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The Practical Maritime Gardener, .., Stellarton, NS (2026)

09/08/2026

Bluebeard Lily
Wildflower Corner

Bluebeard Lily or Clintonia borealis is a native wildflower common to Eastern North America. Its name “borealis” means "of the north," which tells you that it survives winters easily. .

It is a small perennial, 5 to 10 inches and forms colonies. The flowers are arranged at the end of a long stalk. The fruits are small blue berries, which can be mildly poisonous. The plant reproduces by seed or by underground rhizomes. They are very slow to spread, but one colony can cover several hundred square meters.

There is some folklore tied to Bluebeard. Hunters in North Quebec were said to have rubbed their traps with the roots because bears are attracted to its odor. In addition, according to a Mi'kmaq tale, when a grass snake eats a poisonous toad, it slithers in rapid circles around a shoot of the bluebead lily to transfer the poison to the plant.

09/07/2026

What Are Those Big Black Spots On My Maple Leaves?

If you have a Norway maple and you've noticed big, round, almost tar-like black spots appearing on the leaves, don't panic. It's called tar spot, and this is the time of year when it really becomes noticeable.

Tar spot is caused by fungi in the genus Rhytisma. The infection actually begins much earlier in the season, usually during cool, wet spring weather. At first you may only see small pale yellow or greenish spots. As summer progresses, those spots develop into the very distinctive raised, shiny black patches that look like drops of tar. Norway maple (Acer platanoides) is particularly prone to it.

Does it hurt the tree? Usually, not much. A badly affected tree can look pretty rough by late summer and may drop leaves early, but tar spot is generally considered more of a cosmetic problem than a serious threat to an otherwise healthy, established maple.

And here's the important part. Spraying the tree now won't accomplish much. The infection happened months ago. What you're seeing now is the fungus completing its life cycle.

So what should you do? This fall, rake up and remove the infected leaves. The fungus overwinters in fallen maple leaves. In spring, it produces spores that can infect the new crop of leaves. Removing those old leaves can reduce the amount of fungal material around the tree for next year.

Here's Your Simple Fall Cleanup Checklist
1. Rake up fallen maple leaves, especially leaves showing those black tar spots.
2. Remove them from beneath the tree. Don't leave infected leaves piled around the trunk.
3.Dispose of or compost them appropriately. If your compost pile doesn't get hot enough to break down diseased material, use your local yard-waste collection instead.
4.Check your gutters and nearby beds. Maple leaves have an impressive ability to find every place you forgot to look.
5. Skip the fall fungicide. By the time you see the black spots, it's far too late to prevent this year's infection.
6. Give the tree a good drink if fall is dry. Going into winter well hydrated is more useful to the tree than trying to treat the spots.

You don't need to cut down the tree, paint anything on the spots, or start spraying fungicide in September. For most homeowners, good fall sanitation is the best response.

There's also a rather interesting reason tar spot may seem more common than people remember. Historically, air pollution, particularly sulphur dioxide, could suppress some lichens and fungi. As air quality improved in many places, tar spot became more conspicuous again.

So those ugly black spots can, rather ironically, show up where the air is cleaner than it once was.

08/16/2026

Snake Plant

Let me start by saying that Snake Plant or Sanseveria is one of my favorite houseplants. I have several varieties of it at home and they do very well. Not just the broadleaf types either. One of my favorites is a narrow-leaved sanseveria. Its a very easy plant to grow too. But I think that one of the coolest things about this plant is its history. You see, for centuries the snake plant has been used for rope, planted as a protective charm, named after a saint's sword, and insulted generations of mothers-in-laws. It is also called the world's most famous 'unkillable' houseplant.

I'm sure that many people know of snake plant or by the more common name mother-in-law's tongue. However did you know that one of its common names, bowstring h**p is probably the best description of all.

The plant is native to west and Central Africa, particularly Nigeria, Congo, Cameroon, and Goa. However, it is found naturalized across most of the Caribbean.It evolved in areas where there is severe drought. In fact, where I first saw it growing in ‘the wild’ was during an excursion to Cuba where it was growing along the shoreline but under taller trees, so in a dry shady area. What that means is that unlike many plants, it can survive long drive periods of intense heat and poor soils.

