The Marigold Potager – A Zone 3 Prairie Garden

Well, this is it. Time to get started in the potting shed for real. This is a great time to start all sorts of seeds, start cuttings, wake up bulbs and tubers…

Even though we are in Second Winter at the moment, I am still pretty excited about getting started on the gardening season. I’d like to think that here on the prairies we are already in our Third Winter, but I think not, too early yet. Still, the calendar spring date is truly just 25 days away, so we can take heart. Days are longer, this bitter cold snap will soon be over. A lot to look forward to : )

Have you ordered your seeds? Seedy Days are just ahead in many places. Seedy Days will sell only heirloom or open pollinated seeds. No hybrids. Local seed houses, big and small, will be there. Take your seed list with you so you don’t go too crazy! No shipping, supporting local, supporting Canadian, hanging out with like minded peeps. Nanaimo Seedy Sunday is on March 1st!

Sadly, where I live, there are no seedy days, but we do have the Calgary Hort Society and they put on a big spring event each year.

Have you made your garden plans? My journal notes help to keep me in check so I know what colours to go for… otherwise I see something pretty and there goes my plans ; )

Pruning trees and shrubs – in warmer zone and areas that are not having this cold snap, get your pruning done this week! Here in central Alberta, we will have to wait a little bit. They say temps will be nice by Tuesday, though.

When pruning, never remove more than 1/3 of the tree per year, no matter how over-grown or out of hand it may be. Pruning too much at one time will stress out the tree and cause suckering and water sprouts.

Prune your trees, fruit trees, grape vines, black currants, and gooseberries.

Spray fruit trees, fruiting shrubs, roses, cotoneaster hedges, etc.. with a Dormant Spray (horticultural oil/lime sulfur mix) to kill over-wintering pests and diseases. The oil smothers eggs and pests while the sulfur is a natural fungicide. Spray before bud break! and follow directions on the package.  

Keep an eye on your bulbs, roots and corms, like dahlias, canna or calla lilies, etc… When they start to sprout, is time to pot them up.

Read the back of your seed package. Here on the prairies, you can start anything now that says to start 10 to 12 weeks before last frost date. My west coast readers can start anything now that says 8 weeks before last frost.

As always, remember that earlier is not better. It usually just leads to lanky, unhappy seedlings.

• Brussels sprouts, onion seeds, leeks, artichokes, and kale.
• Salad greens and spinach.
• Herbs to start now are chives, parsley, lavender, coriander/cilantro, nepeta (catnip), and mint.
• Peppers and Eggplants
• Onions, leeks
• Artichokes
• Asparagus (Yes, they grow well from seed, however, will be 5 years till you harvest!)
• Flowers from seed …. petunias, geraniums, verbena, pansies and violas, lobelia, snapdragons, sweet peas.
• Perennial flowers. Delphiniums.

Workshops & Contact – if you are local, join me for a workshop or two : )

If the dates/times do not work for you, just let me know and I am sure we can find a time that works for both of us : )

FAQ’s

• Q – Hi Tanja. I can’t afford to buy seeds from catalogues. I would be paying more for shipping as I would only have 2-3 items. My question to you is: what are your thoughts about McKenzie seeds found in many greenhouses and grocery stores? Or would you recommend another accessible company?
• A – Okay, hang on to your hat, here’s what I think…. lol.
• I will not spend loads on shipping, either. Totally get it! That is one reason that all the American companies are out for me, plus quite a few Canadian companies, too. If you can pool what you want to buy, the companies I bought from only charge $5 for letter mail shipping. Incredible Seed Company is free if you spend $35.
• The main reason I buy on line is because I want specific varieties, especially tomatoes ; ) You know how I roll.
• That said, there is absolutely nothing wrong with buying in store if they have what you want. McKenzie has a good reputation. They don’t sell old seeds, always fresh. They used to be Canadian, but like so many others, they were bought out by an American company. They still employ Canadians at the seed house, though. So, if you want to get political, you are still helping employ Canadians ; )
• Burpee is also sold in many shops. That is a long standing American company and sells good seeds.
• Both of these two get some of their seeds from Seminis (formerly Monstanto, changed the name to Bayer). Quite honestly though, it is very hard to avoid Seminis seeds as they own most of the seeds. Yes, the actual seeds.
• I will happily buy from either of those two, plus WCS (Whom I am not fond of) and Renee’s (now owned by WCS, so…) if I happen to see a packet of something I want when I am out shopping. And, don’t we always find something worth picking up, eh? 
• In the Nanaimo area, if you do want to support local, support Canadian, organic, heirloom, etc… you can hit up the Seedy Days for a plethora of heirloom and open pollinated seeds. You are able to buy from all sorts of local small seed houses and you know for sure that they are not Seminis seeds. Sadly, we do not have Seedy Days close to me here.
• I like to take a bit of a stance with my dollar, make a statement with/about whom I am supporting ; )
• – If you buy local, you are supporting a local business (I especially like to support small mom and pops).
• – If you buy Canadian, you are taking a political stance.
• – If you buy only heirloom or open-pollinated from seed-safe pledged companies, you are making a statement about Monsanto.
• It’s all good. Or, you make no statement and just do what works for you : ) No judgement!

So… what I am saying is that the seeds are all fantastic wherever you buy them. Buying seeds locally and supporting local shops, well, that is always a good thing.

Happy Sunday, eh! ~ Tanja