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Dee Garrioch of Winnipeg describes the scent of fresh rosemary as gentle sweet and a bit gingery. The Singing Gardener says rosemary gives the impression of strength and overall health, a kind of inspiring vigour that gardeners and cooks like to have around.
Farm Life, FarmLife

Singing Gardener: Taking care of a rosemary plant in low-light time of year

Plus, how to make some liquid calcium from dried eggshells to use on tomato plants

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For some time my thoughts have told me to write something about rosemary. An email with questions about wonderful herbaceous rosemary has spurred me on to say — today’s the day. I enjoy watching those TV commercials that say: “We’re egg farmers — we love what we do.” If that’s a signal I also love eating […] Read more
Note the attractive golden fall colour of this youthful “Delta” Hackberry tree. Its growth form is similar to our North American elm.
Farm Life, FarmLife

Singing Gardener: Get to know the ‘Delta’ Hackberry tree

Plus, a reader shares experiences with using sawdust in the garden

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When are those startling and scary news reports about recalled imported fresh food veggies going to end? Maybe never! As I write this column some of the most recent recalls have applied to specific brands of romaine, leafy red and leafy green lettuces and whole heads of cauliflower. Who knows what’s possibly next? My theme […] Read more
This attractive potted Christmas cactus has been flowering annually for 20 years. Success is in the know-how and Ted delivers some ideas and helpful hints.
Farm Life, FarmLife

Singing Gardener: How to get Christmas cactus to put on its best bloom display

Plus, reader feedback on problem deer control

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Thanks for taking time and coming by to join me with this my final Grainews column for 2018. December is the month when some folks are saying happy holidays but I hold to joining those who stick to established tradition by wishing each person a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Red is such a predominant colour […] Read more
Ladybird poppy always generates a lot of comment. Brilliant-scarlet flowers with central black blobs provide a wonderful splash of colour during early summer. Ladybird is a sow-and-forget poppy that self-seeds annually if it likes your garden.
Columns, FarmLife

Singing Gardener: Remembrance Day 2018

Plus, a houseplant that may help you get a good night’s sleep

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Hey! Hello my fellow Canadians. By the time this issue of Grainews arrives in your mailbox, Remembrance Day 2018 will be close at hand. I’ve always appreciated a spot set aside in the garden for growing poppies, especially Ladybird Flanders poppy. Even during midsummer, poppies remind me of Canadian doctor, surgeon and teacher John McCrae who is best known for […] Read more
This striking mass of pink hibiscus-like lavatera flowers, also known as rose mallow are grown from seeds that Joan Ziegler got from her dad, but she doesn’t know the variety name. (Ted thinks they could be “Loveliness” or “Silver Cup.”) Joan also mentioned there are white ones tucked in among the pink lavatera. She tried starting them inside but decided lavatera do not transplant well and says they do much better when seeded outside directly into the soil. She always saves some seeds and also lets them volunteer.
Farm Life, FarmLife

Readers ask for more tomato info

Singing Gardener: Plus, farming couple shares photos of their flowers

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All for the love of tomatoes opens the page in this my first Grainews column for 2018. I share an email from Alberta and a phone conversation with a farmer’s wife out of Unity, Sask. Am still out and about promoting the connection between five or more weekly servings of no-sugar-added homemade tomato juice, tomato soup, stewed […] Read more
Apart from amaryllis or coloured bracts of a poinsettia, few other plants can warm the heart like an enchantingly beautiful cactus in full bloom during Christmas and New Year festivities. Characteristically, a true Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) has side pendant branches with segments that are decidedly arching.
Columns, Farm Life

Ted’s final column of 2017

Singing Gardener: Plus, a request from a psychologist and kids' letters to Santa

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So what does yours truly, Ted, have to say in this my final Grainews column to close out the year 2017? A variety of subject material includes an email from a Toronto psychologist searching for information about her late grandfather. Hopefully someone out there in Grainews land may be able to assist her. Also, excerpts […] Read more
Larix laricina, commonly known as the tamarack, hackmatack, eastern larch, black larch, red larch and North American larch is a species of larch native to Canada, from eastern Yukon and Inuvik, Northwest Territories then east to Newfoundland. This small to medium-size boreal coniferous and deciduous tree matures to 10 metres or taller. Its bark is tight and flaky pink. Beneath the flaking bark it can appear reddish. The light blue-green leaves are short and needle-like, turning bright yellow before they fall in autumn. Larix laricina needles are produced spirally on long shoots and in dense clusters.
FarmLife

A reader looks for a solution to garden soil problem

Singing Gardener: Plus, info and benefits of lecithin

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Have you ever heard of lecithin? I’ve been taking it on and off for a long time and am sharing some info of what I’ve discovered about lecithin. We’re all aware of bannock, but have you ever made it? More later. Now the curtain rises on my make-believe stage. With mike in hand and a […] Read more
Five tips for eco-friendly gardening
Fruit/Vegetables, General

Five tips for eco-friendly gardening

The word eco-friendly can be used in many areas of our lives: at work, at home, at play. Being eco-friendly in all these aspects is quite a simple concept with incredible opportunities for creativity. The bottom line is eco-friendly is all about working with nature, not against it. As gardeners we play an ever-increasing unique […] Read more
Améthyste artichoke produces purple, uniform, heavy, tight heads with multiple secondary buds on an upright spineless plant that can take up 
to 100 days to reach maturity.
FarmLife, Fruit/Vegetables

Some info on growing artichokes

Singing Gardener: Plus, Ted shares more feedback from readers

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As always, lots to write about in Grainews Singing Gardener page. Am sharing more feedback from readers, so thanks to folks who take time to write. Got some thoughts on the best days to go fishing once the rod and reel season opens in your area. Here where I am we’ve got the Portage Diversion spillway that […] Read more
Ted inspects developing strawberries growing in partial shade under floating row cover. Read below about the tarnished plant bug and how to avoid cat-faced strawberries.
FarmLife

More information on potatoes

Singing Gardener: Plus, some tips on strawberries

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We can all identify with how time flies. The longest day or summer solstice for this year is now long gone. Little by little, daylight is sneaking away and shall continue to do so until just before next Christmas when we have our shortest day. Speaking of “sneaking,” let me put a question to you. […] Read more

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