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Tag Archives Singing Gardener

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 witcher demonstrates his method to hold a large Y-shaped witching tool that he fashioned from a sturdy willow tree limb. He lets it sit for 24 hours first before using it to search for water.
Farm Life, FarmLife

Singing Gardener: The art of water dowsing — few can do it, many can’t

Plus, Ted has tomato seeds to give away — enter to win

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Call witching what you will as it can be a controversial word. Some folks don’t like the word “witcher” either. Others relegate the practice of witching for water as bunk and trickery. Opting to express it as divining or dowsing is also used. But let me ask whether you’ve ever heard of a “witcher” who searched […] 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
A whitetail doe with her fawn approach a protective fence seeking an opportunity to nibble at something.
Farm Life, FarmLife

One man’s experience with destructive deer

Ted has a recipe to help discourage them from damaging trees and shrubs

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As I write this, September’s been a really wet one so far here in my part of Manitoba and elsewhere too, according to news reports. Seems moisture began falling not many days after I wrote about “The Rain Dance” in a local publication. Now a few folks have said — maybe it’s time to write […] Read more
Ted holds five destructive lily leaf beetles in hand
Farm Life, FarmLife

Ted has some info on how to help control lily beetles

Plus, try this recipe from a reader for Crisp Pickle Slices

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Howdy folks, howdy. Readers will notice I’m beginning this Grainews issue with a new head photo of myself and WOW do I have a lot to cover from lily leaf beetles, to controlling apple maggots. Home pickling, canning and freezing are well underway so thanks to Peggy Lunde for her Crisp Pickle Slices recipe. We’ve […] Read more
Goosefoot, a.k.a. Tree Spinach is a tall-growing ornamental whose edible mineral-rich green leaves taste similar to Popeye’s favourite veggie.  
Colourful magenta-tipped leaves appear at the top.
Farm Life, FarmLife

A fast-maturing turnip that can be planted end of July into early August

The Singing Gardener: Plus, info on Goosefoot, also known as Tree Spinach

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Having trouble growing maggot-free turnips? Let me tell you about a fast-maturing variety that’s ideal to plant toward the end of July and into early August for a fall garden crop. They’re as easy to grow as radishes. Details and source for seeds are provided further along. Also a short presentation about a plant called […] 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
During the first week in October, Karl Voesenek harvested over 70 slicer-size green tomatoes plus about 15 smaller ones from this exceptionally generous tomato plant. Adjoining plants each bore between 40 to 50 tomatoes.
Farm Life, FarmLife

Meet a tomato-growing farmer

Singing Gardener: Plus, how do you take your garlic?

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Seems to me fruits of the vine and apples of the earth are top of the list when it comes to homegrown vegetables among Canadian gardeners, so both share space on this page with a hint of garlic at the end. Had the good fortune to spend a day to remember with gardener and farmer […] Read more

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