March 11 jumped on the winter sowing attempts. Let nature do all the work?
Winter sowing – a first
Before and After
The Haskaps at #14 had my full attention this morning.
Wild day. A spring rain complete with thunder and lightning. 10c this afternoon .
The Haskap got a hair cut
Did the big third, more likely fifth year, prune of the Honeyberry or Haskap today. Beautiful weather.
On the scales
My calamondin citrus always gets infested with scale insects. Today was the alcohol and Q-tip treatment. I try and check the underside of every leaf and stem along the veins for the little armoured creatures, then give them a dab of the alcohol and with the dry tip wipe them off the plant. I am just that crazy. The first sign of infestation is the clear, sticky honeydew they excrete which falls on the upper side of leaves below the creature. She’s worth it!
It’s started
First daffodil shoots have emerged. Tree peony has some gorgeous buds. Hellebores have a couple of buds which I should probably put some protection around. But yeah! Another garden season and my first one as a Master Gardener
Long shadows on Ground hog day
About 12:30 and sure looks like the angle of the sun has moved. Overall it’s been more of a grey Maritime winter. Today is the first sun in weeks it seems. No real snow to speak of so far, and little rain overall. Happy Groundhog Day. Fake spring starts in six weeks!
How’s it gonna smell when it gets wet? Testing ecoWool pellets
I’m still trying to kick the peat habit. ecoWool is pelletized local surplus sheep’s wool. 4kg for $100 delivered right to my door. Definitely going to try it as a slug deterrent in the veg bed and around a hosta or 10.
I first want to put some out in the yard to see if any critters eat it. It could be the perfect insulation for a squirrel nest! May, may not try it for seed starting. It will have to be odour free to be in the house. Will definitely mix it into the urns this summer – nitrogen and moist – combo should really show up there.
From the archives Platanus x acerifolia
Working on my final term paper for Dalhousie to finish up my Toronto Master Gardener training program. Wrapping up two years and four courses and it’s been so amazing! It reminded me that I have the original stock tag from Connon Nursery for this tree.
Bloodgood has a mature height of 35 m a spread of 23 m and up to 2 1/2 m diameter trunk and lives for more than 100 years. Mine is about halfway there in dimensions and just over 1/3 of the way there in age.
Bloodgood Sycamore 2024
First real snowfall
Got a good 2 inches (5cm) of snow last night.
And it’s 2024!
Of course I’ve started basil and cilantro under the lights since I have them on anyway.
And I found some “living stone” cacti at the aquarium shop on Gerrard. Could not believe how much they grew just from watering, so I potted them on today and will stop watering to let them settle in for a bit.
Happy gardening!
FarmerTO 