Don't like those bugs eatting your garden?
Grow some Rubbarb, cut the leaves put them into an Old pot, cover with water; boil them for 20mins, let stand to cool, strain the juice, put into a sprayer, spary away., Pleae do not drink it the leaves of the Rubbarb are Poison. I've beening doing this for 45 years and found it work's you can mix it 5 to 1, the stronger the better for grubs, try and not spray the blooming flower's

Lynn Nottingham, Surrey BC

 

Clear plastic shoe box size containers with lids that you get full of salad greens make excellent little green houses for starting seeds. Punch holes in the top for ventilation and place the lid on the container. It will hold moisture in while seeds germinate while allowing in lots of light.

Marianne Kovas, Kingsville ON

 

When sowing small seeds, like carrots, dig a small trench and fill with potting soil. The potting soil will not get hard like regular garden soil will. The tiny carrot seeds will not have to work as hard to break through the hard soil. Works great and you will have earlier carrots.

Jenn Borstel, Salmon Arm BC

 

Keep a small journal of when and where you plant everything in your garden, as well as 'how it does.' You may think you'll remember, but one never does so looking back in a journal really helps!

Myrna Christianson, Armstrong BC

 

Use your lawn mower to chop up your potato and tomato vines, if you do not have a shredder, when preparing your garden for the fall. It is easy to rototill them into the soil.
Kathy Sarrazin, Salmon Arm BC

When you are mixing powders to use in your sprayer, add two tablespoons of lemon juice to three gallons of spray. It helps to dissolve the powder and does not clog the sprayer. Mix well.

James Griffin, Chilliwack BC

 

Place foam in the bottom of your hanging planters. If you are away for a few days, the water will soak into the foam and your plants will stay moist.

Margaret Ellis, Sylvania SK

 

Use your old electric frying pan to warm "heat loving seeds". Place a folded towel in the bottom and place pots of tomato, squash, etc. seeds on the towel. Cover with the lid and with the vent open. Set the temperature control to ultra low. Check seeds two or three times every day. Remove the pots when seeds have sprouted.

Maureen Evans, Chatsworth ON

 

Water patio plants with cooled potato water for more lush leaves and flowers.

Helen Dunbar, Drumheller AB

Recycle small soap pieces. Put them in a mesh onion bag and tie it to your outdoor tap. It serves as a good scrubber when washing your hands.

Delores Karbon, Carrot Creek AB

 

Put your seeds in the deep freezer for a week before planting. Plant them as soon as you take them out and watch the germination rate improve.

Pat Thibault, Saskatoon SK

 

Place three pennies in your vase for cut flowers. The flowers will last twice as long.

Mrs. Charles Dodge, Cabri SK

Line plant pots with paper coffee filters to keep the potting soil in the pot. The used coffee grounds can also be salvaged and used in trenches while planting onions and other maggot prone seeds.

Anita Ring, Pilot Butter SK

 

Instead of chemical powders, I use flour mixed with black pepper (one teaspoon pepper to one cup flour). Sprinkle this on all vegetables and flowers. It is good for beetles, worms, moths, etc. It is cheaper and organic!

Saras Naidoo, Battleford SK

 

Conserve water: leave a couple of buckets or any container out in the rain. During dry periods, use that water for plants and shrubs.

Ivo Arena, Nepean ON

 

For organic gardeners: When starting seed indoors, a strong chamomile tea solution misted on young plants will help prevent damping off. Brew it as you would for drinking but let it steep overnight, then strain.

B. Scharf, McLeese Lake BC

For growing seedlings on a window sill, place a mirror behind the pots so the light is reflected back on the seedlings.

Jackie Souliers, St. John's NF

If you have no composter, bury kitchen waste (peelings, coffee grounds, tea bags, etc.) between your rows in the garden. Dig it in to improve your soil.

E. Rusnak, Prince George BC

Do not be afraid to try new vegetables and flowers. It enhances the pleasure of home gardening.

Aina Miltins, Calgary AB

Collect clear plastic shower caps and punch holes in them. Put over seedlings. The caps work as a small greenhouse.

