Fall has Arrived

After some weird yet beautiful weather, I was on the beach at the cottage on Thanksgiving - Fall has arrived.

Last night it went down to about 5 degrees celcius. Boo.

So today, I am bringing the perennials off the balcony into the apartment for the dreaded winter. I am hoping that my first attempt at winterization works. I have two beautiful plants that I am bringing in, my Dipladenia and my Bressingham Purple. I have trimmed them all down, and have done my research. They were budget buys, so if I lose them, I won't be out in a monetary way, but in a beauty way.

I have them both tagged in my journal, so if it doesn't work this year, I'll try again next year. I was so impressed by both, and how well they did on my balcony that I would love to have them on my balcony or future yard - year after year.

Fingers crossed, and wish me luck!

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Blog Action Day: Blogging for the Environment
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Create a blog, do something little that will become BIG!

Still Summer in Toronto?

Today, October 5th, 2007 still feels like summer. Today we hit a high of 25 and I took a wonderful walk to enjoy the fall colours.

The mums are not happy with the heat, I think they prefer it a bit cooler, but I am not really complaining!

Happy Thanksgiving!

It feels like summer!

Still feels like summer, during the day in the sun anyway...

With fall, I have alot more work to do. However, I enjoy the time on my balcony dead-heading my mums when I get home and there is still light. I almost wonder if I have the mums so I can dead-head them.

I would have to say I enjoyed the summer, and the first time gardening on a balcony, in Toronto, and the community garden. Already excited for next year!

Now to focus on getting LEED Certified. Study Time!

It was so dry...

Confirmed on the news the other day...

We only had 112 mm of rain for all of June, July, and August! So much watering by hand!

Happy September...

The balcony has started to transform itself into a fall garden, with fall blooms. The summer ones that are still hanging on look gorgeous with the mums and decorative cabbage.

I have started a gardening journal. I have so many articles that I have clipped from newspapers and magazines that I thought it would be a good idea to organize them and have a great reference spot. Included is a journal area, where I stapled my plant tags from this year, noting how well or bad they did.

I didn't include the plot, probably because my spirit there has died a little bit. We have to be out by November 15th, and the lady who started there - just didn't take enough care. So now I feel, why should I?

I thought fall was in the air

So we have had some cool weather here in Toronto - and for the past couple of days it has been extremely muggy with a humidex of 30+.

Last week while out walking, I thought fall was in the air... I think summer is sticking around a little bit longer. But we are finally getting some rain. I don't remember in my 25 years it being so dry.

I picked up some garden mums to add some colour to the now green balcony. I have also started planning for next year. oh no!

On a trip to the garden plot which we are kicked out of on the 15th of November, I have found that someone took a bunch of onions.

Quick Tip:
Freeze waterbottles, place in plant for sun to warm up and melt for a prolonged watering, below the surface!

~A Visit to the Garden Plot, and a Surprise~

Late this afternoon, I headed down to the community garden plot to water and have a look from the week I was away. I am lucky to have a great garden plot neighbour who watered this past week for me.
When I got there, there was a missing 'surprise', someone took my two large sunflowers, right out of the plot! Right from the front corner. Sad but true.

Some pictures from the garden:

All I got today was two tiny tim tomatoes... I had some ripening when I left...

~Vacation is Good~

Just got back from five days at the cottage.
The beach is so beautiful, and I don't like leaving...

Picked six tomatoes off the plant on the balcony, made some bruschetta, with basil from the garden and fresh garlic.

Tomorrow I plan on spending some quality time down in the garden plot, and maybe remember to take some pictures!

Additional Notes for Organic Pest Control

I attended a garden workshop on Monday night, the instructor is Jane Hayes...

Some of the notes I took:

Organic

• No chemicals pesticides, fertilizers and hormones
• Lots of Diversity
• Natural
• Balance
• Will take more time to garden organically

Why we shouldn't use pesticides: They kill 80% of the fungi (what comes off the underground roots, grabbing food and water.)

