Growing @ Dutch Growers

Easter Lilies... After Easter is over

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:15:00 +0000

In Saskatchewan, getting Easter Lilies to grow outside is pretty dicey. Most of the bulb are grown either in Washington state or California. That’s a Zone 5 or 6. Saskatoon is a zone 2B. But, it will only cost you some time and some fertilizer to give it a try. Wait until the lily has finished blooming. Continue to care for like a houseplant. Fertilize with Plant Prod’s 15-30-15 every 3 weeks. Once the danger of frost has past, plant outside. Lilies like to grow in a sunny location with well drained soil. It helps to add bone meal when you plant. Mulch the lily well in the fall.

Easter Lilies

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:12:00 +0000

With their pure white trumpet shaped blossoms standing proudly over deep green sword shaped leaves, Easter Lilies are part of our North American Easter celebration. The traditional Easter plant, Lilium longiflorum, is native to Japan, but is now primarily grown commercially on the west coast of the United States.

Light

Bright Indirect Sunlight

Temperature

Cool daytime (18C) and nighttime (15C) temperatures increase flower life. Keep away from heat sources

Water

Water when top half inch of soil is dry to touch. The decorative pot covers are notorious for holding water around the base of the pot. Make sure your plant is not sitting in water.

Other Care

Remove yellow anthers. The bright yellow pollen stains badly. Removing the anthers will preserve tablecloths and furniture. Removing the anthers will prolong flower life. As well, you should remove spent flowers.

Gardenscape! It must be Spring!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 23:09:00 +0000

Gardenscape starts this Friday, March 30 and runs until Sunday, April 1.

There are over 400 vendors and 170,000 square feet of displays.
Back for the second year is the Backyard BBQ Cooking Show.

The speakers include noted prairie gardeners, Ken Beattie, Sara Williams, and June Flanagan.

More details on the Gardenscape Website

See you there!

History of the Shamrock

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:16:00 +0000

In the days before Google, knowledge was passed from person to person by storytelling.

Often to help tell the story, an object was used to illustrate the point. Legend has it that St. Patrick used the shamrock to tell people about the Trinity.

It’s hard to understand how God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit can be One. St. Patrick pointed to the shamrock and showed how three separate leaves came from one stem and were one, just like the Trinity.

Feature Plant: The Shamrock

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 15:09:00 +0000

It’s a little ironic, but the shamrock plant we use to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Canada, actually comes from Mexico and it’s not actually a shamrock. The Irish Shamrock is type of clover, similar to the clover we find in our lawns. The houseplant version is an oxalis. A bulb that produces leaves similar to the clover.

It is a easy to care for houseplant and will reward you with lush green foliage. In the spring, shamrocks flower in white, pink or red, depending on the variety. With proper care, it will celebrate many St. Patrick’s Days.

Shamrocks need bright light with some direct sun.

Allow the surface of the soil to dry between watering. Shamrocks, being tubers, won’t tolerate soggy soil. Shamrocks like nighttime temperatures around 15-18C and do not like to be warmer than 24C during the day.

Fertilize with ½ strength Plant Prod 15-30-15 every two weeks in spring and summer.

Often two or three months after St. Patrick’s Day, the plant will die back. Not to panic, the plant is entering a dormant period. Dormant periods can also be triggered by hot conditions or frequent under watering.

Give the plant a “rest period” with reduced light, temperatures, and water. After two months, increase the light and watering and the shamrock will sprout again.

In a Nutshell

Light: Bright with some direct sun

Water: Allow to dry between waterings. Don’t overwater.

Reblooming Kalanchoe

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 14:30:00 +0000

Most people don’t try to convince their Kalanchoe to flower again. Because the plants are so inexpensive, after the flowers are spent, many gardeners will discard the plant in the compost pile.

But, it is not impossible to get the Kalanchoe to bloom again.

Kalanchoe blossoms are triggered by short day lengths. In their native environment, when days are approximately eight to ten hours long, buds begin to form. If the gardener can duplicate those conditions, the plant will bloom again.

