gardens4everybody

As gardeners we have to adapt to the weather. We've been having wet weather and that can cause garlic to start to rot. We discuss how to manage this and save your harvest. We also discuss managing problems from dry or cold weather.

There are lots of different opinions on care of tomato plants- especially around pruning. We discuss some of the pros and cons of pruning and why you might decide to give it a go or not. We also discuss general care including staking the plants, mulching and watering. Oh and Fozzie decides to try to get out attention away from Tomatoes by licking us - oh dogs!

We love growing sweet and hot peppers and eggplants. They have such vibrant colours that looks great in the vegetable garden or even in garden borders. Harvesting and eating them at the end of the Summer is such a treat. Danielle Aldous shares some nutritional facts and then 2 great recipes. Charred vegetable and lentil Antipasto https://www.cookspiration.com/recipe.aspx?perma=QPiqLgsbPwe&g=18...

Maryanne and I discuss how to grow garlic starting from selecting the cloves to plant in October to harvesting the following July. The process starts with the correct depth of planting, and protecting the planted cloves over winter. In Spring the protection is removed and the plants are monitored. Around June scapes are harvested and in July the bulbs can be lifted. Then its time to store and eat...

Danielle explains why Kale is so good for us and also helps us to understand how to prepare it so the whole family will enjoy it. She even gets her teens to eat it so she knows what she's talking about. Try this wonderful Kale salad for yourself and fall in love with this under appreciated green. from leafwmc.com Southwestern Kale Salad

Danielle shares her nutritional knowledge of these essential flavour builders. We all love garlic but do you know why its so good for you as well as being delicious? She also shares great recipes you may never have tried. recipes from the Ontario garlic growers can be found at https://www.garlicgrowersofontario.com/recipes

Spring can be a busy time in any garden. Growing vegetables for the Barrhaven Food Cupboard we need to keep on top of clean up. repairs, planting and harvesting. We go through the different jobs discussing what went well and what didnt. More fun is the amazing food we can harvest in Spring. There's rhubarb and onions as some of the first crops. Get inspiration for your own garden.

This is always a fun task, Just thinking about what you might plant is so exciting, but first you have to create a bed. We discuss several easy ways to make a new garden bed.

Our third discussion with registered dietitian Danielle Aldous. We explore some of the ways to use rhubarb. Danielle shares a strawberry rhubarb cobbler recipe form the dairy farmers of Canada. We also discuss that Rhubarb is a vegetable and is very versatile and can be used in savoury recipes. Check out this link below for 18 surprisingly savoury recipes https://simplyfamilyrecipes.com/savory-rhu...

The second in our series with dietitian Danielle Aldous. This episode features cilantro, dill, basil and parsley. These herbs are easy to grow and so worth the flavour they add. The feature recipe is from Canadian Living and is a Cilantro-Jalapeno sauce https://www.canadianliving.com/food/appetizers-snacks/recipe/cilantro-jalapeno-sauce

This is the first of a series of talks on nutrition related to the plants we can grow in Ontario. We are delighted to share the expertise of Danielle Aldous a registered dietitian. In this episode we discuss the uses and benefits of Asparagus. Danielle also gives an excellent explanation of prebiotics. Danielle shares recipes in each of her episodes and the link to Spring Goddess Salad from the As...

This episode discusses the basics of removing dead branches. We plan a more in depth series on pruning in the Winter.

We discuss how to manage pests without pesticides. There's actually a lot you can do.

Preparing garden tools for the new season sounds a bit tedious, but it is important if you want them to work well. They don't need a lot of care but some basic tips will help them last longer and work better.

There are many views on what to do with the dead plant stalks and stems. Each gardener can decide for themselves but we discuss the benefits of leaving them one of which is its a lot less work.

How to care for the lawn in Spring. We break down the simple steps to look after your Spring lawn so it thrives through the year.

we discuss the pros and cons of whether to "No Mow" in the Spring. This movement to not Mow in May and sometimes in June started in the UK for various reasons that may not apply to the Canadian gardener.

We discuss what to do with the fall leaves that are on the lawn or garden beds. Hint once again we opt for the easy way out.

Attracting pollinators helps our plants be productive. Its also a lot of fun to observe insects and small animals. A great way to enjoy insects is to learn more about them. Try using the free App inaturalist . You can take a photo of any creature and get responses regarding identification from enthusiasts and experts. By using inaturalist we also help researchers as they can see the prevalence of...

We discuss the types of composting done by the City, a large community garden and in the backyard. There are many benefits to using compost so learning how to get free black gold is a neat trick.

Here we discuss how the climate we live in affects how we plant, but also we talk about the micro climate conditions that exist in our gardens and are important to be aware of so that we give each plant the best conditions for success, Tip that makes life easier in the long run. We also explain zones and how the plant label helps us check what will thrive in our own climate conditions.

Whether you started plants from seed or bought from the store , its time to plant outside. We focus on peppers , eggplant and tomatoes because we love them , but a lot of the principals apply to all plants.

you have a lovely seedling or a new plant to plant outside, it is hard to wait but giving them a gradual introduction to their new home outside will improve survival.

Maryanne shares her knowledge of soil structure. We explain that Organic matter is derived from living organisms that decay and add nutrients to the soil.

We talk about the history and touch on principals of permaculture. This method of growing sounds new but like most good things is old- actually as old as the first types of agriculture.