Category Archives: Vegetable Planting Guide

5 Tips on Growing Vegetables in Calgary

2009 Vegetable Garden Boxes

Image by Jeff Cushner via Flickr

Calgary can require slightly different vegetable gardening preparations, depending on your location–check www.rentcalgary.com for a geographical map. Here are some tips for growing vegetables in Calgary.

  1. The farther north you are located, the earlier you will need to make your preparations when planting vegetables in your home garden. Early spring is the best time to begin your home vegetable garden. You want to make sure the roots are growing strong before winter sets in (particularly in the Evergreens).
  2. Try to choose a site that slopes south or southwest for optimal sun exposure.
  3. Most, if not all, vegetables will need to be started indoors and transplanted outside. You will be waiting to avoid the frost from damaging your vegetable seedlings. As soon as the frost has passed and the ground can be worked, get to it!
  4. You may even want to consider buying a mini greenhouse or using cold frames to extend the warm-weather season, especially if you are farther north.
  5. Consider adding mulch to your garden to try to extend the season and soil warmth as long as possible. Black and clear polyethylene are the two most common forms. Black is better at preventing weed growth, but clear is better at raising soil temperature.

How to Grow Raspberry Bushes

A close-up of a single raspberry on a bush.
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I was just picking fresh raspberries growing from some wild raspberry bushes in my backyard. They are fresh and delicious, making me wish I had planted some fruit bushes so I could tend them and get a maximum yield, as some of those poor berries were looking rough and I noticed quite a few pests made  homes on the undersides of the raspberry canes.

You can grow two types of raspberry bushes you can grow — summer and fall ones. Summer varieties wield the most fruit, however. Raspberries come in a red, yellow-gold, purple and black variety.

Planting Raspberry Canes

Raspberry fruit bushes get really tall, so there are a few extra supplies you are going to need:

  • wooden posts
  • galvanized wire
  • raspberry canes (a hardwood clipping of the plant stalk)

Create a tiered framework of galvanized wires with posts that are 2.5, 3.5 and 5.25 feet above ground. Place the posts up to 12 feet apart.

Plant the raspberry canes 18 inches apart in early Spring, or late Fall-early Winter. Cut the raspberry bushes to 9 to 12 inches in height after planting, right above a healthy bud. Make sure you do not plant the raspberry canes upside down.

Harvesting Raspberries

You can harvest ripe raspberries growing from your raspberry bush by Gently tugging the base of the berry, leaving the stalk still attached to the raspberry bush. You will know the raspberries are ripe when they are fully colored, but still firm to the touch.

Freeze the raspberries right away by placing them in the freezer until frozen, and then transfer the berries to a container or freezer bag. Choose slightly under-ripened raspberries for freezing.

 

PS – I Party Here!

Are Plants Poisonous to Cats?

Are the plants in your home vegetable garden or flower terrace are dangerous for  an  outdoor cat? And if so, what are the toxic plants that can cause illness in an otherwise healthy cat?

Cats love to walk in the garden: they scratch the earth, they rake their claws on tree trunks; but, mostly they have the annoying habit of eating the young leaves of your precious plants, mainly in the spring. When the leaves are not to their liking, they spit. But sometimes you may end up with a vomiting cat–or even worse–cat diarrhea to clean up!

While most garden plants are harmless to pets and especially cats, there are still a few plants that can be toxic, requiring cat allergy treatment, especially if ingested in large quantities.

List of garden plants dangerous to cat and kitten health:

1. Sap (latex) highly irritating that can cause serious kidney damage

Dieffenbachia
Philodendron
Ficus
Poinsettia

2. Bulbs, leaves, fruits and toxic

Bulbs and leaves of narcissus, daffodils, amaryllis.
Bulbs of tulips and hyacinths.
Leaves, flowers and fall berries thrush. Ditto for the water in the vase!

3. All parts of azaleas and rhododendrons are poisonous to cats.

4. Onions, shallots, parsley, and cocoa will cause cat health problems.

*Beware also that pesticides used to treat plants are often more dangerous than the plant itself!

