My Ignored Garden

Lovin' the kale!

I've been stealing as much time as I can to work in the garden, but I still have plenty to do! It's amazing how quickly 2000 sq feet fills up.. This year, I've got a few crops that I've never grown before or haven't grown in years - quinoa (new), amaranth (years ago), chickpeas (years ago) and giant limas (new) to name a few. Some of those crops seem to suck up a lot of room! Plus, one of my soon-to-be tomato beds is still full of spinach and kale. The cool/wet weather has prolonged their harvest and I'm trying to use up the spinach as fast as I can (spinach/feta pizzas, pasta with garden asparagus and handfuls of shredded spinach, etc.), but I have a hard time pulling out the blooming kale as the bees are loving it so much! Who knew that such small creatures could make so much noise! They go crazy in the golden blooms.. 

Here's a few photos from Friday and today.. yesterday was a total washout with the 70 mm of rain we received, but I just snuck up before dinner and put in 3 more 'Fairy Tale' eggplants.. yum! 

Blue skies, golden kale

Where did you come from?? This popped up
on the edge of the veggie garden. 

The bees love the catmint too.. 

Catmint, mache and garlic.. 

Planted for 2 1/2 weeks now and these little plants have
quadrupled in size!

Hello sunflower.. where did you come from?

I love the chive blooms.. so cheerful!

It's almost tea time! The chamomile is
starting to open.

Book Review - Maritime Fresh by Elisabeth Bailey

Ok, let me start by saying that I'm slightly biased.. I have met Elisabeth Bailey on a number of occasions and she also joined me on the The Weekend Gardener radio show last summer and will do so again this Sunday. She is an avid gardener, as well as being a talented food writer and through our conversations I have learned that she is passionate about growing and preparing local and homegrown food. Plus, she's a hoot!! (Sorry, the Maritimer in me had to say it!) 

In 2011, Elisabeth's first book, A Taste of the Maritimes was published by Nimbus Publishing. I immediately bought a copy and can honestly say that it is now well speckled and splotched with the results of my cooking! I loved it so much that I've also given it as a gift on - at least - a handful of occasions. Therefore, I was very excited when she told me last autumn that she was working on a new cookbook.. We discussed recipes and I shared a few of my own using garden ingredients.. so imagine my surprise when I picked up her latest book - Maritime Fresh - and saw that she actually mentioned me!! So cool.. 

Anyhoo, I am asked at least twice a week what I do with all my garden veggies. 'Eat them' is my usual, semi-sarcastic answer.. and many folks have told me that I should write my own 'from the garden' cookbook.. Listen, I'm an OK cook, but I'm no food writer! :) That's why I'm grateful for Elisabeth's books.. 

Maritime Fresh divides itself by various garden vegetables, fruits and herbs. So.. if you have just found yourself picking a few bushels of beans, flip to page 32 and make her Bean and Cheese Burritos (and then bring me some, they are divine!).. or what do you do when all 20 of your broccoli plants are ready to harvest at once? How about some Broccoli Jack Soup (page 52) and then freeze the extras for autumn. 

Does dad love to garden or cook? Check out Elisabeth's book and tune in to The Weekend Gardener on News 95.7 FM in Halifax (www.news957.com) this Sunday to ask her your questions on cooking from the garden - 11 to 1 pm - and her segment will be from noon to 12:30. 

Today on The Weekend Gardener!!

Some of my new Proven Winners plants.. I will blog about
this soon too!! 

Just up drinking tea and getting a few notes together for today's radio show.. It's been crazy hot for the past few days, a nice change from the crazy cold/wet weather that we've had for weeks.. It's amazing how a few days of sun will really make plants grow!! I promise to do a chickpea post soon (my plants are almost a foot tall!), but for now, here's a glimpse of today's radio show:

Jane Rostek will join me to offer a preview on the upcoming and super popular, YWCA Over the Garden Gate garden tour that takes place Sunday June 9th.. It's the 21st year for the tour and tickets are available at FRED, Halifax Seed and a few other locations. I have seen a few of the gardens on the tour and they are AMAZING!!

