Magenta spreen (Chenopodium giganteum) is a delicious spring vegetable readily available from my garden. It is a close relative (same genus) of lamb’s quarters and quinoa. It self-sows abundantly but is easy to control. You can harvest the vigorous seedlings … Continue reading
My neighbour disapproves of me gardening before the end of May. He doesn’t say so directly, but makes sidelong references to inevitable cold weather and the threat of frost. I don’t argue but carry on like the ant in the … Continue reading
The first Cosmonaut Volkov tomato ripened in time for us to take to the cottage on Thursday, and we came home Saturday to a proper beefsteak onslaught. This is a superb heritage tomato for short summers. The cherry tomatoes alongside … Continue reading
This morning while digging the last potatoes from the garden, I disturbed this vole. At first sight, it darted from a clod of earth I’d dug into the straw. But then a few minutes later I saw it again, shuddering … Continue reading
It’s such a pleasure to go outside each morning at 8 a.m, still tottering on sleep legs. My brain starts opening like a book as sunlight breaks over the pines. Sometimes I dig a few potatoes, or run and grab … Continue reading
Potatoes may not be the most charismatic vegetables, but for some reason I love growing them. It’s partly because groundhogs show no interest, so I can get along without extreme measures. There’s also the allure of growing something unusual, like … Continue reading
In the past 24 hours, two things appeared in the garden: the first nasturtium flower grown from seed, and the first blush on a cherry tomato. We’ll taste the first tomato by mid-July, almost a month earlier than last year. … Continue reading
We are having my daughters and a few friends over for dinner Saturday. Danny and I are marking our 10th anniversary (the actual day we met was July 4). With summer’s abundance upon us, we will celebrate with food. These … Continue reading
These “Midnight Lightning” zucchini seedlings had germinated in my garden by June 1 from seeds planted 10 days earlier. With reliable watering, fertile soil and minimal care they should begin producing abundant summer squash by the end of July. A … Continue reading
I planted the garden today. This is the earliest I have ever planted tomatoes. It is a risk because chilly weather is expected early next week and then we are going away for five days. However, the alternative was to … Continue reading