Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Seed Starting: A Handy Chart for Knowing when to Plant

This arrived in my inbox this morning and I thought I would pass it along to all of you. With our particularly short growing season and with (what seems like) everlasting winter, seed starting indoors might be the answer to growing those new varieties and beat the winter blues. Is anyone growing unique heirloom varieties this season? What are your tips to beginner seed starters?
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Timing is everything. To start your seeds on time, you need to know when in relation to the frost-free date in spring to plant them. If you need help determining your spring frost-free date, call your county extension agent who can tell you for certain.

Creating Your Seed-Starting Plan
  • Print the seed starting chart below.
  • Write your frost-free date in the blank space at the top of the chart.
  • Get a calendar and add or subtract the number of weeks in the "Safe to Set Out Time" column. This is the "Setting Out Date" when you can safely plant the crop to the garden. Write it in the last column.
  • Take each date from Column 5 ("Setting Out Date"), subtract the number of weeks shown for that crop in column 3 ("Weeks from Sowing") and record that date in column 2 ("When to Start Inside").
  • For our Moose Jaw region, I filled in the dates according to the last frost date: May 20th.

YOUR SEED-STARTING PLAN
The Spring Frost-Free Date in My Garden is: May 20 (Moose Jaw)
CROPWHEN TO
START INSIDE  
WEEKS
FROM SOWING
SAFE TO SET OUT TIME (RELATIVE TO FROST-FREE DATE)SETTING OUT DATE
Basil
Apr 15
6
1 week after
May 27
Beets*
March 25-Apr 8
4-6
2 weeks before
May 6
Broccoli
March 25-Apr 8
4-6
2 weeks before
May 6
Cabbage
March 11-March 25
4-6
4 weeks before
April 22
Cauliflower
March 25-Apr 8
4-6
2 weeks before
May 6
Collards
March 11-March 25
4-6
4 weeks before
April 22
Corn*
Btwn Apr 22 - May 20
2-4
0 to 2 weeks after
May 20-June 3
Cucumber
Btwn Apr 29-May 13
3-4
1 to 2 weeks after
May 27-June 3
Eggplant
Btwn March 25-Apr 15
8-10
2 to 3 weeks after
June 3-June 10
Kale
March 11-March 25
4-6
4 weeks before
April 22
Kohlrabi*
March 11-March 25
4-6
4 weeks before
April 22
Lettuce
Btwn March 18-Apr 1
4-5
3 to 4 weeks before
Apr 22-Apr 29
Melons
May 6-May 13
3-4
2 weeks after
June 3
Mustard*
March 11-March 25
4-6
4 weeks before
April 22
Okra*
Btwn Apr 22-May 13
4-6
2 to 4 weeks after
June 3-June 10
Onions
Feb 25-March 11
6-8
4 weeks before
April 22
Parsley
Btwn Feb 18- March 4
9-10
2 to 3 weeks before
Apr 29-May 6
Peas*
Btwn Feb 25-March 18
3-4
6 to 8 weeks before
March 25-Apr 8
Peppers
Feb 25-Apr 22
6-14
2 weeks after
June 3
Pumpkins
May 6-May 13
3-4
2 weeks after
June 3
Spinach
Btwn Feb 25-Apr 1
4-6
3 to 6 weeks before
Apr 8-Apr 29
Squash
May 6-May 13
3-4
2 weeks after
June 3
Swiss chard
March 25-Apr 8
4-6
2 weeks before
May 6
Tomatoes
Btwn Apr 1-Apr 22
6-8
1 to 2 weeks after
May 27-June 3

* These crops are usually direct-seeded outdoors, but they can be started inside.



Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Grey Avenue Gardens: Planning a place for Recreation and Rest

This time of year, we reflect on our mistakes or mishaps of last season, anxiously wait as the seed catalogues arrive by mail, and plan out the spring planting of our garden patch. Really, winter is the perfect time to plan for the season ahead.

Here at the Yara Community Gardens, we've been busy planning the 2011 gardening year. We've been talking to neighbours, gardeners and community partners and have come up with an exciting idea to start this spring. Let me tell you about it:

Over at our newest community gardens, the 1000 block of Grey Ave, we have a beautiful greenspace loaded with trees, grass and shrubs. Because of the trees (and the shade they produce), we'll never till the land for garden space. Furthermore, the shade is a welcome retreat on those hot Saskatchewan summer days. Coupled with our forty new garden plots, this greenspace will be designed particularly for rest and recreation. This will be achieved by installing a beautiful patio and seating area and a interactive children's play area.

For tired gardeners and visiting guests, we will create an accessible and attractive space to relax. We will install a beautiful entrance way (including pathways, flower beds and crafted sign), build a covered patio space and have ample chairs, picnic tables and benches for all. This space will make the gardens more accessible, more organized and more conducive to socializing and meeting together. Plus, this space will be used by volunteers and school groups.

For our youngest gardeners and neighbours, we will create an interactive space to play and imagine. Working with volunteers, we will install a playground area, complete with swings, a slide and a place to climb. And don't worry Mom and Dad - the playspace will be within sight of your garden and there will be lots of nearby benches for you to sit and watch your kids play. This space will have educational features, focus on nature and seek to provide space for even the youngest to get active, imagine and learn. By creating a kid-centered recreation space within our gardens, we seek to teach our children that a healthy lifestyle is holistic, engaging our physical, nutritional and mental health.

As we discuss and plan these new developments on Grey Avenue, we would love to hear your ideas and comments. Is there anything that you would like to see in the play area or around the garden site? Let us know!