April 4th. Happy Easter!!

 

April 3 Tomato Baby Update and More

April 3rd already - seems this is the latest spring I have ever experienced ....... frost again!!  Our last average frost date is usually March 28 ........

the tiny sprouts in the middle container are Russian Mini Yellow - replanted because no germination after a few weeks - well of course the first seed sown has now germinated along with 5 out of 6 later sown seed!!

I also started garlic chives, scallions and shallots late February/early March - slow to grow

and some lettuce, to get an early start on the season - Amish Deer Tongue, Red Sweet Crisp Salanova and Breen mini romaine - must go into the garden soon - have been exposed to open window of late to partially harden off ....

and a close up of the bigger baby tomatoes - starting to getting leggy - will need transplant shortly as 2nd true leaves of just starting

and finally my peppers:  Odessa Market, Donkey Ears and Sweet Pickle - 3 of each started on March 18th - the large larger ones are the Donkey Ears

April 3 "R" Garden

Nothing sown in "R" Garden so far, but still lots of green ...... 

rhubarb starting to flower - will need to cut off blossom asap

selection of succulents - quite lovely up close, but they do tend to take over their space and more ....

here are the mustard greens that over wintered - have not tasted them - I tend to plant many things I don't end up eating - but they look amazing ....... and I did see a yummy recipe with mustard greens and eggs .....

another pic of the rhubarb - nice to see some red stems this season as the variety is Canada Red

March 31 My Neighbourhood Walks Get Longer and Longer

Noticed a very substantial tree during one of my longer walks and something made me look up - yes - an eagle; camera doesn't take great pics, but the closest I've ever been

and had to include this one - love the way the sunlight bounces off the fuzzy magnolia buds

March 30 Back Garden Update

 Update on my back garden squares ..... and containers - soon the tulips will add some colour

top right bed  Oregon Sugar Pod II sown on March 18th (no germination to date); bottom bed Oregon Giant sown on March 29th (these are my favourite snow peas to date) also sowed Dr. Henry Pollinator Blend cosmos in bottom bed

March 30. Direct Sowing Beds 10/11 and 64

 I have gathered so much seed over the years I thought I'd better use it or lose it ....... so made up my own Spring Mix

did the same with Sweet Peas, not sure how viable 2017 seed will be .....

and back to the Gas Station Garden - here is Bed 64 with:  Mixed Sweet Peas (on trellis), Pac Choi, my Spring Mix and Mesclun Stir Fry Blend

Bed 10:  snap peas sown earlier (no germination so far), West Coast Seeds stir fry blend, Kincho scallions and Easter egg blend radish

March 27 Blossom Time

 

March 24 Tomato Babies

A first look at the tomato babies - good germination with some, not so good with others ...... still lots of time  for more to appear .... once the first sprouts show they come off the heat and are placed in a cool plant room which helps with stocky growth

 

March 21. It's Officially Spring

It's Officially Spring and what better way to celebrate then sow some peas ...... found two packs of older seed in my seed stash, will see how germination goes ...... Sugar Lace II and Cascade - these are both short snap peas, so no major trellis required - and you get to eat the whole pea pod and all

Bed 10 Gas Station Garden

March 18 Pepper Planting Time and More Tomatoes!!

I really liked Donkey Ears last year - so will regrow these ......... but blossoms were not bagged and I have read peppers cross easily - I did grow some hot peppers nearby last year ........ so time will tell

also received two interesting peppers in a seed swap - Sweet Pickle and Odessa Market - so decided to start those as well

then for a peaceful walk to a nearby park

 Just had to start three more tomato varieties .........

Russian Mini Yellow:  Indet. RL creamy yellow mini cherry

Tasmanian Chocolate:  Dwarf rugose RL oblate brown/black

Don's Double Delight x Dwarf Mocha Plum F1

March 14 Time to Start Tomatoes

mid-March - time to start tomatoes ...... as always, so difficult to decide what to grow; here is what I've started today: *indicates varieties I've grown before

*Apero F1:  Indet. RL red oval cherry

*Brad's Atomic Grape:  Indet. RL tricolour large saladette grape

KARMA Miracle:  Indet. PL tricolour cocktail size cherry

*Bundaberg Rumball:  Dwarf compact rugoseRL chocolate round saladette

Muddy Mamba:  Indet. RL green/purple/black beefsteak

Alsu:  Det. RL red heart/beefsteak

Lillian's Yellow x Dwarf Speckled Heart F1: Craig’s prediction of F1:   Indet. RL medium red, faint stripes

Loxton Lass:  Dwarf RL deep yellow

*Fred's Tie Dye:  Det. Dwarf rugose RL round, purple with jagged gold and green stripes 

into recycle salad container with cover then on to hot water heater for bottom heat

 

oh, almost forgot ....... I did start some varieties on March 2 - these were much older seed and I wanted to give them more time to germinate:

PPP x PP "C" F5 2008:  Indet. PL purple/black beefsteak

*Kits Find 2008:  Indet. RL red beefsteak

*Russian Black Pear 2006:  Indet. PL black pear