A month- wintersown, and a sign off-for now

Ok I've been feeling guilty about not blogging for so long, but after finally catching up on my blog reading (how I love Sage!) I dont' feel so bad, but I do feel left out in the harvest season, as not much came of the balony, but I do feel proud of my seedlings that were sent else where & the bit of harvesting that allowed me to make salsa! Thanks Gramma!

As I am back in school, I'll be honest- I'm prone to distractions and I've learned that having too many interests can be seriously harmful to my achieving goals, such as graduating. I've even pared down my web board activity (hi to anyone in YGGG- boy I miss it there). As winter is coming that means snowboard season and more sewing time, so I'll allow those two distractions for now.

But before I sign off, I want to direct your gardening compass to a way cheaper method of starting seeds(no grow lights!), especially for those of us with limited space- it's called winter sowing, and the folks over at www.wintersown.org have a fantastic site to help you out- they even offer FREE seeds-(outside of the USA you have to pay $2 for postage, of course).

Now I've been hording all my take out containers for this, and you should too. I'm not sure if I'm actually going to go ahead with it, but we'll see.

Also- if anyone wants info about how to do the balcony drapes, leave me a message-I did make them but for now I'm going to shelve the post.

Thanks for reading. See you- for now ;)

Oh & if you're reading this sat morning & are in Toronto- Foodshare is celebrating their new location opening-, 11 to 3pm, at 90 croatia street (near Dufferin & Bloor)- you should go!

cherry tomatoe cross

cherry tomatoe cross
Originally uploaded by hot_toddygal

So while my tomatoes are succumbing to spider mites, and likely some blossom end rot, they are proliferating heavily elsewhere, and I am quite lucky enough to reap them from there, as well!

My Grandmother has a bumper crop-I had forgotten to tell her that they are indeterminate...and thus weren't pinched-ah well- interesting to see the effect of non- pinching- more tomatoes- perhaps too many- they got so tall and numerous they fell right over!

So the only thing I can report that I actually harvested from my own balcony is the teeny-tiny but spicy hot peppers- and a lovely cross pollination of tinytoms & beefstake.

They are incredibly resistant to both the spider mites *and* the blossom end rot!

The evil SPIDERMITE!

..so I've been vigilantly fighting a new nemisis- SPIDERMITES.


The canadian government has factsheets on stuff like this, btw: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/89-002.htm

At first I thought it was aphids, no problem-had those before, so I started spraying with the ol' soap & water combo, and isolated the worst ones.

Noticed that the peppers weren't affected, but they loved the poor Morning Glories, so I thought I'd leave them nearby...

Weeks go by. More plants are affected. The infected plants become impossible to isolate, adn those that are seem to get worse! Harvest numbers drop in my mind. Start upping my attack.

Finally get around to looking up what my leaves look like ( ooh, instead of like, looking at random articles & pictures like I usually do when I start out with intentions on the 'net)

I have- spider mites!

So I can keep doing what I'm doing, and hope for rain- it's been waaay too dry this year, and apparently SM like it this way.

I have also been considering bringing in some warriors- I need more predators!

i need to get some persimillis, I discover on this site-www.thebugfactory.ca/pages/products/persimilis/
but they are in BC- (you lucky folks!).

So I'm going to call the local hydroponic store, and see what they have.

I'm kind of excited. This will be my first foray into beneficial bug buying.

..and the winds are blowing like it's going to rain soon- hurrah!

Feelin' groovy-plants for kiddies!

I just gave away some more very rootbound plants to a Children's community garden and had to post about it.

I left them in the trusted hands of Ashley from the Toronto Green Community, whom I had the pleasure of meeting at a Native plant Gardening workshop (more on that later) She's been having problems keeping things alive with all the little hands involved, but I couldn't think of a better place to have them, regardless.

I wish my babies happiness in their new life outside of pots and balconies.

It's summer, and it's a busy time!

..just some pics in the meantime- the drapes are on hold, as I'm waiting on the other 1/2 for installation assistance..

The Confession

Well, have you all been on the edge of your seat, or what?

Now, let me preface all of this by saying- sometimes I learn things the hard way. But I do make it a point to avoid doing a wrong thing twice.

So from this point onward, this post is going to be called

WHAT NOT TO DO WITH YOUR SEEDLINGS
(or, the Shocking Confession of Death & Plantslaughter by Negligence)

Victim #1) The Baby Bok Choi

Now, Bok choi has no place being started inside, despite what the package may say. They grow quickly, and it seems regardless of conditions-literally growing ''like weeds''. In the rush to transfer & "pot up" (adding more soil) the leggy babies elsewhere, quite a few were damaged, beyond the point of recognition..I started to keep track, but the numbers kept going up..I was devastated at my first exposure to murder. I think I have two left...le sigh.

Victim #2) The Hot Peppers & Tiny Toms (co-habitants)
This is when I learned of the dreaded watering from the top syndrome called: (dun dun dun duhn) Dampening off.

