Garden Wisdom Blog

Beets, like many root vegetables are biennials, which, if not harvested, will bloom in the second year of growth. One of the interesting facts about beets is they are closely related to Swiss chard, which can easily be seen by the similarity in their leaf structure and the intense colour of the petioles, or stems. In botany, garden beets are differentiated from sugar beets and mangelwurzel beets through a complicated series of subspecies and variety names. Sugar beets have a very high concentration of sucrose, and are grown for processing into table sugar. Mangelwurzel beets are typically grown as animal...

When asked the question, “What are genetically engineered seeds?” we explain that scientists can now bypass the traditional breeding methods of manipulating plant characteristics. Rather than cross-breeding plants, they can work directly with plant DNA — the genetic code containing the blueprint for all characteristics. Scientists can now take pieces of this code with the qualities they want and insert them into any cell. Genetic modification of seeds primarily occurs to make plants resistant to herbicides or pesticides. The field can then be sprayed, leaving the modified plants unharmed. This process is used mainly in crops grown on an industrial...

As the growing season shifts to winter mode, your attention turns to protecting your food plants and flower beds and baskets for as long as possible. You watch for the first signs frost, which sneaks in on a clear windless autumn night. Fog or cloud cover tends to prevent a frost by trapping the heat that would otherwise escape skyward. Frost occurs when temperatures drop to just below freezing. Why all this frost watch diligence? Frost causes ice crystals to form in plant cells and thereby damages the cell walls. Leaves then shrivel and turn brown or black and the...

Planting a Bumblebee Garden by Brian Campbell Why garden for Bumble Bees? Bumblebees are a keystone species. This means much of our ecological system hinges on the survival of bumblebees. Not just native plants rely on these furry pollinators, but also many other organisms; over 250 insect species use bumblebee colonies for one or more of their life stages. We may not understand the contribution they make to our well-being but certainly without them we would notice big changes in plant and animal life. All bee species are in decline around the world. Bumblebees are no exception. Research in Britain...

Some winter crop protection to protect from cold, wind, and snow will certainly increase success for winter gardeners. We recommend the use of raised beds whenever possible, as they provide extra drainage, and will warm faster in brief winter sunny periods. Raised beds are easy to modify for use with cloche greenhouses, wind protection, and heavy row cover. Used in combination, these methods can ensure a bountiful harvest of fresh vegetables all winter long. Even just planting against a south-facing wall can offer enough reflected/radiant heat and wind protection for many winter vegetables. Our customers have spoken of brushing snow...