Find expert tips on germinating seeds, soil mixes, pumpkin growing, tree trimming and information on 30,000 plants
In 2024, the Southern Hemisphere has broken two pumpkin records this year: one in Queensland, Australia, and another in South Africa. In the Northern Hemisphere, seed auctions have started, and some growers are germinating their seeds. We wish you luck in the 2024 pumpkin growing season. On October 9, 2023, Travis Gienger from Anoka, Minnesota, set the world record for […]
A seed is an embryo plant and contains virtually all the materials and energy to start off a new plant. To get the most from one’s seeds it is needful to understand a little about their needs so that just the right conditions can be given for successful growth. One of the most usual causes of failures with seed is […]
Tulips are the gardener’s pot of gold Remember your old “magic set” and the wonderfully colored brews you mixed? And the surprises, and the fun? Today you’ll find there’s greater magic in tulips and even more gorgeous and beautiful colors packed away in their sleek brown bulbs. To work this new magic, think of the happiest flower colors and the prettiest combinations you ever […]
Although the outdoor landscape may be bleak right now, the greenhouse industry has found a way to bring spring into our homes. And that’s by fooling tulips and other spring flowers into blooming early indoors. The cut tulips you find at your florist shop, local greenhouse, and supermarket this time of year are “forced” tulips that were grown in greenhouses […]
September is the time to plant spring blooming bulbs. Tulips, Daffodils or Narcissus, Grape Hyacinths, Squill and Crocuses are the ones that grow well in Central Alberta. These bulbs need to be planted early in the fall, to give them enough time to develop a good root system, before the ground freezes solid. Careful consideration must be given to the […]
Although bulbs, corms and tubers carry their own food supply it is only good for one year at most and if you wish to have flowers year after year it is essential that they should be well fed. This is especially true of the highly-bred hyacinths, tulips and crocuses and some of the smaller irises. Always prepare the whole of […]
The flower that most often comes to mind, when we think of Easter, is the Easter lily. But there are others as well, all with rather interesting origins. Did you know that the Easter lily’s true name is Bermuda lily? It is a pure white flower, believed to symbolize purity. Coming from one bulb, the flower is said to represent […]
A perennial plant dies back to the ground every fall and grows from existing roots each spring. The longevity of each perennial differs with some being as short as 3 years while others last over 100 years. Transplanting or dividing these plants should be done in the early spring or fall. At this time the year, the temperature is cool […]
Ornamental bulb plants, commonly known as flower bulbs, are charming plants that are admired by gardeners. They owe their popularity to their vivid colours and the magnificent scents they excrete. Parallel leaf venation and limited branching of the overground shoots are characteristic for this group of plants. The majority of bulbous flowering plants bloom in the summer, although there are […]
Problems with Flowers Roses Bulbs and corms Dahlias Heathers Shrubs and conifers Bedding plants Herbaceous borders Sweet peas Hanging baskets Tubs and similar containers (a) ROSES Q. Some of my yellow varieties of bush Hybrid Tea roses die in winter. Why is this and can anything be done about it? A. Some yellow varieties like Lydia are not as winter […]
Flowering Bulbs A bulb is a specialized form of underground bud containing, in an undeveloped condition, the rudiments of all parts of the complete flowering plant which will develop from it. These include the flower bud and foliage leaves, which are mounted on a thick flat stem bearing the beginnings of the roots on its lower surface. In addition, the […]
The main outdoors planting season for bulbs, corms and tubers are in the fall with bulbs on sale from mid-August to late November. Lilies have a very long growing season and, if they have had to be transported over great distances, may not arrive in time for the fall selling season. Buy them as soon as they arrive and plant […]