Mid-May 2015
Food Gardening with Mark
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Hooray for May!

 

There is much to celebrate in May, besides 'Queen Victoria's birthday' or National Patriotes Day in Quebec.

  

How about 'planting food'?  Not quite yet though... one more week and magic occurs!  In 90% of the country we are 'safe' to plant frost-tender transplants and 'heat seeking' seeds like corn and beans on May 24th (or so).

  

Remember last week?  Across much of Canada we experienced a heat wave and some retailers were selling frost tender begonias and tomato plants in Ottawa.  Bit early, we have since learned, as the same area received a frost warning last night.  

  

The organizers of the Ottawa Tulip festival were nervous that the record warm temperatures would 'blow' their tulips out of bloom before the festival was finished. (The festival runs to this Monday, May 18th by the way.)  


 

I was there on Monday for a shoot with Canada AM and the tulip show is magnificent. (watch the segment


 

While this is a 'food gardening' newsletter, I know that tulips are not on the top of your list as an edible.  The truth is that the humble tulip bulb sustained a starving population of Dutch citizens before the country was liberated 70 years ago.  

This is why there is a Tulip Festival in Ottawa.  Canadians provided safe harbour for the Dutch Royal Family during the Second World War, plus Canadians helped to liberate their country.  The Dutch Royal Family gave us a load of tulips to thank us.   And the rest is history. http://tulipfestival.ca/

Back to food gardening this month. Here is a timely update for you; designed to maximize the pleasure and the nutrition that you derive from your garden this season.  

Keep in mind that what you do in your garden (or containers) now will determine your success later in the season.  


'Permanent' food plants:

 

-  Remove the straw mulch from your strawberries (the straw that you placed there last fall to protect them over winter).

-  Cut down July-bearing raspberry canes to 20 cm or about 8 inches.  Dig out unwanted canes that have travelled underground where they have no business being.  Remember: you are the boss.


 

-  Cut asparagus as it spikes out of the ground.  If your patch is over 5 years old, keep cutting until mid or late June.  At that point, you allow the remaining shoots to mature, break into leaf and produce more roots through the summer that will produce fresh shoots come spring next spring.  If you have a younger patch, be sure not to over pick or you will minimize the crop next year. 


 

-  Pull your rhubarb. (note: you cut asparagus, pull rhubarb and snap off your finished tulip bulb flowers: garden jargon)  Don't quit until you are tired of preparing and eating the stuff.  Leave some leaves intact come June to help build up the energy of the roots for next year's harvest.

-  Cut back blackberries (hard!) and wear armour while doing it. Thin currant bushes by one third with a quality pair of the new Marks Choice hand pruners. (Reach into the centre of the plant to remove the oldest growth). Mulch blueberries with evergreen needles and dust Green Earth garden sulphur on the surface of the soil to acidify it (unless you live in the Maritimes or coastal B.C. where acidic soil is a natural).

-  Let your fruiting trees flower.  Take pictures.  Enjoy the scent of them.  And let the pollinators do their work... do not apply pesticides during flowering.....this is very important as spraying can disrupt the pollination activity.  Lie in a hammock and enjoy the hum. 


 

-  Look for this great food-gardening story about permanent plants that produce super fruits in your garden.  

Veggies:

 

-  Plant out frost tender transplants beginning May 24 (in most areas: Sorry Newfoundland gardeners, another week or two for you to reach that magic 'frost free' date).

-  Sow seeds for most any vegetable.  Keep in mind that the peas that you sowed in April will perform better than those you sow in May.  Other, fast growing vegetables that lend themselves to successive sowing, about 10 days apart include bush beans, lettuce, radishes, beets, carrots and onions. 


 

-  Prepare the soil well before you sow seeds or plant new transplants.  I use a bushel of compost in the hole for each tomato plant.  Look for 'Bio Max' compost, which is certified by the Composting Council of Canada. It is new this year and superior in quality.

-  When you plant tomatoes add the shell of two eggs to the bottom of the hole to prevent blossom end rot.  If you have never had blossom end rot, you don't know what a pain in the butt you are missing. 

-  Water all new plantings well.


 

-  Allow the soil to dry slightly between watering applications.  Don't drown the poor darlings!  Most plant 'problems' begin with overwatering. 

-  Remember that all vegetables love sunshine.  Plant in the sunniest part of your yard.  Minimum 6 hours of sun for most anything to grow well in the veggie garden.

-  Herbs are your best bet for planting in containers.  Use Marks Choice container mix (Home Hardware exclusive) and plant in full blazing sun... rosemary, thyme, oregano, mint, chives: you name it. 

Ride to Conquer Cancer

  

Thank you sooooo much!  My original goal of raising more than $5,000 has been surpassed, thanks to you!  (I raised my goal recently, by the way, just to keep us in the game).  


 

If you donated $25 or more and did not receive a copy of my book Lawn and Garden Secrets or my book about the life of Hugh Beaty, Extra Ordinary, please contact my assistant Brenda at [email protected] and she will send you a copy, with my compliments and thanks for your support in my Ride to Conquer Cancer.


 

Remember that if you donate $50 or more we will also send you 4 packets of my now famous vegetable seed packets, from Home Hardware.  An $8 value.  

 

As a cancer survivor, your support and good wishes means more to me than you could possibly know.  

To sponsor.

 

Have a great couple of weeks in the garden.  I will be in touch June 1st with my monthly newsletter.

 

Yours,

 

Mark

Merchant of Beauty

Keep your knees dirty!

www.markcullen.com
Monthly Recipe Contest 

We're giving away Mark's Choice gloves and a Harrowsmith Gardening Digest.

Last month, I asked for your favourite recipe featuring home-grown herbs.

 

Winning Recipe:

LEMON ROSEMARY GARLIC DRESSING

1 cup raw apple cider vinegar

1 � cups water

� cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 tbsp minced garlic

� tsp pepper

� tsp celery seed

6 tbsp red onion, diced

4 tbsp red pepper, diced

1 tbsp dill weed

2 tbsp fresh parsley, minced

1 tbsp sea salt

2 tbsp dried rosemary, crushed or 4 tbsp fresh rosemary, crushed

1 tsp xanthan gum (thickener)

Blend first 12 ingredients, then add xanthan gum; blend well. Refrigerate overnight.


 

Submitted by: Vicki Reimer 

(Vicki received 8 packets of Mark's Choice veggie seeds + a copy of the Harrowsmith Garden Digest)


 

___________________________________________

 

This month, I'm asking you to submit your favourite salad recipe.   Submit your favourite recipe for a chance to win. Email your recipe to [email protected]


 

If your recipe is chosen to appear in the Mid-June issue of Food Gardening With Mark, you will receive a pair of Mark's Choice gloves and a copy of the Harrowsmith Gardening Digest.