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1tardis
It's still stupid cold outside, except when it's stupid warm. It is not supposed to be 15C with almost no snow cover in Edmonton for two weeks in February and then go back to -15C. It's supposed to stay at -15. The freeze-thaw cycle is bad. I expect a lot of winter-kill this year. I just hope the fruit trees aren't damaged. I don't want to face a year with no pears.
For those not familiar with my set-up, Edmonton is in central Alberta, in the aspen parkland north of the prairies, and about a 4 hour drive east of the Rocky Mountains. 53 degrees latitude. We used to be hardiness zone 3a; but thanks to climate change we're now on the borderline between 3b and 4a. I garden in my own yard, next door in the yard of my elderly neighbour, and at a nearby community garden. Veg are my favourite thing, but at home I also have ornamental beds. Here's a google overview of home and next-door. It is a couple of years old, but close enough:
I'm heading into gardening mode, because it's that time of year for me. My seed spreadsheet is up to date, my light stand is assembled, and today I'm going to start my peppers.
I have 13 varieties: Boldog Paprika, King Crimson, Criolla Sella, Czech Black, Lemon, Jalapeno, Padron, Red Flame, Aurora, Red Cherry, Sweet Chocolate, Marconi Rosso, Syrian Goat Horn. More than half are hot, because for reasons I don't quite understand, hot peppers are more likely to ripen in my zone. Also, my family love hot peppers.
For those not familiar with my set-up, Edmonton is in central Alberta, in the aspen parkland north of the prairies, and about a 4 hour drive east of the Rocky Mountains. 53 degrees latitude. We used to be hardiness zone 3a; but thanks to climate change we're now on the borderline between 3b and 4a. I garden in my own yard, next door in the yard of my elderly neighbour, and at a nearby community garden. Veg are my favourite thing, but at home I also have ornamental beds. Here's a google overview of home and next-door. It is a couple of years old, but close enough:
I'm heading into gardening mode, because it's that time of year for me. My seed spreadsheet is up to date, my light stand is assembled, and today I'm going to start my peppers.
I have 13 varieties: Boldog Paprika, King Crimson, Criolla Sella, Czech Black, Lemon, Jalapeno, Padron, Red Flame, Aurora, Red Cherry, Sweet Chocolate, Marconi Rosso, Syrian Goat Horn. More than half are hot, because for reasons I don't quite understand, hot peppers are more likely to ripen in my zone. Also, my family love hot peppers.
2Lyndatrue
Oh, now you're just showing off (but I love you for it). :-}
I guess the rest of us better get busy with our own work. You do make me wonder what sort of zone I should plan for. We've swung from terrible drought to more moisture than the soil can handle, in just two years. Granted poor California has it worse, but I'm still concerned.
Hot peppers actually do well for me, too, but I can't eat them (or touch them without gloves), so I only plant them where I want something attractive on a border. I look forward to pictures of your racks, with all the green starts of spring.
I guess the rest of us better get busy with our own work. You do make me wonder what sort of zone I should plan for. We've swung from terrible drought to more moisture than the soil can handle, in just two years. Granted poor California has it worse, but I'm still concerned.
Hot peppers actually do well for me, too, but I can't eat them (or touch them without gloves), so I only plant them where I want something attractive on a border. I look forward to pictures of your racks, with all the green starts of spring.
3tardis
>2 Lyndatrue: if you think that's showing off, wait until I get to the tomatoes :)
4MarthaJeanne
Luckily we have a grower about an hour away who sells plants of various peppers and tomatoes. It is one of the joys of late April, early May to go and select my plants.
Hmmm. We'll be in the next town for Bird Experience from April 20-24, but Stekovic doesn't start selling plants until the 27th, which is already the First of May weekend. We'll see. I prefer not to buy on the busiest days.
Hmmm. We'll be in the next town for Bird Experience from April 20-24, but Stekovic doesn't start selling plants until the 27th, which is already the First of May weekend. We'll see. I prefer not to buy on the busiest days.
6qebo
Apparently I have not been paying attention to the group posts, because today I'm noticing a bunch of threads w/ unread posts. So now you're on the radar.
7tardis
I've been pushing hard to get the veg gardens planted. Lots of work still to do, but it's coming along.
The next-door vegetable garden:
Tomatoes and peppers in the new raised bed on the south side of my house. Also, between it and the deck are the asparagus.
South side of the house, raised beds. Mainly peppers and tomatoes, with a few odds and ends in front.
And, just because, some of the perennials in the front garden:
The next-door vegetable garden:
Tomatoes and peppers in the new raised bed on the south side of my house. Also, between it and the deck are the asparagus.
South side of the house, raised beds. Mainly peppers and tomatoes, with a few odds and ends in front.
And, just because, some of the perennials in the front garden:
9fuzzi
>7 tardis: such beautiful gardens, and I love the perennials too.
