With a heat wave forecast for this weekend, don’t forget to protect young vegetables from excessive heat. Depending where you are on the coast, temperatures might range as high as 26-30oC [79-86oF] over the weekend, dropping after Monday. While it doesn’t look too prolonged, these temperatures would certainly be too hot for tiny seedlings, newly sown seeds and plants that were transplanted recently—though of course, established heat loving crops, such as tomatoes and cucumbers, should enjoy it and snap out of their doldrums from the colder weather last month. No matter how well beds are watered, at these temperatures the roots of small plants are close enough to the soil surface to fry in the midday heat. Plants large enough that their leaves shade the soil around them, are much less at risk from heat injury, however, it has been such as dry spring (despite those showers in May) that you may not realize that larger plants could be experiencing drought conditions at their roo…

Although the group welcoming Heather to learn more about Neighbours Feeding Neighbours was small, the conversation was both multifaceted as well as fascinating. After Heather offered our land acknowledgement and told us of her “excitement and delight" with our long days, needed rain, and her verdant garden, offering her both satisfaction and challenges, we began to learn about this exciting project. Neighbours Feeding Neighbours is a 20-month pilot project of the Salt Spring Island Farmland Trust and funded by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC. While this funding is slated to end this winter, hopes are that some key initiatives identified by this pilot project will continue. With this funding, Heather and her team are laying the groundwork for developing an island-wide plan to address our food needs in emergency situations. They are building relationships with key players, planting the seeds of collaboration between growers and local buyers, and working with our…

With the return of bees over the last week or two I am relieved to see them once again working garden flowers. Every year I get concerned inquiries in May asking where the bees are. While insect populations, including native bees, have been steadily decreasing over recent decades, a marked absence of bees for several weeks in spring is usually because the bees are working on tree flowers or have found a patch of more attractive plants elsewhere. Bees really like maple flowers and later on Arbutus/Madrone flowers. In my neighbourhood, both of these trees lure bees high above our heads and it is only after trees are done blooming that we see good numbers of bees back in our yards. The cool (even cold!) weather of the last week or so has been pretty hard on tender vegetables planted early, such as tomatoes, beans, peppers, cucumbers. With the weather warming up and higher overnight temperatures expected by this weekend, plants should recover. Depending on how protected your ga…

With the recent warm up, the cool tolerant vegetables can be seeded or set out any time: cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, salad greens, radishes, peas, potatoes. But if you haven’t planted those yet, not to worry—there is plenty of time for them to produce in our growing season so planting in April or May works fine. For warmth loving plants (tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, melons, corn, beans), however, don’t be in a rush. Their cells simply do not function in cool temperatures so wait until May to plant these. Gardeners in the rest of Canada will be planting tomatoes on the May long weekend and that date works well for coastal gardeners too. In more protected or warmer gardens, tomatoes and zucchini, which are the most robust of the heat lovers, may go out earlier, especially if covered with cloches, temporary tunnels or floating row cover. The more delicate plants (cucumbers, melons and sweet basil) need consistently warm weather. I often can’t set…

According to the rain gauge in our garden upwards of 16 mm of rain fell over 24 hours on April 6, which seems fitting for a Rainwater Catchment tour. The rains didn't stop 20 SSI Garden Club members from attending the event that we hosted in our garden, sponsored by the Water Preservation Society. As one tour participant pointed out " there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing choices." Providing education about Rainwater Catchment systems ties in to the WPS mandate of promoting awareness of the value of water resources and sharing information about ways to conserve water. Gardeners have the opportunity to mitigate some of the impacts of climate change on our limited water resources by storing water collected during the rainy season and using it during the dry growing season. Creating systems for outdoor use doesn't have to be complicated or expensive if you work with gravity, Do It Yourself and use some recycled materials. Time was spent showing and explaini…

