A Pleasant Distraction

   

   I decided to throw caution to the wind and to wait no longer!  I started jalapeno, Shepherd (a sweet, red, pointed pepper), and tomato seeds on March 19 (determinates) and March 24 (indeterminates).  I also started some greens (kale, cabbage, Swiss chard) and cosmos around March 20 in milk jug greenhouses, which are lined against the south side of the house.  I could have - likely should have - waited another two or three weeks to start most things.  As a calorie-free stress-buster and pleasant distraction, though (both things I needed this month), seed-starting and garden planning can't be beat. 

The tomato varieties started this year (all but 3 are new-to-me):

 

INDETERMINATE:

Andes/Andean/Cornue des Andes  (SEMI-DET, red, horn-shape, productive, meaty, ~75DTM, paste tomato, few seeds, rich flavour, brought to France/Europe from the Andes)

Reinhard’s Chocolate Heart (INDET, brown oxheart, rare, rich flavour, 80-85DTM, 300-400g, German origin, cross between Cherokee Green x a pink oxheart)

Monomakh’s Hat (INDET or SEMI-DET, large pink oxheart, productive, 70-80DTM, Russian origin)

Indigo Pear Drop (INDET, large cherry, heavy yields, golden yellow with purple/antho shoulders, sweet, 65-70DTM)

Japanese Black Trifele (INDET, mahogany/brown with dark green shoulders, 4-6 oz fruit, pear-shaped, crack resistant, rich smoky flavour, productive, fairly rare, origin: Estonia/Russia, 80-85DTM)

 

DETERMINATE

EM-Champion (DET, red/meaty, 3-4’ tall, early-midseason, can grow in large pots)

Black Sea Man (DET, brown/black, heirloom, beefsteak, 8-12 oz, rich flavour, slicer, determinate, can be grown in large containers, early, ~ 75 DTM)

Clear Pink Early (DET, round, pink fruit, compact, heavy yields, bushy growth, 3-6oz round, slicer, sweet, Russian heirloom)

Early Annie  (DET., red, heirloom, medium fruit, 3-inch round, early 60-70 DTM, prolific, slicer/canner)

Emalia  (DET, saladette, long, curved point, caramel brown with green shading, sweet flavour, rare, 3.5-5’ tall, high yields, mid-season, French origin, open-pollinated, cross between Lucky Tiger x Orange Walk)

Dina  (DET, open-pollinated, apricot/creamsicle colour, high carotene content, round, medium size, 100-150g, midseason ~80 DTM, productive, Russian/Ukraine/Belarus origin)

Beauty King Dwarf  (Indet. DWARF, open-pollinated, red w/ vertical gold stripes, oblate/beefsteak, productive, few seeds, 3 – 4’ tall, 75 DTM, balanced/rich flavour)

Doucet’s Petitbec (DET, Quebec heirloom, large red cherry, compact plant 16-24”, ~65DTM, crack-resistant, keeps well, tangy flavour)

 

 

   This is the rosemary plant I've overwintered indoors for two or three years.  Its summers are spent outside.  It has become like another houseplant.  It's so nice to have fresh rosemary year 'round.

Freezing Temps and New Seeds

Happy New Year!

   The last two weeks have been very cold.  This past week, we had several days of -35 to -40 C temps with ice fog and periodic light snow.  Suffice to say, we stuck close to home and only ventured out to run necessary errands.

   Last night, it began to flurry.  By this morning, we had another 6 inches of snow.  Fortunately, it had "warmed up" to -20 by this morning, so R. was able to start the snowblower (it wouldn't start last week).  He managed to clear the driveway and I was able to do some shoveling without the risk of frostbite.  What a difference 10 or 15 degrees in the right direction makes.

Pictures taken around 3:00PM this afternoon.

 

   With several months to go before I can start seeds for transplants, I have been scratching the gardening itch by researching heirloom varieties that are new to me and doing trades with other gardeners.  In December, I did a trade with a fellow in Vancouver for some dwarf and indeterminate tomatoes. I also connected with a woman in Sweden through an online dwarf tomato group (I'm chucking at how niche that sounds).  We did a seed trade and had a great chat online about uncommon varieties.  Some of the varieties she sent me were rare and/or relatively new crosses, ones I just couldn’t find online in Canadian or American groups or even for sale from seed businesses in North America.   You have to love the whimsical names some tomatoes have: Delta Moss Dwarf, Dwarf Saucy Mary, Favorie de Bretagne, Long Tall Sally,  Summer Cider Apricot, Evil Olive, Brad's Atomic Grape, Blaue Zimmertomate (“Blue Tomato Room”), etc.    

