Spring is "springing" up!

Signs of Spring are popping up all over, even with these super cold temperatures! Snowdrops are blooming, tulips are daring to emerge from the earth, snow is slowly melting and swans have been spotted flying overheard!
 It has been a busy 2 weeks for us here, planting hanging baskets, potting perennials and transplanting tiny plants from tray to container. Our benches and greenhouses are being filled with the colour of spring-green and smell like freshly dug earth. This time of year we dress in layers, going from seeing our breath in the morning to a t-shirt by afternoon. We anticipate with excitement the arrival of truly warm weather and you our valued customers and friends.

lettuce plants ready for transplanting

hanging baskets ready to be hung

snowdrops in the snow

sedum

tulips emerging

Soon time to start seeds indoors!

If you like to start seeds indoors, it will soon be time! Peppers, tomatoes, petunias and eggplants are all seeds that need a much longer growing time than we have here in Canada. Peppers and eggplants should be started 8-10 weeks before the last chance of frost so approximately the second week of March. Petunias can be started anytime now as they take 10-12 weeks. Tomatoes can be started late March which is 6-8 weeks before last chance of frost.

There are four essential ingredients needed to start seeds. Water, Temperature, Soil and Light.

Soil: Trays need to be filled with a special growing medium, never regular garden soil. The roots need aeration and garden soil is just too compact.

Water: The soil needs to be kept moist, never drying out or too wet.

Temperature: The temperature of the soil should be kept at 21-25 C in order for seeds to germinate and grow properly. There are special heating mats available which keep the temperature constant.

Light is super important. Ideally, grow lights 3" above the seed trays is the best. Light that is too far away can make the seedlings stretch, becoming straggly and weak. Not a great way for plants to start out.

If you've never started your own seeds before, start small. Experiment with placement, light and warmth. It's a lovely feeling to see a seed grow right before your very eyes!

And the seeding begins!

This week is our first week seeding for spring! From petunias to peppers, we have over 200 trays to be filled and placed in the germination chamber. Once seeds sprout, trays are placed on the bench with heat below to keep the seeds warm while growing. 

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