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In recent years, late blight has been a common issue among a lot of home tomato growers. Mountain Merit has good resistance to multiple diseases including high tolerance to late blight. Compact determinate plants produce a concentrated set of medium-size red tomatoes mid-season during a harvest window of four to five weeks.
FarmLife

Start thinking about potatoes and tomatoes this month

Singing Gardener: March is the time to sprout spuds and start seeds

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March is a good month to begin sprouting potatoes and starting tomatoes. Also, will be sharing Part 1 of excerpts from two pages of a handwritten letter. Top that off with where to buy late blight-resistant tomato seeds. There’s a song that says, “I need attention bad.” Did I get yours? Thank you folks for […] Read more
This patch of Russet Burbank potatoes in full bloom was grown by southern Alberta gardener Andrew Moon, shown standing to the right rear.
FarmLife

Singing Gardener: Info on potatoes and Moose Jaw Royale

Plus, Ted whoops it up with fellow musicians

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A Canadian Prairie farmer blend of three grains and a couple of other ingredients are combined in a drink called: Moose Jaw Royale. The beverage is said to mimic appearance and taste of real coffee. Have never tried it myself — yet — but hope to once I’ve assembled all ingredients. The recipe follows further […] 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
Hurrah for the red and white! Patriotism flows through the Singing Gardener’s veins and this year for Canada Day, Ted focuses on potted red and white petunias that reflect the colours of our national flag. Each time you see it proudly raised on high, think of red for freedom, white for beauty, maple leaf and endless sky.
FarmLife

Singing Gardener: Happy Birthday Canada

Plus, home remedies and where to get marrow seeds

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Hi again readers. I, Ted, am thinking ahead one full year from now. That’s when we’ll be rolling out the red carpet, honouring our flag and celebrating, travelling and connecting with fellow Canadians in hundreds of celebratory ways from sea to sea to sea. This land of the great white north shall celebrate its 150th […] Read more
Ornamental German thistles hover over an overflowing box of firm and meaty, unblemished Big Beef slicing tomatoes, while impatiens, patiently complete this command performance of colour and contrast with their touch of mystic rosy pink.
FarmLife

Ted talks tomatoes and shares reader tips

Singing Gardener: Plus, info on green potatoes and inoculant for legumes

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Heard from a Calgarian whose email leads me to a phone visit with her mother at Coronation, Alta. The daughter writes in part: “The Flin Flon is of interest to her to replace a tomato that she can no longer acquire. She’d love to hear from you.” In mid-February, yours truly heard from the supplier Tanya Stefanec of Heritage […] Read more
White Carolina pineberries with red seeds were only recently introduced to North America in 2012. White strawberries were endangered in the South American wild. In 2003 Dutch farmers crossed them with red strawberry cultivars from Europe to create this hardy, prolific, very fragrant white variety with a slight pineapple flavour. Be the first gardener in your area to dazzle family, friends and neighbours by growing these white-flesh strawberries with red seeds.
FarmLife

Information on planting potatoes

Plus, a white strawberry, benefits of sauerkraut and a simple way to help shed some pounds

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Sprouting spuds and planting potatoes according to the moon. Also, I, Ted am focusing attention on a white strawberry with red seeds. Raw fermented veggies such as sauerkraut can contribute to intestinal tract well-being and shall also share a simple low-cost way to help shed some body weight. The script is ready and my hat […] Read more
Useful in beds, borders, patio pots and for cut flowers, the Singing Gardener anticipates high demand among gardeners for Jolt Pink. This relative to carnation is a heat-tolerant new annual dianthus for 2016 that demonstrates vigorous plant growth. Flowers are produced all summer long, but no seeds. Once discovered by bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, these much-appreciated flying creatures will return time and again.
FarmLife

Singing Gardener: 2016 is leap year!

Plus, info on the moon, a new annual dianthus and healing power of onions

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It’s leap year and that means February 2016 has 29 days. If you’re amongst those who celebrate a birthday once every four years according to the calendar, let’s hear from you what it’s like the other three years. We Canadians love to talk about the weather, so I’m asking Grainews readers to look skyward on […] Read more
Daniel Tomelin, 54, holds a Painted Serpent cucumber grown on a trellised vine in his Kelowna, B.C. garden. From tip to tip this monster of a cuke measured an astonishing 112 cm (44-1/2 inches) in length. Read what else the Singing Gardener has to say in this connection.
FarmLife

Painted Serpent cucumber — this one’s a whopper

Singing Gardener: Plus, more on carrot and sugar cough syrup

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Celebrating Thanksgiving Day now past, is an annual noble event that we Canadians enjoy each October with family and friends. For many folks it encompasses the entire weekend. Next, a lot of households anticipate preparing for Halloween, especially where young children are involved. Europeans of earlier times observed an autumn festival that included feasting on […] Read more
FarmLife

Tree stumps? Saltpetre? Skin toner? Read on for all the info

The Singing Gardener offers his tips and those from Grainews readers

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In this instalment of the Singing Gardener — I, Ted, have some ideas for dealing with tree stumps. Also, a handwritten note re: naming of horses and a letter re: Italian heirloom tomato, both from Laura Hughes of Edmonton. Recently, I made a batch of facial skin toner and think it’s a pretty darn good formula […] Read more
This is a colourful view of Jennie Van Straalen’s enormous mass-planted impatiens floral bed containing over 500 plants.
Farm Life

Singing Gardener: Ted talks about tomatoes

Plus, Butcher’s Broom, witch’s broom, and big-batch bran muffins

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Welcome to the Grainews Singing Gardener˜. Seems the subject of tomatoes is never far away, so I’ll be doing some Ted Talk in that connection. We’ve all heard of Flin Flon, Manitoba, border city to immediately adjacent Creighton, Saskatchewan. I, Ted, wrote a song called “Flin Flon’s Rock Garden” and the late Irvin Freese wrote and recorded “The […] Read more

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