Sunday Bits #36 (growing hops, zinnias, tomatoes, rhubarb squares, zucchini loaf)

themarigoldgc
Jul 2, 2023
3 min read

This week's Bits is a great one, jam packed with all sorts of fun gardening information and time appropriate yummy recipes.

How to grow and take care of hops. Whether you want to grow them for beer, or just for the beautiful 'flowers', this perennial vine is so pretty! See the vine above on the left in the fall (after pruning) and the flowers below. Love how the some of the leaves go all white. This hops plant is one of my most favourite things in our yard.

Tip - do not plant yours where you sit or hang out all the time (hot tub) as, like many vines, they are prone to leaf hoppers. Mine is in the back corner of the yard. Looks fantastic, I get to enjoy the view but not worry about the pests. As an organic gardener, I do not spray with anything but water. I count on the birds and the beneficials to take care of my hops, Valiant grape and the Engelman's Ivy, too. Everyone is thriving : )

ree — Hops 'flowers' from my perennial vine. I keep these year round, think they look amazing on the mantle or table, even after the leaves are gone.

ree — These big, fused together tomatoes came from megablooms, still edible, just a bit wonky.

Do you have big, fused tomato flowers (megablooms)? Crazy shaped strawberries or tomatoes that look like 2 or 3 fused together? Flowers with are elongated and strange looking? You have fasciation! Not dangerous to the plant, not a big deal. Take if off or leave it on, either way is fine. Caused by weird weather, too cold, too wet, too something... read more about it here.

Are you all seeing lots of bees, butterflies, and other bugs? I am not and am getting worried. I have had a few of the bad bugs, but not a lot, so hoping that the good bugs are just getting them while I do not see them. Getting a little worried about not seeing much insect life though... except for ants. Boy oh boy, do we ever have ants. Need to get the house sprayed to make sure they stay outside. Anyway, here is an article about bee favourite flowers. I am scanning to make sure I have their favourites to try to attract them to my yard.

You all know how much I love zinnias. Here is an article about how to start and grow them throughout the season.

Here are some really great, lovely garden ideas from the Chelsea Flower Show. The potager garden is so pretty! We already know that we can plant food with flowers though, that is old hat to us, eh? Check out the strawberries and the Montessori school garden. See the article and pics here.

How to prune fruit trees in summer. Pruning Fruit Trees in Summer | BBC Gardeners World Magazine

If you are on Insta, check out this potager garden and the greenhouse! Jessica Hedin 🌿 Ängadalen (@angadalen) • Instagram photos and videos

Make your own bug spray!

Recipes...

Vegan strawberry rhubarb squares, anyone? These look yummy and easy to whip up quickly!

Make these air fryer donuts! I will just bake them in the oven, in my doughnut pan, as I have no air fryer and have been dying to find a nice recipe to use in the pan!

It will soon be zucchini time. This lemon zuke loaf looks really yummy! Lemon Zucchini Bread - The House on Silverado

I hope you all had a great Canada Day! We had everything set up outside when it suddenly turned cold, misty, and grey... we did a quick pivot and moved the festivities indoors instead.