It’s carrot seed planting time! It’s springtime, an exciting and rejuvenating time of year, seeds being planted, perennial sprouts emerging, spring flowers and summer flower buds are abundant everywhere. Well, what am I talking about then…carrot sprout carnage?? Back up a little while: Read about…
Almost any pallet can be modified to create a raised bed on a pallet. This is a pretty quick way to build a raised bed on a pallet. If you keep your eyes peeled when driving around the neighbourhood you will sometimes see unique pallets…
It’s almost June and summer is under way. The cherry blossoms have bloomed their dazzling spring beauty and are now almost gone. The immature cherries are just forming behind the flower petals as they blow away in the wind. But then disaster happens… The newly…
The Raspberry Crown Borer (Pennisetia marginata) and its larva are common pests of the raspberry plant. They are common throughout most of North America and are very common here on the west coast of BC and Washington. They are also known as Blackberry Clearwing Borer, as…
The adult raspberry cane borer (Oberea bimaculata ) appears in June. It is a slender black beetle about 1/2″ long. How to recognize it and its’ presence This pest is a slender, dark coloured beetle, about 12 mm long, with antennae as long as its body. It…
So I caved and actually bought a couple of basil plants from the store, I just wanted more of it and the season was passing quickly. There wasn’t enough time to sprout more seeds. You already know that there’s never too much basil! The plants are…
This is a deliciously simple recipe that can be made on short notice and is best with small home grown potatoes of any colour. This recipe can be made using tiny store bought “new” potatoes if you don’t have any left from the garden. They…
The garden usually rests around November in the Lower Mainland of BC, depending on the weather and when the rainy season returns. Usually the rainy season has long since arrived by the end of November and the gardeners of this area retreat to the dry…
Gardening is a whole lot easier when you start out with a few high quality tools that are made tough for the job. They’ll make your life so much easier and things will get done more easily and with less effort than if you choose inferior…
There are so many beautiful Oriental lilies available that they could easily make a stunningly colourful garden on their own without any other flowers. They’re most beautiful standing among other shorter growing flowers and shrubs. Giant Oriental lilies are really easy to grow and they…
This project can be as simple as buying a few pieces of lumber and some hardware to secure the corners. Start by deciding how big you’d like to build the bed. If you’re working with a limited area then 4′ x 4′ is good, or 2′ x 4′,…
One simple way to create a garden is to plant in containers and then set them on a row of pallets. Building a pallet garden on the surface of the ground creates a portable alternative to in-ground gardening. It’s also much easier than trying to…
The humble little carrot, in Latin its name is Daucus carota. Carrots of any type or colour are a great way to get yourself or the kids started in gardening. They require little skill, minimal care and minimal effort. You’re almost guaranteed a delicious harvest in…
Cherry trees can definitely be grown in containers, just use a toy tub or something larger in depth and diameter. Dwarf cherry trees are quite tolerant to the often less than ideal, restricted environment of a container. When you purchase your young tree, choose varieties…
These planters are designed just for growing plants upside down! It’s very cool and great for small space gardening because they don’t take up any ground area at all. They are commonly used for tomatoes and peppers but also can be used for cucumbers, squash…
Companion planting is based on the concept that the qualities of some plants can benefit others when planted nearby. Some plants repel pests and help others by keeping the pests away from them and then for example other plants will help to enrich the flavour…