Springing into Spring

Are you starting to smell spring in the air? Here in Nova Scotia it's been a tease, but, we're getting there. True, we can still have a late winter snow storm but I will hedge my bets, and begin cleaning off the most protected of the beds on sunny warm days. Yes, I know, I too can hear the naysayers, but, I will be careful, and apply a bit of compost to those vulnerable adding a little protection. I won't rush it though, and judge each section as I go. "How much sun shines in that spot on a warm day; is it a sturdy and reliable plant". The rhubarb really does seem to like it's top dressing applied as early as possible. Mind you, think it's going to be divided this year...watch this space!

Last year I had the opportunity to taste test a lot of tomatoes at Owen Bridge's Tomato Fest at Annapolis Seeds. Please check out his website for an incredible list of seeds to order. The taste test winner in my book was Costoluta Genovese and I was lucky enough to be given seeds in an exchange this year. Hope you have an opportunity to do this with your garden friends as it saved me a lot $$.

The tomato varieties decided on so far are Costolto, Black Krim, Mexico Midget (especially because the dog loves these the most and can pick them himself) Chiapis Wild, Cuor Di Bue, Tibet, OSU Blue, Sungold cherry, Black Cherry, German Gold and a Roma paste undecided. Spring enthusiasm is kicking in, along with the recognition of what needs doing now. I will start my tomatoes this week coming. Eight to ten weeks before the last frost date is what I go by, so for our garden that is May 15th. Even then though, if that date comes and it's just too miserable with a poor forecast, I do not plant out.

The hoop row cover, made it through this mild winter just fine. It's the first year we left it up and if I had been...ahem..more organized last fall, and had the book Year Round Vegetable Gardener at hand, it would have been planted with more carrots at the very least. A few days ago, we pulled back the plastic cover and removed the fleece (white Remay) and straw.

Except for a few golden beets and smallish carrots, I removed all that was left, which wasn't much, let me tell you. Still, look at that soil..it was so soft and crumbly, the worms must have been working it all winter. I can actually get a trowel straight down into it. When the sun shines, it is steamy hot inside the cover, quite incredible. Planting seeds in there today as the weather is looking really good for the next week. Mostly it will be a variety of early hardy greens, carrots Atomic Red and Early Napoli, Beets Bulls Blood, Golden and Blancoma. I may put the Remay back on to protect and insulate the seeds and seedlings but in the past I have not found this to be necessary.

That's the update round here. The squirrels are full of spring thoughts as well, playing and well, you know, basically up to no good. They are running like mad things all over the garden....tails straight up in the air...So precious..

NOT!

Do they really need to be this destructive?