Welcome to March and week 9 of the 2021 growing year. 

This is getting closer to the average time for gardeners in Zone 5 Ontario to start sowing vegetable seeds. I sowed my pepper seeds early to do a little experiment wondering what week is exactly right to get them out into the garden June 1, and producing fruit as quickly as possible. 

For the Brazilian Starfish I saw a suggestion from a gardener in Toronto that she starts her’s in January in order to get the most out of them. I was a little late for January but the seeds that I sowed February 2 are doing very well. They got potted up, along with the other peppers from February 4 - Amish Pimento, Black Hungarian, and Spanish Padron Tapas peppers from Seeds of Imbolc and Lemon Drop, Sweet peppers, and Red Manzanos from the seed swap. 

This week will probably be the first prune for some of the project seeds - the Brazilian Starfish aren’t quite big enough yet. I’ll also sort out fertilizer and foliar spray. 

I had a rough week last week and didn’t plant any more project peppers but I did get 2 of each planted the week before and they’re coming along nicely. And this time the Lemon Drop actually germinated which is very exciting. This week I’ll try and keep the project going, planting 2 of each variety. This summer we’ll see who does best.

I also decided that based on last year I need to sow my broccoli and cabbage earlier and get them out in the soil earlier. So that’s also part of this week’s plan.  

The Potager plan is coming along nicely, I have all of the main vegetables sorted out and plans for the ones that won’t fit… as in building more gardens. There never seems to be enough room for everything. 

Exciting news! I received my seed orders from Return of the Native and Hidden Habitat for the forbs I’m including in my Tallgrass Prairie restoration project.

Also this week on the blog we’re exploring beneficial bugs in the backyard, valuable for both your vegetable garden and flowers - actually, good for any fruit trees you might have too. These bugs are part of food chains and a food web specific to your backyard ecosystem and they all work together in a cohesive unit. It’s our job not to disturb the balance. 

First up tomorrow: Beauty in Bugs