I didn't understand why they were still all so tiny, as I was anxious to share them with other gardening fellows. I was starting to feel like a kid with crappy hockey cards to trade. I decided to dig one up, to see what was going on.. only to reveal- it looked like a burnt match stick, right at the soil-line!! A quick jump to the net, and a picture confirmed it- and I had been watering them from above, being a lazy, lazy gardener! Oh, the horror! What folly it was of me to think I could play the role of Mother Nature!

What is dampening off? Basically a fungal infection.

(should any science-y types who may want to correct me please feel free to expound)

Swiftly I deployed all manner of remedies- cinnamon, potting up, and an attempt to keep the soil dry enough to twart the bacteria.... some made it, some didn't.

So, kids, this is what it's all about, really. Learning, and learning from your errors. But this is why I'm posting this- so you can avoid such catastrophes.

Next- adventures in Awnings-make your own balcony shades!

UPDATE!

I'm currently inside flicker posting this! Did ya know you could do this? Well, if you're like me, you didn't and now you know! Generally I'm like George Castanza where I don't like worlds colliding, but hey, it's all related content here.

So this should increase some posting & cut down on my time between the two sites, killing two snails with one rock ( or moving him elsewhere for you gentle folk).

The biggest thing I wanted to post about it the current status of the balcony. Sorry about the wait- I'll come clean..soon.

I dismantled the BBQ, and now have a wonderful plant stand. Most of the seedlings are transferred ( ...aaaand some are still waiting for their promised adoptees to take them home *ahem*).

Ikea seating was purchased, railing curtains, and pots got wired,
Dollar store mop buckets and feed cans aquired.

May direct-sew seedlings were sewn,
And well as new striped drapes,
But I need a body harness,
So I don't fall & break a bone.

..next- gardening confessional!

Tiling the soil- Frost free date-..

Well, today's the day- NOT!

According to the farmers almanac, today is the day of last frost for TO.

But I am taking some neighborly italian advice- wait a week.

And from the results I've seen in an "old italian guy" s downtown yard yields, I'm not arguing. (I'll post a pic if someone really wants to see what I mean, which includes a pc. of the Bruno D. : )

Besides- it's soil time!

I was looking around for a bucket (insert standard walrus buket internet joke here) and I really didn't want to dump out my winter sweaters, so I dumped the laundry basket instead.

Works great.

In batches.

I seriously had no idea that all those containers would equal the volume it did-so I only did some tiling ( I hear you- stop spelling tilling wrong- well- that's what I used to turn it with- a piece of tile from a previous project-gone wrong= so. tiling. it is..)

I mixed it in with a bag of this stuff- at a ratio of about 1 (new dirt):4 (old stuff) to 1:2.

As I was doing so I really, really missed worms. Somebody get me some, ok?

I also repotted some of the organic babies- and you don't want to know what happend to the rest- I can't talk about it- yet. I'm too upset. So that's why you have no seedling update as promised, btw. The good thing is for the organics, I may have more than I need, so keep an eye on TBF here & perhaps you can get a jump on some trades/give aways.

Containers, containers, containers!

I've been reading lots of posts regarding containers lately. "what can I use?"

Well, when you're gardening, and you have more plants than you likely need, everything starts to look like a container in your eyes, much like everything looks like food to Warner Bros's Tazmainian Devil.

In this pic I present to you a few of my containers to give you some ideas:

• Old faux snakeskin platform boots (I mean really, really old, having seen many dancefloors, and alas the local cobbler cannot put them together again..)
• Sawed off veg. oil jug
  
• Coffee containers - plastic & tin
  
• Clemintine wood boxes to keep containers off the ground & for visual height display (secret old food cashier presentation trick)
  
• Someones old cooking pot (Sorry Mom!)
  
• aaand the bag lady's ever-present friend, LCBO bags ( but not the old good ones- I've got those stashed like any good pack rat)

But what about holes for drainage, I hear you say? Well I generally go au natural. That is to say I am lazy, and what works, works. Unless it something really fussy, the tomates & peppers don't see to mind holding as much water as possible. And depending on where your balcony faces (mine faces due west=hot hot hot!) this is important.

But I do put broken styrofoam (easier to come by than than rocks in the city..) and old oyster shells in the bottoms. I'm going to try some egg shells this year for added calcium.

Which leads us to soil- but that's another story..

(coming next- soil, seedling updates, and local plant retailers!)

Weed & graass, man

No, this isn't about what you think it is. Or perhaps it is.

In todays Toronto Star there's a great article to celebrate Earth day (here on the balcony everyday is earth day..!) by Christina De Silva interviewing Evergreen about grasses you can grow on your balcony, and native plants that some call weeds, here

I myself have an urge to grow some grass, or shrubbery, but I never though about wild weeds such as milkweed, a great plant to attract Monarch butterflies- something I would love to do. At present I do get some of those lovely purple finches all the way up here, as I try to keep as much dead stuff with seeds as long as I can just for such visitors.

But imagine butterflies. I've been growing Morning Glories and the bees come for them, but seducing the orange & black darlings almost makes me drool like a spider spinning her web. ( not exactly an ideal analogy, but still theamatic, no?)

Jumping over to Wikipedia, it seems milkweed has quite a history of usage for humans- insulation, rubber, repellent, and of course a cure for warts.

