Rain, we need rain. It is all too dry. Plenty of sunshine, father Sun is doing his job. The Wind is still full of winter so the nights are cold and the days cool. We had frost again last night. The raised beds in the backyard are ready. One is covered six inches deep in compost and the other has a i layer of cardboard over it. The cardboard keeps the weeds down as it warms the soil. I will pull it up when it is time to plant. I am growing pumpkins for the first time. As usual, a little experimenting makes the process more interesting. I have started pumpkin plants inside and they are already doing well. I will also plant seeds directly into the compost, around, hopefully, the end of May. Then I'll see which plants do best. I will be planting dill, sunflowers and cosmos to help with pest control.
My balcony is already for planting, I've topped up the soil in the containers with rock dust and compost. This year tomatoes will be the main crop, along with tatsoi, basil and a few glads. I can't resist flowers. Their beauty strikes a deep note within me. I especially enjoy, glads, lilies, tulips, daffodils and irises, but am a sucker for a pretty blossom. No garden is complete without flowers, both the edible and inedible.
Yesterday we went out into the country and dropped by two farms which are owned by friends. Our mission, pick up straw bales and well-rotted horse manure. This is the first trip I have taken into the region this Spring and it was a good day. The manure and straw are for the community garden. I am anticipating a dry year and want to mulch the beds deeply after feeding them. On my 4x8 plot I will plant squash, carrots, dill, bush beans, sunflowers, nasturtiums and marigolds. A nice mix that will work well together.
I will be using seeds that I have either saved from last year or recently purchased. I use only heritage and/or organic seed. I am developing a small seed bank which I add to each year. I grow out the seeds, or rather, some of them , so that they remain fresh and vital. I am also always on the lookout for new varieties to add to the bank. The seed is where it all begins and the health of our gardens and our food system depend upon the quality of the seeds that we use.
