Re: CANADIAN REGION: What are you doing in May, 2016

**Kelejan** 5/17/2016, 12:31 am

This afternoon I finished the task that I had set myself; removing the plantains that were taking over my grass patch (lawn).

Of course, it looks a bit of a mess but it will soon fill in and I hope will look much better than the patchwork of plantains.

I watered part of it this evening so I am expecting the soil will need topping up. I will be looking forward to when I mow it, you cannot see the patchwork.

One day more and we are due some badly needed rain over four days; 40% to 60% which means we may not get any at all.

**sanderson** 5/17/2016, 3:43 am

StrongAsMeat wrote:What consistency should the MM be? I made my mix, but I'm worried that it's too 'light'. I thought my math was good, but I feel there might be too much peat. I may be used to regular dirt/soil, where I'd have to dig my way to the bottom, with the MM I can pretty much wiggle my hand right to the bottom. I guess I could make a quick video to show you, if anybody expresses concern.

Thanks in advance!

When dry, it is light and fluffy. When thoroughly wet, it's heavy but you can still force your hand through and touch the bottom.

Margay77 5/17/2016, 8:24 am

Scorpio Rising wrote:
Margay77 wrote:
trolleydriver wrote:It's a cold and windy morning in Ottawa. Current temperature 4 Celsius (40 F) with winds gusting to 26 mph make it very uncomfortable. I'm keeping the transplants indoors for now.

very cold in Toronto this morning as well.....I planned today to be my day to pick up supplies, and my very own copy of the book.

Mission accomplished! and it warmed up considerably in the afternoon so I spent 90 minutes weeding one bed and trimming back vines (ornamental).

Can hardly wait to weed the other bed and start amending the soil and setting up the grids!

We were cold here too. All my seedlings had to stay indoors. Do you feel you were able to get the ingredients for your Mel's Mix?

Well, I have everything, however, the vermiculite is just standard, so I am wondering if I really need the coarse or large size, and if I need a lot more!

**trolleydriver** 5/17/2016, 9:12 am

Margay77 wrote:

Well, I have everything, however, the vermiculite is just standard, so I am wondering if I really need the coarse or large size, and if I need a lot more!

I prefer to buy the 4 cubic foot bags of coarse (large) vermiculite. You most likely will not find that at the regular stores (Canadian Tire, Home Depot, Lowes, etc.). I get mine from a large garden centre that focuses entirely on gardening and landscaping. I pay about $26 Cdn for each bag.

**Kelejan** 5/17/2016, 1:31 pm

When my local garden place does not have it (in the summer they are an offshoot of their main place) they order it in for me.

**sanderson** 5/17/2016, 3:40 pm

Margay, Just my 2 cents. Medium will work if you can't find/get coarse. I don't think you should add extra, though. It's the compost that is the most important ingredient.

**trolleydriver** 5/17/2016, 4:36 pm

This afternoon we finished preparing Mrs TD's new perennial bed (not SFG) at the front side of the house. It's now ready for planting and thankfully she has plenty of plants in the rest of the garden that can be relocated to this new location.

**Kelejan** 5/17/2016, 4:38 pm

Does that mean more room for you, TD, without any extra work?

**trolleydriver** 5/17/2016, 4:58 pm

Kelejan wrote:Does that mean more room for you, TD, without any extra work?

It means slightly less lawn to mow! It's a small area bounded on two sides by cedar hedges and on another side by a flowering shrub. It was always a pain to mow the grass in that confined area. Now the only thing I will need to mow is a grass path which goes from the main lawn to the side gate between an old perennial bed and the new one. Hopefully at some time I will eliminate the grass path and put in some pavers.

CANADIAN REGION: What are you doing in May, 2016 - Page 5 IMG_1748_zpsqsx2fz6c

CANADIAN REGION: What are you doing in May, 2016 - Page 5 IMG_1748_zpsqsx2fz6c

Margay77 5/17/2016, 6:25 pm

trolleydriver wrote:
Margay77 wrote:

Well, I have everything, however, the vermiculite is just standard, so I am wondering if I really need the coarse or large size, and if I need a lot more!

I prefer to buy the 4 cubic foot bags of coarse (large) vermiculite. You most likely will not find that at the regular stores (Canadian Tire, Home Depot, Lowes, etc.). I get mine from a large garden centre that focuses entirely on gardening and landscaping. I pay about $26 Cdn for each bag.

I would love to find that size bag. The one I have found that size is $65!!!!

Margay77 5/17/2016, 6:28 pm

sanderson wrote:Margay, Just my 2 cents. Medium will work if you can't find/get coarse. I don't think you should add extra, though. It's the compost that is the most important ingredient.

Thanks! I think that's what I am going to have to do.

Seems the big bags are VERY expensive here in Toronto. $65!

It's cheaper to just purchase multiples of the smaller bags.

**Kelejan** 5/17/2016, 6:36 pm

Margay, are those 4cu.ft bags? $65 is a Rip-Off by at least 100%.

StrongAsMeat 5/17/2016, 6:57 pm

Margay77 wrote:
sanderson wrote:Margay, Just my 2 cents. Medium will work if you can't find/get coarse. I don't think you should add extra, though. It's the compost that is the most important ingredient.
Thanks! I think that's what I am going to have to do.

Seems the big bags are VERY expensive here in Toronto. $65!

It's cheaper to just purchase multiples of the smaller bags.

If you drive a couple of hours to Belleville you can get it for $35

**trolleydriver** 5/17/2016, 7:52 pm

StrongAsMeat wrote:
Margay77 wrote:
sanderson wrote:Margay, Just my 2 cents. Medium will work if you can't find/get coarse. I don't think you should add extra, though. It's the compost that is the most important ingredient.
Thanks! I think that's what I am going to have to do.

