FREE In-store Pick Up. Delivery Rates vary (determined at checkout).

Annuals, Seminars

GA Webinars | Annuals – Flower, Veggies, and Herbs

Posted on by Brandi
GA Webinars | Annuals – Flower, Veggies, and Herbs
22
Apr

If you want to enjoy bursts of colour or freshly grown veggies and herbs, look into adding annuals to your garden! Annuals are plants that complete their life cycle in one growing season. They can add beauty to any part of your yard and benefit your pollinators friends all growing season long.

A big thank you to everyone who attending our webinar today. We look forward to all the successes you’ll encounter this spring! Continue reading for a recap of todays event and for links on all of Colin’s recommendations

 

Annuals

Annuals live out there full life cycle in one season which is different from a perennial that comes back every year. We love annuals for their flowers. fruit, and even flavourful leaves. The annuals category is truly diverse which makes them so fun!

Types of Annuls

  • Flowers | Enjoyed for their flower. Great for colour and home decor. Deadhead to maintain blooms throughout the season.
    • Sun Lovers – Marigolds, sunflower, zinnia, petunia’s, etc
    • Shade Lovers – Impatiens, begonia, coleus, bacopa, fuchsia, etc
  • Veggies/Fruit | Enjoyed mostly for the final growing stage, the fruit! Don’t deadhead flowers as that’s where the fruit grows from.
    • Sun Lovers – Tomatoes, Peppers, Cucumber, Strawberry, pumpkin, etc
    • Shade Lovers – Spinach, lettuce, broccoli, potatoes, kale, kohlrabi, etc
  • Herbs | Enjoyed mostly for their flavourful leaves. Harvest leaves and deadhead flowers to maintain desired taste and prevent plant from going to seed.
    • Sun Lovers – Basic, thyme, oregano, lavender, sage, etc
    • Shade Lovers – mint, dill, sorrel, chives, parsley, etc

 

Planting Annuals

You don’t want to plant annuals outdoors until the last frost in your region. In Alberta, and through much of Canada, that’s around the May Long Weekend. Keep an eye on the weather and have frost blankets handy just in case. Before planting anything, prepare the bed or planter by loosening and amending soil. We talk more about this on the “Prepping your garden for spring” episode of The Helpful Gardeners Podcast & the Prepping your Garden for Spring blog post.

  • Flower Bed | Flowers | Veggies
    • Amend soil 2-4″ deep. Remove the pot of your annual and plant up to the soil line. Water and fertilize afterward.
  • Planters | Flowers | Veggies
    • Consider how your planter will be viewed (front, corner, 360 degrees) and plant accordingly. Think of it in three levels:
      • Thriller | Showstopper and tallest plant. Dracaena, geranium, begonia, dahlia, tomato, etc.
      • Filler | Fills the middle of the pot. Petunia, impatiens, etc
      • Spiller | meant to spill over the side of the pot. Creeping Jenny, Bacopa, Ivy, potato vine, etc.
    • Use fresh potting mix or amend existing soil with lighter products like peat moss and worm castings.
  • Hanging Baskets |
    • Trailing annuals work great in these, but also consider some mid size annuals to fill it in. Make sure whatever you’re hanging this basket on can take the full weight after watering. Furthermore, confirm you can actually reach the basket to water and fertilize! See these watering wands – LINK 
  • Raised Planters |
    • Consider planting flowers and veggies together, but be aware of the space you have and what a mature plant will look like to avoid crowding. As planters require more water than garden beds, mulch can help with water retention. LINK
  • Starting from Seeds | 
    • Seeding Square | LINK

>>> Free Seed Starting Chart for Zone 3

>>> Free Seed Starting Guide

Caring for Annuals

  • Watering
    • Water after planting and continue until the fall. Depending on rain, water daily during the cooler part of the day. You may need to water more on hot days, Planters, hanging baskets, and raised planters may need more water than garden beds. Plants like tomatoes and geraniums, may also need more water due to their size and required energy for for production of flowers and fruit. With that being said, assess your planters and baskets regularly because overwatering can also welcome root rot and disease.
  • Fertilizing
    • There are a lot of fertilizers on the market, but use what’s right for you. Start it right after planting and keep it going until the fall. Just make sure to follow the manufacture instructions and do not fertilize.
      • All Purpose | A nice general fertilizer that will get the job done. Colin likes the water soluble kind | LINK
      • Shake n Feed | A ‘set it and forget it’ method which works well for busy schedules | LINK
      • Tomato-focused | To prevent blossom end rot, use a calcium-based fertilizer | LINK LINK
  • Deadheading
    • Remove finished blooms from floral plants to redirect energy toward new ones. This is a great way to extend the life of your flowers. Be careful not to remove blooms from fruits and veggies though because that’s where all the good stuff comes from. Herbs, however, consider ‘live heading’ or pinching off flowers because you get use out of the leaves. If your herbs go to flower, you could risk changing the taste of them. Live heading herbs will also encourage your plant to grow outward or more bushy!
  • Crop Rotation
    • Plants take up different nutrients for their growth cycle. Rotation can be beneficial to ensure even nutrition depletion and even pest control. If you have the room, try it!

 

Resources

More Detailed PowerPoint Presentation | GA Webinar – Annuals 2023

Seed Starting Chart (Zone 3) | Goldenacre.ca

Free Seed Starting Guide | Free Seed Starting Guide

More Gardening Tips and Fun | The Helpful Gardeners Podcast

New Episodes Sunday 8am MT

 

Next Webinar | Perennials – Spring Selection and Care | Apr 29, 2023

 

Click here to sign up for future gardening webinars

Translate »

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.