what did you sow today?

[bluelacedredhead]

I didn't know that Manitoulin didn't have Black Flies? Who woulda thunk? I'm sure there are other parts of Ontario that would be more than generous with donations should you ask for them?

[dirtsunrain]

Oh No, I let the secret slip...now I'll be deluged with tourists next year!

But no, we dont have blackflies ( I've seen maybe 6) We do have mosquitos but its too windy on my hill and they blow on by. I'm from Northern O originally (elliot lake area) and this is my idea of paradise.

[plantsnobin]

I should have stated that I sowed these in unheated greenhouse, not outside.
Now, about these blackflies in Canada-just how bad are they, and are there times of the year that they are not a problem?

[bluelacedredhead]

Karen, Blackflies swarm in early May, as spring begins to unfold. They only last about a week. They aren't everywhere. I don't have them here in the Niagara Region. But we had them bad on the farm, which was on the north east end of Lake Ontario. I broke the clutch cable on my car one year the day the blackflies arrived. It had to be repaired, because my son was getting married that weekend and taking my car on his honeymoon. I'm not sure if the area around the car was blacker from flies or bluer from Paintmans verbage?!?

[Penny]

We dont have them here too, and i am the southern area of Georgian Bay......now go north of me during black fly season, and you are beating your way back down south, they are so thick up there!!

[flowerpower]

We have plenty of blackflies here in late May or early June. Depends on how quickly the snow melts. I live right next to a wetland and there is plenty of low bush blueberry. Of course, you have to hope the bears are not out picking at the same time you are.

[Penny]

Holy cow....ya i guess so......definetly dont want him as your picking partner!!

[Dan]

those had to be what we had on our dill and other vegetables this year, i couldn't figure it out. it appears they simply died in place though....

[bunkie]

i am readying containers for a lot of 'winter sowing' right now. i winter sowed a few things on the winter solstice, but, since then we've had unusual warm (30'sF) weather and lots of rain. i'm afraid of the seeds rotting. going to get colder in a few days, so will be starting to seed and put containers in the snow...we still have about 5 inches!

i'll be sowing lots of greens to eat in a few weeks and lots of herbs aand edible flowers. going to try winter sowing some toms this year too!

[bluelacedredhead]

Bunkie, that's what I did. Buried the containers in about 8 inches of snow on the back porch. I'm hoping that the little furry forest denizens don't find them there? But if they will growl at me through the window, they will think nothing of coming to the back door to dine on tender young plants
I can still hope...

I did a cake container full of Earliana tomatoes this year.
As well as Hinkelhatz Peppers, Portuguese Hot Peppers, Leaf Celery, Parsley, Calendula and Hollyhocks.

I had little success wintersowing two years ago and I didn't try last year because we moved a year ago today and I had other priorities. Really hoping that 2010 is the year that WS Works for Wendy

[ottawagardener]

Sowed a salad bar of peas, green onion, arugula, lettuce and mustard.

[Alan]

Right now I'm just pumping out the soil blocks using the recipie I posted on the blog. Also harvesting castings like crazy and blending my special fertilizer blends. As soon as the second load of rotten sawdust gets here I'll load it into the greenhouse, amend it heavily, lay down the block pathways, and start planting cold tolerant crops! It's always a matter of waiting on someone.....