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[sillesode-blog]

#5 A little side adventure away from the garden

My partner and I went on a little side adventure to a park with various different plants and cherry trees! (◕ω◕✿)

Now the first two plants are simple enough to identify because of their unique characteristics, we have Evergreen candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) and Asian bleeding-heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis), however the Cherry trees are a whole other story. ∑(; °Д°)

My very first thought was that they were Wild cherry(Prunus avium), very common where I live and they are in the Prunus genus. But when I looked at the flowers, they just didn't match. (the flowers on Prunus Avium being completely white and the flowers of our unidentified specimen being white and pink)

My next thought was "maybe it was a different Prunus?" like for example Prunus serrulata. But again the blooming flowers didn't match. Σ(-᷅_-᷄ ๑)

Then I fell into the rabbit hole of different Prunus trees and holy cow there are a whole lot of those and I inevitably got off track.

But it was not at all a lost cause! I learnt something new!

I learnt that Prunus trees and shrubs belong in the Rose family (Rosaceae) and that along with Cherries, Almonds and Peaches are also in that family!

However if anyone has any ideas or guesses on what our unidentified specimen might be, my ears are as always open!

Now next post is (hopefully) going to be about the squash situation.

Untill next time!

[sillesode-blog]

#4 Can or Can'taloupes

It's that time of year again, the time of year I decide to throw myself headfirst into growing a plant I have never grown before.

Last year it was Garlic (And we can see from the great garlic crisis of 2024, that last time it went splendid (´･ᴗ･`))

This year however, it's cantaloupes. AND I already know what you are thinking..."but Phill, don't you live in a temperate climate with mild summers and don't cantaloupes love the heat?"

And you would be correct...

But I still have my hopes up for this year's harvest (・ω<) ✧˖° and I might have cheated a bit and already started my seedlings indoors before making this post :O

I know, how dare I.

But here they are!

They are already starting to develop their true leaves! So exciting!

And as you might be able to tell, they are very nearly at the point where they need to be transplanted into bigger containers and I will be doing that very soon. However they germinated and sprouted a lot faster than i thought they were going to, so the weather outside isn't quite ready yet for them to thrive...¯\_(ツ)_/¯

So they will stay inside for now until the weather is ready and i can plant them in my garden.

If anyone has any tips I'm all ears!

But that's it for this time!

Next post is probably going to be about my attempt at growing tomatoes or an update on the squash situation.

Until next time!

[sillesode-blog]

IT'S SPINGTIME! (yes I'm aware it been spring for a month now (－‸ ლ))

I am sooooo excited for this year's season!

Now any good gardener would tell you to start sowing your seeds in February. However I live in such a cold environment that my last frost is all the way in late may.

∑(; °Д°)

However this post is not about that!

It's about the glorious Zucchini/squash i will be trying to grow this year!

This beauty!

More spicifically the squash variety called 'black beauty'

I choose this very variety for one reason and one reason only!

It is parthenocarpic!

Now you might wonder "what is parthenocarpy?" and I would absolutely love to explain it, but I am nowhere near knowledgeable enough to go into depths about it just yet.

But! From my understanding it is a natural or artificial way that plants are able to produce fruit without pollination, making them seedless! (; °Д°)

Isn't that so cool!?

However it isn't actually the seedless part that I find the most important property of parthenocarpy. It's actually that fact that they don't need to be pollinated to make fruit, so if you live in a place or have a garden with a low amount of pollinaters you will this be able to grow fruits! (ᗒᗨᗕ)!

It's things like this take make me oh so fascinatined by plants!

However I am still learning so if there are any mistakes in my understanding i would like to hear the correct way to explain it!

And! thanks for reading and hope you'll stick around for my nerding out of plants!

Next post is probably gonna be about my attempt at growing cantaloupes!

Untill next time!

[sillesode-blog]

Spring is so close! I can almost feel it in my thumbs (⁀ᗢ⁀)。！(get it, cuz green thumbs?)

In my country we actually say green fingers, not just thumbs, so I guess I can say I feel it in my fingers? Σ(-᷅_-᷄๑)

Well today my partner and I went to look at the local seed collection, also known as the closest Bauhaus. It's a bit early for my counties growing season but we were I town for his mother's birthday so it fit pretty well.

Anyhow, I was initially a little disappointed at the range of options when it came to their seed assortment. (￣^￣|||) but then again I am a little picky when it comes to my seed choices.

However I managed to get some of the seeds I was looking for.

Here we have the selection! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

I will be honest and say that the cantaloupe seeds are a little ambitious for my counties weather, but I'm praying that it will work out somehow ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

However everything else was actually on my list.

When it comes to selecting seeds, I am (as I mentioned) a little picky.

I've learnt from the garlic crisis of last year.

I've carefully researched and selected a few variaties of vegetables and fruits that would suit my garden and the time I have on my hands to ensure a good harvest.

However I still have a long way to go but with these plants I'm sure that I will have a good start (◕ᗜ◕✿).

One key feature to look out for if you want a bountiful harvest is parthenocarpic plants.

Parthenocarpic plants are (from my understanding) plants that don't need or require very little pollination to fruit! ∑(; °Д°)

Isnt that amazing?!

To think we've been able breed a plant like that!

However parthenocarpic plants do not have seeds inside of them since there wasn't any pollination. (that's how stores can sell seedless grapes and alike)

I think it's really really cool. (b^_^)b

Next post is probably gonna be about going into depth about my seed selection but no promises v(ツ)v

Untill next time!

[sillesode-blog]

It's almost spring! Can you feel it yet?

My garlic from last year finally decided to show it's face (ง •̀_•́)ง

How dare it hide frome me!

Now, I could totally lie to the internet and say "I planted these at the right time and definitely didn't plant them in March of last year"

Because what idiot doesn't look up how to grow a plant before sowing them?(me)

(ಥ﹏ಥ)

Anyhow, I hopefully have Garlic this year!

Besides my local garlic crisis, others signs of spring are starting to appear!

Eranthis! (Eranthis hyemalis )

Even though I couldn't find any source that said that these flowers bloom where I live, I know for a fact that they grow in my entire country. So correct me if I'm wrong on the plant!

Eranthis hyemalis is known for being an early spring flower, and given our (somewhat) warm temperatures this year I'm not surprised to see them in February.

Seeing this flower really brings me in a sense of joy and warmth as we make our way to warmer times.

Next post is probably gonna be about what plants I'm gonna be growing this year!

So stay tuned!