Update from Alan

The last Update reported a record for getting the potato trenches dug, this time we have two records broken. Thanks to the once-in-a-lifetime weather, this is the first year that we have accumulated 100 volunteer hours by the end of March. It is also the first time that we have seed (peas) planted so early. It’s true that for accounting purposes we end our weeks on Sundays - so the-end-of-March was actually the 4th of April - but we don’t need to be too pedantic.

What is a shame is that all the hours were done by only a handful of people. Janis and Bob from this year’s intake, Pam and John R. from last year, and Margaret, Moeen and Phyllis from back when Adam was a gardener. We’ve had glorious gardening weather and it is a pity that more people didn’t get out to enjoy it.

Over the past week I’ve been working on the prototype version of the glass covers for the sweet potato beds. Bed D22 is now done well enough to demonstrate the concept and the soil temperature, 8" down, had risen to 10 C by yesterday afternoon. (The soil needs to be at 18 C before the slips can be planted.) I’ll start setting up D23 this morning. Now that I know how to put it together, the construction shouldn’t take very long.

Margaret is talking about creating a ‘Canadian Collection’ of peonies for display at the fairgrounds. There is upwards of a dozen peony cultivars known to still exist which have been hybridized and distributed in Canada. At present these plants exist only as isolated specimens in private gardens. If Margaret can pull it all together, we have permission to build new beds at the front of the main building to accommodate the collection.

One of the advantages of having space is that PTG can build up and grow collections of plants on a scale not possible in most home gardens. Last year we had 12 sorts of potatoes, 15 sorts of tomato and 25 cultivars of dahlia. This year we will add seven varieties of large onions, five varieties of garlic, six varieties of sweet potato and seven new canna cultivars.

The early spring weather has given us a rare boost this year and we have achieved a lot, but the coming few weeks are going to be critical if we are to keep the momentum going. There is so much to be done and so much to be discovered. PTG has already beaten the odds by surviving for seven years - most new ventures don’t last three - but the school’s future rests on the interest and participation of its present and its past students. If you haven’t been to the gardens for a while come and have a look. You’ll likely be surprised at what has been accomplished.

One more thing. We have a trailer at the garden but I don’t have a tow bar on my present van. If anyone has a hitch on their vehicle and can haul the trailer just around the fairgrounds, i.e. no need for electrical hookup, it will be a real help.

If anyone can make a couple of hours for the gardens any day, please call me before 8am and we’ll set a time to meet.

High Temperature:
Actual: 11°C cloudy thunderstorm Wind W24km/h P.O.P.56%
Average: 10°C
Record: 28°C in 1991

Low Temperature:
Actual: 2°C cloudy rain 14.50mm Wind NE17km/h P.O.P.78%
Average: -1°C
Record: -17°C in 1972