The Ladner Community Garden has been busy planting a second crop this month. With hopes of yet another long summer going into the fall months we can add a new crop of cool season vegetables. Its definitely been a struggle to keep things watered. You may see our team of volunteers out twice a week to give everything a drink. Its no small task with this size of a garden. Unfortunately I think we have lost several shrubs to the drought.
Lets take a walk and see what's growing. This allotment holder has Asian vegetables and beets well on the way. If you planted some winter vegetables last month they will fill your tables with lovely home grown flavour in the depths of winter.
What has done well this season? By the looks of it, cucumbers and zucchini loved the heat we have had. Its been months without any significant rain so heat loving crops like basil, peppers and cucumbers are providing abundant harvests. The cucumber above is showing no signs of the dreaded mildew. This is cucumber 'Garden Oasis' which is resistant to mildew. It produces long 6"-8" cucumbers. This one is great for making refrigerator pickles or eating fresh in salads.
In another garden Turks Cap squash is on its way. Its unique colouring makes a favourite for fall displays. Its got a tough skin so have a sharp knife to cut this one open.
Many sunflowers bloomed early due to our heat. Above is a natural response for sunflowers as they come to the end of their life cycle. The plant will drop its head so the seeds fall to the ground. This gardener will be rewarded by hundreds of seedlings next April. Mind you the birds may eat most of the seeds before they drop.
Long yellow spikes of Goldenrod attract bees to the rockery garden which fronts the community garden.
Pumpkins are ready to harvest way too early. With our warm summers its time to rethink when we plant our seeds.
Kale is displayed in the trial gardens of West Coast Seeds. Not only is this edible but a valuable plant for a foliage garden.
The hollyhocks are covered in bees this week as they look for pollen. Remember to plant flowers in your allotment to attract the bees and increase your rate of pollination.
A pretty garden grown by West Coast Seeds lets us see what new plants are available for us to grow. Now that we have walked the community garden lets get out the news. The date for Ladner Seedy Saturday 2016 has been set for February 20, 2016. The event will be held at the Harris barn in Ladner once again. I will have more news on our event as we plan in the months to come.
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