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The Helpful Gardeners Podcast | Ep37: Daylight Savings & Winter Gardeners Bucket List

Posted on by Brandi

Many regions across Canada and even the world are wrapping up daylight savings and thinking ahead to winter… or dreading it. We’ve decided to embrace the beauty of the season and build a winter bucket list!

 

LISTEN NOW:

 

Daylight Savings Time

While the majority of Canada still recognizes daylight savings, there are growing whispers suggesting that we get rid of the concept altogether. In fact, parts of the Yukon, Saskatchewan, and British Colombia don’t partake. It’s believed that daylight savings began in Eastern Canada over a century ago as a way to give folks more sunlight in the evenings to enjoy. We don’t know about you, but growing up, we heard everything from “it’s for the farmers” to “it’s for the postal workers!” Parts of Europe used it to save energy during WWI. Even Egypt ended it and brought it back! Where do the gardeners stand? Turns out, we’re just as conflicted as everyone else.

How did it start? | LINK

“Most Countries Don’t Observe DST” | LINK

Winter Bucket List

As gardeners, we’re closely tied to the seasons, especially in Canada. Some parts of the country have already received their first snowfall while others are still enjoy fall colours. In can be easy to dread to incoming cold weather, but we promise you there’s lots to look forward to. Before long, we’ll be heading back into the garden! Colin and I thought it would be fun to put together a little bucket list of winter activities to get us, and hopefully you, excited about the winter season!

  1. Reflect and plant for next year. Reflect on your successes and challenges during the 2023 gardening season and make some intentions for next year while it’s fresh in your mind.
  2. Start your garden wishlist, Did a tool break? Did you see a cool gadget on Instagram? While it’s fresh in your mind, make a gardening wishlist!
  3. Grow herbs and lettuce inside. While some veggies are better grown outside, herbs and lettuce don’t take long to grow and can be great additions to your kitchen! Consider adding a growlight to your home to encourage healthy growth during these shorter days. 
  4. Grow Cannabis. Growing cannabis is a little more involved than your leafy herbs and veggies. Luckily, there’s lots of literature and social groups to lean on for help. Plus, lots of kits to help you get started. A great project for over the winter! 
  5. Plant a winter bulb. These are bulbs that you grow indoors such as Amaryllis, Paperwhites, and Hyacinth. If you start them now, you’ll likely see blooms around the holiday season!
    1. https://www.goldenacre.ca/product-category/christmas-2/holiday-plants-bulbs/amaryllis-bulbs/ 
  6. Add a bird bath or bird feeder to your garden. Find a new way to support our backyard birth friends during the winter. There are heated bird baths on the market as well as bird seed and suet specific to your region! If you start encouraging them now, they’ll remember you and support your garden next spring.
  7. Decorate your home for the holidays. Did you know that most garden centres stay open over the winter? You can shop for supplies, houseplants, and in some cases, holiday giftware and home decor! Look up your local greenhouse and see what they’ve got going on. You may just start a new annual tradition!
  8. Create a seasonal outdoor planter. Repurpose your outdoor planters and build a seasonal planter with living greens like cedar, pine, and balsam.
  9. Obtain a provincial tree permit and cut your own Christmas tree. This is a fun family tradition now for Colin, and it’s quite affordable and fun!
    1. https://extranet.gov.ab.ca/env/treecuttingpermits/permits/
  10. Hot chocolate on a winter walk in nature or on a winter drive to see Christmas lights. Can this be any more wintery?! Here’s a way to really appreciate the season and make memories while doing so.
  11. Winter picnic. Yes! Dress warm, pack a few snacky favs, a warm beverage, and hit the road in search of a Bob Ross worthy landscape. 

Hypothetical Question of the Week….

“If you could magically grow one fruit or vegetable in your garden out of season during the winter months, what would it be, and why?” 

 

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Calcium Nitrate:

Mix Ratio: Apply ¼ teaspoon per 2 litres once a week. I full scoop makes 24 litres or 6 gallons.

Recommended preventing blossom end rot and calcium deficiency in tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, pumpkins, zucchinis, and cannabis. It is also highly beneficial for all leafy greens and cruciferous plants (cabbage, Brussel sprouts, broccoli etc.).

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

Iron Chelate

Mix Ratio: Soil drench – apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water once every 2 weeks. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

Mix ratio: Foliar spray - apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 4 Litres of water once every 4 weeks. A full scoop makes 24 litres or 6 gallons.

Recommended for correcting iron deficiency in a variety of plants grown in high pH soil. Iron deficiency is diagnosed by the yellowing or pale colour of the plant leaves, especially in young growth.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

High Drainage

Moisten Thoroughly before use: (optional) Peat moss can be water-repellent. Before use, thoroughly wet the soil.

Potting:

Use pots with drainage holes to prevent root rot.

Fill the pot with the moistened soil, leaving enough space for the plant's root ball.

