q37-GYG4PUD8dm9KJcQ-XS4km798FyGcw/s640/blogger-image-429165912.jpg"></a></div>PLANTS ON THE GROW:</div><div>Greenhouse: mixed lettuce, Swiss Chard, watermellon seeds (today), spinach, peppers and marigolds.</div><div>Shelving: Asparagus, leek, celery (from grocery store - bottom of stock), and parsley.</div><div>Spare room: Tomato and Green peppers</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXnmr1fwJ0lozm_8lcqN_RhmIk0SbO0LmAGwAfUWkoRMywI47Kbxt62I8aN8X4KyIv2nefVM1h-wWxtIrR1D-g01BdfO4wiY8E6ODgZ8UpmjAIl3wscYFMWFWEm8rhq-n7a6wTc5qyA/s640/blogger-image-1102625658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXnmr1fwJ0lozm_8lcqN_RhmIk0SbO0LmAGwAfUWkoRMywI47Kbxt62I8aN8X4KyIv2nefVM1h-wWxtIrR1D-g01BdfO4wiY8E6ODgZ8UpmjAIl3wscYFMWFWEm8rhq-n7a6wTc5qyA/s640/blogger-image-1102625658.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The plant beside the celery is the parsley that I overwinter in the garage. It can be left in the ground through the winter months but this one was in a patio pot. The cells that are left vacant by seeds that did not sprout in the greenhouse are now used for veggies that have roots on them from the grocery store such as green onion. Simply cut off the bottom of the onion and push the root side into the earth in a cell. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29PiCq3yeYqAjU_R0CFtidNzZKfDez3bZ6bPnfkBqTXEV-dFFJFXHgOYGXC87_BogIvuqgg3uJ0di5QlxscWrc_cfhva55q7BYgB-HfrMdRI-MVUR7RloW17fVRSy6gQHmmL6n9WwPQ/s640/blogger-image--1154316510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29PiCq3yeYqAjU_R0CFtidNzZKfDez3bZ6bPnfkBqTXEV-dFFJFXHgOYGXC87_BogIvuqgg3uJ0di5QlxscWrc_cfhva55q7BYgB-HfrMdRI-MVUR7RloW17fVRSy6gQHmmL6n9WwPQ/s640/blogger-image--1154316510.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The tomato plants are growing well!!!! These are just a few of the 65 tomato plants. With the fan blowing across them each day this week, they are now standing upright and not laying down. With some research I have discovered that tomato plants can be planted deep or even sideways in the ground to encourage root growth along the stem. </div><div><br></div><div><b>Grocery Store Finds this week:</b></div><div>Green Onions - cut off the base of the onion with the roots intact. Inserted them into the ground roots first.</div><div>Butternut Squash - removed the seeds and put them in a bowl in the fridge to imitate a natural process in nature. Not sure if this will work but it certainly is worth a try.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Growing tips</b></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Using cold frames can extend your growing season. Using old windows and a thicker mm plastic to keep wind and cold off the plants and allow sprouting plants to begin in earth warmed by the sun. Our raised beds will all be fitted this season with clear plastic sheets in the spring and fall to keep the veggies from frost damage. Raised beds have the advantage of warming faster than the ground because the sides are exposed to the sun. </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><b>Preserving</b></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">This summer, I will be teaching a few friends how to preserve their produce in my kitchen. I will include recipes and how to's through the coming months. The bounty you grow can be easily preserved to last throughout the winter. </font></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><b>Comments:</b></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Would love to hear about your gardening tips or favorite recipes!! Let me know how your garden grows.</div></div><div><br></div><div><b>Next Week.... </b></div><div>Updates on the seedlings and whats being planted next..... materials for the raised garden and the final design for our front yard!!</div><div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07657150902167204424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454838567892747633.post-32650435764635619022014-03-09T15:20:00.001-07:002014-03-10T10:46:29.368-07:00Welcome to our newest blogMy husband Max and I have gardened and landscaped around our property for years. We have made some attempts at creating a vegetable garden, however, our urban environment is devoid of enough sunshine or space in the back yard. Even our pool is in the shade for part of the day and our feeble attempt at growing tomatoes in a small patch has not produced enough to make it worth the effort.... that is until now.<br />
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The idea of an Urban garden began a few months ago when I started to juice vegetables. I noticed that the prices in the grocery store fluctuated dramatically and began to rise. A drought in the states and our extended winter is going to have a far reaching impact on what we will be able to purchase at the local grocery stores. A drive around our local area to find producers is getting harder with the urban sprawl... and frankly, farms are being sold for the valuable property they are sitting on. Gardens are seen as opportunities for beautifying properties instead of feeding the inhabitants. Growing a garden to sustain our family, free of pesticides and other unknown chemicals only made sense. But where?? With a pool and a postage stamp box sized plot in the back, how were we going to do this?<br />
