Friday, January 24, 2014

Garden List 2014 – What I’m Planting…




 …or at least, what I'm planning to plant.  Early days yet.
 

   It is an unseasonably mild (11 degrees) and sunny January day in the thriving metropolis.  The driveway is a skating rink under a half inch of water.  Getting the mail this morning was an adventure.  Even Karl, our neighbour’s cat, took a tumble walking with me to the mailbox.

   The warm weather has resulted in early-onset Spring Fever and with it, the desire to garden.  Now.  I decided to root through my binders and boxes of seeds to sort out what I will grow this summer.

   "The Plan", as it stands.   Anything new for this year is red.  Everything is heirloom or open-pollinated unless otherwise specified.


Tomatoes
Cherry – Green Doctors Frosted, Sweetie Red, Black, Pink Bumblebee
Paste – Mazarini, San Marzano, Opalka
Other  - Emerald Evergreen, Eva Purple Ball (pink), Moskvich (red), Northern Lights (orange/yellow marbled), and Paul Robeson (black).

Carrots
Scarlet Nantes
Jaune Obtus du Doubs

Turnips –  An Amish heirloom variety received from my online friend, Michael, in Arkansas

Beets 
Detroit Dark Red
Cylinder
Detroit Golden

Beans 
Dry Bush – Vermont Cranberry (can also be a shell bean),Beka Brown, Kenearly Yellow Eye, and Marrowfat if I have room!
Snap/Wax Bush – Buerre de Rocquencourt, Topcrop, Royal Burgundy, Provider
Pole - Snowcap (dry)

Greens 
Spinach - Bloomsdale
Kale - Lacinato, Red Russian
Lettuce - Romaine lettuce “Baby Star” (hybrid), Mesclun mix, Black Seeded Simpson
Mustard - Ruby Frills Red
Swiss Chard - Fordhook

Peppers
Nardello Italian
Sweet Chocolate
Early Sunsation (yellow bell hybrid - thanks, Sharon & Eddy!)

Peas – Green Arrow 

Cabbage - Red and green, from the local greenhouse

Broccoli - From the local greenhouse

Cauliflower - From the local greenhouse

Potatoes – A Russet of some sort

Leeks – Giant Musselburgh

Eggplant
Ping Tung
Vittoria (hybrid)
Black Beauty

Zucchini Unsure what kind, I received the seeds in a trade

Herbs
Borage
Dark Opal basil
Summer Savoury
Lemon Balm
Italian Parsley (flat leaf)
Sweet basil

Flowers
Nasturtiums
Swiss Giant Pansy
Zinnias – Polar Bear (hybrid), Starlight Rose (hybrid)
Sunspot Sunflower (hybrid)
Dwarf Hollyhock, Majorette Mix (hybrid)

   Hoping the calendula, Scarlet Flax, gomphrena, and rose mallow that went to seed at the end of last summer comes up again!

   I think I might forgo trying to grow winter squash this year.  It takes up so much space.  If I do, I will probably try an hybrid variety because our season is so short.  If I really cave, I'll grow an heirloom: Red Kuri.

...and maybe, just maybe, some multi-hued quinoa...!

(updated February 11/14)

Friday, January 17, 2014

Bad Ass Gardening


Ron Finley - Guerilla Gardening in South Central L.A. 
(I love this presentation.  No wonder it went viral!)








Stephen Ritz - Green Bronx Machine 
(Have a cup of coffee before watching and listen closely - this guy speaks quickly and is a riot!)





Guerilla Gardening - East End of Downtown Calgary






Hi-Tech Guerilla Gardening in London.  The real fun starts at 1 min 38 seconds!


James Jiler - A Sentence of Transformation. 
Prisons, gardens, restoration, and inspiration.
(For some reason, I am not able to embed this video in my blog.  To watch this TEDx presentation, click HERE).