Dear Helen: As a few spaces open up in my vegetable plots, I am wondering whether it is too late now to seed or transplant anything for fall and winter use.
F.P.
Spaces do open as garlic is harvested and spring-sown peas and leafy greens have finished producing. Consider removing any plantings that are clearly struggling to survive or that have gone past their prime.
In early August, you can seed cold-hardy lettuces and other leafy greens like arugula and spinach. Seed only the earliest cabbages to reach useable size. Caraflex and Early Jersey Wakefield are good choices.
For later cabbages and over-wintering cauliflower and purple sprouting broccoli, look for transplants at local garden centres, where you will also find transplants of lettuces and other leafy greens for setting into the garden now.
Dear Helen: Have you heard of or seen a ground cover plant called golden candytuft? A gardening friend told me about seeing one of these plants in a garden she was visiting. I’d never heard of it.
L.W.
I had never seen or heard of golden candytuft until I saw a few plants in a garden on Denman Island. I was quite taken with the lovely mats of bright golden-lime green spilling onto pathways. I’ve not been able to find a plant yet, but will try again in the spring.
This candytuft is Iberis sempervirens ‘Golden Candy.’ It grows into a low-growing mat that is covered in white flowers from mid to late spring. There were still a few flowers on the plants I saw around mid-June.
This is a good all-purpose garden plant that brings fine, delicate notes to a landscape. It looks especially lovely spilling onto pathways. It’s a low-maintenance ground cover, edging, or rock and alpine garden plant that is tolerant of a wide range of conditions except for standing water, which the plants will not tolerate.
Dear Helen: Were you aware that on some cellphones a photo of a plant can be identified if you press the key indicating “info” for information? I use this convenience often. It doesn’t replace a plant encyclopedia, and the identification is not always correct, but it can give clues.
L.G.
I don’t have a cellphone, but I did know about this “app” — and others. All my friends have cellphones. One of them was sitting with me in the shade on my back lawn recently, taking a break during a gardening session.
A bird appeared nearby, singing. Laurel used an app on her phone to identify the bird by its song. Impressive. It was a junco, perhaps the same one that is currently nesting in one of my hanging baskets.
Weekend column. I’ll be taking a break from writing a column on Saturday of the upcoming long weekend. I wish you a relaxing and enjoyable B.C. Day!
GARDEN EVENTS
Arts & Music. The Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, 505 Quayle Rd., is hosting its annual family friendly Arts & Music in the Gardens festival on Saturday, Aug. 10, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The festival will feature local artists and vendors, musicians, food trucks and children’s activities. The centre’s popular sunflower bouquets will be available and Master Gardeners will be on site to answer gardening questions from customers shopping in the plant sale area. Admission $12. hcp.ca.
Organic plant sale. The Victoria Compost Education Centre is holding a plant sale on Saturday, Aug. 10, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Haegert Park, 1202 Yukon St. At least six vendors will be selling organically grown plants, perfect for your over-wintering garden. The event will also feature music, and a parent and child gardening workshop
Drought tolerant gardening. On Saturday, Aug. 10, from 10 to 11 a.m., Dinter Nursery, 2205 Phipps Rd. in Duncan, is offering a seminar with Bernie Dinter on maintaining a healthy and resilient garden in long periods of dry weather from spring through early autumn. There is a $10 fee for this seminar. Registration in advance is required a space is limited. Payment can be given by credit card over the phone (250-748-2023) or visit the nursery to register. Payment is required to confirm registration. The seminar will take place indoors, in a climate-controlled classroom.
