Chopped off the tops of the columnar apples this winter and lo, we are loaded with blossoms. 

 
Was a major day. Got all of the transplants planted: lettuce, marigolds,  fennel, basil, cucumbers, tomatoes – early girl, San marzanos, sweet 100s and a tiny millions for the pots by the balcony.  Already had the eggplant and some tomatoes in on the top deck.

Tried to divide the yucca, but only got off a couple of pieces so far. I will need to pot them up to develop true roots.  Got the summer bulbs planted, or some of them. They had already started to sprout in the bag, so I am not opposition they will grow or flower. I can give it a few weeks before yanking them out.  Did decide to soak the dahlia and put them in.   Have been using Btk on the apple trees and it seems to be reducing the leaf curl  caterpillars.  A lot still to do!  

 from their winter to our summer. It has been amazing 

 

Got home to 24 degrees. Major cleanup, fresh pots for 14,  got peat from east end and veg from Jays. Hen manure on the salad bar and the tomato row in the back veg.  Added soil acidified around the blueberries. Haskaps are in bloom and the crab apple is promising big buds. 

Moved indoors out.

First tomatoes planted, early girl, San marzanos, sweet million,  four lettuces, eggplant, marigolds and fennel. 

Balcony herbs got planted and today we had a light rain.

  
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Planted snow peas today on the top floor.  I brought in one of last summer’s planters. Let the soil warm up for a couple of days. Soaked the seeds overnight and put then in about noon today. Might only be five degrees outside, but in three weeks I can set them out and see what happens. 

 

 I’ve made my richters picks, like $300 worth and still humming and howling over a fruit tree order to whiffletree farms.  $400 or something if I bought all I wanted. Of course not sure where it would all go.  But am eyeing the cedars in the back. I like their height and year round effect, but….. Could apples go there instead?   

Found some amazing cast iron edging. Can’t ever think of the price. 

A quick two hours at the last morning of Canada Blooms.  Glad I went early it was getting crowded at 11:45.  A nice sunny day, but -11.  

  

The show was much better. It reflected the outdoor rooms people are looking for and less technical grandening then in the past. Certainly a step up from last year!   

The lighting was certainly different and less. Much more of the outdoor space, the marketplace was smaller.  How many of those mulch franchises exist?   Got another hellebore, my new favorite spring flower. And a large decorative sphere made of barrel staves.  Don’t know what I will do with it but it will be fun to have.  

Missed my timing for winter pruning.  The buds on everything are getting spring furry. Did it anyhow today. Grapes, clematis and columnar apples.  Really hard topped the apples this year. Have to see if they are ever going to fruit up or it their time is up and I need to come up with another plant for the allee?  



Bought my first seeds today at Home Depot. $4 for two packs of arugula seeds. Last summer I couldn’t find them for a late summer crop. 

The snow is receding quickly. Temps hovering just above and below zero. Have to get my ordering done. Fun! 

Perfect weekend for garden planning and ordering. A good six inches of snow down and a little more to come. Temps consistently below zero, so not a lot of melting.

Got a pineapple at Home Depot this year. The past two years I have left it to late.

The ginger root appears to have rooted and the stalk is a good six inches tall.

Found Whiffletree Farms and really excited by the selection and information. And they have a strong endorsement from the Tree Hustler

This really present a lot of interesting plants I’ve been hesitant to try. A kiwi vine in Canada, seriously?

On my list: replacement columnar apples, or something else in that style. Since the ones I have have not really fruited, so I want to go with another type. That gets me into dwarf rootstock talk and even exotic combo grafted trees.

On the ginger front a slight twist. The first piece that had sprouted died off. I think I cooked it with the plant light after it only getting kitchen light. But the second piece took over and has caught up if not passed it. A very good sign.

Planted some arugula for company.

Mild dry winter so far. Nothing below 0*F.

Lots of greenhouse planning. Best so far http://bcgreenhouses.com

Started some ginger today. Or I should say it started itself.

I soaked it overnight. Added a bit of root stimulant and have potted it in a recycled salad container over the heat mat. Will have to keep an eye on the temp and moisture. The mat is pretty exposed so it might get to hot.

Got my Richters and Ontario Seed catalogs! And Ken and I had great chat about the greenhouse and the need for a full garden plan. Thrilled! Anyone say “winter project?”

Or that’s what they thought at East End Garden Centre when I picked up my six bales of straw. Borrowed Kevin’s truck and Ken drove. It almost smells like the fair.

The Cornus venus is making up for its lack of blooms with a great colour show.

Love the Jacobs ladder.

The pots are all emptied and put away. Just one rubber tree and a cactus to bring in before it freezes hard. On the balcony they are a bit sheltered.

Almost hitting zero every night now. Took another pile of leaves off the front yard. Cleaned up the shed, coiled the hoses, put the lounge away. Have to get the last of the potted plants in or emptied.  Tomorrow I think I’ll pull the last beets and carrots.  It sure if I should see how far they will go. I’ll Google that.