Now the Bowstring H**p part. Snake plant leaves contain extremely strong fibers. These fibers were used for bowstrings, cordage, rope, fishing line and even for making baskets. Snake plants are also believed in African tradition to offer protection depending on the region. They were either planted in doorways or along property lines. People believed the upright sword-like leaves could repel evil influences and guard a household.

So when did it become named "Mother-in-Law's Tongue"? The nickname appeared beginning in the Victorian Era, so called because the leaves are long, sharp pointed and difficult to ignore. Compare that to a stereotypical mother-in-law. The name kind of survived only because people thought it was funny.

Lastly, I just want to talk about the NASA myth. NASA conducted a survey of house plants, studying their ability to filter the air. The studies did show that snake plants can remove certain compounds under laboratory conditions, but that doesn't mean that one snake plant will clean your whole house. In reality, almost every plant can filter certain chemicals from the air, but please don't rely strictly on plants to remove toxins from your whole house..

What's your history with snake plants? Do you love them or do you just have one sitting in a corner somewhere?

08/15/2026

Growing Yellow Wax Beans: The Secret Is Patience

Every spring, I get the same question: "Why won't my wax beans grow?"

The good news is that yellow wax beans are one of the easiest vegetables to grow. But they do have one requirement that catches many gardeners off guard. They hate cold soil.

Many seeds rot before they ever sprout because they're planted too early. If the soil is still cool and wet, the seed can sit there for weeks without germinating.

So if you want to give your wax beans the best possible start. Wait for Warm Soil. Don't plant by the calendar.

To plant correctly , you need to wait until the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed to at least 15°C. Even better is 18–21°C. To get a quick, even germination. In much of Nova Scotia, that usually means late May to early June.

Other tips? Sow seeds 1 inch deep. Planting much deeper can delay or reduce germination.

When planting, space the seeds 2 to 4 inches apart, in rows 18 to 24 inches apart. Good airflow helps reduce disease later in the season.

Plant them in full sun, they thrive only if they get 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight every day. The more sun the more beans.

Keep the soil evenly moist while the seeds are germinating, but once they reach about six inches tall, you only need to add about one inch of water per week, and that would include rainfall. You need to avoid constantly soaking the soil.

Remember that beans make their own nitrogen, so don't add a high nitrogen fertilizer to the soil. Fertilizer can produce lots of leaves, but very few beans.The simplest thing to do, and what I like to do, is to just add a little compost into the soil before planting. .

The last tip is just to pick often. The more you harvest, the more the plants produce beans. Never wait until the beans become large and tough. Pick them when they're young, smooth and tender, usually every couple of days during the peak season.

Common Reasons Wax Beans Fail? That's simple. They're planted into cold wet soil, they're planted too deep.They're planted in heavy clay soil that stays waterlogged, you use too much nitrogen fertilizer, and rabbits, slugs or beetles are eating the young seedlings before you notice.

Look, growing wax beans isn't difficult. They simply reward good timing more than almost any other garden vegetable. Wait for warm soil, give them plenty of sunshine, and they'll usually reward you with weeks of fresh, buttery-yellow beans.

Have you ever struggled to grow wax beans? What was the problem? And what finally worked for you?

08/14/2026

Types of Wax Beans

Which Wax Bean Is Right for Your Garden? Here's the thing, not all yellow beans are the same. Some produce earlier, some are better for freezing or canning, and others are prized simply because they taste incredible fresh from the garden. Here's a look at five favourites.

Pencil Pod Black Wax
Type: Bush bean
Days to harvest: 50 to 55 days
Pod: Slender, straight, bright yellow (5–6 inches)
Best for: Fresh eating and freezing
Why gardeners like it: Reliable, productive, and one of the classic heirloom wax beans.

Gold Rush
Type: Bush bean
Days to harvest: 52 to 58 days
Pod: Long, smooth, golden yellow (5–6 inches)
Best for: Fresh eating and canning
Why gardeners like it: Excellent disease resistance and heavy yields. One of the most popular modern wax beans.

