Honeyberries, Pests and the Long Weekend

Well, one of our more exciting new crops are Honeyberries (or Haskaps).  These are wonderful bushes that produce fruit that looks like a long blueberry at about this time of year.  They are a cross between a Russian and a Japanese Honeysuckle created at the University of Saskatchewan.  A great addition to any garden.  We carry them at the garden centre and they are a big hit.

Pests - well these are popping up in greenhouses now of course.  Aphids mostly.  For these you can spray a teaspoon of soap in a litre of water - as a preventative measure.  Otherwise ladybugs are the way to go.  We will be taking reservations for these soon.

You may also get a nasty looking white powdery stuff on your plants - rosemary is quite susceptible for some reason.  Mix 1 part milk to 3 parts water and spray.  Make sure you have good ventilation.  The milk solution has been my go-to for years and works very well, even in commercial sized greenhouse spaces.

The long weekend is here and for some, this is a late and nasty spring.   If you are worried that you are missing the window to plants tomatoes, peppers, cukes and the like, don't.  It is better to plant a weak or two later when you are sure it is warm than to plant now in a cold climate and set the plants back (arrest their growth).   We have plenty of seedlings at our shop - so come see us for heirloom varieties of vegetables.

Have a great long weekend.

New Old Heirloom Vegetable Seed

We are always into searching out the old and making it new again - to paraphrase. 

Our newest item is the Lemon Squash.  Its a summer squash with a bush habit that grows lovely little lemon shaped and sized squash.  Great for slicing and frying up or on the BBQ. 

Cute and oh so tastey

I just love early spring.  Things are that nice new green and the early flowers are popping up.

We have many plants ready to go in the greenhouse; veggies, perennials and fruits.

Right now its a great time for :
- Walla Walla onions - 25 in a bunch for $3 or 50 for $5
- multiplier onions - green onions all summer and bulbs in the fall at $3 per pound
- broad bean plants- 6 for $3, ready to go in the ground

Peas are a good start now, just soak the seed until they have little tails and plant or use the gutter method. Either way, you have a head start.

Plant your spinach and lettuce anytime you like - fall or early spring.  The great thing about them is that they come up when they are ready, without you having to worry about the calendar. 

Its just lovely in the yard - the Asian Pear is in bloom 

and so is the Rhododendron - Olga

Getting Your Garden Growing

This is the time of year to get your garden ready for growing - and for planting the early stuff.

Here in coastal BC, you can already plant broad beans, peas, lettuce, kale, spinach and Swiss chard. They can go direct in the garden as seeds  You can also put out plants for brassicas (broccoli, cabbage) or direct sow them as well.

If you have little in the way of actual garden, say if you live in an apartment with a balcony, you can still have fresh veggies.  Just make sure the pots are a good size, as otherwise you will water twice a day.



If you want to create your own self-watering pot it is pretty easy to do. You can either use a food grade bucket or a Rubbermaid Rough neck bin.



Cut the lid of either just in from the edge.  On the roughneck there is a handy line down from the edge that is perfect.  You want it so fit in the bottom of the container up about two inches, fairly snugly.  Drill many 1/4 to 1/2 inch holes in your piece of lid.

Get a pot and cut a whole in the piece of lid for that to fit through as well. You will also need a piece of PVC pipe  that is as long as the depth of the container plus a couple of inches. Again cut the piece of lid so that this fits in at tone corner. So the result is a piece of plastic with a big whole for the pot (about a 4 inch round is good), a hole in the corner for the pipe and many little holes. You are just about done.



Now get little pots, or cut more PVC into 2 to 3 inch lengths for legs. You need 8 in the bin and 4 around a bucket


You are ready for assembly – put the legs in the bottom of the container. Then put the piece of plastic in (it becomes a false floor) and put the pot in its hole. Put the PVC longer pipe down the corner. Drill one hole in the side of the container (1/4 inch) just above the false floor – this is your drain hole.

Pack the pot with dirt, quite firmly and fill the rest of the container. You will water by pouring water down the pipe until it comes out the drain hole. Water will wick up through the dirt in the put in the bottom of the container and water your plants.

Start looking for raspberries, and soon, blueberries.  If you don't have these in your garden then it is time to get some planted.  You are not too late (although you probably won't get fruit this eyar) as long as you water well.  Otherwise put it on you list of to-dos for September/October which is a GREAT time to plant just about any fruit, shrub or perennial.

For instructions on how to plant raspberries see the page - How to Grow Raspberries.  For Blueberry instructions see - How to Grow Blueberries.

At our house we are looking forward to summer berry treats.

Time for ladybugs.  Ladybugs are great in your garden.  They take care of aphids, whitefly and other things.
Take a look at my page on keeping all pests out of your garden by clicking here

I am sure you can spot the nasty critter in this photo.

Hello fellow gardeners,
Today the garden is wet but growing. Spring is everywhere.  We have the most beautiful hyacinths and tulips brightening the area and providing lovely natural perfume.

The camellias are still blooming, but I am not sure  how much longer they will last.

See you in the garden.