Haliburton County Master Gardeners
Gardening in Haliburton County
Need a primer or a refresher on how to start a veggie garden? We couldn’t have laid it out any better than Sharon Hanna whose article appears in Garden Making Magazine.
With permission we’re providing you the link to some great information that we’ve vetted to ensure that it meets with the challenging growing conditions here in the Highlands.
View Sharon Hanna’s How to Plan a Vegetable Garden HERE.
Garlic is one crop that grows well in the sandy growing conditions of the Highlands region. It’s unique in that it’s a bulb that is planted in autumn and harvested nine months later. Choose hard-necked varieties such as “Music” that do well in our temperate climate. Read more…
Growing Garlic
Buy bulbs of garlic from a local and trusted grower. Plant bulbs in your garden in late October or early November before snow fall. Amend your soil with compost or other organic fertilizer. Plant your bulbs 4-6 inches apart and a good 4 inches deep. Too shallow and the frost will heave them out of the ground and too deep and they will expend too much energy trying to reach the surface. Separate a clove from the bulb and place it pointed end up in the hole. Cover it over with earth and then cover with 4-6 inches of light mulch.
Garlic can be planted in rows (run North to South) or in amongst a flower garden where it looks quite attractive. It is a companion to roses, carrots, lettuce, beets and cabbage but not onions, peas or beans.
Leave the mulch in place in the following spring and throughout the summer. The mulch will retain moisture and repress weeds. Water well every week, if there isn’t sufficient rain. After June 21st, the scape should appear. When it forms one curl, cut it off to retain vigour in the bulb. You can use the scapes raw or cooked in salads and other recipes where mild garlic flavour would be desired.
Pull up the garlic in August when three or so outer leaves turn brown. Tie in loose bunches and hang in a shady, breezy, dry place to dry. When dry after a week or so rub off the dirt and outer layer of paper skin with your hands. Snip off the stem about 3 inches above the bulb. Store the bulbs in a dark dry place by hanging them in an old onion bag.
Keep it simple…follow some basic steps…let them sleep…greet them in the spring!
Our growing season is not long and therefore by planting in the fall, roots are given a chance to develop before the cloves go to sleep in the freezing soil. As the soil warms in the spring, the clove, still cold, is stimulated to sprout and develop into a bulb. Since the roots have already started in the previous fall, the cloves get a head start on the new growing season.
So you’re a flower grower, not a vegetable grower? Did you know that vegetables are actually easier to grow, taste better than grocery store purchases and do not have poisons on or in them (unless you do it). The seeds are cheaper than nursery plants, though granted your produce will be more expensive than in-season store bought vegetables when you consider your time and energy spent – but much more satisfying to eat.
Do not picture acres of row on row of vegetables which means you must harvest, clean, freeze and store vast quantities of produce. Eating cabbages, beans and potatoes until you turn green. No. Simply interplant only your favourites amongst your flowers. Perhaps a pepper or tomato plant. A few radishes, beets, swiss chard or red Russian kale. (In France I saw dill waving in the breeze interplanted with the flowers in the boulevards and rosemary hedges.)
Seed companies now sell many vegetables that grow only to mini sizes. You could even have little carrots in your planters so that you have pretty feathery green leaves. Consider that garlic is a companion plant to roses. Since the former must be planted in the fall you can get it into the ground when you hill up those roses. A 12 inch pot of mesclun (mixed lettuces) is very attractive and will supply you with plenty of salads. Just keep picking those outside leaves and remove any blossom stems.
Vegetables are healthy food. They are better tasting than lilac blossoms, violets and day lily flowers. But I must admit nasturtium leaves should be given a chance by dedicated vegetable growers.
Check out some of our articles on growing food and have fun!
