Dear Helen: My favourite and most-used herb is basil, which I try to grow in pots at a window through the winter. My preference is for the large-leaved “Genovese” type basil. My problem is that my seed-grown plants grow too big and flop over. What to do?
A.C.
Dear A.C.: The brightest possible winter light and a soil that is kept just modestly moist, never over-watered, will help to keep basil plants as compact as possible. Avoid the over-use of nitrogen, which promotes lush green growth.
Dwarf, small-leaved basils are the easiest to grow indoors at a window in winter. Consider trying one or two varieties. You may be surprised and pleased at their fine flavours. Green Globe (Finissimo Verde a Palla) is widely available. Pistou (Veseys Seeds) is my current compact favourite. veseys.com.
If you’re keen to stay with large-leaved types, try a compact form. I notice that this year’s William Dam Seeds catalogue lists Dolce Fresca, a 2015 All-America Selections award winning basil described as a true dwarf plant with full-sized leaves and a full flavour. “It stayed half the size of regular varieties in our trials, making it ideal for container growing.” damseeds.com.
Dear Helen: I’ve been hearing, from several sources, about an exceptional “eat-all” broccoli called Purple Peacock, but I can’t find a local source for the seeds. Can you help?
B.N.
Dear B.N.: Salt Spring Seeds is listed in the “Canadian Seed Catalogue Inventory” of seeds.ca as a source, but they had run out of Purple Peacock seeds until earlier this month. Dan Jason, owner of the company, assures me that he has a fairly substantial stock of the seeds now. I bought a packet at a Seedy Saturday event. Dan brings his seeds to most Seedy Saturdays. He’ll be in Victoria this weekend. saltspringseeds.com
Purple Peacock, described as an unusual cross between broccoli and kale, produces “sweet purple stems, delicious red-veined leaves and excellent broccoli florets — a wonderful eat-everything broccoli.”
Dear Helen: When I dug my sweet potatoes early in the fall, I made cuttings from stems of the best plants and put them in water. They are beginning to look a bit tired. Should I pot the cuttings in soil now?
S.W.
Dear S.W.: If they are clearly on the decline, it’s probably time to plant the cuttings in a free-draining planting mix.
My own cuttings are still sitting in water in a milk bottle on the kitchen window sill. I usually pot a few cuttings at sweet potato harvest time and keep the plants under plant lights, but problems with spider mite in the past prompted a change.
The cuttings will last only so long in water. Before they wither away, I’ll shorten some of the stems, leaving a length with roots, and pot them.
At the same time I plan to pot two small tubers from last year’s harvest, leaving the upper surface showing above the soil line. They already show wee nubs of growth, which will elongate into stems that will yield more cuttings to pot. Warmth and bright light suit these plants.
GARDEN EVENTS
Native plant meeting. The Native Plant Study Group will meet on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Rm. D 116 of the University of Victoria’s MacLaurin Building. Speakers Kristen and James Miskelly, owners of Saanich Native Plants, will describe wetland and meadow restoration at Haliburton community organic farm. Cost of parking at UVic is $2.50. NPSG.ca.
Seedy in Victoria. The James Bay Market Society will host Victoria’s Seedy Saturday this weekend, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Victoria Conference Centre. The event will feature local and organically grown seeds, specialty and native plants, a seed exchange, food and garden products, a used garden book swap, kids’ activities, master gardeners and more. There will be a composting workshop for five- to eight-year-olds, a hands-on seed cleaning workshop and a documentary on threats to growing our own food. Details at jamesbaymarket.com/seedysaturday.
Fruit tree pruning. The B.C. Fruit Testers Association is offering a free fruit-tree pruning event on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon in the orchard at Royal Roads, 2005 Sooke Rd. in Colwood. Experts will demonstrate pruning techniques on dormant apple and pear trees, grape vines, currants and gooseberries. Bring pruners for hands-on experience. Follow signs to Lot 7 for pay parking. Bring loonies and toonies. Information at 250-656-0815.