You can compost to feed or use coconut fibres. For containers a great ratio is 2/3 coco fibre and 1/3 worm castings. Other great items include bloodmeal

• Dill & parsley can be used to attract ladybugs
• Smelling plants attract bugs
• Non anti-bacterial dish soap (ivory, sunlight) can be used to kill bugs (1 teaspoon to a gallon)
• Lemon can be used for squirrel deterrants
• Hand pick bugs off
• Compost tea (garlic, weeds, flowers, hot water) can also be used as a deterrant
• COMFREY???

You can plant garlic in the fall, to pick in the spring.

Books to Check Out:

1. Roades All New Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening
2. Ken Finch ~ Plants for a Future
3. The Encyclopedia of Natural Insect & Disease Control edited by Roger Yepsin Jr.

Websites and Stores:

1. Urban Harvest ~ uharvest.ca
2. Bustan ~ Supplier of Coconut Fibre ~ West of Spadina on Harbord
3. Grass Roots ~ Worms ~ 416 944 1993

Composting and then Lettuce

On Monday night, the community centre in my neighbourhood that runs the community garden plots had a seminar in the park on organic composting.

Leigh, the lady who ran the seminar was very helpful and informative. New information at my finger tips (literally) and I wish I had a yard for a composter! We even got to create an ideal compost pile with supplies she brought.

The garden plot has provided me with lettuce, beautiful crispy green leafy lettuce. I went and gave it a good water tonight, as tomorrows forecast only calls for 1-3mm of rain.

Ouch!

Last night I got the first tomatoe off my balcony... I sliced my thumb, once that calmed down, I got to taste the freshness. YUM!

July 14th, 2007: The Status of the Garden

Balcony:
As per pictures above,

• Many plants growing! I picked up two container gardens pre-planted in May containing the typical annuals for $20 each... They are both doing great.
• Catalina 'Midnight Blue' (Toreina) planted in its own pot, is growing wonderfully, I love the blue/purple flowers it produces, and it produces tons!
• Jungle Gold (Impatients) and Salvia (Farinacea Victoria Blue) were rescued from the grocery store clearance and potted waiting for flowers... We'll see how they do.
• I also found a beautiful Dipladenia at the corner store that does not stop blooming gorgeous white and yellow trumpet type flowers... Will be bringing in for the winter!
• My perennuial experiment, Polemonium Bressingham Purple also produces beautiful flowers, tall gorwing, hopefully when I cut it down in the fall, it will come back next year!
• I have a bunch of miscallaneous annuals planted in hanging pots from Dollarama... The hanging post cost me all of $2.00 each! :)
• Tomatoes have two ripening and about 10 others which are green...
• Peas in the pod are growing up the cable wire, and blooming...
• Cucumbers are losing their yellow flowers, so hopefully I'll see some soon

Community Garden Plot
I volunteered with the community garden plot with my neighbourhood community centre, while on a wait-list for next year...
A lady required help with hers, so I have been pretty much taking care of it... the community centre organizer let me know, that I could consider it my own...
In dire need of care, watering, and topsoil are my first forms of "attack." One Sunday I spent four hours hand weeding. I then added a few bags of topsoil. It has paid off, the plant have grown substantially since I have started. Lettuce is at least twice the size. Tomatoe planta are staked. I'm there just about daily watering due to the Toronto dryspell.
The garden growth is smaller then the neighbours, but I am hoping for a harvest to share with her and her family...
Whats growing:

• Tomatoes
• Peppers
• Onions
• Broccoli (will seed, but leaves appear to have a bug problem)
• Cucumber
• Lettuce
• Baby Watermelon

Next time I go down (we had rain today!) I'm going to take a few pictures...

My First Post

Welcome to my blog!

Essentially it will focus on my garden plot, balcony containers, cooking and whatever else hits my fancy... I guess also an online journal of sorts grouping information regarding my garden and ever so exciting life.

So welcome, hopefully you'll find something useful, interesting and/or entertaining :)