Remove the flower stem after blossoming is finished. Give the plant a brief rest period with less water and less light. In the fall or spring when days are 8-10 hours long, increase the amount of water and feed with fertilizers that is higher in the middle number (phosphorus) like Plant Prod’s 15-30-15.

If you love a challenge, you can mimic commercial growers and use artificial light to create the short day length.

But, the plant is attractive both with and without flowers. So, personally, I’d just wait for the short days of fall or spring.

Feature Plant: Kalanchoe

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 22:47:00 +0000

Kalanchoe

The name is a tongue twister... But, that's the hardest thing when it comes to enjoying this plant.
Kalanchoe are a long blooming succulent. Some gardeners have reported up to 9 months of continuous bloom!
The keys to success are water and light.
Kalanchoe have thick leathery leaf that allows the plant to grow naturally in the arid areas of Brazil, Southeast Asia or Madagascar. In the home, you need to recreate those conditions and keep the plant on the dry side. The soil should be dry, but not bone dry before watering. I test my Kalanchoe by gently squeezing a leaf. If the leaf feels firm, I wait to water. If the leaf feels slightly soft, like my earlobe, I give it a drink.
Kalanchoe prefer cooler nighttime temperatures around 15 C and can tolerate warm conditions during the day. For best success, grow in bright, but not direct light.
The flowers form small bouquets or clusters of buds and can be found in whites, yellows, oranges, pinks, salmons, and more.

P.S. Kalanchoe can be pronounced either kal-an-CHOH-ee or kal-an-KO-ee. Your choice.

Seedlings Sprouting @ Dutch Growers

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 20:09:00 +0000

To know when to start seeds, you work back from the "frost free date". As a rule, in Saskatoon, we treat the May long weekend as the official "frost free date" and cross our fingers that Mother Nature will cooperate.

Most seed packets will have instructions that read "sow directly in garden" or "start indoors x-y weeks before last frost". Count back from Victoria Day, and you'll know when to start your seeds.

Questions, give the garden centre a call at 306.249.1222 or email grow@dutchgrowers.com.

For more gardening information, listen to Garden Talk radio on NewsTalk 650 every Sunday morning at 9:00 am.

Garden Seminars Spring 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:00:00 +0000

It may be the last dying days of winter, but at Dutch Growers, we're thinking spring.
We're in the middle of planning our spring garden seminars and YouTube videos and looking for suggestions!
Post your ideas on our Facebook Page

Greenhouses "Fired Up and Ready to Go"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:02:00 +0000

The main greenhouses are now "fired up"! We're busy making sure that the space is perfectly clean. The furnaces have been starting to heat the space. In the next couple of days, the planting crews will start transplanting the seedlings into hanging baskets. With some sun, some water, some fertilizer as well as careful pruning, the baskets will be drop dead gorgeous for Mother's Day.

Plant Guide: Venus Flytrap

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0000

This is a plant that likes its meat and potatoes!
The Venus flytrap is one of the most well known carnivorous plants.

Insects like flies will be attracted to the nectar produced by the flytrap’s leaves. When the insect lands on the leaves, tiny little hairs are triggered and the hand-like leaves close on the victim. In 10 days, the leaves open and reveal the mummified carcass, nutrients drained by the plant for the plant’s nutrition. Gruesome, eh? But, it is the stuff ten-year-old boys (and girls) live for!

Venus Flytraps are native to the bright bogs of North and South Carolina. To grow them successfully, you’ll need to duplicate their hometown growing conditions. Creating high light humid conditions is tricky, but will attention to detail, can be done.

Light

Bright direct sun at least 4 hours per day with an additional 8 hours of bright indirect light for a total of 12 hours per day. More direct light, healthier plants.

Water

Pure distilled, or rain water. Venus Flytraps sensitive to the dissolved minerals in tap water.

Humidity

Lots. Grow in a bright terrarium with a dome to keep the humidity in.

Soil

Nutrient poor. Use a mix of peat, sphagnum, sand, and perlite.

Fertilizer

Don’t. It’s not necessary and flytraps are very sensitive to fertilizer.

