Dear Helen: I have just come across information indicating that squashes grown on “volunteer” plants can be toxic. Why would they be, and could squashes grown from seeds I’d saved and planted also be toxic?
C.L.
Cucurbitaceae family fruits (cucumber, squash, pumpkin, melons, gourds) in their wild form contain substantial amounts of cucurbitacin, a toxin that acts as a natural defense against insect pests.
The cultivated forms of cucumber, squash, melons and pumpkin that we grow to eat contain amounts of cucurbitacin too small to cause ill effects; however, the cross-pollination that occurs in gardens where pumpkins and different kinds of squashes grow can cause problems.
When cross-pollination occurs, the seeds that result commonly produce plants, and fruits, with characteristics from the parent plants’ genetic ancestry. One of those traits could be an intensified concentration of cucurbitacin.
That is why it is safest to avoid eating squash grown from a self-sown (“volunteer”) plant.
Stresses to the plants, such as inadequate soil moisture or/and nutrients, can also increase concentrations of cucurbitacins in squash, cucumbers and others in the same plant family. A bitter taste indicates possibly dangerous levels of the toxin.
Dear Helen: The painted daisy (Chrysanthemum carinatum) you wrote about is listed in the Lindenberg Seeds catalogue. Can you explain why they call this flower “The Love Daisy”?
B.L.
I’m not sure why this particular daisy would be singled out as the “love daisy,” but daisies in general have traditionally represented love because of their two parts (a central disc and outer petals) blended together. The term might also refer to an old game of picking petals one by one from a daisy in a “He loves me; he loves me not” game.
Dear Helen: I am one of a group of people needing advice on how to establish a small garden under and around a sign at the entrance to our neighbourhood. What deer-resistant plants might have a chance of becoming fairly self-sufficient. Would heathers work?
F.D.
Heathers and lavender are (usually) deer resistant. They are also among the most heat and drought resistant shrubby plants, but even these need regular watering for the first year or so while they develop those resistant root systems. And the soil will need to be well amended with a quality compost for moisture retention.
Arp is considered the hardiest lavender.
If watering can be done while the weather remains dry, planting could take place this month, but later fall planting is not recommended. These plants will not withstand wet ground while they are settling in.
Weekend column. I’ll be taking a break from writing a column for Saturday on the upcoming Labour Day weekend. Enjoy the holiday, and the fruits of your gardening labours.
Abkhazi Garden art show and sale. Some of the artists in the Abkhazi Garden “Artist in the Garden” program will have a public showing and sale of their works on Labour Day Monday in the garden from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. After that, the art will be on display in the teahouse and gift shop through to Oct. 11. Proceeds from the sale will be divided evenly between the artist and The Land Conservancy. The address: 1964 Fairfield Rd. in Victoria.
VHS meeting. The Victoria Horticultural Society is hosting a Zoom meeting on Tuesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Dr. Ross Bayton, assistant director of Heronswood Garden, will present A Heronswood Year: Five Season Gardening in the PNW. Drop-in fee for non-members is $5. To register, visit vichortsociety.org.
Cactus and succulent show and sale. The Victoria Cactus and Succulent Society will host a Show and Sale on Friday, Sept. 10, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Church of the Advent, 510 Mt. View Ave. in Colwood. Plant pre-sale is available to society members from 10:30 to 11 a.m. on Friday. Payments by cash, debit card, Visa or Mastercard are welcome. Please bring your own box or other container.
Plant identification and culture. The Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, 505 Quayle Rd. in Saanich, is offering the next session of Plant Identification and Culture on Saturday, Sept. 11, 1 to 4 p.m. Diane Pierce will introduce 25 new plants with their descriptions, cultural requirements, general maintenance and landscape uses. This is an ongoing, monthly class. Members $35, others $45. For details and online registration go to hcp.ca/events. Register online or by phone: 250-479-6162.
