Sunday, July 24, 2011
Tall Tomatoes!
Bumble bee! Fat little guy, wouldn't stay still enough to shoot well.
Broccoli!
Carrot leaves coming back!
Parsley going strong!
Oregano!
Tomatoes climbing the 6' fence!
Squashes everywhere!
Spearmint planter
Heat sent my spinach to seed. Oh yeah, we had a heat wave.
Bunnies think lilies are tasty!
Labels:
gardening
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Oops, update!
Neglected to post pics from 16 Jul. Oops.
Lilies that Dad bought for Mom:
Calendula
Chocolate mint, spearmint
Nasturtium with red ants!!!
3x16 bed
Tomatoes
Planter with spearmint
Arbour my dad built
Lilies that Dad bought for Mom:
Calendula
Oregano (turns out some of that was a spearmint I started from seed! Oops!)
Monarda
Tomatoes
Arbour my dad built
Labels:
gardening
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Squashes plot world domination
Pumpkin and butternut have been growing prolifically! The main vine grows about a foot every 2-3 days! I kind of didn't prepare for this when I was planning my garden. I've heard a few ideas about running the main vine around. I'll play by ear for now.
7 July:
9 July:
Strange colouring... Dark green stripes beginning near plant centre / primary roots. Not sure what that's all about. I'll research it tomorrow.
Apples
This year, it seems the apple trees in our neighbourhood (perhaps the whole city) haven't produced many flowers, but have produced enormous dark green leaves. Even the crabapples and chokecherry trees. Honestly, our sample has been us, our neighbours, some friends and my brother's house, so this would probably be considered anecdotal.
At first, I blamed Dad for using a nitrogen fertiliser on the lawn. The excess nitrogen would explain the lack of flowers and the abundance of leaves. But the concentration of nitrogen shouldn't have been high enough to do this.
After hearing from my mom (about our neighbours and my brother), I'm more inclined to believe it's either weather or something in the water. Most likely, it was that snow we had in late April.
Whatever the case, I found one apple in our tree.
We had maybe four clusters of blossoms this year. Compare with this photo from 2008:
Dang. I really wanted apples this year.
7 July:
You can see the pumpkin and butternut plants starting to climb. I wonder how far they'll make it... I'm kind of scared! I really doubt this trellis will support its weight. But maybe the chicken wire will. I will most likely have to get/build a real trellis next year (if I plan to grow pumpkins here again).
Strange colouring... Dark green stripes beginning near plant centre / primary roots. Not sure what that's all about. I'll research it tomorrow.
Apples
At first, I blamed Dad for using a nitrogen fertiliser on the lawn. The excess nitrogen would explain the lack of flowers and the abundance of leaves. But the concentration of nitrogen shouldn't have been high enough to do this.
After hearing from my mom (about our neighbours and my brother), I'm more inclined to believe it's either weather or something in the water. Most likely, it was that snow we had in late April.
Whatever the case, I found one apple in our tree.
We had maybe four clusters of blossoms this year. Compare with this photo from 2008:
Dang. I really wanted apples this year.
Tomatoes!
My tomatoes are growing like crazy! I will have to get taller posts this week!
Top: 7 July, before pruning
Bottom: 9 July, after pruning
Pruned stems:
Tomatoes:
For leftover tomatoes, I think the simplest way to keep/store them is to make tomato paste/sauce, and freeze it. I may also experiment with oven/sun -drying, roasting, making and freezing soup, and canning ketchup. Anyone have other ideas?
Top: 7 July, before pruning
Bottom: 9 July, after pruning
Pruned stems:
Tomatoes:
Cherry tomatoes:
For leftover tomatoes, I think the simplest way to keep/store them is to make tomato paste/sauce, and freeze it. I may also experiment with oven/sun -drying, roasting, making and freezing soup, and canning ketchup. Anyone have other ideas?
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Pretty Flowers
When planning my garden this year, I mostly picked plants that have multiple functions. Besides looking nice, I like my plants to be edible, control pests, attract pollinators, make nice potpourri, or even have medicinal or cosmetic uses. Two such plants are nasturtium and chamomile.
We had our first nasturtium flower on 5 July! I put it in a salad for my friend as an un-birthday present. It tastes peppery! The leaves are also edible and have that peppery zing, too. (You can see my mildew-covered zucchini leaves in the background.)
Been harvesting chamomile flowers for the past few days. I'm not sure if I want to make them into tea... I've never had chamomile tea before, and I don't know that I'd start drinking it just because I've planted them.
To harvest chamomile flowers, I just lift the flower/s by raking my fingers through. Not sure if it makes a difference, but I only harvest the ones with very yellow (as opposed to green) centres.
Some other uses for Chamomile:
Anti-fungal spray for plants: pour 2 cups boiling water over 1/4 cup; steep until cool. This can be sprayed on plants to kill fungus. You can also soak/start seeds in this mixture to prevent damping off!
Hair rinse: I've read that a chamomile infusion can highlight blonde to brown hair. Being Chinese, this isn't of much use to me, but it's good to know. I bet it's good for the scalp.
