Garden Wisdom Blog

Dill (Anethum graveolens) This well-known herb has been cultivated since at least 3000 BC by the ancient Babylonians and Assyrians, and is mentioned more than once in the Bible. Dill was thought by medieval writers to provide protection from evil and enhance aphrodisiac potions. It has been cultivated in England since 1570, and used to be much more popular than it is today. Originally, it grew wild from southern Russia down through the Middle East and Mediterranean area. The word “dill” comes from the Old Norse dilla, meaning “soothing,” via the Old English word dylle. As with celery, the Latin...

  The last average frost date for south coastal British Columbia is March 28. This is a handy reference point for all your garden planning. Basically, this is the month gardeners in this region must use to get ready to take full advantage of the growing season ahead. Below is a list of seeds to start in March. By starting your seeds in March, they will be ready for transplanting into the garden by the time the nighttime temperatures have warmed up in May. Other seeds actually benefit from cool weather and the risk of frost, and they are shown...

One of the best things about working with seeds is the time we spend in seed trials, trying new varieties and comparing traits. We are completely spoiled by the multitude of fruits and vegetables that we grow, as well as the produce from local farms. Over the years I have adopted a list of what I consider to be the must-have, cannot-do-without seeds that have earned a place in my annual garden rotation. I’m always keen to try new varieties, and some of these are very recent additions. Tastes vary, of course, but I am often asked to make recommendations....

On this page we list the ingredients in our Butterfly Blend Wildflower Seeds mix. This blend was selected based on flowers that are particularly rich in nectar, and ones that naturally occur in North America, along butterfly migration routes. The benefit of planting wildflower mixes is that they greatly increase biodiversity wherever they are planted, and they have been shown to have a measurable positive impact on pollinator populations. Butterfly Blend Ingredients: Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata) Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) Candytuft (Iberis umbellata)China Aster (Callistephus chinensis)Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)Dwarf Godetia (Clarkia amoena)Dwarf Plains Coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria)...

Happy Chinese New Year! If you’re looking for a simple side dish for your Chinese New Year gathering, this is your ticket. This dish needs only a few ingredients, yet packs a ton of flavour. If you planted pac choi in your winter garden, grab a few from outside, sauté, and serve along rice and your favourite protein. Didn’t grow pac choi this past winter? Pac choi can be started outdoors in some regions as early as February. Learn when to grow pac choi with our regional planning charts, then make this savoury dish later in the season. Serves: 4...