OFF TO THE GARDENS WE GO!

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…

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…

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 has to do with pollination. Without insects, especially bees…

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…

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. But, due to the weather, I’ve encountered a few issues…

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…