Gently place the plant in the pot and fill in around it with more soil.

Firm the soil gently.

Watering:

This is crucial! Water frequently, especially during hot weather.

Check the soil moisture regularly by sticking your finger into the soil.

Water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry.

Fertilizing:

Since peat moss is low in nutrients, fertilize regularly with a balanced liquid fertilizer.

Consider Amendments:

For plants that prefer more moisture retention, you can add a small amount of coco coir or vermiculite to the mix.

Important Notes:

Overwatering: While frequent watering is necessary, avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot.

Plant Selection: This type of soil is well-suited for seed starting as well as plants that prefer well-drained conditions, such as cacti, cannabis, succulents, and some tropical plants.

Adjustments: You may need to adjust your watering frequency based on the specific plant and environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, sunlight).

Alberta Blend

Moisten the Peat Moss before use: (optional) Peat moss can be hydrophobic (water-repellent) when dry. Before using it, thoroughly moisten it. You can do this by placing it in a container and adding water, then squeezing out any excess.

Mixing: (optional) Our Private Label Alberta Blend comes ready to use, expertly formulated for your plants, either indoors or outdoors.

If you're using this mix as your own base, combine it with worm castings, volcanic dust, vermiculite, etc. to improve nutrition, drainage and/or aeration.

Potting:

When potting your plants, ensure that the pot has drainage holes.

Fill the pot with the moistened potting mix, leaving enough space for the plant's root ball.

Gently place the plant in the pot and fill in around it with more potting mix.

Lightly firm the soil around the plant leaving ½ inch to an inch of space at the top for watering.

Watering:

Because peat moss retains water, be careful not to overwater.

Allow the top layer of soil to dry out slightly before watering again.

Fertilizing:

Since peat moss is nutrient-poor, you'll need to provide your plants with regular fertilization.

Use the correct fertilizer according to the plant's needs.

20-20-20 Houseplant Complete

Mix Ratio: For all houseplants apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water once a week once every week. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

It is highly recommended to start your houseplants on a fertilizer regime, but only while they are actively growing. Houseplants tend to have a period of dormancy (normally winter, however poinsettias, Xmas cacti etc. are exceptions to this rule) and whilst dormant they should not be fertilized.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

22-6-15 Plus Herb and Leafy Vegetable

Mix Ratio: For all herbaceous and leafy vegetable plants apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water once a week. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

This fertilizer is ideal for all leafy vegetables and for herbs. This product can be used year-round if you grow herbs indoors.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

20-12-28 Tomato and Fruiting Vegetable

Mix Ratio: For all fruiting vegetable plants apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water once a week. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

Use this fertilizer on planting day and push right through until the plant either stops producing or reaches the end of season. In the case of transplanted seedlings this fertilizer should be used after the 2 feedings of Js - Jump-Start & Transplant.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

10-52-10 Jump-Start & Transplant

Mix Ratio: For outdoor summer plants apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water. Normally two applications, one at the time of transplanting, the second application can be done one week later from the initial fertilizing. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

Mix Ratio: For seed starting - apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water. Do not over water seedlings, feed every 2 weeks until transplanted outside. Feed them at the time of transplanting outdoors, then one more feeding a week later. After that start using the correct fertilizer for type of plant. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

 e.g. Vt Vegetable: Tomato and Fruiting for tomatoes, F3 Flower flower flower for bedding out/annual plants.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

4-5-28 Perennial Complete

Mix Ratio: All perennials (in warm seasons) apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water every 2 weeks from spring to late summer. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

This formula is professionally blended for all your perennials. For existing perennials, we recommend starting to fertilize when you see active growth (i.e. new shoots etc.). For new perennials we recommend that you start fertilizing at time of planting and go through to mid August.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

28-14-14 Plus Trees and Shrubs - Fruit and Flower

Mix Ratio: Trees and/or shrubs (in warm seasons) apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water per week. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

This formula is professionally blended for all your fruiting and flowering trees and shrubs.

For existing trees, we recommend starting to fertilize when you see active growth (i.e. bud break, new shoots etc.).

For new trees we recommend that you start fertilizing at time of planting and go through to mid August.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

14-7-21 Tree and Shrub Leaf & Needle

Mix Ratio: Trees and/or shrubs (in warm seasons) apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water every 2 weeks. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

This formula is professionally blended for all your evergreen/coniferous and deciduous trees and shrubs.

For existing trees, we recommend starting to fertilize when you see active growth (i.e. bud break, new shoots etc.).

For new trees we recommend that you start fertilizing at time of planting and go through to mid August.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

15-10-30 Flower, Flower, Flower

Mix Ratio: Outdoor plants (in warm seasons) apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water twice a week. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

This formula is professionally blended for all your annual plants. We recommend starting to fertilize at time of planting outdoors and go through to first frost.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.