Call your local cat hospital or veterinarian should your cat exhibit any symptoms after ingesting plants in your home garden.

5 Steps to Success with Your Kitchen Composter

Composting transforms yard waste and kitchen scraps into a valuable product for vegetable garden fertilizer. Here are 5 basic rules for a successful organic compost:

1. Place the kitchen composter in a light shade and sheltered from the wind; protect the compostumbler from rain.
2. Mix the green material nitrogen (1) and brown carbonaceous materials (2) or place them in successive thin layers (like a lasagna). Stir two parts brown materials for each unit of green materials.
3. Stir the organic compost pile occasionally to aerate it.
4. Periodically check the moisture content of your garden composter: The organic compost’s texture should look like a wet sponge when squeezed.
5. Water it, or add green material if it is too dry, stir in the brown soil or when material is too wet.

The compost is ready after months (from 4 months to a year).

Mature organic compost has a consistent look, a dark color and a smell of undergrowth.

(1) Substances containing nitrogen or “green” weeds (without seeds), dead flowers, fruit and vegetable scraps, etc..

(2) carbonaceous materials or “brown” shredded leaves, straw, wood shavings (untreated), etc..

Materials to avoid:

bones, dairy products, oils, meat, fish, diseased plants or infested materials treated with pesticides, pet beds.

Container Gardening with Window Boxes

Another form of container gardening with vegetable plants for those who live in areas with limited yard space, or those who just love the look, is window boxes. Another bonus is the ease of reaching these cute little flower boxes from inside of your window. You do not want to over-water your windowbox-vegetable garden. Root vegetables, especially, do not require much tending, making them easy for busy or novice vegetable gardeners. Continue reading

Must Have Gardening Tools

As in various types of work, the right gardening device will make your task of growing vegetables simpler, and this truth remains correct to your backyard too. There are so many equipment choices, standard and modern, that are an integral part of the gardener’s toolbox. Even so, some equipment is definitely more beneficial than the various others and the back garden just can’t be accomplished without having these integral vegetable gardening tools.

Shovels

These kind of horticulture tools have a very spherical or sharp edge. They help the gardener to maneuver, drill down, gap or perhaps even during entire process of growing. You must, in addition, try to select a shovel with a flat border near the top edge of the shovel’s blade. This helps the base make better turns in the soil.

Hoes

Undesirable weeds will always be your garden nemesis, and they’re a well known fact associated with gardening lifestyle. An individual can’t only get off these people; nevertheless hoes aid you in getting rid of of them. It’s also possible to utilize a hoe to break-up the vegetable garden soil, as required. Your current selection of the vegetable gardening hoe must be dependent on the strength, so try going for a rolled-steel bladed hoe which has been riveted up to its handle. This kind of hoe is more reputable and sturdy.

Hoes using a scaled-down blade will allow you to go in between your vegetable plant life, as appropriate, and clear out the weed growth.

Trowels

A new trowel can be a vegetable gardening tool that can provide enormous support in the course of planting vegetables. If you’re looking with regard to durability, and a lot individuals are, then the steel-bladed trowel may be the choice for you. Should you be looking to have an straightforward grip then pick a trowel with a gentle silicone handle. In case gardening will be your enthusiasm, and you prefer to devote an enormous effort into your home vegetable garden, you would prosper to have trowels that has an ergonomic design, to save strain on your wrist.

Rakes

Rakes might be a huge help in getting  rid of the autumn leaves in your yard and also allow you to gather all of the other debris that may collect in the vegetable garden. You can work with a slim rake or a wider rake. With a slim rake, it’s simpler to navigate around and in between the vegetable plants, and a wider rake will get pick up all of the autumn leaves quickly and easily. So, it is better if you might have each type of rake and also here yet again, decide on gardening rakes with an ergonomic design.

Pruners

That is just one more horticulture tool that a vegetable gardener can not do with out. A pruner helps the operation of shaping the area around your vegetable plants, their particular pruning, as well as dead-heading that goes on all year round. Thus, if you want a better cut around the vegetable plants, pruners are what you need. Pruners do not tear split the vegetable plant.

