Blanching Rhubarb

My mom's rhubarb plant had been struggling for years in our backyard, and disappeared altogether when moved to the front potager. Oddly, the plant reappeared two successive springs only to die back as quickly as it had arrived. Finally, this year mom's rhubarb produced three smallish leaves that looked as though they might survive.

Two weeks ago I read a post on Facebook, Canadian Gardeners, by Robert Pavlis. He had written about 'blanching' rhubarb - covering the plant with a pot or bucket, depriving it of light early in the growing season - a process more common in the UK than Canada; and, said to produce quicker growth and more tender fruit.

Mr. Pavlis researched the blanching process with his rhubarb, covering half the plant and leaving the other half uncovered. He reported, and his photos illustrated, that his experiment proved quite successful.

Deciding to give 'blanching' a try in my own garden, I covered our small rhubarb plant with a plastic pot that blended in nicely with the garden decor. Then I hoped for the best.

Today, only two weeks later, I glimpsed leaves through the vent holes in the bottom, now the top of the covering pot; and, when I decided to take a look underneath, was met with a wonderful surprise.

The rhubarb had grown four small but healthy, tender shoots of bright scarlett stems and lighter green leaves. The harvest was small but the experiment produced the first edible rhubarb from our plant in many years; so, I was greatly impressed.

My grand-daughter quickly ate one small piece after it was washed, without sugar, and declared it sour but tasty. I chopped the rest and stored it for stewing later - a favourite treat for my mom.

I'm grateful to Mr. Pavlis for introducing me to the idea of blanching rhubarb. It's a process I believe I will continue, now that I've seen the positive results.

Growing Garlic

Last summer, Doug and I purchased some garlic while visiting a home during the Hamilton Spectator Open Garden Week tours. It was healthy, organically grown, and delicious; and, the $20 bouquet has kept us well stocked over the winter.

Following careful research, late last autumn I decided to try growing garlic myself, in our pollinator potager; and, I used a head of the organic garlic as seed stock.

I prepared planting holes of loose loamy soil, each 12" deep before inserting 7 garlic cloves. Then, I covered them with leaf mulch to insulate the garlic over the winter, and crossed my fingers.

This spring, before the snow was barely off the ground, up popped plant-lets I knew in my bones were the garlic I had sowed in early November; and, I was delighted. Apparently, I'm a garlic farmer!

Garlic would seem to be a plant that keeps on giving; and, I can't wait to harvest my own organically grown garlic in late spring/early summer, and re-plant more for a second crop in the fall.

Garlic: A healthy, prolific grower; beautiful to look at; healthy and flavourful to eat; and seemingly pest resistant - Yay!

The Pink Clematis

Ten years ago, or thereabouts, my sister and I bought our mom a pink clematis. It was planted under an arbour near the backyard pool, where it could be enjoyed by all during the summer months.

Mom is spending less time in the back yard these days; so, when age and deterioration necessitated renovations to our backyard deck, we transplanted the clematis to the front yard near mom's picture window, overlooking the perennial potager.

When digging the clematis root out of it's long-time home, it broke into three pieces. I decided to plant one on each side of the front window and the third near the base of the hydro pole in direct view of the house. I was thinking that if all three pieces survived the move, mom would have triple the enjoyment.

So far, this spring, one piece is already sending up shoots, which gives me hope that the other two are just a little slower finding their footing in this season of cool temperatures and late sprouting.

I do find that most plants are amazingly resilient, under the most unimaginable circumstances; and, gardeners who tend them are often just as robust, especially in the spring when energy and enthusiasm are invigorated.

I’m finding that my get-up-and-go this week seems directly related to a hardy climbing perennial, relocated from the back yard. I keep checking on it's progress and looking to see how it's root-mates are doing; and, that in turn segues into other gardening activities.

The pink clematis is just one plant of many I will tend and admire in my garden this season; and, the beckoning foliage and blossoms will draw my mother out to this happy place, as well.

Self-Seeding Linden Tree

Over the last couple of days I've become aware of hundreds of small leafy seedlings growing in my front garden.

Under our large Little Leaf Linden tree, in the gravel filler between the flagstones comprising our front garden patio and between our many perennials, these weed-like seedlings carpeted the soil like a living mulch.

I was awed by their appearance in such a great number, and briefly worried I might have a real problem on my hands. Then, I started to wonder if they might be related to the tree.

My sister and I did a little research and quickly discovered that my theory about the tree was correct. The attractive leafy invasion was, in fact, first year 'Tilla Cordata' or Little Leaf Linden tree seedlings.

Armed with the identification I needed and certain that my small urban garden did not need hundreds of additional basswood trees, I set to work scrambling along the ground, plucking each of the seedlings; and, after a week of steady eradication, aided by two eager 6-yr-old assistants, I'm relieved that "tree trimming" for this year is almost over.

Interesting fact: While researching our tree's generous proliferation, I learned that Little Leaf Lindens make wonderful Bonsai trees. And, though I've never tried growing a bonsai before, this seemed like perfect opportunity to try something new.

So, I saved a few of the most sturdy Linden seedlings to use in an educational endeavour. Basically, I'm thinking I might be able to give our 60-yr-old tree, with an urban lifespan of 75 years, a legacy of sorts.

I may not be successful, but I'll never know unless I try; and, the self-seeding Linden tree, centerpiece of our pollinator potager, desperately seems to be trying to tell me something.

Reviled ... Favourite

As new recruit to the Mount Hamilton Horticultural Society's writing group, who cooperatively submit garden related articles to the Hamilton Mountain News, I'm pleased to have been published in the community newspaper's Growing Green column online on the 6th of March.

Text of my initial opinion piece, which they titled, Reviled Dandelion an Early Spring Favourite is linked here and posted below - I hope you'll give it some thought.

"With springtime fast approaching, I find myself looking forward to the first spring colours and fragrant blossoms.

One of my early favourites is the sunny dandelion, or Taraxacum officinale. Though long reviled as scourge to lawn and garden, it is one of the first available sources of sustenance for bees and other pollinating species.

Though children have long admired the dandelion's ability to grant wishes when blown to the wind, the modest dandelion’s astonishing ability to self-seed and its deep burrowing taproot invites definition as invasive weed.

However, dent de lion, or tooth of the lion, so named for the shape of its leaves, is perennial and herbaceous and has many beneficial qualities that might render even the fussiest grass grower silent about dandelion eradication.

Untreated, dandelion is said to be completely edible — roots, greens and flowers — unless allergy or contraindicated medications prohibit. It offers beneficial treatment and curative properties for a multitude of human illnesses and conditions, containing vitamins A, C and K, iron, manganese, potassium, calcium and antioxidants. Dandelions also make an interesting wine and caffeine-free coffee.

I suggest welcoming the healthful herb-like greenery to your garden as you would parsley or kale, picking the seeds prior to flight to prevent too much spread.

That said, if your esthetic sensibilities simply will not coexist with dandelions, allow pollinators to feed on the life-sustaining plant until other pollen-laden blooms are ready, then carefully dig out the roots rather than using harmful pesticides and consider transplanting some of the dandelions to your veggie patch.
    
The University of Rochester boasts the hardy dandelion as a school colour and official flower. It has honoured the “weed” in its charming school song, The Dandelion Yellow.

Its celebration of the oft-maligned dandelion is inspirational and hopefully contagious. After all, enhancing your garden with healthy multi-species nourishment such as the dandelion aids in pollinator survival and benefits us all in many unexpected ways."

Growing Green is a regular Hamilton Mountain News feature prepared by the Mount Hamilton Horticultural Society (On Facebook and online at gardenontario.org/site.php/mhhs)