GARDENING

This week's window display in the bookstore is GARDENING and the quotation :

"On every stem, on every leaf,... and at the root of everything that grew,
was a professional specialist in the shape of grub, caterpillar, aphis, or
other expert, whose business it was to devour that particular part."
~Oliver Wendell Holmes

In this part of Canada it has been customary to start planting on the 24th of May, hoping to avoid the late spring frosts, although we've read of starting peas in the snow. Haven't tried,that but do know that planting Peppers too early will produce lovely plants that won't fruit. Peppers are happiest when the air temperature is above 55° and then will fruit.

We are starting this year using Mel Bartholomew's Square Foot Garden and have three boxes in preparation, this way we get a jump on the season as the soil in the boxes warms up earlier.

Soon to be sewn:

Radish: Sparkler White Tip are easy-to-grow, tasty and colourful, and ready to harvest in just a few weeks so the packet says, will have to remember to re-sew.

Beets: Detroit Dark Red is described as a Double duty crop, eat the leaves as well as the roots, recommended replanting every three weeks.

Carrots: Touchon are a variety that is new to us but named as 'Heirloom, one of the finest of the Nantes-type carrots, the best for eating out of hand sweet and tender, free from hard fiber. This old French variety is quick-maturing'.

Lettuce: Grand Rapids a popular loose-leafed variety for home gardens, an all time favourite. We have chosen a new variety of Curly Endive: Glory Frisée and will add some Corn Salad for a change.

Beans: Scarlet Runner - we grow these for ourselves and the hummingbirds. Beans should not go in until you can comfortably sit on the soil, where they are to grow. Picked young, they are sweet and a real treat.

The Tomatoes: Early Girl will be cosseted in plastic Kozy-Coats from T & T Seeds in Winnipeg. Tomatoes that have been started early and become leggy may be planted horizontally, and will send out roots along the lengthy stem.

Cucumbers should not be planted before Saint Anthony's Day* the 13th of June according to our French Canadian neighbour - so we will wait. Making a note on the calendar we heed the advice "if your cucumbers are bitter it's because they have not
had enough water. Don't wait till the leaves wilt, make sure they have a good soak."

A good water gauge in the garden is the Sunflower [Helianthus] - they will wilt faster than anything else. Plant them here and there and watch, first sunflower to droop it's time to water. We have three varieties of Sunflower to plant this year, the small black seeded variety for the birds, the mammoth Russian ones for the squirrels and Colour Fashion Mix for us.

* June 13th - birthday Saint Anthony of Padua