CANADIAN REGION: What are you doing in July 2016?

We look forward to seeing that, TD.

KJ somewhere in here I remember you talking about picking cherries and someone telling you to be careful.  This probably won't be of interest to you but here is an article on potentially new cherries.  Here anyway.  BTW the researcher is a friend of mine.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/dwarf-cherry-trees-growing-1.3687577

That is interesting to me, P14.  I always think that fruit trees for the home gardener should be a lot shorter anyway. I thought that perhaps cutting off the higher branches would produce more fruit at a lower level level but I have never tried it.

In any case I never need a huge harvest for cherries just for myself, but if growing for a family then a larger harvest is fine.  I also find that abundance does not even mean that you can give them away sometimes ,let alone sell them at market.

Last year in my enthusiasm I started learning to can and I went overboard canning everything I could get my hands on. At least I have learned that this year I will double my peaches and freeze every strawberry that is nearly perfect; I eat the small and/or damaged ones as I go along, and never to can anything I have find I do not like, or have the time for like black-currents that take ages to prepare.

P14, I'm very interested in this dwarf cherry tree. My area is about the same climate- wise as Nova Scotia. If you ever hear from your friend that these are going on the market would you please let us know?

CC

sure thing CC

and CC.  If you are in a similar zone, maybe you can give me a date.  To plant that is.  I am going to try this year for the first time to plant for the fall.  I would just like to try broc, cabb and for s&g a square of peas.  The best first frost dates I can find are the end of Sept.  Does that mean I should be planting them now?  By the book it says 5-10 weeks so that sounds right, but it seems early as it is still hot or course.  I was thinking the mid aug but the dates dont jive with that.  And can I direct sow or should they be started inside?

p14shooter wrote:and CC.  If you are in a similar zone, maybe you can give me a date.  To plant that is.  I am going to try this year for the first time to plant for the fall.  I would just like to try broc, cabb and for s&g a square of peas.  The best first frost dates I can find are the end of Sept.  Does that mean I should be planting them now?  By the book it says 5-10 weeks so that sounds right, but it seems early as it is still hot or course.  I was thinking the mid aug but the dates dont jive with that.  And can I direct sow or should they be started inside?

Guess I should have clarified and said my climate's more like Barrington. Lol I would start all those things inside NOW except the peas. I direct sowed my peas the other day and they are already up about 3 inches. That doesn't mean it will work out but I planted later last year and didn't have time to get a good crop. Things really really slow down once the weather cools down. For fall planting I like to add at least 2 weeks on to what the books say. Another book I follow that is very accurate for this area is the New Victory Garden. Check it out of the library asap if you get a chance.

Back home in Ottawa now after a wonderful trip in Western Canada. Our plane landed just before midnight and we got to the house about 1:00 am. 

I did a quick inspection of the gardens this morning. Wow things sure do go wild in a hurry! It's a jungle out there. The TT is in need of water but the other SFG and regular soil beds look OK. There is a ton of new growth and lots of weeds (mostly in the regular soil).

trolleydriver wrote:Back home in Ottawa now after a wonderful trip in Western Canada. Our plane landed just before midnight and we got to the house about 1:00 am. 

I did a quick inspection of the gardens this morning. Wow things sure do go wild in a hurry! It's a jungle out there. The TT is in need of water but the other SFG and regular soil beds look OK. There is a ton of new growth and lots of weeds (mostly in the regular soil).

Glad to hear all is well and that you had a great trip! Coming back to a jungle (instead of a desert) is awesome. It's crazy how fast things can grow this time of year (at least when it's hot, but not HOT)!

Welcome back, Mr. and Mrs, TD.  I'd love to see pictures of your jungle just to make me feel a little better as I have somewhat neglected my own garden these past few weeks. (I am a Le TOUR de FRANCE JUNKIE).

This is the time of year when I fall somewhat behind in my gardening endeavours but I always start off pretty good in the spring.  I do try harder each year, and thanks to mulching the garden is in much better shape at this time two years ago.

My strawberries are all gone and now I must look up to see what I must be doing with the beds.  Weed for a start.  More mulch? Trim the greenery, there is so much of it?

Edited to add: Just popped over to your personal thread TD to see if there were pictures.  You did not disappoint.

Thanks Kelejan.  It's good to be home but we had a great time out West.

Don't forget to check this thread ...

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t20854-td-s-trip-to-alberta-and-british-columbia#249665

So the latest on my SFG is my peas are done, a few green beans left, spinach, broccoli and cabbage have all gone to seed. My carrots seem to be ok, I see a couple of zucchini left, and more squash than I know what to do with. I'm not sure if it's ready, they are a good size but still green, I thought spaghetti squash is supposed to be yellow? I found 2 little cucumbers which i'm excited about, they are what I wanted most. (next year watch out!) My original tomato plants are finally producing some green guys. I bought developed plants on sale which are doing good. Finally my peppers and melon, nothing, lettuce, enough for a hamburger. 

