crappieperchhunter

Just seeing this today Brian, I have been away from computer land for awhile. It is too late to try for this year but I would recommend Fafard Veranda Mix for any of your container growing. Once Debbe discovered it for our Flower pots at home and the cottage we have used nothing else. It really holds water well. The front of our cottage is all windows and we have a 7 foot deep roof overhanging the porch...so in the afternoon the sun just shines in there and the windows reflect heat and the roof traps the heat so it is very common for it to be 35-40 celsius on our front porch in the afternoon sun. And with all this going on our flower pots get watered twice a week during the weather we have had lately but most of the season when the weather is not as extremely hot or dry once a week is enough. Like I said Brian for containers we use nothing else but the Fafard Veranda Mix.. A local nursery here in Oshawa has it every year and I grab two 112 litre size bags, but judging from your pictures I think one bag would possible get you through 2 seasons. However having said that I would also recommend you go with bigger pots for next season. More soil equals more water retention and more room for root growth. I really enjoy tending my veggie and herb gardens and my planters with herbs at the cottage. There is just something I really enjoy about growing food and it looks like the bug has bit you too. Good luck with whatever path you choose Brian.

Well done Bruce !!! Sounds and looks like an excellent adventure. Thx for sharing.

I have never tried it with the tomatoes Brian, but it makes sense. I think I'll have to experiment with that this summer. Thank you for the tip.

Looking good Brian. A little tip for your peppers. Once they start to flower get an empty spray bottle and fill with lukewarm water and a teaspoon of Epsom salts. Shake well and give the peppers a really good spray, soak the whole plant. The magnesium in the epsom salts really helps the peppers set fruit. I have had pepper plants fall over in the garden from the weight of the peppers on them. With good conditions you can easily get a dozen or more peppers per plant.

Have always liked the sail in Oshawa but only with regards to the fishing section as I have purchased almost nothing there except fishing related stuff. The fishing staff there have always been helpful to me. Two years ago I got a rapala electric knife from them and it died before the 1 year warranty was up. The warranty stated that the knife be returned to Rapala not Sail. But they said they would take care of it for me and took my knife and replaced it with a new one free of charge. I hope they get through this. You can never have too many options for supplying us with our outdoors stuff.

Looks good Brian. If you still have problems try leaving the spikes sticking out even further. I put in 10inch sticks and leave at least 4-5 inches sticking out of the soil. Then the furry buggers can't even walk in it.

The squirrels where brutal in our planter baskets at the cottage Brian. Now as soon as we plant something in them I grab a bunch of pencil thick 8-10 inch twigs and basically stick them in the pots wherever they will fit, and remove them as the plants grow. Still get the odd squirrel once in a while but I have lost zero plants since I started doing this maybe 10 years ago.

Been using road worms for over 20 years....once I got too lazy to collect them at night with a flashlight and have never had a problem. I collect them after a rain and they go straight into fresh moss I pick out of my back yard with a sprinkle of corn meal to feed them. Then they are in my fridge until I use them. Generally get used up quickly but I have had them in the fridge for 2 months without a problem, just have to give them some more cornmeal every once in a while. In all this time I might of had a dozen dead ones. Maybe our street here doesn't have any harmful chemicals on the pavement or whatever causes the worms to be contaminated?

Looks good again Brian. Debbe makes awesome raisin bread but I could not find her old recipe. Truthfully she has not made it for years but it is really good. If she still has the recipe hidden somewhere I will send it your way.

I read this and in the back of my mind I hear a line from an old Dire Straits song repeating itself over and over again. "Two men say there Jesus, one of them must be wrong"

Summer of 1980 worked as a JR in a camp at Kiosk in Algonquin Park. My best friend from that summer was a huge Prine fan and played his music all the time. Been a fan myself ever since. Simple from the heart music. RIP John Prine and thank you for all your great stories.

John was a good man. I too read his articles for years. Still use his recipe for doing roe, but never fished for bows with him. However I ran into him every spring for probably the last 25-30 years fishing a favourite shore spot on Lake Simcoe for perch, a fish we both enjoyed chasing. Shared many conversations about fishing and gardening standing side by side tossing perch in our buckets. Last April he was not looking good but I was hoping he would get through it and I'd get to see him again at the "spot". RIP John and my condolences to all the friends and family of a great man.

Same here. My only exception is with a long time fishing buddy. 30+ years ago we started the one person drives then the other buys the coffee when we go fishing. Still doing it when we hook up.

13 years ago when I learned I was diabetic I switched from double/double coffee to black coffee. And I always went to Timmies. The first thing I noticed when I started drinking my coffee black was just how horrible Timmies coffee tasted. I stopped being a customer then. For my tastes McD's is the best of the bunch now and Country Style would be my 2nd choice. But 99% of the time I make my own at home. When I was drinking Timmies I was easily going there on average twice a day. Many bagels muffins and Tim bits too. Saved a lot of money since I broke that habit. Maybe others will go through the same money saving learning curve because of this closure. I hope they do because it all adds up.

Saw one putting on a show for 5 ladies coming home from ice fishing yesterday. Would love to have been close enough to get some photos like you do. Thx for sharing.