Adding a heavier, more substantial all-purpose sterilized soil adds substance and “staying power” to potting mix.
Dear Helen: How can I increase moisture retention in the soil of my hanging baskets and patio pots? I used a commercial planting mix.Pot size is a first consideration. The larger the pot the easier it is to keep the soil adequately damp.
Dear Helen: I have read gardening advice to hold off removing mulching materials, preparing the soil and planting until overnight temperatures remain consistently above 10 C. This is to ensure the soil has warmed sufficiently. That did not happen until very recently. Do you follow this guideline?The general guideline of waiting to plant until overnight temperatures stay above 10 C applies to cold-sensitive flower and vegetable transplants like tomatoes, peppers, marigolds and zinnias.
Because of high temperatures arriving suddenly in May in recent years, I tend to push for the earliest possible sowings of all but the most heat-loving plants. The peas, carrots, beets and bok choy I seeded at the beginning of April are all up and growing. My hope was to get these plantings to a sturdy enough stage to stand up to high heat if it comes again this spring. As well, I have shade cloth on hand to protect heat sensitive plantings.
Tomato Day. The Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, 505 Quayle Rd., is hosting its annual Tomato Day sale of transplants for tomatoes, other vegetables and herbs on Saturday, May 18, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. New this year is a 10 a.m. Master Gardener presentation on growing tomatoes.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Helen Chesnut's Garden Notes: Much to enjoy in early April gardenTime to complete several major vegetable seedings and set up lengths of fencing to support later plantings
Read more »
Helen Chesnut's Garden Notes: If soil is too dry, too wet, arrowhead will flopArrowhead, like most plants, will do a nose dive if the soil has been allowed to dry. The same will happen if the soil is kept wet, which can set up rotting in the roots and subsequent plant collapse.
Read more »
Helen Chesnut's Garden Notes: Evergreen perennials retain foliage year roundOne example, Epimedium (barrenwort, bishop’s hat), forms dense carpets of heart-shaped leaves and delicate flowers like miniature columbines appear in spring.
Read more »
Helen Chesnut's Garden Notes: Pansies, violas among easiest transplants to grow from seedSeed pansies and violas indoors in late winter and in mid-July for transplants to bloom during autumn and winter before full flowering in spring.
Read more »
Helen Chesnut's Garden Notes: Cool temperatures curbed weedLast year saw a week-long heat wave in mid-May, followed by a long, dry period until significant rains began in mid-October. Let’s hope for less difficult growing conditions this year.
Read more »
Helen Chesnut: Plant sales have become spring traditionThe active growing season is fully upon us and that can mean only one thing: lots and lots of plant sales.
Read more »