I am also picturing the starry puffs alighting themselves from the balcony, and the possible grumblings from my neighbors about me proliferating weeds & contributing to their allergies- a condition from which I also suffer, but chose to generally ignore unless I am in need of a tissue-*sniff* anyone?

Think I'll just plant those free Black-eyed Susan seeds obtained at Canada Blooms from Acorus Restoration instead- but I may change my mind...

..next post-seedling & balcony redecor updates!

Cats, balconies, and safety!

So I promised an article about cats & balconies!

I read somewhere recently that quite a number of urban cat deaths are caused by falls from balconies. And I believe it. From my own previous experience with a cat, they will do all those things you are afraid that they will do- jump & squeeze themselves to the places you do not want them to go- they do it inside, why not do it outside?

Xena- my old cat (pictured above on the balcony-she's unsecured just for this photo- a nervous partner is just beyond my shoulder yelling "hurry!"that has been adopted by a certain lovely couple- she's a great cat, she just has issues, and I'm glad they decided to take her on..) even once escaped to *my neighbors* house. We didn't even know she got out-as our neighbor had to ring us to tell us- so she must have squished herself through the bars and walked across the parapet next door!

Our solution was to harness her & sit out with her when we were outside, as well as being 110% paranoid when the door was open at anytime-a commonly heard phrase was "THE DOOR!!"

Well dear readers, here are 2 great options:

The "Kitty Walk"- $89.00 US- www.drsfostersmith.com

"Each component in the Kittywalk cat run system is made of sturdy, industrial strength fishnet, woven to a metal hoop-shaped wicket. It endures rain or shine - from summer to winter - without rust, rot, or mildew.

Includes ultra-sturdy nylon travel bag and training hints. Excellent for camping or travel. Kittywalk Deck & Patio measures 19" x 24" high x 6' long."

...and I just *had* to include this shot- a cat stroller! I really do like the Doctors Fosters & Smith site- !






Ok- I hear you- what about a Canadian site? Well- I do you one better- a Toronto company: www.thecatsden.net

Here's a video of them by the Weather Network -look at those happy catz! http://www.thecatsden.net/weather-network-video.html

They also do these (if your building allows)
ok so do they install it? From their website -hey sell to all of North America:

"At the moment we are able to install in the Greater Toronto Area, Niagara and Hamilton areas. We will be expanding so that there will be a few installers in each Province and State."

Their website:http://www.thecatsden.net/index.html

No Pain, no gain

I just couldn't do it.

I can so far say that only 4 seedlings have died in the making of this blog.

They were unfortunately crushed to death. The others have all been potted up. (Handling them was awful- like when you are trying to move a really delicate bug & you end up killing it..)

As back-up, I have started a few more, sans speed-germination this time. (remember that grade-school science project of seeing how seeds grow in a jar with water & paper towel? That's what it is.)

I also started my Morning Glories. Last year the direct-sow in the planter didn't work 'sew' well-(lol), and I was also guilty of being late, due to my crazy schedule at the time! And yes, the heat is down.

The good thing is that the Tiny Toms (OSC) & Aurora Hot Peppers (from the Cottage Gardener) are doing quite well, albeit a tad crowded. You can see them there. (sorry for the chairs- I'm tossing them this year..unless you want them?)





Oh & I should also do a bit more of a plant rundown:

Dill- osc Seeds
Basil- also OSC
Purple Tomatillos (Urban Harvest)
Bok Choi- (Hope Seeds)
(I'm only recently getting into local & organic seeds)



tomorrows topic- cats & balconies!

Oh, Zee pain

I made the unfortunate decision to leave my germinated seedlings beside the heater while I was away during Easter, which I had cranked up due to the recent cold snap. (.. we had all that SNOW)
(**edit edit-and they also didn't get moved to the fluorescent light in time)

Now i have 3 inch high tomatillo & bok choi seedlings.

This is apparently a bad thing. UGH.

Today I will decide their fate,
I cannot bear to see them in such a state
Be it to pot-up, or to re-sew,
I must decide, before it's too late!

(oh yes- did I mention rhymes as part of my writing style? I can't help it.)

from all good things..

^^How ominous that title sounds.


It was the first thing that popped into my head, so like many things that pop into my noggin, I thought I should catch it & keep it before it got away.

Anywho- due to the fact that I can barely find one good source on balcony gardening, especially the edible kind, I am starting this blog with the idea that it will be a compendium for all things balcony related, especially for condo & apartment dwellers, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, North America, planet earth, known universe, Alpha 4 Zero beta fifi 2.

What to expect/ what not to expect here:

No long winded, pointless posts.
Nothing technical-scientific, yes.
There will be updates. Why have a blog if you last post was 2002?
Lots & lots of links. I *heart* research.
A few slightly odd uses of language, but always with respect.
Really bad camera phone shots. Unless someone buys me *the digital camera of my dreams* I'm getting to lazy to use film anymore.
..and of course, my own trials & tribulations on the balcony- so you don't have to make the same mistakes I did ;)

For you the reader-I will help you where I can- I come from a farming background, and my family has always had a garden, and I seem to be able to make things grow.