Garden Wisdom Blog

Nitrogen is one of the three most important so-called “macronutrients” for the healthy growth of plants, along with its equally important cousins phosphorus and potassium. These three elements are the central components of most fertilizers, and they form the N-P-K ratio that is shown on fertilizer packaging. A good, balanced, organic fertilizer for general garden use might have an N-P-K ratio of 4-4-4, as does the outstanding All Purpose Blend from Gaia Green. One of the most common problems we hear about in the garden, and not just from beginners, is the presence of too much nitrogen. This element is...

The spicy corn and kohlrabi dish hails from northern India, but steps away from the typical, sauce-heavy curries. The sweetness from the corn is balanced perfectly by the chilies, salt, and lemon juice. It can be made less spicy by removing the seeds and pith from the chilies, or more spicy at the end by adding a touch of cayenne powder. Serve with rice or naan. 4 cloves garlic, chopped 2cm (1”) of ginger, chopped 2 green chilies (like Sureño), chopped 5mL (1 tsp) white vinegar 60mL (4 Tbsp) water 20mL (4 tsp) peanut oil (or substitute canola oil) 5mL...

Kohlrabi and Potato Subji is a Punjabi vegetarian dish that makes an excellent vegetable side, but it’s rich and spicy enough to feature as a main course. It may even improve by cooking it the night before and reheating. We even liked it served cold. The mild and tender pieces of kohlrabi and potato are coated in a delicious and spicy seasoning mix. 15-30mL (1-2 Tbsp) avocado oil (or substitute with olive or canola oil) 2 medium onions, diced 6 cloves garlic, crushed 2cm (1”) of ginger, minced 2 green chilies (like Sureño), crushed 15-30mL (1-2 tsp) cumin seeds 10mL...

The wildflower seeds in our Xeriscape blend are intended for planting in any area where drought is likely during summer. Xeriscaping is landscaping with water conservation in mind, so once they are established, these plants will not require regular watering except for regular rainfall. It’s important to keep them watered during the early part of the season until the seedlings are well established. Here’s a list of our Xeriscape Wildflower Blend ingredients. Bird’s Eyes (Gilia tricolor) Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata) Blazing Star (Mentzelia lindleyi) Blue Flax (Linum perenne) California Bluebell (Phacelia campanularia) California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) Deerhorn Clarkia (Clarkia pulchella) Greenthread...

The wildflower seeds in the Hummingbird Blend are selected for the abundant nectar their mature flowers produce. These lure native and migratory hummingbirds to the garden to fuel up naturally. Grow them en masse or in a long strip down the length of your garden, and hummingbirds will become downright territorial over the generous (and colourful) wildflowers. We hope you can make use out of this list of Hummingbird Wildflower Blend ingredients. Columbine, giant (Aquilegia caerulea) Dwarf Spurred Snapdragon (Linaria maroccana) Four O’Clocks (Mirabilis jalapa) Gayfeather (Liatris spicata)Standing Cypress (Ipomopsis rubra) Lemon mint (Monarda citriodora)Lupine 'Pink Fairy' (Lupinus elegans) Perennial Lupine...