Golden Wax
Type: Bush bean
Days to harvest: 50 to 55 days
Pod: Thick, tender, buttery yellow
Best for: Traditional home gardens
Why gardeners like it: A true heirloom that has been grown for well over a century and still delivers that classic "grandma's garden" flavour.

Carson Wax
Type: Bush bean
Days to harvest: 52 to 57 days
Pod: Straight, uniform yellow pods
Best for: Canning and freezing
Why gardeners like it: Dependable yields and pods that stay tender even when picked a little late.

Rocdor
Type: Bush bean
Days to harvest: About 52 days
Pod: Bright golden-yellow, straight, fleshy pods
Best for: Fresh eating and market gardens
Why gardeners like it: Very productive, attractive pods, and excellent flavour.

So which one would I recommend for maritime gardeners?
Gold Rush – Outstanding all-around performer with excellent disease resistance.
Pencil Pod Black Wax – A dependable heirloom that's easy to grow and consistently productive.
Golden Wax – Perfect if you enjoy growing heritage vegetables with a bit of history.

Do you grow yellow wax beans? If so, what's your favourite variety, and why?

08/13/2026

Those Wild Raspberries, The Berry That Finds Its Own Garden

Wild raspberries are one of those plants we tend to take for granted here in the Maritimes. They seem to appear anywhere, but particularly along woodland edges, old fence lines, roadsides and in my case, along the fringes of our new property.

Our wild red raspberry is Rubus idaeus subsp. strigosus, a native North American relative of the cultivated raspberries we grow in our gardens. Wild raspberries are particularly good at colonizing disturbed ground. Meaning, when trees are cut down, or a bulldozer clears some land, and sunlight suddenly reaches the ground, raspberries quickly move in. They also spread underground by sending up new shoots, which explains how one little clump can eventually become an entire patch.

Just like cultivated raspberries, individual canes live for only two years. The first year they grow and then the second year they flower and produce raspberries. After producing, the cane dies. But the good news is that while that is happening, new canes are already growing next year's crop.

Oh, and those little white flowers? They are valuable to bees and other pollinators. And of course the berries are eaten by birds, bears and other wildlife. But that's the cycle of life. The animals spread raspberry seeds to new places.

And here's something that you might find interesting. A raspberry isn't technically one berry. Each of those little bumps is a separate fruit called a drupelet, which is why a ripe raspberry pulls away hollow from the plant.

Of course, cultivated raspberries are generally larger and more productive, but anyone who has picked wild ones knows that size isn't everything. Those smaller wild raspberries can have an incredibly concentrated flavour.

The good news is that if you have discovered a good wild raspberry patch around your property, like we did, just give it some sunlight, remove the old dead canes and let nature do the rest.

Sometimes the best plants in a Maritime garden are the ones nobody planted at all. Do you have wild raspberries growing around your property?

08/13/2026

So What Are Wax Beans Anyway?

Where did they come from? Here's a little garden history. Yellow wax beans and Green Beans are the same species. The reality is just that through selective reading the yellow variety was formed.

Both green beans and yellow wax beans are varieties of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), a species first domesticated thousands of years ago by Indigenous peoples in Central and South America.

You may have heard of the famous Three Sisters planting method. Where indigenous peoples grew corn, beans, and squash together. The beans in those traditional gardens were climbing pole beans, which used the corn stalks as a natural trellis. While they weren't yellow wax beans, they belonged to the same species as the beans we grow in our gardens today.

Beans were brought back to Europe from explorers in the 1500s. At that time, gardeners began selecting plants that had traits that they liked. Whether it be a pod shape, a color, a flavor or a growth habit. Over generations, one of those naturally occurring variations produced bright yellow pods instead of green ones.

Those yellow beans became known as wax beans, not because they contain wax, but because their smooth, glossy pods have a wax-like appearance.

By the late 1800s, wax beans had become popular throughout North America. Gardeners appreciated that they were easy to spot among the leaves, had a mild, buttery flavour, and produced heavily during the growing season. They also canned and pickled exceptionally well, making them a favourite in both farm gardens and backyard vegetable patches.

Here in Atlantic Canada, wax beans became a summertime staple. I can still remember harvesting them from the garden and sitting on the doorstep, breaking them into pieces before taking them in for either cooking or for mom to preserve.