Seems the big bags are VERY expensive here in Toronto. $65!

It's cheaper to just purchase multiples of the smaller bags.

If you drive a couple of hours to Belleville you can get it for $35

I think I should load up my car in Ottawa with 4 cu ft bags at $26 + tax and start heading West with them toward Toronto. On second thought, driving that far with the price of Canadian gasoline being what it is would probably put me out of business.

**sanderson** 5/18/2016, 3:32 am

Did you check the Vermiculite DataBase (International)? See home page.

Margay77 5/18/2016, 8:43 am

sanderson wrote:Did you check the Vermiculite DataBase (International)? See home page.

Yes I did. they mostly just don't have it.

I found the place that had it for $65 by googling.

Margay77 5/18/2016, 8:46 am

trolleydriver wrote:
StrongAsMeat wrote:
Margay77 wrote:
sanderson wrote:Margay, Just my 2 cents. Medium will work if you can't find/get coarse. I don't think you should add extra, though. It's the compost that is the most important ingredient.
Thanks! I think that's what I am going to have to do.

Seems the big bags are VERY expensive here in Toronto. $65!

It's cheaper to just purchase multiples of the smaller bags.

If you drive a couple of hours to Belleville you can get it for $35
I think I should load up my car in Ottawa with 4 cu ft bags at $26 + tax and start heading West with them toward Toronto. On second thought, driving that far with the price of Canadian gasoline being what it is would probably put me out of business.

LOL! We are coming to Ottawa the first weekend in June to ride in the "Ride for Dad" charity ride (for prostate cancer) - However, I don't believe I could fit a bag on the bike! Wink

**trolleydriver** 5/18/2016, 9:24 am

Margay, if you have the time while you are in Ottawa, you are welcome to drop by and see what we are doing with SFG, etc. Mrs TD will show off her flower gardens and I'll do the SFG. By the way, thanks for doing the Ride for Dad (prostate cancer fight). I have not been diagnosed but I am being closely watched.

CapeCoddess 5/18/2016, 9:43 am

Margay77 wrote:
LOL! We are coming to Ottawa the first weekend in June to ride in the "Ride for Dad" charity ride (for prostate cancer) - However, I don't believe I could fit a bag on the bike!

Ah, a fellow biker. How nice! Although I had to get rid of my bike four years ago due to hip arthritis.
Sad

I've used all sizes of vermiculite and they all work fine. And some who can't find vermiculite have been known to use... What the heck are those little white circles that float called? Darn, it's tough getting old... LOL
CC

**Kelejan** 5/18/2016, 10:35 am

CC, Perlite. Very Happy

Margay77 5/18/2016, 12:37 pm

trolleydriver wrote:Margay, if you have the time while you are in Ottawa, you are welcome to drop by and see what we are doing with SFG, etc. Mrs TD will show off her flower gardens and I'll do the SFG. By the way, thanks for doing the Ride for Dad (prostate cancer fight). I have not been diagnosed but I am being closely watched.

thanks TD, I don't think there will be time from what I understand. We'll be arriving on Friday, pre-riding the route and registering. Saturday will be riding all day. and then Sunday hit the highway early back to Toronto.

I do really appreciate your offer tho!

I found a big bag of vermiculite this morning, paid an arm and leg for it, but now ready to start mixing! I so appreciate this forum and all the input.

Margay77 5/18/2016, 12:39 pm

CapeCoddess wrote:
Margay77 wrote:
LOL! We are coming to Ottawa the first weekend in June to ride in the "Ride for Dad" charity ride (for prostate cancer) - However, I don't believe I could fit a bag on the bike!

Ah, a fellow biker. How nice! Although I had to get rid of my bike four years ago due to hip arthritis.

I've used all sizes of vermiculite and they all work fine. And some who can't find vermiculite have been known to use... What the heck are those little white circles that float called? Darn, it's tough getting old... LOL
CC

What did you ride? I had my own bike until 2 years ago and then we sold both and went to one bigger, more comfortable ride.

So, we now own a Triumph Rocket 3 - and it really is a rocket! I can't drive it because I'm to short, I can barely touch my toes to the ground, and this thing weighs well over 800 lbs.....so, I have to be content to be a passenger now. But I still having my own ride sometimes.

CapeCoddess 5/18/2016, 2:17 pm

1981 Kawasaki KZ440. Just the right girly girl size to go to the store or anywhere else. Loved that li'l bike! Rode it everywhere, from Nova Scotia down to Pennsylvania and all over New England and New York State. Never gave me a lick of trouble.
I love you

To stay on topic, yes Kelejan, it IS perlite. It's been so long since I had to buy anything to mix MM up with that I'm forgetting all about it. LOL Thanks for your help! Glad someone still has their wits about them.
tongue

CC

**trolleydriver** 5/18/2016, 2:52 pm

This afternoon we got most of Mrs TD's new perennial garden planted. We "stole" plants from the backyard gardens. We will probably throw in a few annuals near the edges.

CANADIAN REGION: What are you doing in May, 2016 - Page 5 IMG_1757_zps5xeebevz

CANADIAN REGION: What are you doing in May, 2016 - Page 5 IMG_1757_zps5xeebevz

**Kelejan** 5/18/2016, 5:26 pm

TD and Mrs. TD, looking forward to seeing your new garden in full bloom.

Off Topic: It took me a while to realise that a biker does not ride a push bike but a motor bike. I realised whe you started talking about 800 lbs. Very Happy

I used to ride a small motor bike and also a 1922 Vintage Velocette and took part in Road Time Trials. Great fun going all round the country in England and won a few trophies.

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