SPRING EQUINOX / EARTHDAY ISSUE March-April 1995 · Vol. 2 No. 2

I'll be seedin' ya!

By Michael Sillers

You might think it's a little late in the season to be considering what garden seeds to plant this year. Although some devoted gardeners start their seeds in February and March, the rest of us may be less devoted or not have the space. Now is a good a time as any to start thinking about what you want to plant this year.

My favourite vegetables to grow are the ones that look nice in the garden and still supply an adequate harvest. Bushy full plants that suggest the fertility of the earth are always an attractive choice. Here are some that I've had success with in the past.

Peas and Beans are delicious and easy to grow. They generally require a very short growing season and supply much-needed nitrogen to the garden soil. Broad and roma beans are an excellent choice. They grow large bushy plants and climbers that make a garden look very fruitful. They also tend to spread out production so that long past the time your string beans are tough, you'll still be picking tender broad beans from your garden.

Corn requires a lot of space. There is nothing like the taste of fresh sweet corn and if you have the room, it is certainly worth a try. Be forewarned, though - corn tends to attract raccoons and skunks even in areas where they are scarce. Look for a medium sized cob with a growing season of 60 to 80 days. Try popcorn too - the kernels can be popped right on the cob.

Bulb crops are easy to grow and their taste can make the difference between an adequate meal and a great one. Green onions or bunching onions are a good choice if you're growing from seed. They grow quickly and require little room. You can expect to harvest these after only 60 days. Bulb onions require a longer growing season. They need to be started indoors. A good alternative is to grow these from sets. Don't forget to allow room for the bulbs to expand.

If you are a squash lover, you'll want to grow some for eating during the summer and some you can put away. Zucchini is the obvious choice and is much more versatile than most people realize. Not only is it very prolific, it can supply two different types of squash. The first to appear is the one that is the most familiar. These are the small squashes that are used in stews and sauces. Leave a few on the vine, though. As they get larger, they develop into a sizeable summer type squash that has a delicious flavour and makes a great stuffed squash boat.

Varieties such as acorn squash, hubbard squash and buttercup squash keep well in a cool, dark place. Hubbard takes substantially longer to grow, so it might not be the best choice for our climate.

If you like Spinach, try swiss chard. easy to grow, it can be harvested throughout the season by picking the outside leaves and leaving the center to grow. This will also help prevent the plants from going to seed. Use them as you would spinach. Swiss chard matures in less than 60 days.

Potatoes are very easy to grow and remain compact throughout the season. If you've never tasted a potato fresh out of the garden, you probably have no idea what a potato really tastes like. Make sure you plant seed potatoes meant for this purpose. If you plant the ones you got at the supermarket, they stand a good chance of getting blight, which can also affect your tomatoes and peppers.

Tomatoes are also very easy to grow. While some people like the size of beefsteak, they are not the best tasting. Look for a firm, medium-sized tomato. They are ready earlier and taste better. The best I've ever tried is Landry's Russian. Unfortunately I've lost the address of the supplier. If anyone knows where to get this tomato, a note in the suggestion box would be greatly appreciated.

Here are some companion plants that will take the place of chemical supplements in our gardens.

Basil will improve the flavour of tomatoes and helps repel flies and mosquitoes.

Chamomile makes a delicious tea and hosts a variety of beneficial insects. It also smells nice when you walk on it and will survive cutting if you let it loose in your lawn. It improves the flavour of cabbages and onions.

Catnip discourages white flies that often appear on tomatoes.

Plant carrots near your onions. They help keep onion flies away.

Chives improve the growth of cabbages, but keep them away from carrots.

Horseradish near your potatoes will help keep away potato bugs.

Plant marigolds throughout your garden to keep away pests and attract hoverflies, which prey on harmful insects. They are very easy to grow.

Petunias near your squash and potatoes will help keep away potato bugs and squash bugs. They are also a good companion to tomatoes.

Summer savory discourages cabbage moths and improves the flavour of beans and onions.

remember that if you do start your seeds indoors, they need to be acclimated to the outside weather. Once you've planted them in the garden, cover them up with something so they don't get the full force of the sun. Fallen branches or a loose covering of hay will do fine; there are also commercial products available for just this purpose.