HOME & GARDEN Edible gard gardening dening seems to be gaining popularity in recent yearss for many reasons. economical. It is One reason n would obviously be economical amazing how much produce, be it fruit or vegetables that can be grown in a small area in a backyard or in a large pot on a deck or patio. Everything you harvest from your garden is grown at the cost of a few seeds or plants, some basic supplies and some of your time. A more important reason is having a healthy and safe source of produce for yourself and your loved ones. While most produce purchased at the market is defiantly safe to consume, we can never be too sure. The only way to truly know what has or has not been applied to your food is to grow your own. And for those who wish to avoid genetically engineered crops, theses can also be avoided simply by purchasing your own seed and/or bedding crops and “growing your own”. Because genetically engineered plant varieties are so very costly to develop, it is not economical for those involved to market them at homeowner size quantities. This fact alone effectively keeps them out of the local seed racks and bedding plant supplies. They are only grown by growers growing vast acreages of produce such as sweet corn, canola etc. As a result it is getting much more attractive to “grow your own”. There is a vast array of edible items that we can grow in central Alberta and they are so easy to grow. Any sunny location with good soil will do. If the soil is hard, amend it with generous amounts of compost or peat moss. Vegetables are divided into cool season or warm season crops. Cool season crops such as most root crops, kale, spinach, lettuce, peas and chard can germinate and grow in cool soil and can be planted as early as late April in central Alberta. Warm season crops, however, must have warm soil to germinate and grow and as such must be planted out about
Growing Your Own By Alfred Prins
Did you know? (MS) Several varieties of roses are thornless or have very few thorns. Many plant breeders have developed roses without thorns, which are particularly safe for elderly gardeners, gardeners who have young children or pets or those who simply do not want to worry about thorns on their rose bushes. Smooth Touch roses are a popular and thorn-free breed of rose developed in California in the 1960s by Harvey Davidson. These roses are touted as 95 to 100 percent free of thorns. Some of the Smooth Touch series include, “Ballerina,” “Moonlight” and “Snowflake.” A moderate climber, the “Zephirine Drouhin,” named after the wife of a French rose enthusiast, is another popular thorn-free breed of rose. Several multiflora ramblers that descended from Asian rose species also are free of thorns. “Ghislaine de Feligonde,” “Veilchenblau,” nblau, “Goldfinch,” and “Ice Tea” are others that feature thorn-free re tho n-free canes aand stems.
May. M 25th or later. These include all the cucumber, melon, pumpkin, beans corn, tomatoes and peppers. m They also much be grown in warm, sunny sheltered Th locations. Herbs also fall in the edible plant area. Many are perennial and can be grown in the perennial border. Some, like basil are an annual and need a warm sunny location such as that found in a large pot on a warm sunny deck. Tomatoes (actually a fruit) are best grown on the warm south side of a building or fence or in a large pot on a warm sunny deck (with the basil) or in a greenhouse. There are also many different fruits, such as apples, cherries, plums, saskatoons and grapes that can be grown in Red Deer. Growing details cannot all be printed here, but our experts a Parkland Garden Centre will be happy to help out. Watering practices are very important in determining success when growing vegetables and fruits. Plants grown in pots will need watering virtually every day - maybe even more on sunny hot days. Rainwater collected in barrels under the downspout is the very best source of good quality water free of impurities. For those crops grown in the traditional garden setting, mulching will aide in reducing the need for watering but when watering is required, set out a sprinkler and let it go for at least 2 hours per setting for adequate soaking. Watering will only be required once every week or two this way. Some edibles can even be grown in hanging baskets such as tomatoes and strawberries. Radishes and lettuce can be grown in window boxes. Just remember to purchase a good quality soil mix for this purpose and also remember that very few plants will overwinter in pots, so annual vegetable are a great thing to grow in pots. The possibilities are endless and fun – check it all out at Parkland Garden Centre!
Recognize safety hazards during yard work (MS) -- Attention, all green thumbs -- and the bodies attached to them: It’s nearly time to get down and dirty in the garden. Whether you’re transforming your backyard into an award winner or just trimming the lawn, the CSA Group, a leading certification and testing organization, asks that you remember the following safety tips:
Yard Work • Always ensure that products such as electric lawnmowers, barbecues, power tools, ladders, decorative lights, extension cords and safety apparel carry the mark of a recognized certification organization, such as CSA Group. • Read the manufacturer’s operating instructions and use products only as intended. • Wear protective eye and footwear (on eyes and feet, respectively). • What’s that you say? Wear hearing protection when operating loud machinery, vehicles or tools.
Power Lawnmowers • Know your mower and always follow the
manufacturer’s instructions. • Look for these safety features: a rear guard to protect your hands and feet from rotating blades; a “deadman” control that stops the mower when you release the handle; and an “up-stop” feature to prevent the handle from kicking up when the mower hits an obstacle. • Clear the lawn of sticks, stones, wire, toys
and other objects (including that screwdriver you lost in the grass last summer), as they could get caught in the machine or flung by the blades. • Wear clothing that provides some protection, including long pants, a shirt with sleeves and firmly-tied shoes with non-slip soles and hard toes. • Never cut the grass when it’s damp or wet, or when there is rain or lightning. Wet conditions greatly increase the risk that you will slip, suffer electric shock or clog the mower. • Always mow in daylight, never at twilight or in the dark. Keep your eyes on the lawn and look ahead (at least three feet) for debris. • Shut off, unplug and engage your mower’s safety devices before removing clogged grass clippings. • Shut off the mower immediately if you hit an object. Check for damage and do not restart it unless you’re sure it’s safe to do so. • As suggested by its name, always push rather than pull a push mower. • All extension cords should be untangled, in good repair, have a three-prong plug rated for outdoor use and be of the recommended gauge for the load. For more information on CSA Group visit www.csagroup.org.
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