top of page
This site was designed with the
.com
website builder. Create your website today.Start Now

Gardening

Planning Your Garden

 

What kind of space do you have? (raised garden beds, balcony, containers)

How much light does it get? (south-facing=most sun)

What materials do you have/need?

  • find ways to recycle and share materials (ie. lumber & soil; wood chips from the city)

  • we got huge $3 bags of good soil & manure from LawnBoy Landscaping at Cambie & Marine Dr

  • need to borrow some tools? Check out the Tool Library

Choosing Your Seed

 

Consider:

  • what you like to eat! 

  • time of year (start indoors vs. direct sow, last frost)

  • sunlight and exposure in your garden (identify the shady spots)

  • space (plants that grow up or outwards, can be kept in containers)

  • your time and energy (low vs. high maintenance plants)

  • plants that mature quickly (radishes) or take a whole season (tomatoes)

 

Cool, hardy plants: lettuce, arugula, kale, leek, broccoli, collards, native edibles

Heat-loving plants: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant

Plants that grow vertically: beans, peas, tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, sunchokes

Indoor Planting

 

  • not all seeds need to be started indoors, some don’t like to be relocated; refer to handy West Coast Seeds planting chart

  • some seeds need to be pre-soaked, scratched beforehand - read directions on packet

    • plant seeds at a depth 2-3 times the width of the seed (preferably in a pot with drainage)

    • sow tiny seeds on the surface and sprinkle soil on top

    • always give a little water when you’ve planted or transplanted; after, water as needed

    • seeds will germinate/sprout after a week or so

    • once they come up, place in sunny windowsill and water as needed

    • look up when to transplant; you may need to harden plants first (place plants outside for periods of time to prevent shock)

Transplanting

 

  • transplant when it’s not too cold or hot out

  • dig a hole that’s deep enough to accomodate the plant’s roots

  • gently take out of pot (gently untangle if multiple plants are stuck together), position upright in hole, make sure roots are below ground, fill dirt up to base of plant

  • give it some water (always water at the base of the plant and not the leaves/flowers)

 

Outdoor Planting

 

  • planting style varies by plant/gardener; think about plant’s actual size once mature

  • seeds that are planted close together may need to be thinned/transplanted later

  • water in the morning or evening (avoid hottest part of the day)

  • weeding! it can be tedious but you want to give your plants their best chance

  • support vertical growing plants with bamboo sticks or grow on a vertical wall/trellis to save space

  • be aware of pests (white moth, aphids, slugs) & good insects (pollinators, ladybugs), disease

​

 

Tips & Ideas

 

​

 

Resources

 

 

bottom of page