Almost Done

Almost done with winter...in fact, after a couple of days of ten degrees C last week, just a tease really, my heart was set on an early spring and thoughts of lets get growing! The ice is starting to break up, although the Captain said the week ahead is going to be quite cold and with the sea temp at zero, it only takes overnight for it to make more ice. He travels out by boat most mornings taking workers to a Mahone Bay island, so personally, I really wish this ice would go and stay away, away.

Have you found this winter long as well? March seems so much more optimistic, but February is just so long yet, it's the shortest month of the year. Attitude Brenda..it's all in the attitude.

During those two warm days, I scratched a packet of winter lettuce, mache and spinach in the cold frame with the lexan cover.  Honestly, the soil was lovely and warm from the radiant sun and almost steamy. Oh the smell when the cover was raised...spring, possibilities, enthusiasm and pleasure.

To keep my garden spirits up the last few months, I started some peas for shoots. This year however they didn't amount to much so even though they say any pea will do, I am going back to my original variety next year. I did sprinkle a packet of speedy veg in a plastic shell from the grocery and they did very well. Have you read the book The Speedy Vegetable Garden by Mark Diacono and Lia Leendertz? Well I think it has as much advice in there for growing shoots and sprouts as one would need. Plus there's lots else to recommend it. Great photos and great advice.

Meanwhile, I also discovered the little bulbs of Egyptian Walking Onions that truly love walking all over the garden, if potted up, grow green onions all winter long. I snip off the greens and they simply grow back time and time again and even if ignored, they don't give up. This was an accidental discovery as I thought the bulbs were something else. Next year, I will pot up a lot more.

Soon it will be time to stick some peas in the ground, as soon as the soil can be worked they say, but only if there's a window of time when it isn't going to rain for two weeks and they rot in the ground. But, while waiting for the real thing, these below will have to do ;-)  I took a clay class and came away with a selection of peas. The glaze is a little thick yes, but I loved feeling the clay and shaping it in my hands. In fact, a girlfriend said, it was like holding my hands. I liked that. Thank you.

So...I'm changing my attitude, and plan on Marching into next month with a springy step and a mind full of possibilities and earthly delight. Come on Spring.

A Little January Gardening

Nova Scotia has had some great spring like days, today being another one. Almost all the snow shown in my earlier posts, has disappeared and although not double digits, it's been a great week getting up to 9 Celsius. Not to worry, the snow VILL BE BAKKK! Today, I lifted the plastic off the row tunnel inside the veg garden and pulled out a few baby beets that didn't mature in the fall. These hung out in the 'outdoor refrigerator' just chillin. They were made into a sort of course pesto, with black current balsamic, olive oil and salt. Fresh...that's what I'm craving...and home grown. The variety is Bulls Blood and think one cylindrical as well. Yes. Bulls Blood has a soft lovely tender leaf in spring and summer, deep burgundy, and delicious in salads plus hardy. When folks come to visit and I pick some for them to eat fresh, they are always surprised they taste like beets but not bitter and feel so soft and buttery in the mouth. If you haven't tried them, you might like to. The beetroot part doesn't grow as big as other types I have tried, I must say.

The raised beds outside the garden, of which there are two, and one has a cold frame lexan cover and the other sheet plastic over hoops..well they were pretty well picked over by late autumn. So I tidied up one of them today and broadcast some Green Ruffled Mustard and Arugula seeds. What is waiting to grow bigger..tatsoi, speedy winter veg mix and spinach below... yup....just chillin'.

I do miss my green salads, but we are just not organized enough to have a true four season garden. This time of year, I pluck some leaves off Kale stems, glean a few Brussels sprouts from their thick winter stems, although the Stink likes these a lot and we have to share. Chief (aka THE STINK) is our dog! Lots of parsley still good under the hoops so another pesto made with that, kale and purchased arugula.

It's time to think about starting sprouts for sandwiches and also pea shoots. Stand by. I am craving green and more green.

After the Blizzard

A new slate, A New Year, a blizzard to start us off. The hoops are almost totally covered inside the garden fence and I don't think there is a hope of shovelling that off for awhile yet. However, the raised beds, especially the one with the Lexan cover, still holds some promise and although we aren't harvesting from there right now, we will later on. Just too blasted cold.

If this is a taste of the months to come, it will give us lots of time to dream about what to plant. But, it's a good time to get out the seed packages, read all the new seed catalogues and refresh what you think you know, by bringing out two good vegetable garden bibles, Eliot Coleman's Four-Season Harvest and Year-Round Vegetable Gardener by our own Niki Jabbour. By the way, she's coming out with a new book very soon!!

This year, there are some good dwarf offerings I am hoping to try, one being a dwarf French Bean Safari (Kenyan Bean) and a Broad Bean Robin Hood, ideal for containers or raised beds. Both will be going into the raised bed with the coldframe cover as early as possible. I've saved seed from last year's Fiesta Acorn squash I purchased and as it was delicious I hope we have some success growing it.

