What to do on a cold, snowy day?

Make the most of these snowy days and plan your vegetable garden! A good plan makes for a good start. 

Decide what you want to grow the most of; what vegetables do you eat the most of? Are there new ones you want to try? Do you prefer organic seeds? Consider the grow time of the seeds; it might be better to start with plants to ensure a crop to harvest. Do you enjoy making salsa? Spaghetti sauce? Grow your own paste tomatoes, peppers, onions and herbs! Canned tomatoes are also easy to do, it just takes some time but worth it when you crack open a jar in January! 

If the ground is ready in April,  early crops can be planted. Lettuce, spinach, and peas are a good start and gets those itchy hands moving! A garden box is a wonderful solution for those lettuce-hungry bunnies! 

Potatoes are a mainstay for some families; inexpensive and abundant, keeping well into the winter if stored in a dark, cool place. There are different varieties and tastes, some keeping longer than other. I love peeling potatoes in January that I harvested in September! 

Leeks are a new favourite by many when it comes to making homemade potato/leek soup. Easy to grow, leeks can be washed, chopped and frozen for use on a cold, winter day! 

See the theme here? Do you understand the true joy of gardening? For me, it's the sastisfying feeling I get when I take a veggie out of the freezer or mason jar knowing my hard work during the summer -planting, weeding, tilling, harvesting, preserving- has paid off. After preparing, I lift it to my mouth and my tastebuds go "WOW! Thanks for this yummy goodness!" 

Check out this website for starters.

http://www.almanac.com/vegetable-garden-planning-for-beginners

seeds and more seeds

This time of year, we get a delivery of seeds almost everyday! It's exciting to open the box and see what's inside. It feels a little like Christmas! Kevin will begin planting these seeds the week of February 10. He has a calender scheduled with what needs to be seeded each week in order to be ready for planting outdoors in May. Some seeds take longer to germinate and grow than others; some grow faster and could get gangly if started too early. Most of our staff comes back in mid March when the seedlings are ready to be transplanted and Huron Ridge springs to life!

For the  months of January, February and March, our large retail greenhouse is open on Tuesday and Friday from 10-4. The air isn't the warmest but the sidewalks are dry and flat, a safe place for walking. With this extreme cold right now, a coat, mittens and perhaps earmuffs are needed to keep the body and hands warm but comfy running shoes can be worn! By mid February, the heat will be turned up slightly and by March, it's an inspiring place to walk as each week new plants arrive and spring begins in full force here.

Questions? Call 519-565-2122 or email us at info@huronridge.ca

Juicy News for January

The new year has begun and with it new life, even in the dead of winter. These potted primula were transplanted in October and placed in a sunny greenhouse to grow over the Christmas season. Now they are beginning to unfurl their beautiful buds in colours of pink, purple, yellow and blues. The yummy green is a colour we crave this time of year. Primula are a sweet, little plant that can be enjoyed indoors until done blooming, then planted outside. Outside, these plants are hardy and one of the first plants to bloom in early spring.

Pansies have been seeded, transplanted and planted into various sizes of pots for spring. They are grown in a cooler greenhouse to keep the foliage growing larger and when the warmer spring weather arrives, the buds begin to form and by mid March there will be colour!

Keep checking our blog for weekly updates on what's happening in the greenhouse.

Bench of Primula

Primula buds

Pansy Pots