Since the May long weekend is a gardening turning point in Toronto, I figured that it was a good time to start blogging for the season. We had a very mild winter, with only about three snowfalls that required any shoveling, and a very early Spring, as well. So much sprang up. Actually, many things remained green right through the winter, such as the garlic I planted in the fall which had enough time before the cold to send up leaves. At first I thought that the whole crop would die over the winter, but the leaves stayed green, and they are now lush, with thick juicy stems that promise underground treasure.
Garlic:
There were, unfortunately, some losses, which where quite a surprise, considering the mildness of the winter. My regular Thyme, which had been growing vigorously for years, turned into a mound of crunchy brown twigs. My Lemon Thyme, however, did make it. 3 out of my 5 rows of Asparagus are not showing any signs of life, and something is eating the heads off of the few poor spears that are coming up in the first row. You'd think that who/whatever is eating it could show the plant some respect and at least eat the whole thing, but no, just the yummy tips are gone.
Decapitated asparagus:
The Lemon Balm was a gorgeous, bright green mound. Three mounds, actually. I say "was" because I already harvested it. I never know exactly where it's going to be, but I know I'll always have some. I harvested the big leaves, to allow all the suckers in the leaf bracts to grow.
Naked Lemon Balm:
The Lemon Balm harvest, laid out to dry:
I also have so much fun trying to find the spots where my catnip is going to be - its also never in the same place twice, but just like the Lemon Balm, it's sure to be somewhere. The mints (Chocolate Mint, Peppermint, Ginger Mint and Spearmint) are flourishing in their tubs, growing more abundantly then I have seen in years, and everyday I pull out handfuls of Forget-Me-Nots to make room to plant seeds - Calendula, Johnny-Jump-Ups, Poppies and Zinnia.
Johnny-Jump-Ups - doesn't looking at them make you happy?
My favorite blooms at this time of year are the Lilacs (who doesn't like lilacs?) and the Bridal Wreath Spirea. Mine is in full bloom today, and it, too, makes me happy to look at it.
It is hot and sunny this May long weekend, 25 degrees C in the shade, and just glorious. Hot hot is it? My Arugula, Tatsoi and Mizuna have all already started to bolt. Here's a picture of my "greens bed". And if anyone can tell me what the heck slept in the middle of it, I'd love to know! What does it think, that it's a nice, cool, clean place to lay down??? Oh, yeah, I guess it is....
It's been so warm for so long now, that I have been comfortable enough to plant any seed that says "sow when the ground has warmed". I've been leaving my basil, okra and tomatoes out overnight with no ill effects, so I planted them today, as well as the cucumbers. My raspberries and red currants are all trained on their trellises, and the green beans have been started in the house. They'll go out as soon as they have "broken ground" for a few days indoors. Something always eats them when I plant them in the garden, but I have had better luck when I plant sprouts that are a few days old, and surround them with broken egg shells and coffee grounds. I will keep them well spaced this year, so they leaves won't grow any mold or fungus. I was thinking that it was something that started to grow on my beans that infected my Tayberries last year, and spoiled my harvest. Speaking of eggshells, I had lots of fun collecting up eggshells this winter, from my kitchen, and from the kitchens of friends and family who are loving enough to remember to keep their shells for me!
Two years ago I bought some Haksap Honeysuckle seedlings from T and T Seeds in Manitoba. Despite following the instructions, the little things died quite quickly after I got them. I called the company, and they told me that lots of people were having that problem, and they refunded my money (store credit, actually, which I was happy to use). I tried again this year, and got my package of three seedlings in the mail about a week ago. The box had a sticker on it that said "I Am Alive!", and the mail man who handed me the box looked distinctly uncomfortable. I reassured him that it was plants, not animals, and that he could relax. He did! I planted them that day. Two days later, during morning inspection, I noticed a big hole in the garden right beside where one of the seedlings was planted, and I noticed the seedling on its side, snapped off at the base. I was heartbroken!
What a Haskap Honeysuckle should look like, followed by its :somewhat demolished sibling:
It seemed to me that the roots were undisturbed, and therefore, I hoped still healthy. I emailed the company, asking what to do. They said to give it a sharp trim and some fertilizer, and it should send up some new shoots. I trimmed and fertilized it, and now I inspect it multiple times a day to check for any green activity. I know it will take much longer then this, but I can't help myself. There surely will be more reports and photos as the summer, and hopefully my Honeysuckle, progress.
A nice surprise was my husband coming home with a rain barrel. We had been talking about getting one for years, and we finally did. Here he is inspecting his installation. We had to lift two dozen of the bricks, and level the screening underneath them, so the step the barrel is resting on would be level and stable.
One of the biggest surprises of all was finding my Datura seeds. I found it while spring cleaning in the garage, and getting all the garden stuff set up and ready at hand. The seeds were still in the pods, and the pods were hiding under what was left of the garlic wreath that I wove after last year's garlic harvest. Spring really is like a box of chocolates - you just never know what your going to find!
Garlic:
My Swiss Chard survived, and is now bolting. I will certainly allow it to flower and set seed, which I can plant next year. Swiss Chard, reaching for the sky:
I have been told that Sweet William is a perennial, but mine never survived the winters, until now. I even have flowers! The Black Raspberry, that I was so worried about last year, not only came back where it had sent up a volunteer near my Gooseberries,
(Black Raspberry, growing up the arbor):
but it also came back up in the spot where I thought it had died. Now I have two plants, each with their own arbor to climb over.
