We learn from our mistakes — sometimes! Last year I grew a couple of tuberous begonias after not having grown them for a number of years. I don’t like plants that demand a lot of care and tuberous begonias, although not terribly difficult to grow, do demand consistent attention and care. However, I was given
Getting tuberous begonias off to a good start
If the bulbs are potted in March you should have plenty of blooms in June
It’s time to start planting!
Not all seeds should be started yet indoors but there are some that can be planted now
It’s time! Mid-March, for avid gardeners, is like a bell ringing. We can begin to start some seeds indoors to establish plants for our outdoor gardens. Many of us have already ordered seeds from catalogues or visited seed houses that sell them. (I luckily live fairly close to a really reliable one that has been
Have a supply of herbs to use all winter
Frozen ones are good to use in cooked dishes but have some growing in pots too
We are still in the depths of winter even though the days are getting longer, so although cutting herbs from outdoor plants is out of the question, it is relatively easy to have a few herbs on hand indoors. All it takes is a bit of planning in the fall and/or a bit of preserving
Asparagus fern not a member of the asparagus family
Common name comes from the feathery, delicate-looking foliage
Many of the plants in my sunroom in the winter are ones that I use both indoors and out. Some of them are old tried-and-true favourites, such as the asparagus fern. These are dependable, easy-to-grow plants that can put on an attractive display of foliage. An asparagus fern is delicate looking (although it really isn’t)
Gardening projects to help get you through the winter
Here’s some things to keep you busy as you wait for spring to get outside to garden
You may think that you do not have the required space to enjoy indoor gardening but look around. Is there space in a spare bedroom for a light garden or at least room to put a table in front of a south- or west-facing window? Are there a few unoccupied windowsills? Is there space in
Getting to know the Senecio plant family
It’s a large one with approximately 100 succulent types in the genus
Sometimes I come across an unfamiliar plant and become so intrigued by it that I go home and research it. This happened last fall when I saw a display of Fishhooks Plant in a local garden centre. Fishhooks Plant is its common name; its botanical name is Senecio radicans. It belongs to a huge plant
Tired of winter? Looking for a challenging gardening project?
Try growing a zebra plant — not the easiest to care for but well worth the effort
Like many gardeners I heave a sigh of relief when February arrives, knowing that we are past the midway mark through winter. At this point we are also pretty tired of the season and looking for something to perk us up as we wait for spring. For some that may mean a warm holiday get-away,
Dreaming of gardens to come
Now is a good time to plan and dream about the 2019 garden
At this time of year we begin to dream about the summer gardens, and as seed catalogues arrive in the mail, we study them, looking with interest at the new varieties. Many horticultural organizations publish annual plant pick lists, the Perennial Plant Association being one of them. For 2019 it has chosen a perennial commonly
Looking for a low-maintenance indoor plant?
Succulents have the ability to hold large amounts of water in their tissues
Several of my gardening friends are very knowledgeable about plant classification and their Latin names and can identify the family name. This doesn’t interest me much but I do use this information quite frequently such as when researching a plant such as a succulent. Succulent is a term applied to plants which have the ability
Taking care of the winter birds
Providing the right conditions will help to attract them to your yard
It has been a few years since my wife and I have stayed in Manitoba for the winter but this year we are staying home. One result of this decision is that we will be able to enjoy the birds that frequent the feeders in our front yard. Winter birds are a real treat to
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
