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| Manitoba People and Plants News |
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Here's the news for avid gardeners in Manitoba.
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Dear Friend,
Perennial Bliss is bustling with activity and bursting at the seams! It feels like spring in the greenhouses even if the weather isn't entirely co-operating! We are now open Monday - Friday 9:00 - 5:00 and Saturday 9:00 - 4:00 and would love to invite you to come into our world of bliss!
Many people wonder if they can plant so early and a variety of factors influence this. I'll cover that in this issue as well as let you in on a new product that will alleviate many headaches when it comes to deciding what to plant where.
And if
you're into growing your own, I'll tell you what, when, and how in this
issue. Plus, I'll let you in on a little secret that's going on for Earth Day celebrations!
This will be the last you hear from me for a couple of months as I dive into the greenhouse and focus on that! I will try to get some special alerts out when I've got specials on which you can subscribe to using the link at the bottom of this email that reads 'Update Profile'.
Until next time, read on and enjoy!
Sincerely,
Nancy Heide
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Frosty situation
Frost tolerant.
 Some may read this on the tag or bench card and pick up the plant, take it home, and plant it when temperatures are expected to drop below freezing. It says it's frost tolerant, right? Although a plant may be frost tolerant, it needs to experience a transition period between greenhouse life and real life. It's kind of like a teenager moving out. He/she needs both tough love and nurturing to get through it.
The tough love for a plant comes by being planted in the ground. The plant becomes stronger and works harder at creating a network of stems and sturdy leaves when exposed to cold temperatures and harsh winds. But just like a teenager's exit, a balance must be achieved.
Nurturing a plant at this tender stage involves more than watering & bonemeal at the time of planting; it starts as soon as you choose it at the garden centre. Inside the greenhouse, it rarely dips below 10 degrees Celsius and it doesn't get windy. The plant needs to be exposed to minimal cold periods and slight wind for a few days. Set it outside, first in the shade for a day, then bring it back inside for night. The next day, set it outside in a place where it will get morning sun and afternoon shade. On the third day you should be able to plant. Be prepared to shelter it if its leaves look like they've been bleached (from the sun) or tattered (from the wind). And if it is supposed to freeze that first planted night, be sure to cover it with a light blanket.
Plants that could be planted this time of year include Petunias (especially Supertunias... some of mine are spending their first night outside tonight), Snapdragon, Dianthus, Symphony Osteospermum, Nemesia, Pansy, and most perennials, whether they are hardy to your zone or not.
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A New Product
Plants convert sunlight into usable energy through the photosynthetic process and light is the most important environmental
factor to be considered when placing a plant. However, all
plants differ in the amount of sunlight they need--too much or too
little sunlight can cause wilting, burning, or the need for more
fertilizer and water just to survive.
SunStick bridges the gap between knowing how much sunlight your plant needs and how
much sunlight your yard receives. Put your SunStick in the ground in
the morning and come back at the end of the day. Match the color of
the center SunDisk with the included Sunlight Color Chart to determine
your sunlight level. Then simply match the right plant to the right
spot and save money, time and water. Available for about $10 at Perennial Bliss!
Source: GoSunStick.com
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Grow Your Own
Tasting a tomato fresh from your own garden is so rewarding, and it's even more so when you've nurtured that plant from seed package to fruit. As we are about 6 - 8 weeks away from our last frost, it's time now to start your own peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and lettuce.
Be sure to use soilless medium and cover the seeds lightly. Water them frequently until germination, but allow the surface to dry slightly to discourage a fungus called damping off. Be ready to transplant them into bigger pots in about two weeks.
With the trends encouraging more people to grow their own vegetables, I thought there was no better way to celebrate Earth Day than giving away free seed! Just come in and pick up seed from our selected packs!
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Food For Thought
The last question I posed to you was what one thing could a garden centre improve on to make your shopping experience better? Here's a few of the responses.
No time to think about choice of garden centre much. I go to <a centre> because I like to thumb the catalgue, then browse the website & then go see their selection in person. (Size of selection DOES matter!) <One> has better selection, but their prices are not competitive & I trade with pen pals for about 25% of my seeds anyways (self grow ~50%), so I'll wait until I can get it in trade.
P
Unique off-the-wall varieties like the Flame Grass, which looks simply fantastic; friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable staff who actually plant your pots up for you, and deliver plants to your door....
How to improve? Well, just extend the growing season by a couple of months....
D
Those are some great tips! We hope we've got that same atmosphere at Perennial Bliss. Here's my next topic of discussion... What is your favorite combo of plants? This can be in beds, containers, or baskets! It has promise of an exciting topic. Click here to respond. I would love to have your input and will post the results in the next issue of MPP.
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Thanks for reading!
Sincerely,
Nancy Heide
Perennial Bliss
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PO Box 302
Killarney, Manitoba R0K 1G0
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