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 :)