Off to the gardens we go!
A garden is life. A garden is magic. A garden is hope. It is where we go to find inspiration and think of all the wonders tomorrow holds.
Are you new to gardening? Have you tried to garden before and it didn’t turn out as you hoped it would? Not to worry… gardening doesn’t always go as planned. Many factors contribute to the success of what we plant. Here, I’ll share information and tips useful to gardeners in zones 3b and 4a, as we live right in the middle of both zones!
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The Dirty Dozen
A while ago, I came across a produce list called the “Dirty Dozen” which is updated every year. On this list are vegetables and fruit with the highest load of pesticides found on supermarket shelves every day. Should we be concerned about this?As many, I do feel concerned. Of course, an accumulation of toxins in the body can have adverse effects and lead to illness…
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Sunlight vs Grow Lights
I’ve done a lot of home gardening over the years and always did well without grow lights. Our home had plenty of southwest facing windows and because we live in sunny Alberta, I was able to successfully start many seedlings indoors. However, the best method for strong, sturdy plants is to use grow lights, especially if you live in a cloudy area…
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Should Flowers Be Part of Your Garden?
When I head out to my gardens in the morning, I always walk towards the flower patch. Not that my vegetables don’t hold as much importance, but because each spectacular bloom carries such beauty and brings inspiration for the day. The other highly important reason…
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Which Tomatoes Grow Best in Colder Zones?
Who doesn’t love a fresh slice of tomato in a sandwich or burger? Or, a delicious Greek salad filled with cherry tomatoes? One of my favorite tomatoes is the very large Beefsteak. I’ve been growing them for years, but I’ve come to the realization that our summers simply aren’t long…
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How to Harvest Zinnia Seeds
This year, I wanted to explore this passion a little further by growing flowers from seed and then collecting seeds from these flowers to plant next year. I chose to try this with zinnias as they are easy to grow and adapt well to our 3b climate. So far, I have found that collecting seeds from zinnias is easy and enjoyable.
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How to Harvest, cure & store Winter Squash
Growing winter squash for the first time can be exhilarating! But you might be wondering what comes next after they’ve ripened and are ready to harvest. You may also be wondering what to do if a frost advisory is announced and your squash haven’t fully ripened or been cured yet…