Then, Robert Baldwin, plantsman extraordinarre, and the owner of Baldwin's Nurseries will be in studio to talk plants!! From shrubs to trees to perennials, Robert will talk favourites, deer-resistant and whatever else our listeners want to learn about. I encourage you to call in with your questions and comments!! 1-877-801-8255

Also coming in studio today, Jayme Melrose, project co-ordinator for the Common Roots Urban Farm in Halifax. She's bringing in Sara Burgess, the farmer for the project and Rob McNeish, a volunteer. We'll find out what's happening at the farm, about their new community garden plots and how you can volunteer!!

Hope you can join us!! 11 to 1 pm Atlantic time (10-noon EST) on News 95.7 FM in Halifax, News 91.9 FM in Moncton and News 88.9 FM in Saint John or listen live anywhere at www.news957.com.  

Today on The Weekend Gardener!

I LOVE this book - and I have one to give away on today's
show!! Call w/your questions & comments 1-877-801-8255

Today on The Weekend Gardener.. it's going to be a busy action-packed show!! (action packed?) .. whatever.. All I know is that we're going to have fun and I hope you can join me.. 11 to 1 pm Atlantic time (10-noon EST) on News 95.7 FM, News 91.9 FM and News 88.9 FM or listen live anywhere at www.news957.com

Sunday May 26th:

Beckie Fox, the editor of Garden Making magazine to chat about their outstanding new issue.. (Canadian bred roses, haskap berries and the Garden Making On Tour cross-country garden tour!!)

Karen Chapman and Christina Salwitz, the authors of Fine Foliage: Elegant Plant Combinations for Garden and Container.. (http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/fine-foliage-elegant-plant-combinations/9780985562229-item.html) A seriously excellent book!

David Baldwin, local apple and pear expert to chat about growing these fruits in the Maritimes. Best varieties, pollination, pruning, trouble-shooting and more!

Trish Fry, Manager of the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens! We'll check in about their upcoming events and what's in bloom!

Finally, Angelique Reddy from the YMCA Moncton to talk about their new Community Garden Expansion..

Gardening in the Rain!

I've been waiting for a break in the weather to get more seeds and seedlings in the ground.. but since I don't see any sun in the 5 day forecast, I've decided to get out and plant anyway! The lack of sun makes it rather difficult to properly harden off and prepare my tomatoes, peppers and other seedlings for 'real life' in the garden, but when (if!) the sun does come out, I'll just toss a row cover overtop the plants for a few days to get them used to the bright yellow thing in the sky.

Ok, lunch break over.. time to get back to the garden.. I have more kale, celeriac, kohlrabi, more onions (where to put them!), parsley, leeks, 2 apple trees and 3 more highbush blueberries.. and I should probably cover some of the garden with a row cover since my deer fence is down.. ack!

My 2014 Proven Winners plants arrived
yesterday - in the rain of course.. They're
now on my front porch de-stressing
from their Fed-Ex trek. Once I've take the
boxes apart, I'll take more photos and
preview some of these soon-to-be-released
beauties!

Unlike me, spinach loves this crappy weather.. 

I've got baby kales popping up all over the pathways of my garden beds..
Time to dig up and share!! 

Hmm, probably shouldn't have left these Kossak kohlrabi
seedlings sitting in the garden for 3 days in the rain and in
a tray with no holes.. Opps! They're rather waterlogged. 

Planting lettuce.. started these beauties inside
in a plug flat and have now planted them
in a checkered pattern with a lovely
red leaved variety. 

Red leaf lettuce ready to plant.. dirty fingers!

Lettuce planted - check! Next up comes my heirloom
Italian endive.. this endive makes an
excellent cut-and-come-again crop.