Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Strawberries and Scented Geraniums! What a combo!

Strawberry Social

When I think of June, I think strawberries! And then I think scented geranium sugar! They are such a great combo-I love dipping my strawberries in this yummy confection. And what about scented geranium cake? So here's a mix of gardening and cooking information-and that's another great combo!


Strawberries

Strawberries are perfect for the home gardener. They form an attractive ground cover with pretty white flowers, followed by juicy fruit. The fruit is easy to pick and is versatile. Enjoy the berries straight from the garden, cook with them or freeze them for a taste of summer when it's cold outside. It's surprising how many berries you can grow in even a small patch. Think you don't have room to grow strawberries? Think again. How about a hanging basket? Do you have a narrow side yard? Or a patch beside a building? My strawberries grow beside our gazebo. Although, they prefer full sun, mine are growing quite happily in two part shade areas and produce a surprising amount of fruit. Last year when we had some construction done around the gazebo, I moved some plants to a narrow garden at the side of the house. What a great use of a space that is often neglected or worse, paved!
Strawberries are thriving in this 2 x 3 meter space behind our gazebo. The bricks allow me to pick the berries without crushing the plants.

A narrow side yard is a perfect place for strawberries! I started this one last fall. A soaker hose makes it easier to water this area. The plan is to add some mulch, but who knows when I'll get around to that? You might think that the brick stepping stones are to access this area...but the squirrels seem to think the bricks make perfect little tables for eating my strawberries!

Soil

Strawberries can be grown in most garden soils. Of course, they grow best in well-drained, sandy loam soils which are well supplied with organic matter-but really doesn't everything grow better in awesome soil? Mine are growing in some fairly nasty clay. Adding sand and good compost to clay really improves the drainage and soil tilth. Strawberries do not like their roots to be wet, so make sure the area you do choose has good drainage. You can plant on ridges if you have drainage issues. 


Previous Crops

Wherever possible, plant strawberries in soil which has not grown strawberries, raspberries, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers or eggplants in the past 4 or 5 years. This precaution will help avoid serious root diseases such as Verticillium wilt and black root rot.

Fertilizer

I used a slow release granular organic fertilizer in April. The plants are VERY happy! I plan to fertilize again in late summer with the same fertilizer. 


Renewing an Old Patch


Strawberries produce best in their second and third year. Beds with older plants don't produce well and are more susceptible to disease. About four weeks after the harvest, thin out your plants, removing any old plants and transplanting younger plants to fill in the bed evenly. Make sure you water your transplants well. My plants always tend to "sulk" after I've transplanted them, but they rarely die. This is also a good time to fertilize with manure or compost. I always plan to renew my beds every 2-3 years. Doesn't always happen that way though...

Mulches

Sawdust, straw or other mulching materials are a great way to keep down weeds, conserve moisture and keep the fruit clean. I always plan to mulch my strawberries, but I seem to be lacking in the actual execution of that task...


Scented Geraniums


I wish I could remember who first told me that scented geranium sugar is a great pairing with strawberries. There are all kinds of different scented geraniums-rose, lemon, mint, spice-I happen to use a really strong scented Pelargonium citrosa-it's sold as a mosquito repellent and sometimes called Citronella. I've no idea if it repels mosquitoes, but it sure does repel my husband! Last time I made scented geranium sugar I found him sitting out on the front porch and refusing to come back in until "that smell" has dissipated. There are a lot of other scented geraniums that might be yummier, but I happen to love the results I get with this one. So I just give the husband some warning before I decide to make the concoction. 


Growing Scented Geraniums



Well, you grow them pretty well like regular potted geraniums-the annual kind, not the perennial kind. (Scented geraniums are actually pelargoniums, not geraniums and their common name is "storksbill". "Geraniums" are the perennial plants that are also called "cranesbill". Luckily growing them is less confusing than explaining their names...) 

Grow them in a sunny location, good potting soil and water. They're actually fairly drought tolerant. Bring your plant in before the frost and keep it in a sunny window. You can also easily start new plants from cuttings in the spring. 