K. Hall, Sherwood Park AB

 

To give a bouquet of cut flowers longer life try this homemade preservative: two tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice, one tablespoon of sugar, one and a half teaspoons of bleach and one quart of water. Mix the ingredients and add half a cup to the container of flowers.

D. Horvey, Cabri SK

 

To speed up slow germinating seeds such as carrots, leek and parsnips, soak them in hot tea for a few hours. Use one tea bag per cup of boiling water and add a drop of dishwashing detergent. I soak most of my seeds in lukewarm water overnight.

Helen Isaackson, Saskatoon SK

Mix handfuls of regular flour with your small seeds. As you sow the seeds, the amount of flour on the soil will show where seed coverage is especially light or heavy.

Florence Melnyk, Vegreville AB

For northern climate composts, try running your vegetable waste through a blender first, before adding it to the compost pile. You will find a much faster decaying time and a more useable soil the next spring.

Chris Wild, Grande Prairie AB

Save the plastic holders, from six packs of pop, to make great trellises for climbing plants by attaching them together with twist ties. The holders are very strong and invisible for when the plants grow up them. You will help save the birds and fish from getting caught in them when they are left on the beach or in campgrounds.

Anne Hebel, St. Laurent MB

Plant seeds into dampened tea bags. They will germinate well.

Doris Cholowski, Radway AB

To enjoy your fresh cut flowers longer, place them in a vase with regular 7UP or Sprite.

Cheryl Merkley, Sioux Lookout ON

When transplanting your plants, add a shake or two of cinnamon to the soil. This is a natural fungicide and will help protect young or damaged roots.

Neville MacKay, Tantallon NS

 

Mark plant locations with labelled popsicle sticks to prevent accidental destruction. Also make a diagram, cut and paste catalogue pictures and writeups. Instant recall about size, needs, leaf appearance, height, blooming times, etc!

G. Kowal, Russell MB

Use a pair of tweezers to transplant small seedlings like petunias, lobelia, etc.

Margaret Coben, Perdue SK

Place a mailbox in your garden. It is a good place to put your garden tools, gloves, etc. They will always be handy and stay dry.

Mrs. N. Chernish, Athabasca AB

If you usually root your cuttings in water, use a plastic cottage cheese container. Cut holes into the lid and put a plant through each hole. The lid will hold the cutting in place. Later lift the lid and cut it to free the rooted plants.

J. Loepelmann, Edmonton AB

When starting plants indoors or out, mix a small amount of plain gelatin with the fine seeds. The tint of the gelatin makes the seeds easy to see and also nourishes them.

Celine Catellier, Dufrost MB

 

The plastic containers that cakes come in (the domed kind) make ideal rooting terrariums. They let the light in and keep moisture in.

Judy Clark, Regina SK

 To kill sod without heavy digging, I mulch with layers of newspaper and follow with two to three inches of topsoil. Seeds can then be planted on top. The newspapers will decompose.

Margery Coons, Schomberg ON

Put water in black drums so the sun takes the chill out of it. Never water plants using ice cold water.

Lou Rocher, Yellowknife YT

To make the most of your garden space, at one end of your garden plant two rows of early maturing vegetables. In the third row plant vines and allow them to spread into the now empty rows.

Lea Dissette, Killarney MB

Save your water from cooking vegetables. Let it cool and pour onto herbs, salad greens and flowers. In the winter, use the water for houseplants.

Diane Federkiewicz, Atmore AB

When blooms or leaves become brown snip them off to where they start being brown. This will let the nutrients get to the healthier titles of your plants.

Tracey Yuzik, Prince Albert SK

To keep fresh cut flowers lasting longer, cut them early in the morning. In a vase with water add one tablespoon of clear corn syrup and a pinch of bleach. They will last beautifully for a week.

Lisa Harper, Aurora ON

Make sure to water your garden in the morning while the soil is cool.

M. Robinson, Parksville BC

 

My favorite garden clean up tip is to run the lawnmower over the dried pea and bean plants. There is very little time spent in vine cleanup.

M. Mehler, Tisdale SK