20. Looking West showing a good use for Chicken litter.
21. Just have to wait for the ground to thaw out.
Well nearly the end of February, everyone is going through their catalogues and wish list’s, trying to match them up. What a marvelous time of year. If your house and/or greenhouse have Citrus then like us, you are suffering with the heavy scent of blossoms wafting through the air. Do not forget to pollinate around midday, an artists brush gently stroked over anthers and stigmas does the trick nicely. Your reward will be fruit in July-Nov. Any not in bud will usually come into blossom April-May.
In about 3-4 weeks we will be able to start spring pruning and tidying up. Our first seeds are sown and germinated, Strawberries need an early start to blossom and fruit by June. Next will be Leeks, Onions then Lettuce, and Tomatoes followed by Broccoli at the end of March.
Weather forecast is still typical for the time of year, although we are down on total precipitation for January and so far through February.
Only a few weeks left to order from our Pine Island plant offering. We already have a couple of orders, and look forward over the next three weeks helping to put clients wishes into reality.
Well as the picture’s show, Spring is trying to warm and awaken the garden. Just what we have been waiting for the last few months. Do not forget though, that along with Natures bounty comes Natures other summer visitors. Yes, all those little feeders we would rather not see again. Whether, in the past chemically or in our new normal of using nature to control these visitors, you will never be 100% free of them.
We start early in the Fall, with a good clean up of any disease or insects that we see. Making a note of those areas, we watch in Spring for ‘outbreaks’, so they can be looked after quickly. We combine our visual efforts with Biological Beneficial Insects. The following is what we use:
On all our fruit trees – (in May) Neoseiulus Fallacis (best overall Mite predator).
General release – (in May) We release Ladybugs Hippodamia convergens in the greenhouse so they travel in and out with the plants, depending on weather, and they then spread out to look after the whole garden.
For Whitefly control, Delphastus Catalinae, a small black beetle.
For Scale control, Lindorus Lophanthae, a slightly bigger small black beetle.
For Caterpillar control, two different modes of action; first, Praying Mantis ( will eat anything it can catch), and second, Safer’s BTK, which is a fungus that infests Caterpillars and therefore kills them.
As you can see, Natures way is mainly to employ ‘flying’ controls, but it’s not everyone’s ideal to have them inside the house. Natural predators will always arrive, but not until their feast is well established. This is because mum likes to lay her eggs in an area which has an ample food supply to nourish her young to adulthood to start the cycle again. When we check our plants weekly, we always have a cloth that has been either soaked in a simple water:dish-soap/200:1 solution or rubbing alcohol and water. When you spot the first visitor, a quick wipe and inspection of the leafs’ top surface, underside, and stem, removing any thing you find, will minimize the issues ahead. If you find a sticky area on a leaf surface, this is an indicator that somewhere above there are feasters enjoying your bounty. Do not wait, treat area straight away!
Having plants outside during the Summer (in an appropriate location), will let Nature do her thing. Ants, although not themselves a pest to worry about, can and do make ‘nests’ in large containers. If you have a nice lush specimen growing in this container and it is free of pests, do not be surprised if the local colony moves a few insect ‘stock’ into this location. They feed on the sugary excretion known as ‘Honey Dew’, which is a byproduct of the feeding insects. They can have their ‘nest’ anywhere within there farming area, so keep an eye out for ant runs.
We use ventilation where possible, and pot or base watering to avoid mould and mildew. When it is frosty outside and ventilation not always practical we use Green Earth Bordo mixture. Never leave a plant standing in water unless it is a water plant. Drowning should never be an issue for plants, so make sure excess water can drain away. Going away for a time, and leaving a plant in a saucer can sound like a good idea for a couple of days. But place somewhere where it will not be rained on while you are away. You do not need to keep in filled up. A shady spot, sheltered from heavy rain is best.
At this time indoor seed sowing should be well underway. Most Peppers, Herbs, Onion, Leek and Tomato should be nicely through. First Broccoli next week then more Lettuce, Garden Tomato varieties, Greenhouse Cucumbers and Radish.
End of June finishes the heartbreak of June drop. Quite a lot this year, with Plum and Apricot almost totally gone. Apples, Pears and Quince first crop in third year of our orchard. The Niagara grape (wrongly named) as usual, even with preventative spraying, succumbed to mildew. Had enough, so plants will have been removed.
Maybe July will bring old fashioned stable weather, i.e. hot during the week and rainy on weekends. We have only had just over 1.1″ of rain during June. Only .03″ – .05″ per night, non during the day. Yes, just enough to keep the foliage damp, but not enough to water the soil. Yes, we have rain barrels (2600 gals), so we’re able to provide the plants with enough to grow.
Well into picking showing 3rd truss up, var Cobra.
Cucumber var Carmen getting back into the game.
Remains of Harvested Broccoli. Family and neighbours filled up, plus 20lbs into the freezer.
Quince looking good.
Socked fruit var Pear Luscious. Keeping unwanted visitors away!!.
Socked fruit var Apple Roxberry Russet.
Wild rose hedge, lots of rose hips for juicing this season.
S.East view
Asian Pear Mishirasu
New Garden area has:- Pumpkin HSC151 Edible seeded, background Celebration Squash and Yacon (both types).
All Haskap berries harvested, yielded 6 litres of berries, giving 4.5 liters juice. Vigorous growth on Plums and Apples.
New Blueberry Arlen.
An encouraging start.
Over the previous 2 weeks some of the harvest would be; Ananas, Asparagus, Brocolli (Bay Meadows, Emerald Crown, Emerald Pride & Emerald Jewel.), Citrus (Meyer & Eureka lemon, Moro Blood Orange), Haskap (Aurora, Borealis, Berry Blue & Tundra), Lettuce (Skyphos & P173N), Radish (var Cherriette & French Breakfast), Rhubarb, Strawberry (var Fresca), Tomato (Defiant, Clarance, Cobra, Black Cherry, Tomassio and Sub Arctic Maxi), Onion, Leek, Tomatoes, and Potatoes!
Peas are growing well. The beans and celery are suffering and in need of rain. This area has seen none for past 2 weeks. Only a 1cm fall, then 2 weeks of nothing, then back to again 1cm. In the meantime plenty of windy 24’c plus days drying everything out. Aphids showing themselves throughout the garden, followed very closely by Ladybugs, their eggs and larvae. Natures Balance!!
A couple of brighter days and the garden is in! The tomatoe plants started in the cold greenhouse really shot up (4’+) with a few warmer days. Fruit set looks quite good. Apples now coming into their own with 21 of 42 varieties in pink bud/blossom. All fruit trees have had a first spray with BT, four days after an application of field mite preventor – Neoseiulus Fallacis. This is a native type, so will establish over time.
We now have Red & Black Currants, Gooseberries, Apricots, Plums, and Haskaps set. Pears we will know in about 2-3 weeks. Peas, Beans, Beetroot, and Potatoes are emerging from the still cool, damp soil. Celery, Leeks and Onions rooting out nicely. Early Broccoli showing signs of Curd formation. Nearly finished the ‘pot’ grown Radish, Carrots, Peas, Onions, Lettuce, Cucumber and Tomatoes. Just need the weather to stay warm and watch the garden spring to life!
