The spinning top gourds are almost ready

I don't typically expect to start picking our gourds until late September and sometimes closer to mid October, depending on the season. This has been such a hot dry summer, however that some of the smaller fruiting gourds are almost ready to pick. Check out these adorable spinning top gourds, a super easy variety to grow that produces many 2 to 3 inch teardrop-shaped gourds that can be spun like the popular children's toy.

One reason that I love our gourds so much - we grow over a dozen types - is that the darned deer don't eat them! Just got home after being away for 2 nights and both gardens have been infiltrated by the deer. Bye-bye beloved beans. Thanks for trampling the tomatoes. And I hope you enjoyed my gorgeous rainbow chard. Sigh.. ok, maybe I was wrong and that electric fence would have been a good idea.. Well, to be honest, I'm thinking about completely re-doing the veggie garden next year - I've been so inspired by the amazing designs that will be included in my next book (contributed by amazing experts from around the world!) - so, maybe I'll be working on a new plan this winter and will finally get an effective deer barrier.

Until then, happy gardening and don't forget to tune into The Weekend Gardener tomorrow - Sunday, August 12th for a fun show!

I'll be joined by Todd Boland, author of Trees and Shrubs of the Maritimes: A Field Guide, then I'll chat to Sara Katz about some of her favourite native plants for landscapes. Also, Steven Biggs, author of Grow Figs: Where You Think You Can't and No-Guff Vegetable Gardening will talk about getting the veggie garden ready for fall! Finally, we'll end with the always wonderful Craig LeHoullier, our tomato expert and get his take on the blights that have been affecting our Maritime tomato plants! Tune in on News 95.7 FM, News 91.9 FM or News 88.9 FM or listen live at www.news957.com wherever you are in the world.

Isis Garden Candy tomatoes - Yum!

Potatoes for supper.. Am loving these
fingerlings so much!

A Quick Update

Hot and humid after this mornings rain. Just up repairing the darn deer fence (play hokey from book 2!) and found some treasures today.. thought I'd quickly share them with you..

The first Ardwyna tomato from Annapolis Seeds - Here is how they describe it:
"The beautiful, curvaceous red fruit are heart-shaped and huge, with some specimens measuring  7 inches across and weighing in at over one pound. Excellent for slicing and eating fresh or for canning/saucing. 4’ vines."

Mexico Midget! Hello you adorable pea-sized tomatoes you!

The snake gourd, an edible type is really starting to
put on fruit. Our record is 51-inches long. 

My peanuts (squashed by a 'volunteer' swiss chard seedling) are
beginning to flower!

In a cold frame, carrot seeds have sprouted - planted
just a week ago! As you can see, some 'volunteer' mustard
seeds have also sprouted (how do they grow so fast!?).
I'll move those to another cold frame and into the main garden. 

Mohawk peppers from the plants that I bought at Canadian Tire (couldn't resist!)
The tag said sweet and so do all the seed catalogues on the internet, but these
ain't no sweet peppers! They pack some heat.. so, what are they? 

Are you getting ready for winter??

Are you a grasshopper or an ant? I'm trying to be an ant, starting more seeds for the fall and winter garden. These big guys are ready to go into the empty spaces in the garden and the little guys will also join them in a few weeks..

Love getting back into that seeding groove!

Tomorrow on The Weekend Gardener

Tomorrow on The Weekend Gardener, we have Karen Liebreich, one of the authors of The Family Kitchen Garden (Timber Press) - and I have a copy to give away! Karen will have plenty of inspiration to get your kids in the garden. Remember, it's not too late for the planting of so many veggies, so tune in for some fun ideas.

Also, Gardening Bren, the blogger behind the popular NS blog -www.gardenbren.blogspot.com will join me to talk about her blog and her gorgeous garden (which has been featured in Gardens East - https://www.facebook.com/gardenseast).

I'll also have Carol Goodwin, Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences at NSAC to talk about.. well, everything! Carol is a blast and we'll take your landscaping/gardening questions, talk about the programs at the NSAC, including the master gardening program and the fabulous rock garden at the school..