Spring is moving along slowly but surely, and although recent cold nights and rainy days have slowed down spring flowers, gardeners are fidgety, itching to plant something. With overwintered crops having survived the winter in better condition than usual, year-round gardeners may have enough broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, root crops, leeks, chard, kale, lettuce, etc. in the garden that they aren’t fussed about getting an early start (if that’s not you, see the end of this message for an online workshop I will be giving in April on year-round harvests for coastal gardeners). What to plant now: The soil is still much too wet to work outdoors, but in garden soil that is fertile from past years of amendments, you can rake back any mulch, pull weeds and sow a few things without disturbing the soil further. Poke pea seeds into the mud and scatter seeds of lettuce, spinach, radishes, cilantro, dill, arugula on the surface. Press seeds lightly into the soil without covering them or…

Despite the nuisance of dealing with snow over the last week or two around the coast, the storms have been very good for vegetables in the garden (and for the shoots of garlic and spring flower bulbs that are up). Snow insulates plants, keeping them warmer than the air temperatures above, so the deeper the snow, the better the protection. When the snow melts, you might see broken or bent plants and cold damaged leaves, but don’t be tempted to clean up the garden: leave everything alone! Root crops should be fine if they were protected by a good mulch before the snow further insulated the beds. Chard, spinach, hardy lettuce plants can look pretty bad, especially if leaves were frozen to the ground, but they usually grow back from the roots to provide a much earlier and larger harvest than you could hope to achieve with spring seedlings. Kale can have all the leaves broken off by deep snow, yet after a few weeks of spring warmth, new leaves sprout all along the stems. Give cabbag…

New funding is available to help tree-fruit growers prepare their orchards for extreme weather so people can continue to enjoy the B.C. peaches, cherries and apples that so many farming families and communities depend on. “Last summer, British Columbians saw almost no local cherries available and missed out on having delicious Okanagan peaches to enjoy,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food. “We know these climate impacts will continue, which is why we’re helping growers with a new program so their crops and businesses become more resilient in the face of increasingly challenging growing conditions.” The new $5-million Tree Fruit Climate Resiliency program will help fund things such as protective covers, energy-efficient heaters and wind machines to help during periods of extreme cold, as well as canopy sprinklers and shade protection to help ward off the effects of extreme heat. The program also is open to applications for innovative projects to support ind…

After the warm winter so far, below freezing temperatures are now in the forecast for our first bit of colder weather this winter. Starting Friday this week and continuing for a few days, forecasts range from one or two degrees below freezing overnight for the Victoria area to -4 to -5oC overnight further up Vancouver Island, for Vancouver and other Lower Mainland areas. At higher elevations or further inland, overnight temperatures tend to be lower so some of you may have lower temperatures overnight in your garden. It doesn’t look like severe or prolonged cold is likely for now, so preparations this week should just ensure that everything is well mulched and possibly that the least hardy vegetables are covered. But first, you might want to harvest a batch of carrots and other roots, leeks, a cabbage, lots of leafy greens, to store in the refrigerator for use in over the next few weeks. Root crops and cabbages, in particular, keep well for weeks in the fridge if you have the s…

British Columbians will experience a wider variety of local food and beverage options as more farmers and small businesses get support through Buy BC. “British Columbians know the Buy BC logo represents local products that are produced and processed by people in their communities, from small family farms to innovative food producers,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food. “Buy BC is supporting the people who make up our province’s diverse agriculture and food industry so, together, we can continue to shine a light on many unique and delicious products produced here at home, while strengthening local food systems and economies.” Through the Buy BC Partnership Program, $2 million is available to support those eligible to participate in provincewide marketing projects to help boost awareness, demand, and sales of B.C. products. The funding will help additional local food and beverage companies and industry associations share their stories with more people aroun…

We are more than a week past the shortest day of the year, a turning point in the season I welcome as it means that days are getting longer. Although daylight is only about 3 minutes longer than it was on the 21st, the rate of change increases as we get closer to the spring equinox. By mid-January days will be noticeably longer by half an hour. With the continuing warmer than usual weather this month, hardy vegetables are still growing. Even my summer broccoli is continuing to put out new shoots and Chinese cabbage and other leafy greens are still growing slowly, replacing leaves chewed on by slugs earlier in the season. It has been so warm that I have not yet put down the final layer of mulch that would completely cover the top of the carrots and other root crops, but the bag of leaves is ready to hand to be able to quickly cover the beds as soon as there is forecast of below freezing temperatures. While doing yard work the other day, I wasn’t happy to see that buds were al…

