Hi! My name is Shelagh and I've been with Cedar Rim Nursery for some years now. I thought it might be fun to share my gardening efforts with you. I am constantly inspired by our gardener customers and have toured many of their gardens. Even after 20 odd years in the horticulture industry, I still can be amazed at the creativity of my fellow gardeners. At every opportunity, I like to quiz our customers on their gardening practices and have learned many a secret trick that can't be found in book. Yes, being inquisitive has often revealed gems of practical tips and for that Iam grateful to all our customers.
A year ago I bought a property that had been neglected
for some time. After many trips to the dump, I had a blank canvas
with which to start from. With help from Susan Watson of the Landscape
Cosultants I had tiered the front yard with retaining walls. Now with
level terrain to work with, I set to work planting. I will include
pictures of the finished area after things grow on and start to fill
in.
This year I was finally able to get a greenhouse
and what a joy that has been! It has opened up a whole additional
realm to my growing possibilities. My endeavors in the greenhouse
are too numerous to list but the two I will share are my incredible
cucumber and tomatoe plants. I had my carpenter husband build a raised
bed inside the 8'x10' frame. It measured 18" deep by 10' long
by 2' wide. I filled it with 20 bags of Sea Soil and planted assorted
veggies. Very soon, the one and only cucumber and 2 tomatoes overtook
everything else. I dug up and moved everything in between them and
let them have all the room. The only addition to the Sea Soil I made
was some calcium-lime to prevent blossom-end rot on the tomatoes.
Holy Smokes! I now have cucumber leaves measuring 12" across that more closely resemble gunnera! And the production
is fantastic. Daily I am harvesting large beefy cukes with many more
coming. All from one $1.49 plain jane variety.
The same story holds true for the tomatoes. I have
to constantly trim them back as it was becoming difficult to get in
the greenhouse and they were growing out the door. They are loaded
with both flowers and fruit. I am convinced this is the result of
growing in 100% Sea Soil.
As the raised vegetable bed has not been built yet
(by said carpenter husband who finds golf of more pressing concern),
I have grown numerous fruits and veggies in containers. This year
my 'Reka' blueberry has by far outperformed the other varieties with
a huge crop. Also for fun I planted 'Peaches and Cream' corn and now
have many ears developing.
Sunflowers are always an easy thing to grow and
I grew 2 varieties from Pacific Northwest Seed named Red Velvet,
and Large Russian. I am pleased to see good bee activity on the
Red Velvet in bloom now. It's important to include plants that attract
bees in your landscape.
I have enjoyed sharing my successes with you and please continue to share yours with me.