Things to grow in future allotment garden

I've been feeling frustrated with my limited growing space combined with the fact that realistically I'll definitely be here at least 5 years and likely closer to 10, so, figured I'd go ahead and apply for a spot at the allotment garden.  With a long waiting list it will likely be several/many years before I get one, but, it will be nice to know that hopefully it will happen at some point.

I would just go for a half plot, which would still be 500 square feet!!  My current backyard growspace isn't even 200 square feet!  So, a half plot would be just dandy.

These are the types of things I think I would grow in the allotment, which would free up space in the yard.  Thinking of things that...

- Can be planted as transplants rather than direct from seed (since I won't be around daily for watering until germinated)

- Don't need to be planted early (since the plots don't open up until mid-May)

- Don't need to be covered in tulle (too much worrying about theft/damage or the wind blowing it away etc.)

- Aren't highly susceptible to insects (since I won't be around daily for removal)

- Aren't kitchen-garden types of things (eg salad items are nice to have at home)

So, here's what I'm thinking for the allotment (I'll update this list with future ideas):

- ground cherries (since I can no longer grow them in the yard due to rats)

- tomatoes (hopefully low risk of fruit theft since I pick them at first blush)

- potatoes (hopefully low risk of theft since out of sight)

- winter squash (a SVB-resistant variety)

- stevia (to sweeten my tea)

- buckwheat (to then bring them home for soil amendment)

- beans (easy to plunk in some pole supports; would be fun to grow different varieties)

- sunflowers (just for fun, and, since can no longer grow them at home due to rats)

And, maybe I could try some things that need more sun than my yard gets...

- peppers?  but would be high risk of theft, still, could try for fun.

- onions?  this would be worth trying

- what else?  TBD...

Onions potted up (first batch)

10 of the many 2018 seeds started in paper towel have sprouted so far, so I potted them up (in a mix of last year's remaining Promix, with vermiculite).  Hoping more of them will sprout in the coming days.

Begonia potted up

My one remaining begonia.  Wakey wakey!

(in a mix of last year's remaining Promix, with vermiculite)

How to start comfrey from seed

This is what I'll try.  From https://growingorganic.com/growing-guide/comfrey/.

"Place seeds in moist sand, vermiculite, coconut coir, potting soil, soilless potting mix, or paper towel. After this, place it in a baggie, cloth bag, or glass jar with lid. You will want to avoid placing in a paper towel if you can, as it is sterile and does not contain endogenous growth hormones that encourage germination. Additionally, don’t just use peat moss alone as it is too acidic.

To assist your seeds in germinating, add a little kelp (seaweed) to the medium. Since kelp has naturally occurring growth hormones it will help seeds germinate. Additionally, it can help prevent damping off.

Now, simply place the bag or jar in your refrigerator. You will want to keep them in there for the next 30 days (up to 60 days maximum). The reason you are doing this is to break the dormancy of the seeds by creating winter-like conditions. Do not put them in your freezer when moist though.

After this, you will want to plant outside once the soil temperature is between 68-80 degrees Fahrenheit. Just remember, germination results are better when first planted in a warm greenhouse or sunny window.

While the seed is still thinking about sprouting try to keep soil temperature between 68-80 degrees Fahrenheit. If needed, you can use supplemental heat such as a heat lamp or horticulture heat pads. You will want to adjust the thermostat for 70 to 80 degrees.

Since we’ve now created the perfect environment for the seeds to sprout, you should seed them germinate in 10-15 days."

Also http://www.nantahala-farm.com/comfrey-growing2-s.shtml.

And "sow" it begins -- Onions started in paper towel

From the 2018 collected seed.

A bunch of seeds started, since no idea what the germination rate will be like.

Just for growing green onions (won't bother trying and failing again to grow actual onions).

Veganic local seed vendors! Ferme de l'Aube. Bought comfrey and dill.

Saw their post on the Edible group.  Very cool!  Too bad I already have most of my seeds, but, I ordered some comfrey and dill from them.  Very excited to try comfrey, it had totally escaped my attention but looks like a fantastic tool for the veganic garden.  Hoping to put the comfrey out front so that I can keep the yard to the edibles.

www.lafermedelaube.com

Feeders removed again

They're still asking everyone to refrain from putting out bird food.  Oh well, no birds were visiting anyway.

Put out some feeders again

I've heard the occasional goldfinch in the neighbourhood in recent days, and no precipitation is called for for a few days, so, I once again set out some feeders:

- tray feeder with a selection of items

- two-hole fly-through mesh feeder with regular shelled sunflowers

DISEASE RESISTANCE is priority in choosing varieties this year -- ordered seeds today

Given so many issues with diseases in my garden in recent years, this year I decided to really research varieties and choose ones that indicate some level of disease resistance.