10tardis
It's been a long time since I updated this thread! I've been busy! Here are a few pics:
First, a hosta that I was inspired to purchase because of its name. Well, it's cute, too, but the name is "Holy Mouse Ears" which reminded me of the hyper-religious Aeslin Mice from Seanan McGuire's Incryptid series.
My pink Lady's Slipper. First year blooms.
One of my shadier beds, on the north side of a fence. Martagon lilies, goat's beard, and hostas, mainly.
Another shade bed, on the north side of the house. Hostas, ostrich ferns, and bugbane
Front yard with heavy equipment. We're getting new sidewalks this year.
'Crimson Passion' cherry, bent over with fruit.
One of my favourite lilies, Blackout. The darker bit in the centre of each petal is actually much darker than it looks in the photo.
A few of my tomatoes and peppers.
The main veg garden, on the south side of the house.
One of the things that's been keeping my busy - I built new compost bins.
First, a hosta that I was inspired to purchase because of its name. Well, it's cute, too, but the name is "Holy Mouse Ears" which reminded me of the hyper-religious Aeslin Mice from Seanan McGuire's Incryptid series.
My pink Lady's Slipper. First year blooms.
One of my shadier beds, on the north side of a fence. Martagon lilies, goat's beard, and hostas, mainly.
Another shade bed, on the north side of the house. Hostas, ostrich ferns, and bugbane
Front yard with heavy equipment. We're getting new sidewalks this year.
'Crimson Passion' cherry, bent over with fruit.
One of my favourite lilies, Blackout. The darker bit in the centre of each petal is actually much darker than it looks in the photo.
A few of my tomatoes and peppers.
The main veg garden, on the south side of the house.
One of the things that's been keeping my busy - I built new compost bins.
12fuzzi
>10 tardis: beautiful as always. There are aspects of gardening in a more northern latitude that I miss, but there are trade-offs, too.
>11 2wonderY: agreed on the lady's slipper and compost bins...love both! We had a couple acres of woods behind the house I lived in as a teen in Connecticut, and I recall lady's slippers blooming throughout the acreage. Fond memories...
>11 2wonderY: agreed on the lady's slipper and compost bins...love both! We had a couple acres of woods behind the house I lived in as a teen in Connecticut, and I recall lady's slippers blooming throughout the acreage. Fond memories...
13tardis
I picked a cantaloupe. Or maybe it was a muskmelon. I should look at the tag on the plant. Anyway, it was only about 3 inches in diameter, it looked deformed, and it felt a bit soft. I thought it might not be any good, but when I cut it open, it smelled and looked ripe so I ate it. It was delicious.
142wonderY
>13 tardis: Yay melons from one's own garden!!
16Lyndatrue
>15 tardis: I have no use for a hot pepper, but that one is so pretty I almost want to plant a couple.
17fuzzi
>13 tardis: I thought muskmelons were cantaloupes.
They are so sweet and delicious home-grown. I've grown those, and watermelons...sooo sweet!
They are so sweet and delicious home-grown. I've grown those, and watermelons...sooo sweet!
18tardis
>17 fuzzi: I think it's the other way around. Cantaloupes are muskmelons. Whatever. I still haven't got round to going over there and looking at the tag :)
The home-grown ones are amazing. Also watermelons, although here they're so tiny that it hardly seems worth the space they take. I keep trying, though :)
The home-grown ones are amazing. Also watermelons, although here they're so tiny that it hardly seems worth the space they take. I keep trying, though :)
19fuzzi
>18 tardis: there are short-season varieties of watermelons available, I'd recommend those. Most watermelons need a full, long, hot summer to do well, and that's why they are so popular in the southern US.
20tardis
>19 fuzzi: I do use the short season varieties :/
21fuzzi
>20 tardis: argh. Oh well. You probably already start them early, right?
22tardis
21> yes, but then they died, and I started again from seed. It doesn't seem to make any difference, though. Even with proper hardening off and peat pots that don't have to be removed when planting out, transplant shock seems to delay them too much. I need to experiment with cold frames and better irrigation. Squash and pumpkins are not problems, but the melons are.
I'm now into the will it/won't it agony of trying to decide whether it's going to freeze overnight, and if I should cover the tomatoes and other tender plants. So far, we've been lucky; the mornings have been very cool but not below zero. Average first frost is Sept. 23rd, for what that's worth. I may start covering the tomatoes beside the house, and just pick all the others. They can ripen indoors, or I can bring out the green tomato recipes.
I'm now into the will it/won't it agony of trying to decide whether it's going to freeze overnight, and if I should cover the tomatoes and other tender plants. So far, we've been lucky; the mornings have been very cool but not below zero. Average first frost is Sept. 23rd, for what that's worth. I may start covering the tomatoes beside the house, and just pick all the others. They can ripen indoors, or I can bring out the green tomato recipes.
23fuzzi
>22 tardis: my father made a cold frame for my mother's garden, out of four boards and two glass windows. She started stuff, and "hardened off" her transplants in that frame for several years.
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