Hints

Refrain from repeatedly setting off the traps. It’s hard work for the plant!

Venus flytraps are not tropical, but perennial. They will have a dormancy period over the winter when they die back to the soil and grow again in the spring.

Got an amazing flytrap in your collection? Post your pictures on the Dutch Growers’ Facebook Page

Basic Plant Skills: Lack of Light

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:32:00 +0000

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii)

How do you know if your plants are getting enough light?
Well, they'll tell you by how they are growing.

If your plants need more light, they will let you know by:

Growing taller, but looking spindly and stretched
New leaves will be smaller, paler and spaced farther apart than normal
New growth will be slow or non-existent
Variegated leaves will lose their variegation and become solid green
Flowering plants will fail to bloom or bloom sparsely

Try increasing light by moving, closer to a sunny window and opening any drapes. Simple steps like washing the windows and wiping dust from plant leaves will also increase the amount of light.

Choose plants that prefer low light or will at least tolerate low light. Some plants like the Peace Lily, will tolerate low light conditions, but require bright indirect light to bloom.

By doing a little research or talking to one of the plant experts at Dutch Growers, you can find the perfect plant for your location!

Plant of the Month: Moth Orchid

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:13:00 +0000

Moth Orchid

Orchids can be intimidating... How can something that beautiful be so easy to grow?

Moth Orchids or Phalaenopsis grow well in normal home conditions. Preferring bright indirect light, they will thrive in an east facing window or in a south or west window if you can protect the orchid from direct light.

Water every 7 to 10 days when the growing medium is dry about 1/2" below the surface. You don't want the orchid to dry out completely. But, you don't want to keep the growing medium so wet that the roots rot. Often you'll see our greenhouse staff lift a pot when watering.. They are checking the weight of the pot. If it light, the plant needs a drink. If the pot seems heavier, the plant is still fine and should be checked again in a day or two.

Flowers will last up to three month and moth orchids will often bloom again the following year.

-Leslie, Dutch Growers Garden Centre Saskatoon

Basic Plant Skills: Pebble Tray

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:05:00 +0000

Forced air furnaces... Great for keeping us cozy and warm. But, low humidity causes leaf tips to brown. Just like people, a large percentage of a houseplant contains water. In the winter, the difference between the moisture content of the plant and the air causes the plant to loose water. As a result, leaf tips turn brown. Blossoms will often fail to open. Older leaves may drop.

To increase humidity, you can mist the plants. This is often ineffective, and can actually introduce fungal diseases. More effective methods include grouping plants together or placing plants on a pebble tray.

To make a pebble tray, you will need a waterproof saucer and some decorative rock. The larger the saucer, the better.
Fill the saucer with stones.
Add water until the level is just below the top of the pebbles. You don't want the plant to sit in water. Remember to add water to the pebble tray as it evaporates.

Begonia Bulbs

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Gardening in the shade... It can be a challenge... Sometimes I feel that we should just declare chickweed an ornamental ground cover and be done with it!

There are some terrific shade loving perennials like hosta, but sometimes a girl just wants some flowers.
Begonia grow well in semi-shade. Flowers can be as small as a penny or the size of a baseball. Colours include white, pink, red, peach, and more.

For continuous bloom, I plant "non-stops". The flowers are little smaller, but they bloom all summer. For a showier blossom, I prefer the camellia type flowers. They are so over the top gorgeous.

Planting is easy. All you need is some potting mix, a 6" grower's pot, and a good quality bulb. As a rule, the bigger the bulb, the bigger the flower.

Fill the pot with moistened potting mix.
Place the bulb with the hollow side up on top of the soil surface
Cover with about a half inch of soil
Cover the top of the pot loosely with plastic wrap, Personally, I invert a clear plastic saucer over the pot.
Keep the soil evenly moist. Don't over water.
Now the hard part, be patient. It can take up to 6 weeks for the bulb to sprout
Once the bulb sprouts, remove the plastic cover

Plant outside after all danger of frost has passed.
Questions? Call the garden centre at 306-249-1222 or email using the link at the bottom of the blog.

