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Annuals, Seminars, Webinars 2022

Saturday Webinars | May Long Weekend Gardening

Posted on by Brandi
Saturday Webinars | May Long Weekend Gardening
21
May

Ready, Set, Grow!

This is typically THE weekend when Calgary gardeners get the green light to put in some long awaited garden work. Of course, every spring is different so we have to take into account factors like weather, the conditions of our tools and soil, and our own health before we get started.

Firstly, I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge our incredible webinar attendees. Despite our weekly practice with hosting webinars, some gremlins found their way into today’s session and significantly delayed things. THANK YOU for your patience and kindness while we quite literally turned it off and back on again. Technology, I tell ya. Honestly though, without you, we wouldn’t be hosting these free gardening events, so we appreciate you sticking around for our lame mug jokes and garden fashion, hahaha! For those of you wondering about Aleasha’s red tomato leaves, we’ll post about it in our IG & FB stories once we learn more from her. Very interesting development in their garden! This is why gardening is so much fun!

Let’s take a look at some of the things you should consider when venturing out into the garden this year.

 

Soil Preparation

  • For Garden Beds: work blended amendments into the top 2″- 4″ of your existing soil and firm down before leveling it with a rake.
  • For Raised Planters: Use a potting mix, or add amendments to your existing soil and mix. Firm as you go, but don’t compact because your plants still need some space to stretch out!
  • Types of Amendments:

Plant Preparation

  • Types of Plants
    • Hardy Plants: Broccoli, Spinach, Pansies, Dianthus, Kale, Carrots, Radish
    • Tender Plants: Impatiens, Cucumber, Tomato, Cosmos, Basil, lavender, Peppers
  • Typical Calgary Plant Guidelines 
    • Direct Sow (Seeds in the ground): Lettuce, Spinach, Parsnips, Cosmos, Sweet Pead, Beans, Radish.
    • Starter Plant (Plants started Inside): Squash, Cucumber, Zinnia, Pumpkin, Tomato, Lavender, Geranium.
    • Check out our Seed Starting Guide for more information and tips.
  • Frost Protection Tool Kit
    • Frost will endanger tender seedlings and annual plants. If you can’t move plants indoors, have some of these things ready to cover them.
  • Plan, Plan, Plant
    • Plan where everything is going and consider factors like: sun exposure, mature plant spacing, environmental conditions, time investment, etc

Tool Preparation

Self Preparation

  • Garden Essentials
    • Gloves
    • Kneeler Pad
    • Good Sunglasses and hat
    • SPF 50
    • Light and loose clothes (rain gear when applicable)
    • Water
  • Sunshine
    • Benefits: Essential for plants and beneficial for our overall physical and mental health.
    • Challenges: Can cause dehydration, sunburn, skin cancer, heat stroke, headaches, fatigue
      • TIPS: Stretch, take breaks, garden on cooler days, in the morning, or evening.

 

Garden is FUN! As Colin says, “It’s a marathon, not a spring”. Enjoy the process, take that selfie, ask for help, and appreciate the effort you put in to create your own brand of beautiful.

 

 

The more detailed encore presentation hosted by Colin Hayles is now available to view on our YouTube channel.

If you’d like a copy of Colin’s PowerPoint, click here: Golden Acre Webinars – May Long Weekend Gardening 2022

UPCOMING FREE WEBINARS/SEMINARS:

May 28, 2022: Perennials II Webinar – Maintenance habits and Expectations <<< Register Now

June 4, 2022: Trees II: Care and Encouraging Growth, Flowers, and Fruits  <<< Register Now

Registration for all of our free Saturday Spring Webinars

 

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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.