Always anticipating the New Year ahead when you're a gardener. Enjoy those catalogues and....Sweet dreams from the frozen north.

'twas a Frosty Morning

Frosty mornings are just a prelude to the mighty winter that lays ahead. Grass is often white, crunching under foot, easy to slip on I remind myself. On Saturday I drove to Mahone Bay, a beautiful historic town here in Nova Scotia, and as I parked the car at the old school, the scene above took my breath away. One man had a black belt and the others white...bare feet on slim flip flop soles, looking all the world like ghostly warriors on the icy grass, weapons held high or wielding. Bright morning sun beamed down... and for just a minute, I was transported; held in awe.

The garden has had its ups and downs of frost, snow sprinkles and icy patches. The soil heaves up a bit, then settles down, crunchy on top..soft below. We await the big white blanket.

I am happy for the greens we are still harvesting from the cold frame covered raised bed...oh so happy!

Baby chard, bulls blood beet leaves, one lonely but delicious hot radish, tomatoes from summerhouse, parsley, bronze fennel, greens from baby garlic, baby spinach, tom thumb lettuce, baby leaves of celery, mustard greens, tatsoi, pak choi and a few tiny brussels sprouts which didn't grow very big this year (the stink loves them as treats).

Included in that gratefulness, the fact that in spring we planted three tomato plants in the summerhouse incase we were wiped out by blight as we were in 2012. The Captain suggested, in honor of Christmas, we put tiny ribbons at the top of each one. Nope..they are too precious to be decorations.

These are Inca, shaped like a pepper and almost hollow inside but bursting with flavor!

The dependable pumpkin and squash are turning into hot flavorful soup, so all and all, it's a joyous few weeks heading into Christmas still using what we grew in the garden. Merry merry to you and yours.

Garden Catch UP and a Thankyou to Cobble Hill Farm

A gift from Cobble Hill

Yesterday started off with the Captain arriving home from the post carrying a beautifully scented box! I knew who it was from immediately...Staci at Cobble Hill Farm in Rock City NY. You see, she had a blog give away and Big Allie chose my name. I never win anything so you could have knocked me over when I saw Gardeningbren first winner. Staci, thank you so very much. The product is wonderful and the smell divine (lips smelling of Lime Margarita balm as I type)))) and even after two hours still soft and supple. Can't wait to use the soaps. Good luck on this new venture although I don't think it is about luck but hard work and great marketing. Your product will sell itself because of its quality as it did at your recent craft show. Bravo and sincerely, Thank you!

Scent is a wonderful gift isn't it, even the damp and rotting vegetation in the garden this time of year. Today, with the rain pouring down, there is a scent reminder to make sure clean up is done before the snow arrives. Generally we don't tidy too much in autumn, trying to leave seeds for birds on as many plants possible, but I found we had a rodent highway running from the woodland along the perennial bed under the picket fence into the hoop frame inside the garden. Here is where Mr. or Mrs. thought they were going to enjoy snacking through the winter, enjoying a warm protective environment. Note the special groceries not yet brought inside.

Because of this, much was cleared and while we were at it, bulbs were planted out for spring. More Orange Emperor Tulips!! I am very partial to Ballerina as they smell of oranges but was not able to get any this year. Scent again...so much a part of a garden, memory and life. The Baptisia Australis can't take the cold nights and we have had a few frosts so it was cut down. Doesn't the garden seem bare now.

Meanwhile in the raised beds most of the beets have been removed, but will leave some for early greens in the spring.

Pak Choi Rubi in the foreground has done very well and also the Tatsoi middle back. I planted the latter too early I think as it is ready now and looks outstanding. Asian meal tonight! In this bed you might notice the arugula has been trimmed, and Speedy Veg Winter greens variety are ready to snip for salads.

We are pleased about the winter squash/pumpkins. If I had a farm, or a huge field, I would grow more. There are tons of varieties! One I love is Long Island Cheese. I baulked at the nine dollar price on the one bought at the local market last year but surely if one seed produced a pumpkin that cost nine dollars...and that pumpkin produced a hundred seeds, and that seed produced a plant that fruited two pumpkins...then surely a thousand dollars is to be had if only, I had a field!!

Long Island Cheese and blue Hubbard squash

The summerhouse holds a few tomato plants that are still producing and 'the Stink' our spaniel, enjoys having a Mexico Midget when they ripen, but he misses his green beans that is for sure. The pole beans are blackened and almost all pulled up but he still walks to the wall expectantly..surely there is one bean left on the trellis he says with his brown spaniel eyes.  My reply...next year buddy...I'll grow extra for you and more Mexico Midgets too!