Typically, there’s 2 different types of pruners you could select–the bypass pruners and the anvil pruners. Pruners might be costly, so take care in choosing your pruners. You may want to compare prices or watch for sales.

Garden Forks

If you wish to breakup the garden dirt, then the garden fork is the better bet. Over pitch forks, garden forks tend to be thicker and smaller. Don’t select types with flat tines; instead opt for ones who have square tines. You may utilize a gardening fork in lieu of a new spade when it’s in the appropriate shape and size.

Watering Cans

A great watering can is essential in your home vegetable garden.  if you’re your extremely pleased who owns a garden. A fantastic sprinkling may makes it much simpler that you should normally water your own vegetation with a hose. Watering cans come in different shapes and sizes that make it comfortable for anyone when tilting in awkward areas to sprinkle vegetable plants, such as when you are container gardening.

I have listed a number of the basic gardening tools which are widely utilized in a home vegetable garden. There are many additional vegetable gardening tools and supplies available out there, but these are the basics a beginner should have when growing vegetables.

Growing Vegetables & Fruit Trees in an EarthBox : Growing Papayas

Greenhouse Gardening Tips

BEIJING - JUNE 05: A labourer plants flowers i...
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Greenhouse gardening can be accomplished in a greenhouse environment as one can grow exotic plants with beautiful foliage, exquisite flowers and can also take on practical functions. One can start summer annuals and growing vegetables from seeds in the early spring (or fall) and then have well established seedlings to plant outdoors when the weather warms up. In greenhouse gardening, the vegetable gardener can also increase his plant collection by propagation of new vegetable plants from cuttings and creating new species and even grow small greenhouse vegetables to maturity.

With proper climate and sunlight supply in the greenhouse, specialized plants such as the tropical plants can be grown under a controlled environment and the greenhouse gardener can master the art of how he can grow just about any plant he chooses at any time of the year.

In greenhouse gardening, two locations are most favored for greenhouse sections, which should contain many vegetable plants. One is at ground level against a wall with adequate sunlight supply; and the other on an upper level enclosing an existing porch or balcony. A north-facing location I best for very hot areas where there’s plenty of light but less heat. Southern, eastern, and western exposures are better in coastal and other cooler areas and are suitable in hot areas if certain precautions are taken. To modify the amount of heat and light entering the greenhouse windows is by coating the walls and roof with a heat-reflecting material such as whitewash, covering with transparent film, putting up shades and ventilating the room.

Another best site for greenhouse gardening too is when there is good daily light throughout the year, adheres to code buildings, giving plants the optimum growing conditions, protection from chronic weather conditions such as strong winds and heavy snow and rainfall and especially letting the vegetable gardener works conveniently the whole year round planting vegetables with presentation of the most pleasant appearance in the landscape.

Enjoy your greenhouse plants by boiling, baking or eating them raw! Use a vegetable or carrot juicer and make healthy vegetable juices or smoothies!

Growing Onions

Red onions
Image via Wikipedia

Growing Onions

Onions are grown from small bulbs.  As untreated onion sets could flower prematurely, your best option would be to buy heat treated sets. Plant onions in mid-spring.

Worker soil down to a fine tilth. Add some organic compost from your kitchen composter or at least some fertilizer.

Drill holes in the soil that are only as deep as required for just the very top of the onion bulb to show through the soil.  You want to space the onion bulbs at least 2 to 4 inches apart in rows that are 10 inches apart.  If your soil is very light, you may not need to drill holes.  You may just be able to push the onion bulb gently into the soil with the top showing.  The reason you cannot do this when you have heavy soil is because the soil at the base of the onion set becomes compacted, which makes it hard for any roots to penetrate into it.

Water your onion sets immediately after planting them–especially in dry weather–and weed the area on a frequent basis for optimal conditions for growing vegetables.  Heat treated onion sets may sprout a little slower than untreated sets, but they will catch up.

Regularly check your onion sets in train any dead leaves at the tip of the set, as birds can be a problem and dead leaves will make a handy handle for the birds to latch onto.

