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The Best Horticultural Resources

Horticultural resources such as online databases and books are key tools for a gardener. Libraries usually have a garden section but a good garden resource is something you go back to time and time again. Here is a list of my most useful garden resources!
Kwantlen's Plant Database
Kwantlen’s online Plant Database is one of the best that I’ve come across. In addition to searching by name, you can do a general search of plants based on height, width, colour, use, origin, zone, exposure etc. Because it is more of a scientific plant database, it lacks care and harvest instructions. You can look up drought tolerant plants, poisonous plants, BC native plants and more. I personally find the site user-friendly but, if you have some problems with it ask your question in the comments and I can help.

Here’s the link to Kwantlen’s Plant Database!
https://plantdatabase.kwantlen.ca/plant/search.gsp
Plant Prop
My favorite horticulture book has to be “American Horticultural Society Plant Propagation: The Fully Illustrated Plant-by-Plant Manual of Practical Techniques.” Its got detailed descriptions and pictures of the best ways to multiply your plants whether that be division, seed collection, cuttings, layering, scaling and more. It includes almost all plants but at least has every ‘type of plant’ so if you can’t find your exact plant you can at least find a similar plant. Again, it’s more of a scientific book but, I think it does a good job of describing techniques and methods so that everyone can understand.

I found West Coast’s Seeds’ Planting Chart for Coastal BC very useful this spring. It tells you by month which vegetables, annuals or perennials need to be started and where, either inside or direct in the garden.

Here’s the link for West Coast Seeds’ Planting Chart!
http://www.westcoastseeds.com/admin/files/PlantingChartDistribution2012.pdf
There is also a Herb and Flower one!
http://www.westcoastseeds.com/admin/files/planting-chart-HERBS-FLOWERS.pdf

What online databases or horticulture resources do you find useful?

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Guerilla Gardening

If you haven’t heard of TEDtalks, I’d like to introduce you to them! They are inspirational or educational speeches by influential people from all over the world about various topics. I watched this fantastic TEDtalks Video about a man, Ron Finley, trying to make his ‘hometown’ South Central LA a little greener. It’s a lengthy video but has some fantastic content about guerilla gardening.

Click on the link and then play the video!

http://www.ted.com/talks/ron_finley_a_guerilla_gardener_in_south_central_la.html

Enjoy and share any comments you have about the video below!

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Free Movie Nights in Surrey

There are 2 upcoming Free Movie Nights planned in the Surrey area.

On Tuesday April 16th, Kwantlen and The Surrey Greens are screening ‘Salmon Confidential’ at Kwantlen’s Surrey Campus (12666 72nd Ave, Fir Building, Room 128) at 6PM. The documentary is about the government cover-up of what is killing BC’s wild salmon. Admission is by donation.

On Wednesday April 17th, The Village Surrey will be screening ‘Edible City’ at the Surrey City Center Library (10350 University Drive, Dr. Ambedkar Rm #418, Fourth Floor). The documentary is about the good food movement. Doors open at 6PM, movie starts at 6:30PM. Go early for a seed give-away from Salt Spring Seeds!

See you there!

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Summertime in the Garden

July is the month to pick the tender, new veggies that are flourishing in your garden. Picking vegetables when they are young and small ensures that they will be flavourful and will keep them producing more throughout the summer. Now is the time to keep your plants watered, weeded and thinned! Check your tomato plants for sucker growths that can inhibit fruit production.

You can continue to plant veggies such as carrots, beets, radishes, and lettuce this month. Salad greens can be planted every ten days or so. You can still plant cucumbers and zucchinis. Plan for your fall garden, plant cool season veggies, such as broccoli, cabbage and collards in August.

Remember to keep an eye on your compost, don’t let it dry out and give it a turn every so often to speed up the decomposition process.

Here is a delicious recipe to try – especially if you have some young zucchini ready for harvesting!

ROASTED ZUCCHINI STICKS WITH PESTO

Ingredients

  • 4 medium zucchini, trimmed and cut into fingers
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons prepared pesto
  • Salt to taste
  • Freshly ground pepper to taste

Preparation

Place a baking sheet on the middle rack of the oven and preheat the oven to 500°F.

Toss zucchini with oil in a large bowl and spread on the preheated baking sheet in a single layer. Roast for 5 to 7 minutes, until the sticks are starting to turn brown. Turn the zucchini and continue roasting 7 to 9 minutes more. Put the zucchini back in the bowl, add the pesto, salt and pepper and toss to coat. Serve immediately. Yum!