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2018 – The Year of the Beet!
The National Garden Bureau has named the Beet Vegetable of the year for 2018. Are you growing beets this year? Why? Why not? West coast gardeners struggle with this one because it needs at least balanced pH to thrive. Some gardeners find they are brown in the middle and don’t store well. These are both soil problems. Find out more about growing beets here and learn why one new variety isn’t new at all but it is special.
What Are Your Doing in Your Garden Today?
Since I started tracking how and when I plant my garden I have noticed growing garden awareness. I now know my garden grows about six butternut squash per plant per year and my family only eats one winter squash a month, year-round. So I only need two butternut squash. Have you started tracking your garden hits and misses? It’s time!
Handsome Homemade Wreaths
Continue adding bundles of greens on top of the willow or grape frame as you move around the edge. Always keep greens on the top half. You don’t want some greens under the ring or it won’t lay flat on your wall.
Guest Blog: Lessons Learned Growing onions, a long-season crop
The season for growing onions, shallots and leeks is fast approaching. Al Chomica, a home gardener in Nanoose, has shared his success in this blog post. Personally, I do great with leeks, shallots and garlic but the big white or yellow onions have been smaller than I like and I still have to buy onions for cooking in winter and spring.
Al shares his onion expertise here in a guest blog… Let me know what you think. I also included some info from a Calgary grower, Dawn Sharpe, who also does an amazing job with onions. If you are growing in a cooler climate, see the bottom of this article where Dawn weighs in with his timelines and varieties for the prairies.
Where: Alcove Homegrown Living (Memorial Drive, Qualicum Beach)
When: March 31, 2018
Meet the Maker
Meet the Author at Alcove Homegrown Living in Qualicum Beach, March 31 2018 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Have you started growing yet this year? This is a Special Chance to meet me in person in Qualicum Beach at the coolest shop in town on Memorial Drive right beside the shoe store. Bring your garden questions and lets chat about your garden and my new (and old) book!
Under Cover: Lemons in Canada in the Fall
My recent video is based on the good work of Bob Duncan at Fruit Trees and More in Saanich, B.C., Canada. Bob showed me his set-up four years ago. He has been inspiring gardeners to grow lemons and limes for years and a couple of years ago when we last spoke, he harvested 120 lemons per tree, in February. Of course we modified his efforts because we don’t have an acreage or a likely hot spot.