Finally, we'll check in with Peter LaPierre from Home Harvest, a local company that builds veggie gardens. They donate their time and skills to a local community garden, which was just vandalized.. find out what you can do to help!

In NS, tune in at News 95.7 FM, NB and PEI at News 88.9 FM (Saint John) or News 91.9 FM (Moncton) or listen live wherever you are at www.news957.com 

A Maritime Canning Contest!!

Potatoes!!

Clockwise from top left - Caribe, Belleisle, Pink Fir Apple
and Banana (also called Russian Banana)

I may have gone a bit crazy with the potatoes this year.. but, in my own defence, I knew it would be a busy season where I ignored the garden more than I wanted to.. hence, my reliance on low maintenance crops like potatoes.

I usually plant two varieties, but this year I went with four different varieties and dedicated three beds measuring 4 foot by 10 foot each to these tasty tubers. I also bought my seed potatoes from NS sources - www.hopeseed.com and www.halifaxseed.com. Here are my four varieties:

• Caribe - This has been a favourite for the past few years. We love the amethyst hued skin and bright white interiors. The plants tuber up early, offering plenty of baby potatoes for hodge podgy and roasting, but the mature tubers in autumn are also top notch and can be stored for several months. 
• Banana - This is the variety I bought from Halifax Seed and was super excited to finally see some fingerlings available locally. I easily snuck 10 small to medium sized yesterday and the elongated tubers held up super well to a quick steaming. They were my 2nd favourite in terms of texture and flavour.. 
• Belleisle - I got this late maturing spud from Hope Seed and it's said to be 'rippin' dry', but I gotta say that the 2 baby potatoes I dug up yesterday were super creamy once steamed. Maybe they need to be mature before they're dry? I love making homemade baked french fries, so thought these would make a nice tasty treat.. I'll keep you posted as the plants continue to mature. 
• Pink Fir Apple - I have been waiting YEARS to get my hands on this variety. Hope Seed says it's their favourite variety and I can see why. The flavour and texture yesterday was incredible. The pinkish skin is pretty, the flesh is soft yellow and the tubers had quirky little bumps here and there. My new favourite potato.. I'd like to try and save some for replanting next spring.. I really don't want to risk not finding this variety again next spring. 

Before cleaning!

The Trombetta are coming!!

Trombetta!!

Just went up to the garden to pick some lunch. Cucumbers, salad greens, a handful of basil and a few carrots.. but, as I was rifling through the rampant gourd and cucumber vines looking for a cucumber, I noticed a HUGE bell-shaped squash blossom.. Upon closer inspection, I saw the fruit attached to the flower and it's a Trombetta summer squash! I planted them last year, but it was such a poor year that the seeds kept rotting and I never managed to harvest any of these gorgeous trumpet-shaped fruits that are said to taste like artichokes.. yum!!

Although you can't see it in the photo, there is another one coming too with a bloom set to open in the next day or so. Gorgeous!!

Another curiosity - I also was checking the tomatoes (secretly hoping for ripe fruits) and realized that one of my vines was heavily laden with rather odd fruits.. I've never seen them before, but recognized them from this seed catalogue. Hmm.. how did they get there?? I don't have a packet of this seed. I also don't remember anyone giving me this variety. It's an heirloom often called the 'Traveling Tomato' because it can be harvested one segment at a time.. plus, the thick skin helps protect the fruits. I know our local seed company, Annapolis Seeds also offers it in their extensive tomato selection, but again, I didn't buy this variety this year.. So, the mystery continues!!

I also poked around the gourd patch a bit more to see what baby gourds are coming.. there are cannonball gourds, birdhouse gourds, long dipper gourds, speckled swan, and about 6 or 7 others.. it's so fun to see the tiny gourds with their flowers still attached mature to such fantastic and unique fruits!!

Don't forget to see your carrot cold frames or carrot beds to be mulched for late fall/winter harvesting!! Tis the season in zones 5/6..

Reistetomate - where did you come from?

Crazy, lobed fruits!!

Snake gourd - I have dozens coming. This
guy was is almost a foot. When mature, they can be
over 50 inches - great for fall decor! When young
they make a yummy squash.

Birdhouse gourds baby coming along..