I guess it's time to yank out the zucchini and anything else that's gone to seed and focus on fall planting. I think I did pretty good but I can't keep up with this heat.

StrongAsMeat wrote:...more squash than I know what to do with. I'm not sure if it's ready, they are a good size but still green, I thought spaghetti squash is supposed to be yellow? 

Yup, yellow. I have one that's been pale yellow for about 10 days. When do I know it's ready to pick?

SAM, I hope someone from your Region can respond.

CN,  I think you just leave them until fall.  Audrey had some that were yellow and she didn't mention picking them any time soon.  In 2014 and 2015 I just left them until fall clean up. In fact, there are 2 from last fall still sitting on the kitchen table.

sanderson wrote:SAM,  I hope someone from your Region can respond.

CN,  I think you just leave them until fall.  Audrey had some that were yellow and she didn't mention picking them any time soon.  In 2014 and 2015 I just left them until fall clean up.  In fact, there are 2 from last fall still sitting on the kitchen table.

WOW! I had no idea they could last that long. The only squash I've ever grown were zucchini and they never lasted more than a few days.

Winter squashes are eaten in the "winter".

sanderson wrote:Winter squashes are eaten in the "winter".

But I want to eat everything now! WAAAAAA!

countrynaturals wrote:

sanderson wrote:Winter squashes are eaten in the "winter".

But I want to eat everything now! WAAAAAA!

Ahhh...a foodie after my own heart.
CC, who just polished off a whole quart of yogurt (hey...instead of ice cream, OK???)

What did I do today?  I went crazy working outside in 30C (86F) with high humidity which makes it feel like 36C (97F). What did I accomplish? I put together my new grass trimmer and used it to trim the edges of all the lawns around all the gardens, along the sides of the driveway, along the front edge along the road as well as under the big pine tree. Then by hand I weeded the two old style SFG beds which is not anywhere as easy as taking the few small weeds out of the new ANSFG beds. To finish I watered with my hose wand all of the ANSFG, old SFG and regular soil veggie beds. I am exhausted.

Re: Newbie in London Ontario

  Kelejan Yesterday at 19:04
Brenda  
from Kelejan in British Columbia.

I am your Host here in this great country of ours.  There are several Ontarians here so you will be in excellent company. Several first and second year gardeners so you will soon feel quite at home.

How much land do you have?  More than enough for several 4x4s I am betting.  I like the idea of you starting at least one bed with fall plants; it will give you the feel for SFGardening.  I started with two 4x4s then found that as I am a small person, 6 x 3 was better for me to reach into the centre of the beds.

What SFG book are you using? There are several editions. 

Kelejan

It is 8:37pm local time and the temperature is cooling down to 30C/86F. Today the air has been so warm that it was uncomfortable.  The sort of temperature you wish you had in the depths of winter. 

I get up early and do a bit before the heat arrives, then take it easy the rest of the day and do a bit when the sun sets and I am out of the direct rays of the sun.

Just picked some blueberries and some maroon coloured beans that turn green when cooked.  I will have some of those tomorrow.

I will soon have to prepare a couple of beds for fall planting; carrots, lettuce, etc.

Then of course there will be the canning season to look forward to.  One of the best purchases I made last year, a pressure cooker/canner.  It has kept me in canned fruit and some veggies all year and I still have some left. In conjunction with freezing and dehydrating I have quite a respectable food store.  I am thinking of canning soups/stews this year.  Anyone canned potatoes or sweet potatoes?

Your food storage sounds admirable. I think sweet potatoes would can like pumpkin, in pieces rather than puree. Read about pumpkin on another thread. I'm still waiting for the tomatoes for canning. I only have one quart bag in the freezer for canning. And the beans. . . I have 3 varieties of beans in 20 squares and we have had only one dinner with beans.

Kelejan, DH bought about 50 lbs of sweet potatoes around Thanksgiving a couple of years ago. (They were on sale... a GREAT sale - .25 instead of .98/lb) So, yes, we canned them!

MAKE SURE you leave them in chunks or strips when canning. If they're pureed, the pressure may not be enough in the jar middle to kill any botulism spores that may be hiding...

I made a syrup to can them in. This year, I may just try water...

Thank, Marie for that info about sweet potatoes.  I must admit I would not can anything pureed as I am aware of not heating anything completely.

August tomorrow and out local farmers' market has  freestone peaches ready for canning.  It is amazing how quickly each year flies by.  Now for another month of hard slogging to get everything canned or dehydrated.  At least I will not be canning several pounds of pickling cucumbers; I don't eat that many.  I have learned my lesson.

Just off to water my tomatoes.  That is another lesson I have learned, water regularly.

Time to start a new thread for August 2016.