The nights are getting chilly! Weeding continues. And it's never too early to plan for next summer's garden.
Greetings fellow gardeners,
Oh, my goodness, it got cold these last few nights. I am watching the forecast every day to check for frost. So far, my vines are hanging in there with new cucumbers forming and the tomatoes remain untouched.
I love the surprises that I find in the fall. As I was weeding the front flower bed, pulling yet another bunch of goutweed, I found a clump of garlic chives (Allium tuberosum). These are delightful plants; I like how they bob back and forth on a windy day and they have bright white flowers that look like stars. While I eat my regular chives throughout the season, I tend to use the garlic chives as an ornamental. The garlic chive flowers are tasty in a salad or can be dried and used as part of a flower arrangement.
Garlic Chives
As I continued my weeding adventure, I was greeted with the spectacular blooms of the Autumn Crocus or Meadow Saffron. This gorgeous plant is actually not a crocus but a member of the lily family (Colchicum). It is also a toxic plant so do not harvest those golden stamens as if they were saffron. You can usually find the bulb in catalogues and it does offer great fall colour. I like to get my bulbs from catalogues as I find there is more selection. In order to cut down on costs I order my bulbs with a friend and we split the shipping. If you like to buy your bulbs at a nursery, you have more of an opportunity to check them out. Be sure that they are firm and without mold.
Autumn Crocus
If you are still looking for an interesting bulb to plant for spring colour, I would like to suggest snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis). This past winter I spent many hours curled up on the couch watching Monty Don on Gardener’s World. On one episode they featured a gardener who specialized in snowdrops. He had bulbs you could get anywhere and some that cost hundreds of dollars. They are such sweet little flowers and a treat to see in the spring. I will be planting some more of these in the fall.
Snowdrops
As I continued my survey of my front garden, I came to one of my heritage tomato plants that I hope does not get frosted. I usually plant French marigolds (Tagetes patula) around my tomatoes and they are blooming beautifully. The seeds I bought this year were a mixture and all of the resulting plants are lovely. One of this mixture really impressed me. It was a deep rusty burgundy with golden highlights. I took a small tie and wrapped it onto the plant so that when it sets seed, I can collect it and store it separately. I am hoping that I can get that colour again although it might revert to different shades. Nothing ventured nothing gained!!
French Marigold (the one in the middle)
Continue to monitor the weather and hopefully our tomatoes will keep ripening. Have a wonderful week.
Judith (email: lapisdragonarts@gmail.com)
All Veggie Bites are available at the SGHS website: https://sites.google.com/site/sghortsoc/
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