Seeds and stuff
Spring is far advanced. The lilacs are in full bloom three weeks ahead of time. Warm, dry April was lovely but vaguely alarming, particularly to a vegetable gardener. We need rain.
A little fell in Toronto over the weekend and snow peas immediately began popping up along the fence where I sowed them in bitterlawngnome's garden two weeks ago. marian_w and I planted some cucumber and basil plants from Kensington Market.
I looked for heirloom tomatoes but didn't find any. Tomorrow night at Writers' Circle I'll ask Holly whether the Stone Store plans to sell plants again this spring.
We finally had some substantial rain here overnight. I hope Toronto got it, too, because the perennials I planted in the front garden particularly need it.
There is more rain in the forecast, so it seemed an opportune time to work in my own garden after work today. The radishes, kale and spinach I sowed April 12 have all sprouted, finally. Today I planted more heirloom seeds: Scarlet Runner beans, Royal Burgundy bush beans, one hill of Black Beauty zucchini and some Mammoth Dill, but I needn't have bought any dill seeds; there are plenty of volunteers from last year. Also a tribe of cilantro. Danny doesn't like it and I am indifferent, but I didn't have the heart to weed it out. If Sylvie visits during the summer I can give it to her. Three or four of the lettuce seeds I sowed last fall have finally germinated.
I put some more basil plants here. One can never have enough fresh basil.
One tiny tray of leek seedlings (also from Kensington), when transplanted out, took up almost a third of the sunny part of the garden. I do not mind. Leeks have become one of my favourite vegetables and they tend to be expensive. I've never grown them before, so this is an experiment. I planted them in trenches, which should work pretty well because the soil is moist and fertile and tends to stick together.
Jaye and Christine's kale plants from last year are rapidly going to flower. I tasted a leaf expecting the flavour to be too strong, but it was mild as ever. My weekend guests will be in for a treat. I've found an easy and delicious way to prepare this nutritious vegetable.
Quick kale
Rinse and dry a bunch of kale. Chop and put in a microwaveable dish. Do not add any water. Cover and microwave on high for 4 or 5 minutes. Sprinkle with a generous tablespoon each of lemon juice and parmessan cheese. Serve immediately.