Making Scented Sugar

You can use almost any kind of leaf to flavour sugar-just make sure the kind you choose is edible and not toxic! Try any kind of scented geranium, or mint, lavender, thyme, rosemary. Or how about scented violets or rose petals? 

  • Wash the leaves and dry them. 
  • Using a clean, dry jar, add a leaf/leaves and then cover with a layer of sugar. 
  • Repeat until your jar is full. 
It doesn't take long for the sugar to acquire the "flavour" of whatever leaf you used. I use the sugar, leaves and all to flavour a variety of foods.


Using your Scented Sugar

  • My favourite-dip strawberries in scented geranium sugar, place strawberry in mouth!
  • Dust the tops of scones, cookies, baked goods
  • Rim the glass of a fancy drink
  • Use in teas, lemonade, punch

Scented Geranium Cake

This is an old "Madame Benoit" recipe. (I don't think she was often referred to by her first name of "Jehanne". She was my favourite chef when I was first married and I still use a number of her recipes.)


  • Butter
  • granulated sugar
  • scented geranium leaves (her recipe called for rose geraniums)
  • 1/4 cup soft butter
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 2/3 cup of flour
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp baking soda
  • 2 egg whites
  1. Butter an 8 x 4 inch loaf pan; sprinkle lightly with sugar. Arrange 4-6 leaves in pan.
  1. The leaves make a crispy, edible pattern on this old-fashioned pound cake.
  2. In mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Add lemon juice and beat with electric mixer at medium speed for 5 minutes.
  3. In small bowl, beat egg yolks until thick and pale yellow; add to creamed mixture, beating at medium speed for 4 minutes.
  4. Sift together flour, salt and baking soda. Add by spoonfuls to creamed mixture, beating thoroughtly after each addition.
  5. Beat egg whites until stiff but not dry; fold into batter. Bently spoon batter into prepare pan.
    The creamed part of the batter is quite stiff and you have to gently fold the eggs in. The batter barely fills the pan. 
  6. Bake in 350° oven for about 25 minutes or until tester inserted in center comes out clean.
    Cake is fairly pale when it comes out, but the underside should be a lovely golden colour.
  7. Let cool on rack for 5 minutes. Invert onto serving plate and carefully lift off pan.
    Perfect for your strawberry social tea!




Thursday, May 21, 2015

Saving the World one Garden at a Time!

Saving the World one Garden at a Time!

What Not to Plant!


Lots of plants will overrun your garden-FYI-plant that mint in a container, not in your garden! But here are four of particular concern.  None of them is native to Canada. All of them have the potential to escape from your garden and can outcompete our native plants and reduce biodiversity. Because of these "escapees", many native woodland plants are now highly endangered. Imagine Ontario without Trilliums, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, ferns, trout lilies and Mayapples! Because they don’t nourish any of our native animals, insects or birds, invasive alien plants create "dead zones"-- places where you won't see or hear animals or insects. You can find these villains on lists titled: Most hated plants! Top Ten Most Unwanted! And the saddest thing is they are all available for sale at your local garden centre!

Bullies of the Garden-Don't Plant These!


  • Bishop's Weed/Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria) I get lots of people asking how to remove this plant and unfortunately, I don't have good news. It's a challenge to remove as its root system mingles with other plants. If you leave even one small part of the root (rhizome), it will grow back. It's an OK looking plant, but really nothing special, so it surprises me that so many people have it in their gardens...including me! (removal is a work in progress...) 
  • Aegopodium podagraria-trust me, you don't want this plant!
  • Periwinkle (Vinca minor) This is a deadly beauty which has taken over local natural areas. Sure it has pretty blue flowers and glossy foliage, but check out the forested area near Albion Falls in Hamilton, ON and you'll see it carpeting the forest floor. Native trilliums sure can't compete with it and this puts biodiversity at risk. Definitely not cool!
  • Vinca minor-pretty but a villain in disguise
  • English Ivy (Hedera helix) Your dreams of ivy covered walls or fences will turn into a nightmares when you see the brown mess that emerges in spring or when it kills your trees or tears your fence apart! 
    English Ivy winter kill on fence-definitely not attractive...
      English Ivy killing our fence!
  • Lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis) Sure it looks sweet and innocent but when you consider that it is toxic to dogs and cats and Internet posts say "attempts to contain it may not be successful", you can bet it's more Magneto than Pollyanna. Don't fool yourself, you will not be able to control it!
Image result for lily of the valley
Lily of the Valley
Magneto-you really can't contain either one...