Bought the following today from Johnny's Seeds, after checking out prices at a few online sources:

- Basil:  Prospera (resistant to downy mildew which destroyed my basil in 2021)

- Zucchini:  Golden Glory (intermediate resistance to powdery mildew, watermelon mosaic virus, and zucchini yellow mosaic virus -- powdery mildew being one of the banes of my squash's existence)

- Round zucchini:  Eight Ball (intermediate resistance to powdery mildew, watermelon mosaic virus, and zucchini yellow mosaic virus -- powdery mildew being one of the banes of my squash's existence)

- Tomato (big):  Big Beef Plus (High resistance to Alternaria stem canker, Fusarium crown and root rot, Fusarium wilt races 1 and 2, gray leaf spot, tomato mosaic virus, and Verticillium wilt; and intermediate resistance to nematodes and tomato spotted wilt virus) (various diseases that I'm not sure what exactly they were have affected my tomatoes in recent years -- this variety doesn't list blight, so it will be interesting to see how it does)

- Tomato (cherry):  Jasper (High resistance to late blight; and intermediate resistance to early blight) (various diseases that I'm not sure what exactly they were have affected my tomatoes in recent years -- this variety lists blight but not the other various diseases that the Big Beef Plus lists, so it will be interesting to see how it does)

(I also bought more Bolero carrot as part of the same order, but not because of disease resistance, just because it grew amazingly last year.)

These are ALL F1 hybrids, which at first I balked at, but this post explains that hybrids are not GMOs, and, I have a very limited growing area (especially in 2022 if they end up digging up for the east wall), so since I can't grow extras for buffer or give things lots of room etc., I feel like hybrids may be my best option for now.

Getting excited!

No birds; removed feeders and bath

Well no one is coming by at all, even the peanuts aren't being touched by blue jays etc.  So, removed the feeders for now.

[wrote this post on 3 Jan 2022 because I forgot to write it as it happened, so, the date I assigned to the post may be wrong]

Chickadee! (Finally a bird has returned)

Hadn't seen any birds whatsoever at the feeders since I put them back a week or two ago.  Saw a junco once or twice fly away from the ground, but that's it.  Today saw a chickadee visit the green mesh feeder with the mix of sunflower and peanut.  Yay!

Cedar board -- coat #2 of raw pure linseed oil applied

(And excess wiped off ~30-40 minutes later.)

Harvested some of the fall-sown potted kale and lettuce

With a low of -9 or something like that forecasted for tonight, figured I'd better take a harvest of the fall-sown potted kale and lettuce before it goes kaput.  Clipped off the kale and one pot of lettuce, leaving the rest to grow if they dare, and for the second pot of lettuce I didn't harvest any and instead just brought it inside on the kitchen table to live there for a while.

Hollyhocks -- year 1 update

Wow, they seemed very happy out front, lots of leaves.  However, they're infested with what I think must be rust.  Anyway, trimmed them back to stubs today for the winter, will see if they flower next year.

The ones I had put in the yard along the north wall I pulled a few weeks ago due to the yard reno -- they were much smaller due to all the shade with the compost bin etc.

Cedar board, coating it with raw linseed oil

Bought a cedar board (1" by 8" by 8 feet) to use as an east edge for the northwest bed ($27 + tax at HD).

Today applied a first coat of raw linseed oil (~$21 + tax at HH for one tiny liter).  Applied it with a rag, board supported by plant pots, newspaper underneath.  Used a fresh rag to wipe off excess after 30-40 minutes.

Now to wait a week or so for it to dry, then apply a second coat... then wait again, before finally putting into the garden.

Bought 6 x 2-foot rebar stakes (~$5 each + tax at HD) to use to support it in place.

Grass sowed along new lowered paths

I doubt it will take, given (a) how late in the season it is, and (b) how compacted the ground is on the paths, but why not give it a go.  I used the rake to scratch up the surface a bit, then sprinkled the seed (leftover from a few years ago), then used the rake again to sort of mix things up a bit.

Didn't water, but wetter is on the way, so will let nature do its thing.

Neighbourhood apple tree = best apples ever

Whoa!!  Amazing!  Huge, juicy, tasty, and so apple-smelling.  Pretty sure these are the best apples I have ever had!

Final chard and green onion harvest due to yard makeover

Needed to pull out the chard and green onions to complete phase 1 of the yard makeover.  The chard was still going strong, and the roots were 1 foot long.  Makes me a wee nervous about next year when the central bed depth of good stuff is going to be like half that, but, we'll see.

FIRST FROST in my yard was last night -- tenderest plants kaput

The forecast for cold nights a few days ago didn't quite materialize -- but last night's ~-4 was a definite frost in the yard, officially the first frost in my yard.

The tomato and zucchini plants, and the tuberous begonia, are all wilty/dead now.  The zinnias, however, seem to be fine still (tired / end of season, but not frosted).

I was worried about the chard and celery, as they looked droopy first thing this morning, but they bounced back during the day.  I threw a blanket over them for tonight as it will be going down to ~-5, so hopefully this will help.

The fall sown potted lettuce and kales look good too, but I covered them for tonight as well just in case.  It would suck if they go mushy before I have to chance to harvest anything from them!

Bluejay visits twice/day, but no sign of anyone else yet

As of the day after I put the feeders back, the bluejay reliably has two visits per day, around 08:30am and 9am or so!  Eats a tiny bit (once swallowed a whole shell/peanut!), then flies away with a peanut/shell.