Toni's Tips

If you saved your geraniums, now is the time to start cutting. This week we will be showing you how to do this.

For now, here is what you will need to get ready:

• Find and clean the pots you will be using.
• You will need a good bloom starter (fertilizer) as small as 5/6/5 or as big as 10/60/10.
• A good rooting hormone. (This promotes root growth and is very necessary in our climate.)
• Soil - if it is outside, bring it in and let it thaw.
• Seedling starter with compost in it is a really nice mix for a brand new root system.

If you will be planting in pots, now is a good time to start preparing your pots for your new plants.

Clean all pots, especially if there was a previous infection or some kind of chemical used.  Using soap and water is preferred, but at the very least, give your pots a good rinse.

If you are using terra cotta pots, be sure to soak them in water before planting.  The clay used to make terra cotta pots contains salt and if pots are not prepped properly a white ring may develop around the pot.  To prepare your clay pots, immerse the entire pot in water and leave it until it stops bubbling.  This should be done for all new terra cotta pots.  If you have an old pot that has a white ring around it, you can use steel wool to rub the white ring on the inside and out of the pot and then soak in water.  FYI - clay pots have better oxygen exchange than plastic pots.

• Map out your garden, decide how big your garden will be.
• Make a dream list of all the veggies you would like to grow.
• Do some research into the vegetables you will grow. How much space do you need for each vegetable? For example, beet seeds need to be planted about 2cm apart, onions should be planted 12-15cm apart in rows 45-75cm apart, carrots should be thinned to 4-10cm apart when seedlings are 2cm tall. (This information is found on the back of the seed package.)
• Don't plant your seeds too early. Whether starting seeds indoors or out, it is possible to start too early. See the attached list for recommended planting times.
• But do get your seeds early - seeds are flying off the shelf, and there is potential for another seed shortage like last year.
• Think of planting your garden in stages. Plant rows of the same vegetable 2-3 weeks apart for a longer harvest window.
• Don’t forget to plan for any bedding plants you may be growing, i.e., cucumbers, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli.
• If you are thinking about growing potatoes, be aware, potatoes take up a fair amount of space, if the garden is small, you may not be able to fit potatoes in your space. You may consider a community garden or purchase from farmer’s market.
• If you are thinking about growing tomatoes and/or peppers, they would go in the garden last, but you would still need to plan space for them.
• Journal what you have planted, what seeds you used, what the weather was like, how your garden turned out, and include a drawing or blueprint of your garden so you can go back and see what worked and what didn’t for subsequent years.

As always, contact the greenhouse at Country Living if you have any questions - 403-938-4094.

January 15, 2021

It might be too early to plant your seeds or your garden, but it's not too early to start thinking about it.  Here are some tips from our resident grower to prepare yourself for this year's growing season.

• Start thinking about what you want to grow.
• Start thinking about where you want to grow.
• Do you want to start your seeds inside?  If so, when should you plant them?  Do you have a good spot in your house that gets good sun?  Do you have soil?  Do you have containers?
• If you are planting outside, map out your garden - how many rows will you have of each vegetable?  Be sure to research growing times and best times to plant.
• If you have old pots, it's a good idea to wash them in soap and water to rid them of any potential infections.
• Get your seeds ahead of time.  Last year seeds were hard to find.  This year, we recommend you buy your seeds as soon as you can and keep them in a dark, cool place, or the refrigerator.
• Don't forget the soil.

As always, if you have any questions, call us at 403-938-4094.