If you are deciding between a grape tomato plant and a cherry tomato plant, plant height is an important factor to consider. Both types can grow into vigorous plants, but their final size depends more on the specific variety and growth habit than the fruit type alone. Many grape and cherry tomato varieties are indeterminate,…
It depends on the bulb. Hardy summer bloomers, especially true lilies, can go in the ground this fall. Tender ones like dahlias, gladiolus and cannas can’t. They’d freeze over winter, so they wait until spring. I get this question every September, usually from someone standing in a garden centre holding a bag of bulbs on…
If you garden in London, Ontario, the short answer is this: plant spring bulbs from late September through October, and keep going into early November if the ground is still workable. For most people, the sweet spot is the first three weeks of October. That’s the quick version. Below is how to fine-tune it for…
If you think the gardening year ends when the last tomato comes off the vine, I have good news. In Ontario, fall is one of the best times to plant, and for some plants it beats spring. The soil is still warm, the air is cool, the rain is more reliable, and the weeds have…
Grow bags offer several benefits, including better drainage, improved root aeration, and easy storage. However, they also have some drawbacks that product descriptions often overlook. The breathable fabric that helps plant roots can also cause the soil to dry quickly. Grow bags may also require more watering, feeding, and support than traditional containers. Before buying…
If you have ever wondered whether a donkey and a burro are different animals, the short answer is no. A burro is generally a donkey. The main difference is the word people use, not the animal itself. “Donkey” is the common English name, while “burro” comes from Spanish and Portuguese and is widely used in…
There is a very specific, intoxicating kind of hope that arrives in late winter. Outside my window, the ground is frozen solid under a gray blanket of snow, but down in my basement, under the humming glow of full-spectrum LED panels, tiny green loops are pushing their way through the dark earth. Every gardener knows…
The main parts of a plant are the roots, stem, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds. Each part has a specific function that helps the plant grow, reproduce, and survive. Roots absorb water and nutrients, the stem supports the plant and transports water, leaves make food through photosynthesis, flowers produce seeds, fruits protect the seeds, and…
Plant labels printable are ready-to-print templates that help you identify plants, organize gardens, and track important growing information such as plant names, varieties, planting dates, and care instructions. They are ideal for vegetable gardens, herb pots, flower beds, indoor plants, seed trays, and classroom gardening projects. Printable labels save time, improve garden organization, and can…
Standing in the garden center holding two bags — one labeled “raised bed mix” and one labeled “potting soil” — it’s easy to assume they’re interchangeable. Both are bagged, both are lightweight, and both claim to grow healthy plants. But they’re built for fundamentally different environments. Using the wrong one in the wrong place costs…