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.

Get Your Haskaps and Walla Wallas !!!!

Hello fellow gardeners. Yes, we have Haskap plants ready to go. These fruit are also called Honeyberry or Edible Honeysuckle and are a member of the Honeysuckle family. They were introduced through research done at the University of Saskatchewan. These are a hardy plant and even the flowers can handle -7 degree temperatures. They are the earliest fruit to be ready in the spring and plants you put in this spring will give you fruit this fall.

You must plant 2 varieties together for pollination. We have 3 varieties (Borealis, Cinderella and Indigo Gem – the most prolific). They are $14.00 each or three for $36.00

You can read more about them at Haskap Central

The Walla Walla onion plants are ready to plant out. You get a bundle of 25 plants for $3.50. Walla Walla onion plants will grow into large, extremely sweet onions. Get yours now while they last.

See you in the Garden!

February 28, 2012

SUBJECT - Wireworms - handling them the natural way.

We have been asked by quite a number of people how to handle wireworms,
without using chemicals.

The problem with wireworms is that their life cycle is very long so they are
hard to get rid of.  Their adult form is the Click beetle - but is the
larva, the wireworm that ruins our radishes, potatoes and carrots.

They love to burrow and eat.  So you have to deal with them in the soil.
Here are a few ideas:

1.  Till, then retill.  You should start as early as you can in the spring -
say early February even.  Till 3 or 4 times (when it is dry - hard in Powell
River, I know).  In between tillings birds will eat the wireworms

2. After your repeated tilling plant a cover crop of buckwheat, mustard, or
oil radish.  Buckwheat being the cheapest and most readily available (we
have it in stock now).  These plants deter wireworm.  Once they have grown
up and you are ready to plant potatoes, say end March or so, just till the
cover crop into the soil.  Don't remove it.

3. Set traps.  My favourite is the coffee can.  Get a largish coffee can.
Cut off the top and punch holes in the bottom and the sides.  Bury it to the
rim in your garden.  Fill it with carrot and potato peels.  Empty at least
once a week.

4. Another trap - Potato on a Stick.  Get big potatoes and put them on
sticks.  Put them in the garden a couple of weeks before you want to plant
potatoes and during the season.  Bury them in the ground with the stick
sticking up.  Dig up and either remove the worms or replace the potato twice
a week or as they fill with worms.  Discard and replace.

Good luck, wire worms are a very frustrating problem.

See you in the garden

February 17, 2012

We had our session on starting seeds on Wednesday.  Everyone seemed to have a great time.  If you would like to take a look at some of the information we shared during the class, it is available in one of our articles. 

Take a look at the new tabs we have at the top of the page.  We will be adding more with pictures of our products as we go.

February 11, 2012

Hello all.  It actually hit 10 degrees yesterday.  I almost feel that going into the greenhouse would be fun!  Well maybe not.  It still pretty grey.

Folks are starting to order seeds for spring and we see the little shoots of crocuses coming up.

Crocus Shoots in the garden. Spring is coming.

If you want to order fruit trees for the spring we are taking orders now.  Click on the tab at the top - Fruit Trees/Shrubs to see what we will have.