Author: Nancy McDonald, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton; published with permission. If you are like me and grow lemon verbena, you now have a very large plant. What started as a small seedling in the spring has grown in size, approaching 60 cm (2 feet). So, what to do with this abundance? A Delightful Herb Let…
Author: Claire McCaughey, Master Gardeners of Lanark County; Edible flowers have long been part of the cuisines of distinct cultures. Take, for example, squash blossoms (the flowers of Cucurbita pepo). The genus Cucurbita originated in the Americas and has been an integral part of Native American and Mexican cuisines. Squash blossoms were adopted into Italian…
Author: Dale Odorizzi, Master Gardeners of Lanark County; published with permission One of my favourite vegetables is the carrot. They are easy to grow and store well in the fall and winter, and most importantly, they taste delicious, especially when pulled straight out of the ground, wiped off, and eaten. As I learned more and…
Author: Dale Odorizzi, Master Gardeners of Lanark County; published with permission Garlic is a wonderful crop. You plant it in October, mulching it well to help the soil stay warm enough for roots to form and to keep it cozy all winter. In the Spring In early spring, you pull the mulch back a bit…
Author: Claire Leduc, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton; published with permission There are not many treats better than fresh berries. Ripe blueberries are no exception. Growing your own blueberry plants is not too difficult once you understand their particular needs. Soil Preparation Fall is a great time to start preparing for spring planting. Blueberries grow best…
As usual, the weather is being weird. Freezing cold at one moment and unseasonably warm the next. This is very hard, not only for us but also for our garden. I am taking advantage of the extra snow available to me at this moment and scooping it into my garden. It will be a welcome…
Author: Rebecca Last, Gardening at Last, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton; published with permission I really enjoy finding culinary uses for my plants. So, I was thrilled to learn that those lovely pinky-purple chive flowers make bottles of deliciously flavoured vinegar. It’s so easy that even a non-cook like me can make it. Making Vinegar from Chives Garden…
Author: Nancy McDonald, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton; published with permission Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus) are wonderful flowers for both our gardens and kitchens. This vibrant annual comes from South America, was brought to Europe in the 1550s and was found in Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, Virginia, garden in the late 1700s. Some nasturtiums grow as climbers (3…
Author: Penka Matanska, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton; published with permission Testing the boundaries of what can be grown in Ottawa, Canadian climate Zone 5a, brings a thrill of excitement – especially when the attempt is successful. I would like to share my experience with growing ginger plant (Zingiber officinale), while providing a few tips of…
Nasturtiums, with their vibrant flowers and lush foliage, are not only a visual delight but also an incredible edible. Both the leaves and the flowers of the Nasturtium plant are known for their culinary uses due to their distinctive peppery flavor, similar to watercress or arugula. Here’s why nasturtiums are considered an incredible edible: Culinary…
Author: Rebecca Last, Gardening at Last and Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton. Published with permission This was an amazing year for tomatoes. My small garden has produced at least ten kilos so far, and we’re not done yet! But what to do with all that bounty? After all, one can only eat so many fresh tomatoes,…
That being said, as your tomatoes ripen, it is important to collect your seeds. I find that ripe tomatoes, free from pests and diseases, have the best seed. Greetings fellow gardeners, I am enjoying the beautiful colours that are appearing now that we are officially in autumn. The oranges and reds are brilliant, and the…
I have most of my vegetables in pots at this point, so they are a little less likely to get frost damage. Greetings fellow gardeners, The air is crisp this morning, and I have an overwhelming urge to make soup. If it starts raining again, I think soup is in my future. It is a…
From British Columbia’s vineyards to Alberta’s wheat fields and Quebec’s dairy farms, Canada offers a variety of rural properties. However, as a prospective farm buyer, your journey to land-ownership can often be punctuated by intricacies and complexities. In this article, you’ll discover the importance of farmland in meeting food demands and learn about different land…
Do you imagine how much traditional gardening practices are harming our planet? If not, you may contribute to soil depletion, water pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change. And if you are feeling like a botanical serial killer, fear not because I have a solution for you- sustainable gardening. Now, I know what you’re thinking. “Sustainable…
I came back in the afternoon to pick them and they were gone! Apparently, mulberries are a favourite of my various bird neighbours. Greetings fellow gardeners, It is still hot, and it is still dry even though there has been a bit of rain. I am not that good with the heat. The too-many cats…
To me, borage is an herb that is one of the best plants to grow for pollinators. Bumblebees and butterflies are always enjoying it along with hover flies, beetles and moths. Greetings fellow gardeners, Little bits and pieces of rain have been appearing here and there. My garden could use a good two days of…
As spring advances and summer sets in, Judith shares valued observations on ticks, virburnums and transplanting herbs and vegetables. Greetings fellow gardeners, It is very warm in the garden these days and not a drop of rain is in sight. Your sweet little transplants are not very happy right now so be aware. With this…
Bees need water and this water is a good source for the bees in the hotels. My pond has some cattails that need to be cut so the new growth can flourish. Another native plant I have near the pond is a bog plant called Arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia). Greetings fellow gardeners I have been staying…
Sustainability refers to the capacity to maintain a process over an extended duration while minimizing adverse impacts on the environment. Interestingly, mushrooms exhibit this level of sustainability in their growth process, which distinguishes them from many other plants. In fact, it is considered one of the most sustainably produced foods available in the U.S. Therefore,…
The vanilla plant is an orchid. There are approximately 110 species of vanilla orchid, but only two of these produce commercial vanilla. About 15 species are found in Mexico. Vallarta Botanical Garden has a great selection of orchids on display. Vanilla was first discovered in Mexico and used by the ancient inhabitants. Today vanilla is…
I cut tomatoes to open them, scooped out the seeds and put them in a jar with some water. This caused the seeds to ferment, which is supposed to improve the quality of the seed. Greetings fellow gardeners, Spring is making its soggy presence known in this little corner of the world. The snow is…
As the days get longer and warmer with the arrival of spring, many people are eager to enjoy the outdoors and start gardening. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, there is an abundance of plants that can be grown in spring. From annuals to perennials, vegetables to flowers, herbs to shrubs –…
The pineapple is the only edible bromeliad available today, and it offers many health benefits. It is a complex plant with dozens of individual flowerets that grow together to form the fruit. Each scale on a pineapple is evidence of a different flower. Pineapples stop ripening the minute they are picked. No particular way of…
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