   Seeds of Diversity's annual member seed exchange launched yesterday.  I managed to find two tomato varieties I'd been hunting for (Clear Pink and Reinhard's Chocolate Heart), as well as two dry bush bean varieties (Goose Gullet, an Acadian heirloom dating back to the late 1700s, and Weiner Treib, a Dutch variety that is early for a dry bean).  There were many unusual and interesting varieties listed by other members, and I could have gone nuts acquiring them if I'd let myself.  Limited funds and limited garden space helped keep me focused enough to chose a few and leave the rest!

 

Ice on the Windows

   The end of December has brought frigid temperatures with it.  As I type (at 9:45AM) it is -31 degrees C.  During the night, while up puttering, the atmosphere in the house told me it was bitterly cold outside.  My curiosity got the best of me, so I opened the front door (it groaned and screeched on it's hinges) and peeked out.  It was -39 degrees and the air was thick with ice fog. 

   The inside of the kitchen windows have ice building up at their bases, and the lip the of the front door latch (visible inside the house) has thick frost on it. 

 

 

   When it's cold, the ravens and magpies come and go.  When it's really cold, the ravens tend to stick around, sitting in the neighbours' trees, waiting for the scraps of old cat food I sometimes put out.  Here's a solitary fellow - his buddies were in another tree nearby.

 

   

   It's a day for staying put with a warm cup of tea, a good book, or some indoor chores to do.  I am glad there is nowhere I have to be today, and shake my head at the memories of walking to work for years in this weather.  *shudder*.

First Big Snow of the Season

 

   A winter storm warning was issued for the area yesterday.  It forecast snow in the amount of 20-30cm this weekend.  It began snowing last evening and continued through the night.  When I went outside this morning (-16 degrees C) to shovel the step, I measured what had fallen.

  

 

   If you're wondering what that brown thing is, that is the tip of a 30cm ruler that I shoved into the snow.  It looks like the forecasters were right on the money!

 

 

 

The view from the front step.

   The forecast says that a series of low pressure systems are moving through the area that will produce 20-30cm by Sunday morning (tomorrow).  We already got the 30cm, thanks.  I hope we don't get any more!

Gentle Visitors and Haystack Cookies

   This October has been mild.  As we wrap things up for the month, the coldest temperature we have had was -8 the morning of the 18th.  No way will we see the -22 temps we saw on Hallowe'en 2013!   We did get snowfall for two days early this month (around the 5th-6th, as I recall), but it quickly melted.  Right now, pansies are still growing in the yard and the volunteer peas that sprouted in a raised bed earlier this month are still alive.  The mint is still going, too. 

Pansies in the strawberry bed. 

 Peas

   We had a lovely surprise two days ago, when a mother deer and her two little ones wandered into our yard from the street.  The youngsters nibbled on shriveled crab apples that had fallen near the fence, and the mother ate chickweed that was still growing along the edges of a garden plot.  They stayed for about 5 minutes, walked around to the back on the house, hopped over the back fence into the alley, and sauntered away.  I love it when we have visitors like this!  These pictures aren't the clearest, but it's what R. could grab before they left.  (Click to enlarge.)

 

   A random craving for Haystack cookies struck a few weeks ago.  I finally gave in and made some, thinking a batch - two, at the most - would work that craving out of my system and I'd be free of it for another few years.  For whatever reason (I can think of a few...), a single batch did not do the trick.  Oh, no.  As of yesterday, I am on my 5th batch of Haystack cookies.  That will be it.  My body is now begging for dark chicken meat, eggs, and avocados rather than grains and sugar.  Thank goodness.  

   The recipe, if you're curious, is easy to make and relatively inexpensive.  If you have a sweet-tooth, be sure to have someone hide them after they're made.  But while you're making them, be sure to spoon some of the mixture, still warm, into a small dish and enjoy with a strong cup of tea.  So yummy.

Haystack Cookies

• 2 cups white sugar
• ½ cup milk
• ½ cup butter
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ tsp vanilla
• 3 cups oats (can use quick-oats, regular oats, or “half and half” – I use half and half)
• 1 cup unsweetened coconut (I use ½ cup)

Optional:  Some people add a large dollop of peanut or almond butter to the mix.  Chopped peanuts or slivered almonds (the almonds are nice!) can also be added.

 

Directions

1.       In a medium pot, combine sugar, butter, and milk.

2.       In a large bowl, combine salt, cocoa, oats, and coconut. Mix well.

3.       Heat milk mixture until butter melts and the mixture starts to boil.  Reduce heat and let boil gently for ~2 minutes.  Stir constantly.

4.       After 2 minutes, turn off the heat and add the vanilla.  Stir.  Add the oat mixture and stir well.

5.       Place spoonfuls of the mixture on parchment paper or wax paper and let cool.