Six on Saturday – 14MAY2022 – Explosion!

Chris Mousseau

We’ve had a mini heat wave this week, causing both an explosion of growth and colour plus the quick demise of many bulbs. Happy to say that we’re due for cooler temperatures starting tomorrow, along with a touch of rain, so all should be good. Right now it’s time for Six on Saturday – six things happening in the garden this week, a gardening theme hosted by The Propagator, over in England. Have a great gardening weekend everyone!

First up is my first major harvest of the year – some lovely rhubarb which shall be chopped up this weekend and either baked into scones or frozen while we wait for strawberries to grow and ripen. Strawberry-rhubarb pie!!

Just a few cm tall so far, these snap peas have germinated well and within a month or so will be providing loads of snacking and cooking peas.

In the same raised bed as the peas are my Ranunculus – I’ve already sown chard seeds in front of them; this weekend I’ll be adding Nasturtium seeds. I also planted more pea seeds to grow up behind, and I’ll be adding a few Cardinal Climber vines so that there is colour and interest all summer.
These are baby Lupins – I tried, for the first time, winter sowing. That’s when you plant seeds in the pot and keep them outdoors all winter, under snowfall and all, so that a natural stratification takes place. Beats keeping things in little baggies in the fridge for months on end!
Trees and shrubs have been particularly influenced by our hot days this week, including this Serviceberry. Gorgeous flowers will be followed by tasty berries that birds gobble down as fast as they ripen.
I’ve moved this bleeding Heart several times over the past 20 years. Happy to say it’s finally situated in a happy place (in semi-shade next to a rain barrel, and loving the overflow water every now and then) as this is the largest it’s been, ever.

38 Comments

  2. Strawberry-rhubarb pie… yum! I have frozen strawberries left….😊 and the rhubarb has arrived too… It gave me a good idea for the next pie. Lupins have been blooming here for a few days. Photos on Twitter over the weekend.

    1. I’ve heard that before, but not had any issues. Plus, this: “While rhubarb leaves do contain poisonous oxalic acid, they can be placed in the compost pile. Oxalic acid, like other organic acids, are not readily absorbed by plant roots. Compost containing decomposed rhubarb leaves can be safely applied to the vegetable garden.”

  4. Pingback: A drop of rain was as welcome as the flowers in May. #SixOnSaturday #GardeningTwitter #mygarden 🌺🌞🌼 | Rosie Amber

    1. I’m really happy it worked out with the lupins – I tried the method with some tree seeds as well and I’m still waiting to see how successful that was…

  6. RHUBARB! You know, it is uncommon here. I grow it, but no one else does. It seems to be popular in other regions, particularly where winters are cool. I do not mix it with strawberry, because rhubarb should be as tart as possible!

    1. I started them indoors, for the first time, this year and it seemed to have worked! The trick seems to be keeping them quite cool right after planting since they are definitely NOT hot weather plants.

  8. That is a good rhubarb harvest, and the strawberry and rhubarb combination sounds heavenly! It is lovely to see how your garden is greening up, and thanks for the tip on germinating the lupins. I’ve yet to try to grow some.

    1. Looking forward to rhubarb in just about all baked goods for the next while!! And the lupin starting was so easy…just make sure the posts are protected somewhat from squirrels, birds etc…

  10. I grew up with rhubarb and strawberry pie, and cobbler, and jam. It’s impossible to find good, fresh rhubarb here, and what shows up in the stores is always limp and tasteless. I’d travel a good way for a nice rhubarb/strawberry pie, but I think you’re a little too far away!

    Interesting about your way of starting the lupines. It makes sense to me, since our bluebonnets shook off last year’s freeze and snow and kept on going.

  12. The secret rain barrel site, I love it. Amazing what will grow by air conditioning condensers here. I will be interested to see how the Lupines do, they look great. Now I am jealous of your vegetables. And the Amelanchier.

    1. But you’ve been harvesting veggies for months now! My lettuce and spinach is still a few weeks away…and I have yet to sow radishes or carrots – Tuesday I hope!

  13. How strange, I’ve just planted peas and lupins here on the other side of the world!

  14. Your gardening season seems to be off to a good start Chris. It’s amazing how quickly you catch up with us. My peas are about the same size as yours! The Bleeding Heart is lovely. So satisfying when a plant looks happy in its location and rewards you. 😉 That is such a good idea sowing lupins outdoors in pots. They do produce seedlings here, but the mice inevitably disturb everything during the winter and I only get one or two if I am lucky. Happy gardening this week!

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