BIG Potato Bake-Off:  Flavour Favourites Compete

BIG Potato Bake-Off: Flavour Favourites Compete

I grew several kinds of potatoes this year and today – when it was too late to cook and taste and test them all side by side I decided to do a big dig and partial taste test. I say partial because we have already eaten all the Russian Norkatah and totally forgot about the Linzer Delicatus and tiny Russian Bananas growing in a different area under a tree. Love those root pouches but if you get lazy and don’t water them the plants might die prematurely. Mine did.PS Check out the photo of the bright pink rare and new on the market AmaRosa potato shared by my daughter. I did not grow that one yet!

Raspberry Trouble –  I am not alone with bad raspberries this year

Raspberry Trouble – I am not alone with bad raspberries this year

If you love raspberries and want even more fruit then do as I say, not as I do! This year moisture is in short supply for our fruit trees and berries. I use to have an irrigation system on my raspberry patch at my new-to-me old house in Qualicum Beach. We even installed a big seven foot –tall structure to stop the tall plants from flopping over. But last year we tore apart the old irrigation system because it was so leaky and out of date and wasteful. Note to self: that was a mistake.

Want to Grow Your Own Strawberries?

Want to Grow Your Own Strawberries?

Strawberries grown commercially are planted on soil that has been sprayed to sterilize it. Then the soil is covered with plastic so the fruit doesn’t rot before it can be picked. Is there a simpler way to grow clean mineralized fruit at home without the mess and jumble of a big home patch or the chemicals used in a commercial patch? Donna shows her small flood-tray system with root pouches inspired by Saskatchewn-based “Over the HIll Orchards” farmer Dean Kreutzer

Plant By The Light of the Moon

Plant By The Light of the Moon

My grandma didn’t understand English but she understood the language of the moon and she knew the best time to grow food was when the moon was growing so she seeded between the new moon and the full moon. As the moon grows bigger, the gravitational pull makes tides stronger and seeds sprout faster. You might already have some early seeds planted and sprouting but if you don’t it is just about that time.