PTG Update 2010 No. 02 from Alan Hickman

A couple of weeks ago, I ‘upgraded’ computers which explains the long delay since PTG Update No. 1. It seems the new Windows 7 is not exactly compatible with Windows XP so, among other things, most of my email contact details didn’t transfer and I’ve had to rebuild my version of the PTG mailing list. I think my list and Margaret’s list are the same but bear with me if there are errors. I’d appreciate acknowledgment of receipt so I know who is getting what.

Google Earth has recently updated its imagery and the nursery garden is now large and clear at the back of the fairgrounds. The picture was taken about the first week of September, just after the new septic bed was completed (the large chewed up area just north of the garden). Block ‘A’ is the top right of the large cultivated areas, block ‘B’ top left, block ‘C’ bottom right and block ‘D’ bottom left. Block ‘E’- last year’s ‘three sisters’ plot - is the short little plot, with the six rows of corn storks, in the middle at the bottom. The proto Block ‘F’ is to the right of block ‘E’.

This year block ‘F’ will host the ‘three sisters’ (corn, beans and squash) and block ‘E’ will be potatoes and tomatoes. The west end of block ‘D’ will be for sweet potatoes and most of the remainder of the block will grow onions.

I have just finished reading the definitive book on sweet potato growing in northern climates. Ipomoea batatus is a tropical plant and Caledon is unquestionably not the tropics. Without having cooperative weather, and implementing every soil warming, season extending, trick in the book, growing sweets is likely to end up with failure. The book will save more than its $20.00 price even if a reader decides it’s not worth the expense, time and effort to try. For the innovative gardener who is persistent however, it seems that a reasonably decent crop is possible in southern Ontario rather more often than not.

We have a total of 60 slips, of seven different sweet potato cultivars, on order for our first attempt at producing a crop. This will definitely be a learning experience. We will need: clear plastic sheets (any size any thickness), glass (old windows/patio doors, single/double glaze, any size), hose pipe and/or black pipe and/or copper pipe (any length/any condition/ends missing or not), large (60 gallon?) plastic/metal drums for warm water storage.

The first batch of the stock pelargonium plants were put under lights a couple of weeks ago and they have put on enough growth to start making cuttings maybe by next week. All the trays and cells needed for this year’s vegetables, and bedding plants for the fairgrounds display beds, have been washed and readied for filling and seeding (36 trays x 48 cells = 1728 plants). We are still trying to find more used 8' florescent light fixtures (more efficient than two 4" fixtures). If anyone knows of a shop-fitter or some other possible source please let me know.


I’ve come up with a way to refurbish the thrown-out spiral hoses which have been accumulating at the garden. (When watering 1700 seedlings a spiral hose has its uses!) Any unwanted spirals or orphans from garbage-pickup day will be gladly received.

Finally, we presently have requests for five border forks (Janis, Grace, Bob, Kelly and Renate) from Lee Valley. There were also several requests for diamond sharpeners but we didn’t get a list for those. If anyone else wants me to pick up a border fork ($38.00) or if you wanted a sharpener ($11.00) or an axe file ($11.00) please respond and I will bring them to the next class (13 Feb).

High Temperature:
Actual: -10°C cloudy with light flurries no accummulation Wind WSW24kkm/h P.O.P.10%
Average: -2°C
Record: 14°C in 1988

Low Temperature:
Actual: -19°C cloudy Wind WNW22km/h P.O.P.40%
Average: -10°C
Record: -26°C in 1948