Basic Plant Skills Watering: Signs of Overwatering

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:49:00 +0000

Early signs of overwatering signs include:

Both young and old leaves fall at the same time
Roots are mushy. They may be brown and smell rotten
Flowers become moldy
Leaves have rotten patches and fail to grow

Check your plant before watering. Make sure that the top 1/2-1" of soil has had a chance to dry before you water. Make sure that your plant is not standing in water. If you are using a saucer to protect your furniture, make sure you discard the excess water. If you have a decorative pot cover, check it for standing water.

It is really hard for a plant to recover from over-watering. You can pop the plant out of the pot and leave it on a layer of newspaper for a few hours to allow the soil to dry out. Remove any rotten roots. Then return the plant to the pot and be very careful when watering.

Basic Plant Skills Watering: The Knuckle Test

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:47:00 +0000

Water using the “Knuckle Test”. Insert your index finger up to your first knuckle into the soil. If the top ½” of soil is dry, give your plant a drink. Some plants that prefer drier growing conditions or are growing in a larger pot and are “two knuckle plants”. Allow the top 1” of soil dry before watering.

Give your plant a gulp, not a sip. Water should run out the bottom of the pot into the saucer, never letting the water remain in the saucer. Dump the water from the saucer a few minutes after the soil has become hydrated.

Reblooming Rieger Begonia

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:21:00 +0000

Rieger Begonia in all colours

After blooming, many people will compost Rieger begonia. But, it is possible to get a Rieger to bloom again.

Rieger begonias are photoperiod bloomers. Flowering is set by hours of light. As the days become shorter in the fall, the plant will be stimulated to bloom.

After your Rieger begonia finished blooming this spring, cut it back to a few inches above the soil line. Keep the begonia on the dry side and grow in cool location with medium light.

When the plant starts to put on new growth, repot in the next pot size and increase the amount of light. Now is time to fertilizer with a high phosphorus fertilizer like Plant Prod 10-52-10. As the days grow shorter in September, the begonia will start to bud.

Easy Care Houseplants: Reiger Begonia

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:10:00 +0000

Rieger Begonia

One of my favorite plants is the Rieger or winter begonia. It’s easy to care for and comes in many colors. You can find Rieger begonia with either semi-double or double flowers in shades of red, pink, white, orange, yellow, or salmon. Leaves are a healthy glossy green. With proper care, Rieger begonia will bloom until the snow melts.

Rieger begonias are easy to look after. The key is not to overwater. Allow the top half-inch of soil to dry out. Give the plant a drink and remember to drain any water that accumulates in the plant saucer. If you notice that leaves are turning yellow, or the stems of the plant are soft and turning brown, you are over watering. Err on the side of leaving the plant on the dry side. It is easier for a plant to recover from under watering. But, it is very hard and sometimes impossible for a plant to recover from overwatering.

Rieger begonia will thrive with lots of bright indirect light. An east windowsill is a terrific place for a Rieger begonia. You can also choose a south or west facing location as long as the begonia does not receive direct sunlight.

Rieger begonia will bloom longer when grown in a cool location. Avoid warm drafts from heat registers or cold drafts from windows or doors. Remove faded blossoms to encourage more blooms. Lastly, feed weakly weekly. I like to use Schultz All Purpose Plant food every time I water. Add seven drops to a quart of watering solution, and water normally. It’s an easy no brainer way to feed your plants in the winter.

Next: Getting Rieger Begonia to bloom again

Landscaping for the Birds

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:02:00 +0000

Blue Jay

Choose landscape plants that provide food for birds.

Birds will feed on grass seeds from ornamental grasses like Karl Forester. They will snack on fruit producing plants like Saskatoon berry bushes, Highbush Cranberry, and sour cherry bushes.

Acorns on Burr Oak will attract Blue Jays in the fall.

In the summer, red trumpet like flowers on Nicotiana attract hummingbirds. For a complete list of landscape plants that will attract birds to Saskatoon gardens, check out the plant finder on Dutch Growers' website. Under landscape attributes, click off "Wildlife Attraction" and select birds.

