Judith takes stock of her garden before winter sets in.
Greetings fellow gardeners,
It is dark and cold this morning and my too-many-cats are waiting for me by the woodstove. I really enjoy the warmth of the stove, but it is hard to regulate at this time of year, and after a while the heat becomes overwhelming! It will be better as the weather gets colder.
I had planned to lighten my mood with the sparkle of Christmas lights winding through the lilac and into the bittersweet vine. Unfortunately, the squirrels have decided to continue their evil ways and have chewed through the wires, leaving me with a few sad, sparkly lights and feeling grumpy. One of my fellow Master gardeners wrote a piece about living with squirrels, but as I deal with them digging in my pots, raiding the birdfeeders, and now removing light from my life, I am not feeling the love.
Those little ##^***#^
I just threw another log on the fire after coming in from outside trying to fix the remaining strands of Christmas lights. My dog, Belle, is feeling chilly and the chickens are giving me that glare they give me as they believe any change in weather is my fault. My potting shed is right beside the chicken coop and after giving it a sideways glance, I realized what I should be working on next. Pots needed to be stacked properly with damaged pots set aside, and I should really bring in my tools. I keep my tools in the car so I don’t forget them if I have a job. And so, this week I will bring in my toolbox and clean my tools. Next week I will show you the tools that I like so you can get started on that Christmas list you need to give family and friends!
I like to walk around the garden at this time of year to see things that are going to need attention. I have a small section of land set aside to build a meadow; it is all prepared for its winter nap. The hügelkultur is looming large as I have thrown extra weeds and branches on it. Through the kitchen window I can see blue jays jumping about on it as I do the dishes. The wind has blown most of the fruit off the old apple tree and I know the fruit on the ground should be cleaned up, but they are now frozen. I shall deal with that in the spring.
Look around outside to see if there are jobs you need to be doing and enjoy your week!
Judith. (Email: lapisdragonarts@gmail.com)
All Veggie Bites are available at the SGHS website: https://sites.google.com/site/sghortsoc/
This week we have a wonderful article from Stittsville Goulbourn Horticultural Society member, Georgia Derrick. Georgia has been growing and eating pineapples at her house in Stittsville. How inspiring is that? Of course, I want to give this a try!
The Way of the Pineapple by Georgia Derrick
With the cold weather here, it is time to turn thoughts of gardening indoors. A fun project could be to grow your own pineapple. This is a long-term project, so not for the impatient, but it does pay off in the end.
At your grocers, select a nice pineapple-- not by the fruit but by the spikes. Make sure they are green and sturdy and that the center is not hollow. Cut off the top of your pineapple and plant it, making sure it is firmly wedged in the potting soil without covering the spikes. Place in a very bright window. Heat from a register (if possible) is also helpful. Remember, your plant will grow so now is the time to decide if you will start with a large pot or transplant later. Also, you can now decide if you want a pot with drainage holes. Mine does not have holes so when I move it outside, I place it under an overhanging roof. In late spring move your plant outdoors to a sunny spot. In early September, move it back in. In about four or five years you will have a large, spiky plant and soon you will see a funny looking "growth" coming out of the center. This will gradually become a pineapple--spikes and fruit atop a long pole. When you think it is ready to eat (usually the pineapple has started to turn pale yellow) chop it off and enjoy. And then, start again.
Harley is impressed!
I went grocery shopping and found the best pineapple that I could find. I cut off and planted the top and then made a fruit salad.
Daffodil Bulb Week Two
More roots but nothing green
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