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Then it hit me.... why not use the front yard? The grass doesn't look great and the bunnies are always taking advantage of the clover that grows in abundance beneath the only shade under a spindly city tree by the curb. I don't want to pull weeds anymore and really, who wants to push a mower around to compete with the neighbours, when we could be using the mainly unused property for growing a sustainable garden. I first had to find out if there were any bylaws in the City of London with respect to Urban Gardens. There are no rules and no guidelines, however my email to the City has produced a contact who will be visiting in the spring when the snow leaves... hopefully soon.... and will do an 'Eco-yard Evaluation' for free. Megan has sent me a number of PDF's to teach me about companion planting (planting plants that benefit each other.... strangely, some, like people and pets, just don't get along), time of planting and events in the Civic Garden down the road from us. She will speak to us of water conservation and whatever other questions we have.<br />
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I informed my husband of my intentions. I received a strong NO. "Use the garden in the back". I asked him why?? His answer was simple.... "the neighbours won't like it and it won't look great". "What do you mean??" I stare at him from across the kitchen counter, "You are a designer, we both do landscaping and really, if the neighbour down the street can plant big plastic playhouses and play equipment on her front lawn.... I am pretty sure we can come up with something truly lovely". So, I took to my iPad and showed him the collection of websites I had been getting ideas from. He looked up when he saw the raised beds on one site. "That", he pointed to, "will be far too expensive!!" He made a good point. We have a shoestring budget and even less when I finish teaching next month. <br />
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Always up for a challenge, I email a CEO from a recycling company I met a few months back. His simple reply.... let me know what you need. Now Max is up for the challenge, knowing we have some donations coming in. He has been doing some research and we have both downloaded information on plantings and designs. We have to create a list of must haves and how much. We want to reflect the design from our back yard and pull that around to the front. Of course, there will have to be a vertical herb garden on the garage wall that is in sun from early morning to late afternoon. <br />
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FEBRUARY<br />
This month had us pulling out the Lee Valley Green House that we purchased years ago and was tucked into the furnace room collecting board games and discarded items. Next I had to find all the little seeding containers I have amassed over the years and purchase seeds and soil. I have harvested some seeds from grocery store bought vegetables and plants like celery that will regrow from a cut stalk in water.<br />
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The asparagus seeds have taken well in the green house and were transplanted a month later into newspaper origami pots. I had a limited number of plastic transplant pots and so I had to be creative using my shoestring budget of FREE..... the simple pots are easy to fold (will include this at the bottom of the blog) and I just water the bottom of the plastic tray instead of watering each pot. The newspaper wicks the water up to the plant. Easy peasy and cheap!! I learned a lot about asparagus.... it takes three years to mature... needs lots of room to grow and can grow roots up to 1.2 meters deep. Do not have to water these once established and they are a very early spring veggie. The rest of the year, they look like ferns.<br />
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Tomatoes - I am using a hardy early Canadian variety. There are 65 tomato plants now growing in my spare room. I learned that the little hairs on the tomato plants need to have a slight breeze blowing across them in order to hardy the stem and strengthen the plant... so I turned on the room fan during the day. I will transplant these in the new raised boxes with the newspaper pots which will decay into the soil. The entire pot must be covered with soil to prevent the newspaper drying and wicking the water away front the plant.<br />
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Pepper Seeds - got these from the green peppers I had in the fridge from the grocery store. Only two were successful so my next set of seeds were dried out for a few weeks and planted in March.<br />
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Marigolds - these super stinky flowers are just the trick for dressing up the garden and discouraging cats and other rodents from visiting.<br />
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MARCH<br />
The pepper seeds have been planted today in the seeding pots and placed in the green house. The flowering Hibiscus tree in my kitchen is blooming. I store my planters from the pool area in the kitchen where most people would put a table and chair.... The other flowering vines are doing well and should be blooming before the spring finally arrives.<br />
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<a href="http://www.forgreenies.com/origami-newspaper-seedling-pots" target="_blank">NEWSPAPER SEEDING POTS.</a><br />
Here is a great site for the instructions to folding the newspaper seeding pots.<br />
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The bottom two shelves of the green house showcase the asparagus and leek in the paper pots and marigolds on the bottom shelf. The marigolds are used to disuade cats and other pests from getting into the garden. My cat, like all cats, love fresh earth for washroom duty and this really stinky flower is not appealing to them.<br />
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