Treat skin problems: To treat skin irritations (ulcers, infections, rashes, burns), grind flowers into a paste, add water, add oatmeal to reach desired consistency. Apply to affected area. Also: "The flowers can also be used in a bath to ease the pain of hemorrhoids and cystitis, and the essential Oil can be applied to combat neuralgia and eczema." Since chamomile has antibacterial properties, I assume it can't hurt to wash acne-prone faces with it. It can also soften the skin. Also: "Chamomile oil has also great wound healing properties and is extensively used with skin problems such as rashes, acne, eczema, psoriasis, hypersensitive skin and allergic conditions."
Steam inhaler: for "respiratory and allergic problems such as asthma, hay fever, and sinusitis."
Those really tall plants are bachelor's button. Mostly, I planted them to be pretty :). There is something kind of magical (to me) about blue and purple flowers--especially the ones that occur naturally (not cultivated for their colour).
I moved some more oregano into this pot. It's doing very well!
EDIT: Turns out, that wasn't oregano, but spearmint I had started from seed! Oops! I've since pulled it out. It wasn't very strong-smelling, either.
Haven't showed off my purple basil for a while. These seem to grow slower than their green relatives.
Broccoli seedlings. Will replace harvested broccoli for next growing season. ...Hopefully!
Already harvested a few zucchini (four; but one started rotting so had to compost it). I've been harvesting them when they get to about 6 or 7 inches. We're going to barbecue some tomorrow! Nothing like grilled zucchini, mmm.
We had our first nasturtium flower on 5 July! I put it in a salad for my friend as an un-birthday present. It tastes peppery! The leaves are also edible and have that peppery zing, too. (You can see my mildew-covered zucchini leaves in the background.)
To harvest chamomile flowers, I just lift the flower/s by raking my fingers through. Not sure if it makes a difference, but I only harvest the ones with very yellow (as opposed to green) centres.
Some other uses for Chamomile:
Anti-fungal spray for plants: pour 2 cups boiling water over 1/4 cup; steep until cool. This can be sprayed on plants to kill fungus. You can also soak/start seeds in this mixture to prevent damping off!
Hair rinse: I've read that a chamomile infusion can highlight blonde to brown hair. Being Chinese, this isn't of much use to me, but it's good to know. I bet it's good for the scalp.
Treat skin problems: To treat skin irritations (ulcers, infections, rashes, burns), grind flowers into a paste, add water, add oatmeal to reach desired consistency. Apply to affected area. Also: "The flowers can also be used in a bath to ease the pain of hemorrhoids and cystitis, and the essential Oil can be applied to combat neuralgia and eczema." Since chamomile has antibacterial properties, I assume it can't hurt to wash acne-prone faces with it. It can also soften the skin. Also: "Chamomile oil has also great wound healing properties and is extensively used with skin problems such as rashes, acne, eczema, psoriasis, hypersensitive skin and allergic conditions."
Steam inhaler: for "respiratory and allergic problems such as asthma, hay fever, and sinusitis."
Those really tall plants are bachelor's button. Mostly, I planted them to be pretty :). There is something kind of magical (to me) about blue and purple flowers--especially the ones that occur naturally (not cultivated for their colour).
I moved some more oregano into this pot. It's doing very well!
EDIT: Turns out, that wasn't oregano, but spearmint I had started from seed! Oops! I've since pulled it out. It wasn't very strong-smelling, either.
Haven't showed off my purple basil for a while. These seem to grow slower than their green relatives.
Broccoli seedlings. Will replace harvested broccoli for next growing season. ...Hopefully!
Already harvested a few zucchini (four; but one started rotting so had to compost it). I've been harvesting them when they get to about 6 or 7 inches. We're going to barbecue some tomorrow! Nothing like grilled zucchini, mmm.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Calend
Been busy lately. Short photo updates until I can write longer ones. And happy Canada Day!
Yesterday, the first pumpkin blossom opened! I didn't manage to get a photo of it before it closed.
Myro's mom gave me celery, so gave her some green onions.
Today being the first day of the month, my calendula bloomed!
Myro came over. After working in the garden, we relaxed. I set up the cheap rope hammock I picked up while in Montreal two years back, and a bug net. It's amazing that the apple tree can support our weight.
Daisies!
The netting I had over the 3x6 bed was getting too cumbersome, so I replaced it with fencing. Still kept the shade netting though. Of course, some critters had to take advantage of this. My guess is that the baby rabbit came in, sampled some nommables, then went tripping over all the garden twine. Grrr. I hope my carrots survive (the spinach should). Surprisingly, most of the salad is still there. Maybe that adage about rabbits eating carrots has a bit of truth...
So I've covered the entire bed in netting again. Grrr.
Count your days, bunny, count your days...
Yesterday, the first pumpkin blossom opened! I didn't manage to get a photo of it before it closed.
Myro's mom gave me celery, so gave her some green onions.
Today being the first day of the month, my calendula bloomed!
Myro came over. After working in the garden, we relaxed. I set up the cheap rope hammock I picked up while in Montreal two years back, and a bug net. It's amazing that the apple tree can support our weight.
Daisies!
The netting I had over the 3x6 bed was getting too cumbersome, so I replaced it with fencing. Still kept the shade netting though. Of course, some critters had to take advantage of this. My guess is that the baby rabbit came in, sampled some nommables, then went tripping over all the garden twine. Grrr. I hope my carrots survive (the spinach should). Surprisingly, most of the salad is still there. Maybe that adage about rabbits eating carrots has a bit of truth...
So I've covered the entire bed in netting again. Grrr.
Count your days, bunny, count your days...
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