African Violets have been much loved as houseplants since Victorian plant hunters first encountered them growing in Tanzania. They are incredibly diverse, but excellent for indoor growing. They are generally undemanding and thrive best in dappled light.
Continue ReadingAll over North America, people are deciding to replace their traditional grass lawns with other low-growing, less demanding plants. Traditional lawn grasses form thatch, a thick, tough, almost impermeable layer of root mass. These grasses are selected for their shallow roots and for their rugged ability to stand up to foot traffic and other stresses.
Continue ReadingPotatoes, just like other vegetables, flower in the summer. If the flowers are pollinated, small fruits can form that look like tiny tomatoes. If the fruits mature, they can develop seeds. In most cases, the genetics of potato seeds are not predictable, and may produce undesirable traits. In this case, the seeds are hybrids that have been carefully produced by plant breeders, so they will produce consistent results.
Continue ReadingChickpeas require 90-100 days to mature. Start them indoors approximately 4 weeks before the last average frost date. Optimal soil temperature: 10°C (50°F). Seeds sprout in 14-21 days depending on conditions.
Continue ReadingThe component seeds in our wildflower mixes are carefully selected using a number of criteria. We select for variety of colour, for length of bloom time, for uniform height, and overall performance. We also consider longevity a key selling point...
Continue ReadingSince you cannot purchase shelling peas or edible pod peas that are freshly picked, this is one vegetable every home garden should have. The peas in the pod taste sweetest right after they have been picked (while you’re still in...
Continue ReadingExposure: Full sun to partial shade: At least 4 hours of directs sunlight daily. Zone: 3-10 Timing Sow once the soil has a steady minimum temperature of 10°C (50°F). Try to avoid planting during periods of prolonged hot weather. The...
Continue ReadingCloud Grass, a species of bentgrass, forms a diaphanous hazy mist in late summer when its delicate, tiny flowers spread out in all directions. It is useful to know some tips on how to grow cloud grass. General Annual Latin...
Continue ReadingThis would-be gum tree is usually grown as an annual. It’s peculiar round leaves are the perfect grey-blue colour to add contrast to cut flower bouquets. With enough protection from winter extremes, it will grow to 7m (22′) tall. Here...
Continue ReadingKnown as Sea Holly as it thrives in the sandy, well drained soil near seashores. The seeds of Eryingium can be tricky to germinate, but if you follow our How to Grow Eryngium instructions, you should have good success. General...
Continue ReadingThe roots of this shrub have been harvested for centuries as a medicine and flavouring for sweets. Liquorice is easy to grow and manage once it is established, but it should probably be left to grow for three years before...
Continue ReadingCumin is used in nearly all cuisines of the world. It is commercially grown in North Africa and West Asia, but if it’s given a head start and a warm summer, it will be productive in gardens as cool as...
Continue ReadingThis fast-growing member of the marigold family can be started indoors or by direct sowing in the garden. Learn more about how to grow Mexican tarragon in the useful guidelines below. Latin Tagetes lucida Family: Asteraceae Difficulty Easy Season &...
Continue ReadingGrow Sisyrinchium once, and the common name of Blue-Eyed Grass will make complete sense. The leaves of this low growing perennial are quite grass-like, and in summer it comes alive with very delicate blue flowers that seem to appear out...
Continue ReadingGrow caraway for its intensely scented seeds or as a parsnip-like root vegetable. It will manage in partial shade, but grow in full sun if harvesting the seeds is the intent. Caraway will thrive in nearly any reasonable soil, but...
Continue ReadingSesame is commercially produced in desert settings, so when we say it’s drought tolerant, we really mean it. In fact, this is really the key to success with sesame seeds, as we will outline in the following guide on how...
Continue ReadingHorseradish belongs in the perennial food garden. Once the plants are established, they can be harvested at any time of the year, and the flavour is particularly good in winter, when cold temperatures bring out a sweetness in the roots....
Continue ReadingThis is a challenging plant to grow, even for experienced and professional gardeners. With other kinds of poppies, one can just sprinkle the seeds and a few weeks later, like magic, the flowers appear. This is not the case with...
Continue ReadingLearn how to grow culantro in the home herb garden for a never-ending supply of sharply flavoured leaves. This herb is so widely used around the world that it goes by many names: Shado beni, chardon béni, bandhaniya, samat, alcapate,...
Continue ReadingA relative of catnip in the mint family, catmint does not trigger the kitten-like behaviour in cats the same way catnip does. Although cats might graze on Nepeta leaves and flowers, it tends to not make them go crazy afterward....
Continue ReadingGeneral This dependable perennial blooms from late summer into fall with numerous bright yellow pin-cushion flowers atop tall stems. It looks superb in mass plantings, or planted between clumps of Crocosmia. Latin Helenium autumnale Family: Asteraceae Difficulty Easy Season &...
Continue ReadingGeneral Perennial Ratibida is also known as Prairie Coneflower and Mexican hat. It is native over a wide range in North America, from the Canadian south to the north of Mexico. It is closely related to Rudbeckia. Latin Ratibida columnifera...
Continue ReadingIt may seem counter-intuitive for a gardener to actually plant what must be the world’s commonest weed. But dandelions have lots of culinary potential, they feed pollinators, and they cultivate the soil with their long taproots. Latin Tarataxacum officinale Family:...
Continue ReadingLemongrass is a tropical grass that thrives in summer heat. It is well suited to container growing, and ideal for greenhouse cultivation. It can be grown as a perennial in our climate, but care must be taken to control moisture...
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