Today, whether you grow bush or pole varieties, wax beans remain one of the easiest and most rewarding vegetables for Maritime gardens. They thrive in our warm summers, produce generous harvests, and continue a gardening tradition that stretches back thousands of years.

Do you grow yellow wax beans, green beans, or both? Which one always has a place in your garden?

08/03/2026

If you've been wondering why Practical Maritime Gardener has been a little quieter lately, we wanted to let you in on the reason.

We've been busy settling into a new home.

For the past little while, our days have been filled with boxes, paintbrushes, repairs, and all the little jobs that come with an older house. As much as we've missed sharing gardening tips and plant photos, we've been looking out the windows at a yard full of possibilities.

Every new property is a blank canvas. Before a single flower is planted, there's time spent learning the soil, watching where the sun falls, noticing where the frost lingers, and discovering what surprises the previous owners may have left behind. That's all part of gardening too.

Over the coming months and years we'll be building new garden beds, planting trees and shrubs, growing vegetables, welcoming pollinators, and sharing every success, and every lesson learned, right here with you. We'll be starting from the ground up, just as so many Maritime gardeners do.

Thank you for your patience while we've been getting settled. We can't wait to grow alongside you, and we have a feeling the best gardens are still ahead.

Here's to fresh soil, new seasons, and all the blooms yet to come. 🌱🍁

07/29/2026

Musk Mallow, The Flower of Summer

Musk Mallow (Malva moschata) is an old-fashioned cottage garden favourite that's tough. It has soft pink or white flowers that bloom for weeks through summer, attracting bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

It is perfectly hardy in Atlantic Canada. It grows best in full sun with well-drained soil and often reseeds gently, giving you new plants with very little effort. It has even naturalized in Nova Scotia, often growing along roadsides, in old fields and meadows, around abandoned homesteads and on disturbed ground and sunny banks. Its not invasive though just considered a garden escapee.

If you're looking for a carefree perennial with a natural, cottage-garden charm, musk mallow is a wonderful choice.

07/28/2026

When Should I Seed a Lawn?

So you are growing a new lawn or fixing a patchy lawn. The question is when you should do it? The correct timing can make all the difference between a thick green lawn and a patchy disappointment.

Many people automatically think spring is the best time to seed grass. And while it can work, it isn't always the ideal time. In Atlantic Canada, the best time to seed a lawn is often late summer to early fall, usually from mid-August through September.

Why? It's pretty simple. The soil is still warm from summer, cooler temperatures reduce stress on young grass, and many w**d seeds have already finished germinating for the year. The result is faster germination and stronger root growth before winter arrives.

Spring seeding can still be successful, especially if you missed the fall window or if you are repairing damage from Winter plow damage. Just be prepared to compete with w**ds and keep a close eye on watering as temperatures rise.

No matter when you seed, good soil contact is critical. Grass seed that sits on top of hard ground rarely performs as well as seed that is lightly raked into the soil. I like to take the back side of a fan rake and move it gently over the new seed. That will help a lot.

The bottom line is that Fall is best, spring is second best, and midsummer is often the toughest time to establish a new lawn.

So tell me, when did you have the best luck planting grass seed?

Next up is watering. How often does new grass seed need water? One of the biggest mistakes people make after seeding a lawn is letting the soil dry out. Grass seed doesn't need deep watering at first. What it needs is consistent moisture. The top layer of soil should stay damp while the seeds are germinating.

What that means is watering lightly. Once or twice a day in cool weather. Two to three times a day during hot or windy conditions. The goal isn't to soak the lawn. It's to prevent the surface from drying out. Now, once the grass begins to sprout, gradually switch to deeper, less frequent watering. This encourages the roots to grow downward rather than staying near the surface.

A good rule of thumb is light and frequent watering before germination, deeper watering after germination. And remember, if the seed dries out repeatedly during germination, you'll often end up with patchy areas and uneven growth.

The best lawns don't come from expensive seed. They come from patience, consistent moisture, and giving those tiny seedlings a chance to establish strong roots.

The Practical Maritime Gardener

09/08/2026

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