Tomatoes & Peppers - Getting Ready to be Planted

So my tomato & pepper plants are getting pretty big now. They have gone to market for a few weeks, and getting ready to go in the ground.

Sadly, there is frost warning for tonight- June 2nd!!! so they are going to have to wait a little longer . . . .

Here they are chilling on my front porch for now.

Columbine

i started these columbine beautiful plants from seed two years ago.

Last year they didn't do much, but this year they bloomed in their full multi-coloured glory.

i will have these seeds available for sale next spring.



the pollinators love them too. here is a little bee bum poking out of the purple flowers

Blue Tomato Window Display

Conartist & I put our plants & domestic wares on display in the blue tomato window. this fabulous local art shop has been home to our art for a few weeks. i love this photo. if you look closely you can see conboy taking it, & both of us in the window reflecction . . .

this is still a few weeks to go by and check it out if you haven't see it yet. buy some art from some of our many wonderful local artist while you are there . . . .

future flower seeds

Here are some recent photos from my flower garden. Over the past four years of living at this house, I have gradually turned a lot lawn into garden.

you can see the newest section that i just dug up here . . . . my whole front yard is almost gone. the rest has turned out to be a beautiful perennial garden.

this garden is where i collect all a good portion of my flower seeds from . . . . i also tend to collect a lot of pictures. i will post them all as the season progresses.


this is my favourite place to sit & watch my garden grow . . .

this lilac bush was transplanted a little twig two years ago . . . now it is flowering for the first time!!

Almost that Time

So many of you have started your seeds, taken care of them inside & are getting ready to plant the little seedlings out to grow into their full glory.
**** If didn't start your own seeds, and want some seedlings, come and find me at the market. I have lots . . . .paste, cherries, plums, and lots of big slicers.

HERE ARE SOME GUIDELINES FOR PLANTING OUT SEEDLINGS:

1. WAIT UNTIL AFTER JUNE 1st TO PUT THEM IN THE GROUND -
There was a frost warning the other night, which is why I always wait until after June 1st to plant.
I know that it is tempting to get started early, but trust me, those little guys will grow very quickly, and bigger than you ever imagined in august . . . . . they have to survive this time of year first!

2. HARDEN-OFF THE PLANTS:
This helps them get used to all of the elements outside. Put them out during the day for a few hours at first, and then for longer. Make sure you take them inside at night when it's cold!! This is a good idea. It prevents the seedlings from getting frosted or sunburnt. these are two very serious concerns and realities. . . . .
This is what a sunburnt plant looks like . . . . .



3.FEED THE PLANTS:
When you go to plant your little seedlings outside, dig a hole and fill it with compost. This is what one of my friends refers to as "packing them a lunch". It will help them get started happily.

4. BURY YOUR TOMATOES:
This might sound funny, but hear me out . . .. Roots grow very easily out of the stem. When you go to plant the plants, you can just leave the top few sets of leaves out of the ground. This will make them stronger and thicker and healthier. Don't bury the entire plant please.

5.WATER THE ROOTS, NOT THE PLANT:
Especially in the early stages of it's time outside, the seedlings are trying to establish strong roots. Give them good regular soakings around the base of the plant to help them along. Try not to water the actual leaves, if the sun is strong, it can actually burn them. That being said, try to water in the morning or evening to avoid burning the plant all together.

. Watch them grow with pride, and let me know if you have any questions . . . . . Enjoy.

How to Save Your Seeds Booklet

This is a booklet that I made while working for Seeds of Diversity. If you would like a hard copy, let me know. Otherwise feel free to read from here, and learn how to Save Y(our) Seeds. Have Fun . . .

Tomatoes Growing Up- Black Krim to Be . . . .

They Grow So Quickly . . . . Romanesco to be

These are Romanesco (a beautiful type of broccolli) plants. These pictures were taken less then two weeks apart.

More greenhouse photos

Greenhouse pictures- Finally

Hello Everybody, 

   I have been working hard in the greenhouse. seeding. watering. transplanting. The seedlings are growing very quickly and healthily. I am a proud parent once again. 

  Over the past few weeks, the plants have started to smell like tomatoes! One of my favourite times of year! Here are some photos of my little babies. More to come as they continue on their journey to the garden, food production, and seed saving~ so that I can start all over again!!

and here is a transplanted tomato plant (black krim) getting bigger day by day . . . .

Chocolate Peppers in March

I have had my chocolate peppers sitting on my radiator growing over the winter.  Now, they have started to ripen &  I can eat fresh heirloom vegetables in March! Plus i'll have a whole other crop of seeds from these delicious sweet peppers!!

Seedy Saturday Peterborough - Seeds of Diversity Table

The Seeds of Diversity table is always a highlight of the event. Shelley Baptie brings an incredibly diverse selection of seeds that are hard to find anywhere else. She spends countless hours packaging and labelling these seeds to be given away on donation or trade. You can see the attention and excitement in the faces of the visitors.

These envelopes are full of the potential for tonnes of beautiful and diverse produce. There were cucumbers, peppers, beans, greens, flowers, tomatoes and more.

People were really soaking in the diversity, dreaming of these beauties taking root and producing fruit in their gardens to come. 

Here is Shelley sharing her vast knowledge of heirloom vegetables and flowers. 

This table along with the Seed Exchange Area and a raffle raised over $20o for Seeds of Diversity in donations.  Thanks everybody.