Dutch Growers Garden Centre Plant Finder

Birds: Like a Duck to Water

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:44:00 +0000

Birds are attracted by a source of water.

Water is most easily added in the summer with a birdbath. The birdbath should not be too deep. Birds are looking for "puddle depth water."

Include a water feature like a pond in your landscape designing the pond with a shallow end or a 'beach".

In our garden, the robins visit the "beach" every evening to bathe and drink.

This spring, we were visited by a mama duck and her brood. We're not sure, but we think that they were nesting in the park behind our yard.

Next: Landscaping with birds in mind

Winter Birds: Food and Feeders

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:11:00 +0000

Choose your bird feeder location with care. For maximum enjoyment, it should be easily seen from your window.

Place your feeder close to source of shelter such as a large or medium shrub. In our garden, the feeder is close to a Highbush Cranberry. The birds flit from feeder to branches. In the fall, the berries are the bird’s dessert.

Birds need a source of food. Select the food to match your birds. Choose a good quality seed such as the seed packaged by Sun Country Farms. You want to avoid filler. It's like the nut tray at Christmas… The birds will pick out all the good stuff and spit the filler on to your flowerbed.

Look for black oil sunflower seeds or chips. Striped sunflower seeds or spits are difficult for some of the smaller birds to crack. Consider filling your feeder with Niger seed. Niger seed is more expensive, but warblers and Goldfinches adore Niger seed. Store seed in a waterproof container. Add a Suet feeder for flickers and woodpeckers.

Next: Provide a source of water

Winter Birds

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:57:00 +0000

Several years ago, my husband Dave, gave me a bird feeder for Christmas. At the time, I graciously said, "Gee, thanks, Honey." But really, I considered a birdhouse the horticultural equivalent of getting a waffle maker or toaster.

Looking back, it has become one of my favorite gifts. We feed the birds all year long. Any month on the calendar, our yard is alive with a community of feathered friends.

The birds are looking for three things: food, water, and shelter. It's just like in the movie FIeld of Dreams, if you build it they will come.

Birds need shelter to provide protection from predators, a place to nest, as well as nesting material. They seem to prefer shrubs and trees that are well branched. Think of a thicket, just like in the Tale of Br’er Rabbit. In our garden, we have a blue Grizzly Bear Juniper that's home to a family of robins every year. The thick foliage hides the nest from the neighborhood cats and provides protection from the wind and sun.

Next, bird feeder location and food

Gifts for Gardeners and their Fine Feathered Friends

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 20:54:00 +0000

Guest Blogger, Janice

For several reasons, my favourite gift for gardeners is one that includes our feathered friends. Saskatchewan is home to many bird species that bring joy and music to the garden. Bird houses are now more than just functional, they are garden décor available in a host of decorative colours, interesting and unique shapes, and a variety of sizes. Gone are the days when we threw out a handful of bread crumbs! Bird feeders with good quality food help sustain our feathered friends during cold wintry weather. Bird houses and feeders make perfect gifts for the city gardener.

Janice-Store Manger Dutch Growers

Happy St. Nicolaas Eve (Dec 5)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:48:00 +0000

In Holland, St. Nicolaas doesn't arrive with a sleigh and reindeer. He comes by boat and then goes through out the Netherlands riding a white horse accompanied by his helper, Zwarte Piet.

Tonight, Dutch boys & girls will be setting their wooden shoes on the step. Filling it with carrots for St. Nicolaas' horse and Dutch spice cookies called Speculaas for St. Nicolaas and Zwarte Piet. Tomorrow, the shoes will be filled with small gifts and chocolate.

For David Sedaris's (American Humorist) take on the Dutch Tradition, check out David Sedaris Six to Eight Black Men. The video is about 15 minutes. SPOILER ALERT This is best enjoyed by Moms and Dads. It is well worth the time spent. He covers some of the darker sides of the St. Nicolaas tradition including what happens to the little boys and girls that have been naughty.

To share St. Nicolaas, with your children, check out the St. Nicholas Centre Web Page featuring St. Nicolaas traditions around the world.