by Cynthia Strawson | Sep 4, 2021 | Gardening
HEY LOOK!!! The free compost has arrived!!! These leaves are a gift from nature for the “frugal” gardener. I don’t bag up leaves, I let them accumulate on my garden beds and provide a blanket of protection for perennial roots, bulbs and bugs. Mixed with moisture from...
by Cynthia Strawson | Sep 1, 2021 | Gardening
Don’t feel bad about ruthlessly pruning and topping your tomatoes. Feel HAPPY that you’re directing all that spectacular growth power into ripening the fruit that is on the vine. The fruit needs to get to a mature size so that the growth hormones evolve to ethylene...
by Cynthia Strawson | Aug 22, 2021 | Gardening
Here’s a few of my favourite tricks for transplanting perennials: All planting or transplanting is best done in cool weather (below 20C). Be sure the plant rootball is loose and remove all weeds and weed roots. Dig the hole larger and deeper than the ball. Place...
by Cynthia Strawson | Jun 14, 2021 | Gardening
Delphinium worms can cause quick and thorough damage to your delphinium. These beauties were 8’ tall last year and I was a bit lazy in the fall, so I didn’t cut them down. I leave the vast majority of the perennials in the demo-garden standing. It adds winter...
by Cynthia Strawson | Oct 17, 0201 | Greenhouses
It finally got cold enough in the greenhouse (without the heater on) that frost hit the tender plants. At -4 outside and no supplemental heat inside, the cells in the leaves of basil and tomato have burst. This makes them look black and droopy. It really and truly is...
