It’s time to start chitting! And I mean that in the best possible way. If you have been growing your own potatoes you know what I am talking about. Take the potatoes out of storage and let them sprout in daylight.
Potatoes kept in the dark form long unwieldy sprouts. If yours have done that then the only thing you can do is pull them out of the cupboard or storage area right now and break off all those long sprouts. Then get to work chitting them.
Have you got plans to buy a clump of pussy willows at the next seedy Saturday or market? Did you get a piece of curly willow in your Valentine’s bouquet? Or maybe, like me, your neighbour gave you some really amazing raspberry or rose twigs after they finished pruning their plants. Here is how you can turn a woody plant into 100 woody plants easy peasy.
Our fresh pea and basil sprouts grown indoors had the sweet tender taste of garden peas and fresh basil. We serve them with salad or all on their own with a splash of olive oil and sprinkle of sea salt. If you haven’t grown your own micro-greens yet what are you waiting for? It only takes a week! And because the easiest micro-greens to grow are pea shoots I am providing the guidelines here. They taste exactly like peas and only take a week to eight days to serve fresh with dinner.
So here’s a question. Did you know flowers can hear very small sounds? Sure we’ve all heard that classical music makes plants grow better than heavy rock but seriously? Probably the first serious research to show the effect of sound on flowers was reported in National Geographic in January this year.
The research has just begun and I am looking for all my old favourite vegetable seeds (Juliet tomatoes and Susanna cauliflower) plus a few new additions (Jade Beans). This doesn’t mean I am throwing out the baby with the bathwater. No way. I am growing my favourite vegetables as usual but adding a few other vegetables and flowers this year.
Professional Horticulturist Donna Balzer seeking volunteer (“Woofer”-style) help with her organic zone 7 edible garden on Vancouver Island. This large plot offers extensive learning opportunities to a Horticulture student or graduate of a Permaculture Program. Work may include: pruning small fruit, propagation from woody cuttings, seeding, transplanting, greenhouse and garden work, weeding, wood mulch spreading and general garden clean-up. Bring ideas and talent, practise what you have learned and come excited to learn more! What I Offer: A one week mentorship opportunity with bed and board. This is a physically challenging opportunity for one or more people