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Blueberry Plant 101

Blueberry
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The blueberry (Vaccinium L.) plant can be found and grown throughout most North American regions. Many blueberry plants do not yield harvestable fruit for the first three years or so. According to the University of Rhode Island Landscape Horticulture Program, blueberries help lower blood cholesterol levels, prevent urinary tract infections and may even inhibit cancer.

Blueberries thrive in an environment that has temperatures no lower than 20 degrees Fahrenheit. You may need to test the soil prior to planting the blueberries to ensure there are proper soil conditions. The US Highbush Blueberry council recommends planting blueberries in acidic soil ranging from a pH of 5.5 to 6.5 and an acidity of 4.09 and 5.0. Many local gardening centers sell soil testing kits or can perform a test for a small fee.

Plant the blueberries approximately 4 to 5 feet apart in a location that has full sunlight and ample water drainage. Allow approximately 10 feet in between rows, in order to have space for tending to the plants. Ammonium sulfate or an acidic 10-20-10 mixture can optionally be added as a fertilizer. Blueberries have shallow roots and you should aim for one or two inches of water per week, taking care not to over-water the bushes.

Prune flower blossoms that appear on the blueberry bushes, even during the first few years when there is no fruit to harvest. This will help encourage plant growth. Blueberries should be pruned around March, removing any dead parts of the plant and keeping the plant thinned out to allow ample sunlight to the middle of the bush. A blueberry plant with too many fruit blossoms may yield an abundance of small fruit. Most blueberry plants cannot self-pollinate, so you may want to consider planting a different variety of blueberry plants so they can cross-pollinate with each other.

References:

University of Rhode Island Landscape Horticulture Program – http://www.uri.edu/ce/factsheets/sheets/blueberry.html

The US Highbush Blueberry Council – http://www.blueberry.org/gardening.htm

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How to Start Growing Vegetables With Indoor Gardening

indoor gardening -cucumbers
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Some people think that vegetable gardening can only be accomplished outside in a garden. What if I could tell you that you can plant a home vegetable garden no matter where you live?  So why do people consider indoor gardening? Planting vegetables indoors has now become so popular for the following reasons: environmental concern, beautification, the desire to “get back to earth”, the availability for a large number of hours in hobbies and recreation, increasing numbers of retired individuals who has more time to rekindle their interests with plants which is so therapeutic and finally, the high cost of living interest to grow vegetables and herbs indoors. Pretty much any type of root and leafy vegetable can be grown indoors, including tomatoes. Continue reading

Should I Grow Greenhouse Plants?

Mini indoor greenhouse
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Vegetable gardening is one of my favorite hobbies and when I actually get the time, I work on my home vegetable garden and mini greenhouse plants. At my house, there is a small raised bed vegetable garden in my backyard where I have recently been growing vegetables. I have grown a few different types of vegetables such as peas, tomatoes, different types of beans, spinach, lettuce and eggplant, all of which also make wonderful greenhouse plants. I have been planting vegetables in this spot because the garden soil and climate of the vegetable garden are perfect for these vegetable plants.

Continue reading

Information on Growing Potatoes

Potato plant. To ensure continuing worldwide a...
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Early potatoes can be planted in place of main crop to save space in your vegetable garden or for container gardening. Potato foliage is sensitive to frost, so time vegetable planting for growing potatoes well, depending on your location. Potatoes will sprout through the soil approximately two to three weeks after sowing. Potatoes are an excellent way to begin to grow your own vegetables:

Potatoes–sometimes referred to as tubers–are a must have addition to your vegetable garden.  You should grow your potatoes from seed potatoes that are not buy it at a grocery store, as those potatoes could carry viruses.  Place your potatoes when equal windowsill until they sprout–also called “chitting”–before transplanting them outside into your home vegetable garden.   Potatoes that are cold stored can be planted in summer to be harvested in the fall.

