Selecting the right plants for your landscape projects will greatly reduce frustration and maintenance requirements. Consider the following points when choosing plants for your garden:
* Select hardy, pest and disease-resistant varieties for minimal maintenance.
* Choose plants suited to your area’s climate zone. The Okanagan Valley zone is 4/5.
* Carefully consider the various sites in your […]
Begin transplanting when the first true leaves unfold, which is usually 2 to 3 weeks after sowing. As the seedlings grow, the cotyledons (the first leaf or one of the first pair or whorl of leaves developed by the embryo of a seed plant) will wither and what are called the first true leaves […]
For many of you it’s fun to get a head start on the upcoming garden season by starting seedlings indoors. Sometimes, growing your own may be the only way to obtain the new or special variety you want.
A soil-less potting mix is best for germinating seeds. These mixes are made from peat and vermiculite […]
Over the winter, I keep geraniums, one of each colour, on the windowsill. A great way to multiply the number of plants in your garden is to take cuttings of your current plants. This week I took cuttings of my geraniums. Geraniums are easy to grow and they stand up to the hot Okanagan summer.
To […]
When starting gardening it is common for people to think big and bit off more than they can chew. A large vegetable garden growing everything from tomatoes to sweet corn will be a lot of work, something that may be difficult if you’re just starting out.
That’s why I recommend that you first start growing in […]
When designing your container garden, the most important part is – you guessed it- the container! Choosing the right type of container will allow your plants to grow and thrive. The wrong type of container could be harmful, so follow these guidelines when choosing for your garden.
You need a sturdy container with drainage holes. Cheap […]
In a sense, all gardens are container gardens. Just some containers are bigger than others. We can start by learning a little bit about ecology. A container garden is a mini ecosystem. To make a container garden work, you have to pick plants that “get along together.” This may be a new concept to some […]
Contacting your local council is the first step that needs to be taken when getting an allotment. The council will be able to inform you of where the nearest allotment plots are located. If no plots are available upon your request, you have the option of putting your name on a waiting list. You will […]
When buying seeds of any type you should always make sure you buy seeds that are of a really high quality. Low quality seeds can effect germination as well as cause the plants that do grow to be weaker than they should be.
I buy my seeds from a number of places which means I get […]
Container gardening is so easy and it is fantastic for people who are new to gardening. Beginners often find getting started the hardest step, but without taking just a little action and getting started you will never have the allotment or garden you dream of.
Just growing a few vegetables in containers can be enough to […]