Plant These Instead!


Groundcovers 


  • Goldwell Veronica has gorgeous delicate golden tipped foliage, bright blue flowers and is attractive all season long. It forms a low tight mat and tolerates heat and drought once established. Clip or mow it after flowering to maintain an especially dense and compact habit. Attractive to butterflies and deer & rabbit resistant. Likes dry soil; divide in autumn. Height 10-15 cm 4-6 inches Spread 30-45 cm 12-18 inches

Goldwell Veronica
  •  
  • Amsonia 'Blue Ice' is a selected seedling from A. tabernaemontana which is native to North America. It has blue star like flowers and the leaves turn a golden colour in fall. Plant it in full sun/part shade. It is deer resistant. Give it room to expand rather than trying to divide. Height:  12-16 Inches Spread: 18-24 inches
  • Amsonia 'Blue Ice'
  • Wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) or the garden strawberry (Fragaria X ananassa) are super easy to grow and make a nice groundcover which spreads easily. Give them full sun. Some varieties have pink flowers.
  • Creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) is spring flowering, grows in colourful mounds and comes in a variety of colours. Give it full sun and well drained soil. Easy to divide and transplant.
  • Image result for Phlox subulata
    Phlox subulata
  • Phlox stolonifera ‘Sherwood Purple’ with deep purple-blue flowers is ideal for any moist, shady area. It combines beautifully with spring-flowering bulbs of all kinds; clip immediately after blooming to encourage a dense low habit. Easily divided in early fall.
    Phlox stolonifera under a walnut tree in May
  • Perennial geranium (Geranium maculatum) likes sun to partial shade and dry to moderate sand or clay soil. The small flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds and are deer resistant; summer long blooming; 30-60 cm tallImage result for Geranium maculatum
  • Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) has soft green heart shaped leaves. Don't buy the one with shiny leaves as they are a Chinese species and not native; inconspicuous but beautiful maroon flower; spreads slowly;  part shade to full shade; moist/wet soil; good for rain gardens; drought-tolerant once established; 15-20 cm tall; deer-resistant; Native peoples used the plant for seasoning (like a ginger substitute and for its medicinal properties (digestive problems, coughs, colds)
    Wild Ginger

Vines to climb fences or walls

  • Goldflame Honeysuckle (Lonicera x heckrotti) is a native, well behaved vine, evergreen in winter with stunning tubular flowers that bloom late spring to early fall and are a hummingbird magnet. :-) Some varieties are also extremely fragrant! It will grow in full sun to partial shade and likes moist soil. Do NOT buy the Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) which has white and yellow flowers as it is considered invasive.
    The honeysuckle on the right is 2 years old. Photo taken mid May
    Hummingbirds love the bright tubular flowers!
  • Climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala ssp. petiolaris) is a gorgeous climber with larger glossy foliage and large white flowers which are attractive to birds, wildlife, and bees. It is slow growing and prefers partial to full shade and moist to well-drained soil. You can easily propagate by ground layering. Simply lay a branch on the ground, cover a few of the woody parts with soil; put a rock or small brick on the covered sections; the plant will grow from the exposed shoots; water well until new plants are established. 
    Climbing hydrangea on a brick wall-stunning!
So that's it. You have a choice-plants that attract birds, butterflies and wildlife-or plants whose best option for removal is to put a For Sale sign in the front of your house. 

The Ontario Invasive Plant Council has a Grow me instead booklet with information about invasive plants and suggestions for alternative plantings.
  • www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/
  • www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/files/GMI_Booklet_spreads_2011_Final_web.pdf