The Early-May Garden
Fronteac Grape bud swelling Wild chive at the peak of its youth
Blanched Dandelions
I’m starting to see dandelions as the single-most misunderstood wild food. People spend much time eradicating their robust roots from their monoculture of lawn. They spend money on toxic pesticides and various pieces of equipment designed specifically aimed at waging war on the dandelion. As I have in the past, I will offer the ultimate solution: eat them. Only this … Read More
One Month Early
Mission accomplished? My goal at the onset was to produce garden produce earlier than normal for my growing zone. How much earlier was to be determined, but my goal was a month prior to the May long weekend, when baby greens normally start to supply our kitchen. Today is that month prior. How did it go? I have to admit … Read More
Cold Frame Snow Protection
We get snow at this time of year. It’s a sad fact. I remember big dumps of wet snow in May when leaves were out, seriously bending, breaking, and otherwise damaging trees. My garden notes from last year read: “May 30th: Well, it snowed a lot. Again. I’d say the rain barrels were refilled 3-4 times over, so maybe equivalent … Read More
Direct Sown Seedlings
Germination. Although the snow has taken a serious beating as of late, my north garage bed that in the past has provided for copious greens is still under about 2′ of snow. But in the cold frames, life has begun. Arugula [seen left], radish [bottom], spinach, and the mesclun and ‘greens’ mixes are showing their faces. Not a great accomplishment … Read More
In Season: Wild Chive
I’m a little surprised, after quite a few years of gardening, that a perennial poking it’s new growth out gets me as excited as it does. That little piece of happiness is something I cherish about growing things – a simple pleasure embodied in change that by its nature forces abstinence, making its re-visit in a year as pleasureful as … Read More
In Season: Spring Thyme
I know the title reads like a cheesy April fool’s post, but seriously, if you’re a botanist, can you please explain this to me? I’ve noticed for years that english thyme, when the snow recedes, is in about as good a shape as it was in November or December when it was covered. This, in and of itself is remarkable … Read More
Let the Seeding Begin…Early
What a weird growing year, and it hasn’t even really started. In 2004 we left for Europe mid-March, and I’d already fully worked and seeded my then-south-facing-bed. We are experiencing its antithesis – below average temps and scads of the record-breaking snow still everywhere. Were it not for my cold frames, I’m not sure how far out direct seeding would … Read More
Cold Frames: Good Soil Defrosters
I’ve never been so happy to see an earth worm. For the past couple weeks, I’ve been wondering whether or not my cold frames were actually achieving anything. I had considered whether or not I was simply containing the latent cold in the frozen soil, and that they’d be better uncovered. Not so. The photo below shows where the cold … Read More
This is a Cold Frame
I’ve been talking about cold frames a lot over the past months, and invariably get ‘what’s a cold frame‘. This is a cold frame. It’s a piece of Dutch geniusness. And I find it slightly embarrassing that we, living up here in Edmonton, are not friends with it, nevermind masters of its use. Its purpose is to prolong growing seasons … Read More