Raised bed #3 is jinxed.

I have a raised bed that just seems to grow nothing. Everything is yellow, stunted and pathetic. This year I put identical plants in bed #3 and bed #1. The difference is staggering. They have identical wood boxes, soil, amendments and mulches. I used to think it was because it was much shadier. Now it's in the sun and the same light-wise. So now I think it is the cedar hedge behind me sucking out all the nutrients. Through the process of elimination, that is the only culprit left.

Sorrel...garden shoe for comparison

Sorrel in Bed #3...about 6" across the whole plant...plants were the same size.

Squash...about three feet across in the Back to Eden garden.

Squash in Bed #1

Squash in Bed #3...plants were all seeded in my greenhouse. Identical soil, planting dates etc.

Thyme in Bed #3...not nearly as large, but not too bad.

Artichoke...with my garden shoe for comparison...about 2' across.

Artichoke in Bed #3...leaves are about 5-6" long at most.

Black Krim tomato in Bed #1

Black Krim Tomato in Bed #3...again both grown from seed in my greenhouse. Plants were identical when planted. This is pretty sad.

I will be removing bed #3 when I have time.

 

 

Clematis Elsa Spath

              Elsa Spath Clematis    {This is not my plant}

I am in love with purple Clematis. I started looking when I saw they were flowering at garden centres. Marigold Nursury had a lovely selection of clematis about a month ago. The purple flower on the Elsa Spath Clematis was so spectacular, I knew I had my flower. I have been unsure where to plant it. My Mom dropped by for a garden tour today and we were chatting about where it could go. Ta Da. Snugged right between the Fallgold Rasperry bed and the compost bins. It is completely shaded, but when it's head pops up over the fence level, the top will be in full sun. PERFECT. Cool feet, hot head. 

Squash / Pumpkin / Cucumber / Watermelon Cross-Pollination chart

Everyone who grows squash and members of the squash family, wonders about cross pollination of the squashes. It will not affect your squashes in the growing year. It will cause the seeds to not be true to the parent the following year. So you can limit the varieties you grow, or you can buy new seed every year. If you chose to plan your growing so you won't have this crossover, here is the chart to make that easy. There are groups A to G. Only the plants within the separate groups will cross pollinate. So now, wasn't that easy. I know I'm going to print it off and use it. 

Group A Cucurbita pepo:

Summer squash
Yellow crookneck or straightneck
Zucchini, Cocozelle
Scallop/patty pan

Winter Squash
Acorn
Spaghetti

Gourds
many ornamental types.

Many Pumpkins including Cinderella, Big Tom, Jack O’Lantern, Jackpot, Small Sugar, Sugar Pie and Connecticut Field.

Group B Curcurbita moschata:

Winter Squash
Butternut squash

Pumpkins
Cheese
Dickinson Field
Golden Cushaw
Kentucky Field

Group C Cucurbita maxima:

Winter squash
Hubbard

Pumpkins
Big Max
King of the Mammoths
Mammoth Chile
Mammoth Prize
Atlantic Giant

Ornamental squash
Alladin
Turk’s Turban

Group D Cucurbita mixta:

Pumpkins
Green-Striped Cushaw
Japanese Pie
Tennessee Sweet Potato
White Cushaw
Mixta Gold

Group E Cucumis sativus:

All slicing and pickling Cucumbers (except Armenian cucumber):
Beit Alpha cucumber
Lemon cucumber

Group F Cucumis melo:

Cucumbers
Armenian (Snake cucumber or Serpent melon)

Melons
All muskmelons
Casaba
Honeydew

Group G Citrullus lanatus:

All watermelons
All citrons

Now THAT is a Rhododendron!!

 

My friends Rob and Patty are lucky enough to have this amazing Rhododendron 'Tree' in their yard. Isn't it amazing. I planted my rhododendron, the same pink as this, 36 years ago. It would reach about the top of Rob's head.

 

A Hosta Bed down the side of the veggie garden.

I was originally going to put shady veggies down the East side of the East yard. Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts etc. I changed my mind. This side is visible from the street and we walk it often, so I thought I'd turn it into eye candy. I am not sure how many hosta's I planted today...maybe eleven counting the one I put elsewhere, and two hydrangeas. So a few of the hosta's are in a spot that they will get a lot of sun for a few hours in the afternoon. The rest are further down the side and shady. We will see how it goes.

The varieties planted today:

Halcyon {43" wide}

Elegans {61" wide}

Twilight {28" width}

Minuteman {50" wide}

Sagae {70" wide}

Wide Brim {45" wide}

First frost {36" wide}

I can see I have made some overly large choices. Cool.