Greetings, gardennerds!

We have all quite neglected this blog, haven't we? It is such a common complaint of bloggers, that I won't dwell on it. Has anyone noticed? Most certainly not. However, I doubt we have forgotten our gardens. It's just not what gardennerds do.

First, some inspiration. The gardening conversation has not been entirely silent, behind the scenes. D sent out a link to this site earlier this year and it has been a wonderful place to visit. Also, reading about what this guy manages in Edmonton makes me realize that "a short northern season" is relative, and also not worth complaining about. Oh, also the site is beautiful.

On to the garden. My gardening life this year finds me the southeast of Ontario, tilling a sunny little south-west facing triangle beside our rented half-house. We were here last year too. Last year's garden primarily produced an amazing quantity of tomatoes, and a pretty constant supply of lettuce. I was away for most of the summer, and so the garden was tended by a quite unlikely gardener indeed, Mr. A. He certainly has gardening in his blood (if not in his past), but his body doesn't seem to know that: he's allergic to all things flowering and gets hives from sticking his arms among tomato plants. But he braved the pollens courageously and watered stuff faithfully and it grew like the dickens. However, as he usually found himself watering at dusk, he also donated a lot of blood to the local mosquitoes. And so this year, he decided, we should try an irrigation system. I was hesitant at first, but have since learned that it was a brilliant idea. We, like many, can get busy. The soaker hoses make it easy to deliver water right to the roots after the sun is down. Keeping the plants well watered keeps them lush and makes them more resistant to pests and disease. One day it would be great to have it hooked up to rainwater rather than a hose, but, well, it's what we can do for now. So yes, it's a few 1/4" soaker hoses, a mechanical timer that can be set to up for 2 hours, a filter and pressure-control at the head. It also splits off to a nozzle head for taking care of potted things.

With our new ability to bring adequate moisture to plants, we have focused this year on densifying and using more vertical space. It's definitely my densest garden to date.

Entering the garden from the street side (west)

A great wall o' toms: 4 roma and 2 black krim. The trellis is 8' 2x2's pounded about a foot and a half into the ground. I've always wanted to try doing tomatoes this way, and it's great!

Marigolds, red onions, and carrots are fighting for space in the sandy tomato understory. The maris are winning more than I'd like, but I don't have the heart to cut them back.

I'm loving these tall zinnias. the flowers last forever. Beside them is an overgrown fennel. No idea what it's for, I think it's beyond the stage where you'd eat the bulb.

This is a pot containing a lime salad tom and sunberries. The sunberries are blueberry-sized, and taste sort of like a tomatillo. They have been totally mauled by flea beetles, that I haven't been able to control. I'm ready to give up on them but am a bit afraid of pull them out though, at least they are acting as a kind of trap crop right now!

What our neighbour sees.

In the main central garden, there's a bunch sunflowers along the back edge. I'm especially fond of these red ones!

Here is the dense foliage of the central garden, from behind. Peas and sunflower in the foreground, toms beyond that, then there are flowers, zukes, and herbs at the front.

The cukes climb up cages about 3 or 4 feet high. First time I've tried this too... and it works super well!

supercute "applegreen" eggplant

and its adorable stripey friend

oh zucchini, why so sad? One day it just rolled over and wilted.

Someone else I gave a plant to has had the same problem, with the stem looking all twisted and dried.

More lacey sunberries. Poor things.

The last little garden: greens, beans and mint.

The remains of the soybeans in the back, with a few little kales and chards in the front, replacing the earlier lettuce and arugula.

"Speckled trout" lettuce - a heritage variety that is generally heat-tolerant but still shot up in the recent crazy heat. Really enjoyed it through the spring. Hoping to get some seeds to save!

The soybean harvest: a small handful, but made for some delicious edamame to go along with sushi last night.

The first big tomato harvest: stripey tigerella, pinkish black krim, Joan (probably a brandywine), and romas.

I am hoping to make more second plantings, and maybe a very late-season garden.. so hopefully more later this year!