I chose a French heirloom leek called Bleu de Solaise (Blue Solaize) from the Cottage Gardener. This variety's blue leaves turn violet after a cold spell and are extremely cold-resistant and hardy. They can remain in the ground in winter until the ground is frozen and has to be chipped away. I'll let you know next December how that turns out. Paul has a recipe from his Mum for a wonderful dish that we call prei - prei is actually the Dutch word for leek. Mmmm. With any luck we'll be eating prei freshly dug late next fall.
We also started the tomatoes a week or so ago. I've never had any luck starting seeds - they always end up so leggy and weak...and dead. This year, damn it, will be the exception.I pilfered the light from the utility room and swapped out the bulbs for grow lights. Paul attached the light to the ceiling, we wheeled the pump organ under it, stacked a few boxes of mason jars and set the seedlings under the light. That pump organ is a handy ole thing, wish I could play it. Riley can play a mean chopsticks on it. Anyhoo, the tomatoes look okay so far.
This year I'm trying Amish Paste, Bloody Butcher, Brandywine, Isis Candy, and Mule Team. I grew a couple of Isis Candies, a cherry tomato, last year, and it was a favourite of the kids. The Amish Paste will replace the Romas that I didn't have time to can last year. Not sure how I ended up with Brandywine but who's complaining. And who could resist the other two, Mule Team and Bloody Butcher. They're worth trying just for the names - like last year's Box Car Willie. And if they don't work out, there's always plant sales.
What a great time of year. And soon, the peas will go in...
10 comments:
Good luck with the leeks and tomatoes! I tried leeks last year, but pulled most of them out of the ground because I thought they were weeds. Pre-seeding them and transplanting like you are doing seems like a much better idea!
Oh, I'm glad I'm not the only one who does things like that. We'll see how it goes.
(And I like the new picture)
I know where you can find some good manure. Ask Riley.
You're right. And in this land of taurus, there's lots of bull...
You stubborn? Impossible.
I know. I've been telling Paul that for years.
No one can make prei like "Oma" although I'll be first in line to try yours! I have grown them before. Fairly easy to grow UNLESS you pull them out as they come up looking like tiny blades of grass.
At first, the picture looked like a city grid (at nightfall) to me.
Thanks Liz :) It's me, and not me at the same time...
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