With what has been relatively warm weather for this time of year, rampages of climbing cutworms and other caterpillars continue. Many people are reporting usually large numbers of caterpillars chewing up their leafy greens and other vegetables. Photos sent to me have been mostly of the usual suspect that I mention often: The Large Yellow Underwing Moth, whose larvae are those extremely hardy climbing cutworms that feed all winter. See: http://www.lindagilkeson.ca/leaf_chewers.html#25 Nighttime inspections by flashlight a couple of hours after dark to pick off the caterpillars are quite effective as the caterpillars are easy to see feeding on leaves. They are most active on warmer evenings (9-10oC/48-50oF), but do also feed at lower temperatures. The first night you hunt for them you will likely find most of them, but keep checking for a few more nights to pick off the last few. Cutworms I have been finding range in size from very small to larger ones that look more than h…

During the pandemic, David Marshall couldn't ignore the mountain of recycling piling up at home—so much plastic, so much waste. Despite their best recycling efforts, he realized every piece of plastic ever made still exists somewhere. Where does it all go? It was shocking to think this was just one family's impact. As he shopped for groceries, he noticed every item wrapped in plastic, travelling far to reach Salt Spring Island (SSI)—the waste felt overwhelming. Determined to find a better way, David envisioned sourcing organic produce and raw materials from local farmers to create fresh, plant-based meals. His goal was clear: distribute healthy, affordable food to the community. He crafted an irresistible proposition—four days a week of locally made, plant-based meals, delivered to your door, zero waste, and no planning required. People loved it! Even those who hadn’t embraced plant-based diets previously found that fresh, locally prepared meals tasted amazing. And if they w…

Part of Transition Salt Spring’s Lighter Living Series For anyone intrigued by the idea of cultivating their own food, or just keeping their landscape healthy - the Salt Spring Island Garden Club offers an indispensable community and wealth of expertise. Annual membership is a steal at just $25 for individuals and $35 for families (2 people living in the same household). Meetings are held at Meaden Hall, Royal Canadian Legion, every 4th Wednesday from February to June and September to November. Visitors are welcome to drop-in ($5). Each meeting hosts a vibrant gathering featuring esteemed guest speakers. From local luminaries like Linda Gilkeson, Dan Jason and Jane Squire to globetrotting experts like Gary Lewis of Phoenix Perennials, our speakers delve into diverse topics from native plant reintroduction and growing medicinal perennials, or edible landscapes to growing vegetables in a changing climate. Beyond insightful talks, meetings buzz with activity. Picture a mi…

As the growing season winds down, if you have tomatoes still on the vine outdoors, pick the unblemished ones to continue ripening indoors. Any fruit that has even slightly started to turn from green to slightly yellowish-green will continue to ripen fully off the vine. Days now are so short, cool and wet that nothing much is going to ripen now unless it is in a greenhouse. Peppers that have started to turn from green toward their ripe colour (red, yellow, purple) will also ripen indoors off the plant. Winter squash and pumpkins still on the vine can stay there until there is risk of frost in your garden. By now they are growing very slowly and if they aren’t already nearly mature, they aren’t likely to get much further. Keep checking the stems to determine maturity and havest when the stem has become hard enough that you can’t make a mark on it with a fingernail. These late fruit should still be cured after harvest by holding them somewhere as warm as possible for a few week…

Theme: Celebrating The Amazing Apples of Salt Spring Island, BC Sunday, Sept 29, 2024. A chance to visit APPLE HEAVEN while still on earth! Last year, 2023 was a great success with over 1500 Apple Lovers enjoy amazing apples, good food, Salt Spring farms and other Salt Spring Treasures 1) The apple display at Fulford Hall in 2023, had 489 varieties (a RECORD for Salt Spring) all arranged alphabetically and all grown on Salt Spring Island. The Apple Display is in the middle of the hall, while about 20 vendors of Salt Spring Treasures will fill the perimeter of the hall, including the very popular Pie Ladies, who were sold out of 236 pies by 11:30 AM 2) A FLY OVER of the Apple Display from the 2019 Salt Spring Apple Festival It contains 416 apple varieties all grown ORGANICALLY on Salt Spring Island, BC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCNguvXYRn4 3) Our Pie Ladies baked over 150 apple pies, each one indicating what apple variety was used…

