a weird garden

Alpinejs · July 5, 2011

This is my entry for the most unusual garden award. I live in the Canadian
wilderness in the summers and due to all the shade from the large pine trees, I must container farm on docks out into the lagoon. I have 54
tomato plants (24 species), peppers and cucumbers. I start the seedlings
in San Diego and transport them here. These I grow mainly for seed to
grow seedlings for sale in San Diego to pay my travel expenses to and fro.
Any abundance of tomatoes will be a fringe benefit. Here is my list:
Brandywine
Giant Belgium
Box Car Willie
Black Krim
Stump of the World
Cherokee Purple
Cherokee Green
Earl's Faux
Cowlicks
Suddath
Kosovo
Watermelon Beefsteak'
Omar's Lebonese
Pineapple
Marianna's Peace
Kellogg's breakfast
Black from Tula
Prudens Purple
Carbon
Mortgage Lifter
Mr. Stripey
German Johnson
New Big Dwarf (oxymoron?)
Big Yellow
Garden Peach
Sungold f1
Black Cherry
Riesenstaub
Paul Robeson
Green Zebra

I should have no soil born pests and few, if any, air born pest. The deer,
bear and foxes don't venture out on the floating docks. The geese and ducks
like to snooze on the docks but, thus far, leave the foliage alone. It may be
a new problem when I get ripe tomatoes.

Never posted pics before so hope this attempt is successful.

Alpinejs · July 5, 2011

VOILA! It worked but I duplicated one pic so will attempt the right one. This
is my shoreline garden consisting of half barrels (55 gal) cut lengthwise. They
are heavy plastic and used to ship Pepsi syrup. I grow carrots, beets, lettuce,
cilantro, zucchini and cucumbers there.

Don't know what I will do with an abundant tomato crop as I gave seedlings
to virtually anyone around the two lakes I travel to get here by boat. I have
talked to a restraunt on Crane Lake that is quite upscale and they will
sample the heirlooms even though they have a glorious garden with lots of
hybrids. If they like them, I will bring them seedlings next year.

jgaleota · July 5, 2011

Awesome! Where in the Canadian wilderness are you?

Alpinejs · July 5, 2011

I am across the border from the Voyageur Nat'l Park No. of Minnesota. I
leave from a marina in Minn., stop at an island on Sandpoint Lake for
Canadian customs and then on to my place which is about 9 miles from
that closest road.

jgaleota · July 5, 2011

Nice area. I spent two wonderful canoeing trips in Quetico many years ago. I guess that is somewhat east of you, but the area looks similar. Lovely!

TomatoDon · July 5, 2011

Do you cross near International Falls, MN? I used to visit Ely, which many consider the canoe capital of the world. That's a great area. I stayed on White Iron Lake.

MJACTIVIST · July 5, 2011

Nice little garden and a hell of a nice view.

Have u ever thought of doing a few wicking pots?
L8
MJ

Garf · July 5, 2011

Looks good, but if you get a bad storm...........................

lurley · July 5, 2011

Yep, love the boundary waters, go almost every year, put in at Ely and usually camp at Ensign lake. Hoping the MN government is up and running by the end of the month so we can get a fishing license.

Alpinejs · July 5, 2011

As to a storm taking out my plants......possible but not likely. All my pails are screwed to the dock and won't budge.

As to location.....I am along the border just west of the boundary waters canoe area and
about half way between Ely and Int'l Falls. I have a rural area border crossing permit
so I don't have to check in to customs unless I have something to declare.

OT....anyone ever raise Persian Baby Green Finger cucumbers? I have a bunch table
ready soon. DW loves them, but I have never tasted them.

Paul R · July 5, 2011

Where there's a will there's a way!! Nice job!!

ddsack · July 5, 2011

That is really awesome! Bet it is a real surprise to any lake travellers who pull up to your dock. Did you haul all the soil mix for the pots in, or have you been making compost in previous years? My only concern is that that far north, your season is even shorter than mine, always cooler nights, and if we have an early fall, it's hard to ripen the longer season tomatoes on the vine. Good luck, and wishing us both a long hot summer!

beefsteak · July 8, 2011

very nice plants and nice summer place, looks like great fun!

remy · July 8, 2011

I love it!
Remy

Zana · July 8, 2011

Looks great. I love the idea of being out on the docks. Are you up there for the whole growing season? Or do you travel back and forth? And if the the later, how do you handle watering while you're away? Have you got a self watering system set up? I would imagine that the water would hold the heat in the fall lengthening the season, but possibly cool off a bit in the summer....or maybe the reverse. Hmmmm....interesting idea of using the docks and available sunlight.

I remember your area fondly from canoe trips many years ago. Beautiful scenery.

July 5, 2011	#6
TomatoDon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MS Posts: 1,523	Do you cross near International Falls, MN? I used to visit Ely, which many consider the canoe capital of the world. That's a great area. I stayed on White Iron Lake. __________________ Zone 7B, N. MS

July 5, 2011	#12
ddsack Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern Minnesota - zone 3 Posts: 3,231	That is really awesome! Bet it is a real surprise to any lake travellers who pull up to your dock. Did you haul all the soil mix for the pots in, or have you been making compost in previous years? My only concern is that that far north, your season is even shorter than mine, always cooler nights, and if we have an early fall, it's hard to ripen the longer season tomatoes on the vine. Good luck, and wishing us both a long hot summer! __________________ Dee **************

July 8, 2011	#14
remy Buffalo-Niagara Tomato TasteFest™ Coordinator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Z6 WNY Posts: 2,354	I love it! Remy __________________ "I wake to sleep and take my waking slow" -Theodore Roethke Yes, we have a great party for WNY/Ontario tomato growers every year on Grand Island! Owner of The Sample Seed Shop

July 5, 2011	#3
jgaleota Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 133	Awesome! Where in the Canadian wilderness are you?

July 5, 2011	#4
Alpinejs Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Alpine, Calif. in winter. Sandpoint Lake, Ont. Canada summers Posts: 850	I am across the border from the Voyageur Nat'l Park No. of Minnesota. I leave from a marina in Minn., stop at an island on Sandpoint Lake for Canadian customs and then on to my place which is about 9 miles from that closest road.

July 5, 2011	#7
MJACTIVIST Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: ca Posts: 79	Nice little garden and a hell of a nice view. Have u ever thought of doing a few wicking pots? L8 MJ

July 5, 2011	#8
Garf Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Miami, FL. Posts: 442	Looks good, but if you get a bad storm...........................

July 5, 2011	#9
lurley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 741	Yep, love the boundary waters, go almost every year, put in at Ely and usually camp at Ensign lake. Hoping the MN government is up and running by the end of the month so we can get a fishing license.

July 5, 2011	#11
Paul R Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Avilla IN Posts: 300	Where there's a will there's a way!! Nice job!!

July 8, 2011	#13
beefsteak Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NW PA zone 5 Posts: 121	very nice plants and nice summer place, looks like great fun!

July 8, 2011	#15
Zana Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Southwestern Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,521	Looks great. I love the idea of being out on the docks. Are you up there for the whole growing season? Or do you travel back and forth? And if the the later, how do you handle watering while you're away? Have you got a self watering system set up? I would imagine that the water would hold the heat in the fall lengthening the season, but possibly cool off a bit in the summer....or maybe the reverse. Hmmmm....interesting idea of using the docks and available sunlight. I remember your area fondly from canoe trips many years ago. Beautiful scenery.