Here is the Black Raspberry, coming up from last years roots. It has also given me a healthy looking shoot. Yes, I realize that the new plant is growing in my garden path, but I'm so happy that I have Black Raspberries at all, that I am perfectly content to let it grow this year where ever it wants to grow. I'll corral it next year.
I know I'll get a good crop of berries this year, because there are lots of blossoms, and lots of bees doing their "thang" with them!:
I am also delighted to report that my female Sea Buckthorn, which I planted last Spring, (along with it's mate, of course) and which didn't seem to really take, has come back, looking bright and healthy.
Sea Buckthorn (female on the left):
The Golden Raspberries have also come back nice and strong, and I have already dug up a few errant sprouts, and replanted them in their allotted garden bed. I know that it's a raspberries job to spread, but I'll do what I can to keep them under control, so that I don't have to give up all my other beds to them.
One thing that I wish didn't come back is the Sweet Woodruff. It spreads like wildfire! At least the roots are shallow, so I can keep yanking it back with a decent amount of effectiveness.
There were, unfortunately, some losses, which where quite a surprise, considering the mildness of the winter. My regular Thyme, which had been growing vigorously for years, turned into a mound of crunchy brown twigs. My Lemon Thyme, however, did make it. 3 out of my 5 rows of Asparagus are not showing any signs of life, and something is eating the heads off of the few poor spears that are coming up in the first row. You'd think that who/whatever is eating it could show the plant some respect and at least eat the whole thing, but no, just the yummy tips are gone.
Decapitated asparagus:
The Lemon Balm was a gorgeous, bright green mound. Three mounds, actually. I say "was" because I already harvested it. I never know exactly where it's going to be, but I know I'll always have some. I harvested the big leaves, to allow all the suckers in the leaf bracts to grow.
Naked Lemon Balm:
The Lemon Balm harvest, laid out to dry:
Johnny-Jump-Ups - doesn't looking at them make you happy?
My favorite blooms at this time of year are the Lilacs (who doesn't like lilacs?) and the Bridal Wreath Spirea. Mine is in full bloom today, and it, too, makes me happy to look at it.
It is hot and sunny this May long weekend, 25 degrees C in the shade, and just glorious. Hot hot is it? My Arugula, Tatsoi and Mizuna have all already started to bolt. Here's a picture of my "greens bed". And if anyone can tell me what the heck slept in the middle of it, I'd love to know! What does it think, that it's a nice, cool, clean place to lay down??? Oh, yeah, I guess it is....
It's been so warm for so long now, that I have been comfortable enough to plant any seed that says "sow when the ground has warmed". I've been leaving my basil, okra and tomatoes out overnight with no ill effects, so I planted them today, as well as the cucumbers. My raspberries and red currants are all trained on their trellises, and the green beans have been started in the house. They'll go out as soon as they have "broken ground" for a few days indoors. Something always eats them when I plant them in the garden, but I have had better luck when I plant sprouts that are a few days old, and surround them with broken egg shells and coffee grounds. I will keep them well spaced this year, so they leaves won't grow any mold or fungus. I was thinking that it was something that started to grow on my beans that infected my Tayberries last year, and spoiled my harvest. Speaking of eggshells, I had lots of fun collecting up eggshells this winter, from my kitchen, and from the kitchens of friends and family who are loving enough to remember to keep their shells for me!
Two years ago I bought some Haksap Honeysuckle seedlings from T and T Seeds in Manitoba. Despite following the instructions, the little things died quite quickly after I got them. I called the company, and they told me that lots of people were having that problem, and they refunded my money (store credit, actually, which I was happy to use). I tried again this year, and got my package of three seedlings in the mail about a week ago. The box had a sticker on it that said "I Am Alive!", and the mail man who handed me the box looked distinctly uncomfortable. I reassured him that it was plants, not animals, and that he could relax. He did! I planted them that day. Two days later, during morning inspection, I noticed a big hole in the garden right beside where one of the seedlings was planted, and I noticed the seedling on its side, snapped off at the base. I was heartbroken!
What a Haskap Honeysuckle should look like, followed by its :somewhat demolished sibling:
It seemed to me that the roots were undisturbed, and therefore, I hoped still healthy. I emailed the company, asking what to do. They said to give it a sharp trim and some fertilizer, and it should send up some new shoots. I trimmed and fertilized it, and now I inspect it multiple times a day to check for any green activity. I know it will take much longer then this, but I can't help myself. There surely will be more reports and photos as the summer, and hopefully my Honeysuckle, progress.
A nice surprise was my husband coming home with a rain barrel. We had been talking about getting one for years, and we finally did. Here he is inspecting his installation. We had to lift two dozen of the bricks, and level the screening underneath them, so the step the barrel is resting on would be level and stable.
One of the biggest surprises of all was finding my Datura seeds. I found it while spring cleaning in the garage, and getting all the garden stuff set up and ready at hand. The seeds were still in the pods, and the pods were hiding under what was left of the garlic wreath that I wove after last year's garlic harvest. Spring really is like a box of chocolates - you just never know what your going to find!
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