It is odd to be heading into September with everything looking so green due to the heavy rains in August. That caused some splitting of soft fruit, such as plums and figs, even some vegetables (one of my cabbages virtually exploded), but it also provided relief from summer watering restrictions. Tasks this month focus on getting the most out of the last weeks of the growing season: check that carrots and other root crops, hardy greens, etc. are well thinned so growth isn’t slowed by crowding; boost the fall production of zucchini and other summer squash with a feeding of liquid fertilizer (e.g., fish fertilizer, compost or manure soaked in water), which also helps plants outgrow powdery mildew. Other tasks: Tomatoes: Garden tomatoes (and peppers) have been slow to ripen with the cold weather last month and many people are feeling deprived of their favorite crop. Only fruit already set on outdoor plants now will have time to ripen (tomatoes in greenhouses have longer dependin…

The date to sow spinach in my garden is approaching fast: August 12 just seems to work out best so that’s become Spinach Day at my house. It is late enough in the season that the rapidly shortening days prevent spinach from flowering despite any hot weather the seedlings may experience. Spinach sown at this time of year will be ready for fall and winter harvests, and, even if beaten up by a cold winter, usually comes back from the roots with a big crop in March and April. You can also sow arugula and hardy varieties of winter lettuce over the next week or two since they grow quickly. Lettuce sown at the end of August, however, would be best grown in cold frames, tunnels or unheated greenhouses to give them a bit longer growing season. Sow corn salad (mâché) for winter salads can be sown directly in the garden by the end of August. I scatter the seeds on the soil surface under squash, tomato, pepper plants where they wait until it is cool enough to germinate. By the time the war…

For the rest of July and through August, your mission is to fill up any spaces in your garden with hardy vegetables for harvest from late fall through winter. With garlic and onions grown from sets maturing this month, that leaves some larger spaces for winter crops. Early peas, lettuce, radishes and other salad greens are likely finished by now, leaving more space to plant winter crops. Have a look at everything growing in your garden now to decide what to ‘edit’: are there plants that are doing poorly? that no one in the house likes? that are producing too much to use? For example, this week I removed a patch of lettuce that will never get eaten, the last radishes that were getting too woody and what I realized was going to be 2 too many zucchini plants. From now until early August, sow leafy greens from seed (arugula, winter lettuce, mizuna, collars, kale, leaf mustards and mustard spinach/Komatsuna, Bok choi and other Chinese cabbage, spinach, broccoli raab). You can als…

We are well into summer with milestones for sowing seeds for winter harvest crops coming up quickly: It’s nearly that day again, when it is time to celebrate July 1 (or 4th of July for our US friends) by sowing a big bed of carrots to feed you from fall through spring. My Canada Day celebrations always include getting those carrot seeds sown, well-watered and covered securely with insect netting against carrot rust fly. Some years, scorching hot weather in the first weeks of July can make the soil too warm for carrot seeds to germinate if the bed isn’t well shaded. Carrots take longer than most vegetable seeds to germinate and must be kept cool and moist the entire time so it can be hard to get a good stand of carrots from a summer sowing. This year, the coastal weather forecast is for cool to moderate temperatures for the first part of the week so it will be easier to keep the seeds cool, but if you live inland in a warmer climate or if the coastal weather gets warmer over …

The garlic is alright! Some people have been surprised by how big their garlic plants are and some have been concerned because their hardneck garlic sent up scapes (flower stalks) so early. Keep in mind that it was a warmer than average winter—from the garlic’s point of view. Buried in the soil, the bulbs wouldn’t have experienced that spell of extreme cold in January so with a generally warmer winter, plants likely have grown a bigger than usual root system. While the cool weather we have had recently is making our melon and cucumber plants wobble, it has been perfect for garlic growth. For most garlic, it may mean an earlier harvest this year, which is all to the good as it frees up space for planting fall and winter crops. What to plant now: From now to the end of June is the time to sow seeds of overwintering broccoli and cauliflower. These are biennial varieties that form their heads after they experience the cold chill of winter. These varieties are getting hard to fin…