May Gardening News
April Showers certainly have brought May flowers! We have had a long, cool spring which extends flowering time on many species. In this edition we’ll talk to you about hanging baskets, spring tips on how to deal with dandelions and of course share another one of our favourite recipes.
For the May long weekend we hope that you all get to relax in your gardens, put your feet up, and enjoy your families and friends. May long is that magical weekend that typically signals that we are frost free, and you have the all clear to plant your annual crops, seed your veggie gardens, and basically work yourself from dawn till dusk. Like I always say, you can either buy a gym membership, or just get out and garden!
Just don’t forget to stretch first 🙂
Cassandra
Hanging Baskets
It’s full on spring in the Garden Centre, and lots to celebrate in May! Mother’s Day is only a few days away, and a great excuse to spoil those special Mum, Mom, Mother, Madre, Maman in your life. Just remember not to leave it too long, as popular items always go fast; this is our main rose selling week of the year! Other popular items are our beautiful hanging baskets! No, you are not too late to order! We do lots, and lots, and lots of custom baskets, and take orders throughout the year.
Caring for your baskets is essential to performance. Always keep them well watered but also stay vigilant with your fertilizing. Hanging baskets require a weekly fertilizing regimen to stay in top shape, promote exceptional foliage and to keep blooming all season long. Each week alternate between 20-20-20 and 10-40-25 (Super Bloom), to get the most out of your basket. An additional monthly application of liquid seaweed will give you over-the-top quality and longevity of your hanging baskets and summer annuals.
Happy gardening!
Dandelion Pro-Tip:
Dandelions are an important source of pollen for our bee friends. If you drive past our farm we have left as many as possible as our eighteen hives require a lot of flowers to stay content. If you decide to remove Dandelions from your gardens and lawns aim to do so without herbicides. Herbicides are not only linked to the collapse of bee colonies but are not permitted for use in many areas of the Comox Valley. Instead of chemicals, use a little ol’ fashioned elbow grease. May is ideal for digging out the tap root, removing the entire plant in-tact. If you simply pull off the top, the tap root will remain and re-grow. Dandelions close up at night so weeding in the evening or early in the morning is more productive as you won’t be spreading seeds.
May Recipe
Use up the last of your frozen BLUEBERRIES ! A new crop is on its way 🙂
INGREDIENTS
For the Compote:
2 cups frozen blueberries
1/4 cup white sugar or honey
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
For the Cream:
8oz cream cheese
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon caster sugar
1/4 cup icing sugar
INSTRUCTIONS
- Put the blueberries, sugar and water in the pan. Heat gently until the berries begin to release their juices then turn the heat up slightly. Cook until the berries have popped and you have a lovely deep purple compote then continue to simmer until the compote turns syrupy, about 5 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice and leave to cool.
- In a large bowl, using an electric whisk, beat the cream cheese and icing sugar together until smooth and lump free. In another bowl whisk the double cream and caster sugar until it just stands in soft peaks. Add the cream to the cream cheese and, using a metal spoon, fold the two together. Drizzle ⅓ of the cooled compote over the cream mixture then fold the mixture over just twice taking care not to overmix.