  • Plant potato seeds in an egg carton and place them on a cool and light garden window to allow the potatoes to sprout chits. Make sure the shoots are facing upwards out of the egg carton.
  • Prepare the soil and place potatoes in rows that are 18 inches apart to allow for easy access. If you choose to transplant, the chitted tubers will sprout through the soil faster than seeds.
  • Use a draw hoe to draw wide drills. Alternatively, use a trowel and make individual holes. Plant the potatoes 5 inches deep. Chitted tubers should be very carefully placed with the shoots facing up. The shoots are extremely fragile and can break easily. If the chit has not sprouted yet, place the potatoes rose end up. The first shoots are a dark blue or dark green.
  • Consider transplanting cane and bush soft fruit (IE raspberries and black currants) around the same time as you are growing potatoes, which is in early spring.
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Garden fencing- Why it’s so important for vegetable gardening

Any experienced grower will see that the growing vegetables is an art. That also applies to garden infrastructure, like fencing. Fencing provides a structured layout and vegetable garden and also provides a range of other features which make life easier for growers.

Fencing, basics

The fundamental role of fencing is protective. Garden fencing provides shelter for the growing and fruiting processes. Vegetables like tomatoes can suffer badly from exposure to the elements, and even tough almost indestructible vegetables like potatoes can suffer from environmental conditions.

Fencing is also a good way of organizing your garden into different microclimates. Solid fencing can provide excellent protection of vulnerable plants, and something as basic as a small picket fence can provide valuable through drafts for others. Wire fences are excellent for keeping out animals and a wooden frame, mesh fence is a good way of creating an enclosed area for special crops.

Standalone “wrap-around” chicken wire fencing can be used for almost anything, and all it needs is a few steel posts to keep it upright. This type of fencing can be adapted to any growing situation, including turning the chicken wire fencing into a little protective domes for seedlings and other vulnerable plants. If you also wraparound clear plastic film around the fencing, you can create a miniature hothouse instantly, but almost no expense. These fencing materials are reusable again and again, and can easily be adapted to any kind of gardening situation.

Vegetable gardening, fencing and supports

In some cases, with a bit of modification fencing can also be used as a good growing medium and support base for trellises for climbing plants, and it looks fantastic. Anyone who’s seen a fence covered in passion flowers or climbing peas will understand the almost mystic visual effect of this sort of “three-dimensional gardening”.

This is actually also very good use of space, and creates additional growing options where space is limited. Climbing vegetables also provide additional environmental protection, and when flowering are excellent for attracting pollinators.

Fencing and garden amenities

If you have even modest handyman skills, fences can be used to provide a space for built-in hanging pots of herbs, for example, or any other sort of small plant that might be vulnerable is grown on the ground among bigger, vigorous plants. You can also use fences as supports for overhanging shade cloth and as walls for enclosed garden areas.

Fencing contractors and garden fencing

If you have a large area to fence off, it’s a good idea to get professional assistance. Garden fencing has many uses, but one of the downsides is fencing maintenance. Maintenance problems are usually caused by inadequate fencing supports, soil characteristics or even simply being on a slope.

It’s critically important that any garden fence, when installed, is properly bedded and stable. On many garden sites, this really is a job for experts, and your local fencing contractors will be able to help out. Although this may involve spending a little money, the last thing you need during growing and harvesting seasons is fencing problems, and this will be money well spent.

Your garden fence is a major asset. Just consider for a while what you may be able to do with your fence, and you’ll see almost endless possibilities.

Spring and Summer Vegetable Gardens

Harvested summer radishes.
Image via Wikipedia

Spring
Your spring vegetable garden has an array of possibilities that you can plant and keep busy at within your garden during these early sometimes wet months of the year. The weather is cooler than that of the summer months but is considerably warmer than the winter you have just emerged from–which is perfect for container gardening. Peas are a perfect vegetable to start planting and getting ready, as well as leafy vegetables like lettuce, perennial vegetables such as rhubarb and asparagus and beets, mustard, onions, radishes and spinach. Asparagus for example is one of a few vegetables that you can plant once and then see return year after year without the need for you to plant over and over again. Most people when they think of spring they think of lambs, Chinese bonsai, snowdrops and of course these delicious vegetables which taste completely different when hand picked from your garden rather than bought from the store. Continue reading