It’s Still Just Dirt, The Tillsonburg News – October 2016
by Angela Lassam
Tillsonburg Horticultural Society members will be busy planting over 2000 tulip bulbs in the coming weeks in preparation for the 150th celebration 2017. There are special bulbs on offer (red and white) and we hope that you will join us and plant some to make our town look great.
Bulb planting is easy. Even children can participate with a little direction. After buying bulbs that are solid, dry and free of mold you can start by measuring the depth of the bulb to decide how deep to plant them. Dig a hole three times the depth and sprinkle in some blood meal. It will promote root growth and may deter skunks and raccoons from digging them up. Place a bulb in the hole with the root at the bottom and fill in with good soil or a mix of soil and sand if the soil is heavy. Bulbs do not like wet feet. Lastly lightly water them in and press soil hard to slow down critters from digging up your work. You should not plant bulbs touching each other to prevent rot and mold.
Everyone gets upset when their bulbs seem to have disappeared when spring arrives. There are a few things we can do to help this situation. Blood meal will slow down rodents but chicken netting placed just beneath the soil on top of bulbs is one suggestion that is most commonly used. Strawberry baskets (the open plastic type) make good underground planters with wire on top. Most rodents do not like other animal smells (a dog or cat) so animal hair from grooming can be placed among the plantings and kitty litter (for the smell of urine) is another idea. Chili pepper liquid sprinkled around is not liked by rodents. Another idea is to scatter mothballs which would not be unsightly.
Bulbs that rodents do not like include daffodils, snowdrops, snowflakes and fritillaries. Unfortunately they like tulips, crocus and gladioli. This should not stop us planting them it just means more care when planting and more work.
Credit Valley Train Tour. Photo by A. MacDonald
As fall has arrived there is plenty of the reds, gold and orange. Recently a Fall Color Tour arranged by the Horticultural Society was enjoyed by members. It included a train ride through the Credit Valley and Niagara Escarpment on a bright sunny day with colors in full glory. For those of us who missed the trip our own countryside is full of color so a ride to buy the last roadside produce can brighten a day. There are many places to pick up pumpkins and squash. Also orchards are open for the new season apples.
Our gardens are almost finished so it is time to think of a favorite indoor activity. I like to use the unripened green tomatoes to make a chutney and collect fallen apples from the local orchard to make applesauce to use all winter. There are many chutney variations but this is a recipe I use with the addition of chopped apples to make it thicker. http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/green_tomato_chutney
Next meeting is on November 1st at 7.30 pm in the Seniors Centre Auditorium, Tillsonburg Community Centre. Presentation this month is to prepare our thoughts for centrepieces for Christmas. Twigs Floral Design will be doing a demonstration. There will also be the Photo Competition results and awards.
Non-members welcome. Non-members $2 per meeting so come and enjoy a social evening. Also you can become a member at any meeting and get extra benefits along with friendship and fun.
For information about the Tillsonburg Horticultural Society visit tillsonburghorticultural.ca.online.