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.

Readers ask for more tomato info

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

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

(2nd from left) Derek & Tannis Axten of Axten Farms of Minton, Sask. and François Handfield & Véronique Bouchard of Ferme aux petits oignons at Mont-Tremblant, Que. Photo: Bruce Sargent

Winners of Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2017 celebrated

National winners for Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmer for 2017 were awarded on Dec. 1 to Derek & Tannis Axten of Axten Farms in Minton, Sask., and Véronique Bouchard & François Handfield of Ferme aux petits oignons at Mont-Tremblant, Que. “Once again, the seven regional finalists exceeded our expectations as innovative, forward thinking, young agricultural leaders.  […] 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.

Meet a tomato-growing farmer

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

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



This chickpea and spinach recipes is simply delicious!

Following Canada’s Food Guide

Try this recipe that will fit all four categories of the current guide

The federal government is updating Canada’s Food Guide and I say it’s about time. I have a few bones to pick with the last one. For instance, take the recommendation to eat six to seven grain products per day. That’s the recommended amount for an adult woman; for men it’s eight. I grew up on […] Read more

Now in its third year, Ag in Motion is Western Canada’s only major outdoor farm show, where you can see, hear and feel the latest in ag technology. It will be held July 18-20 at Langham,
just 15 minutes northwest of Saskatoon. For more information or the full program, visit www.aginmotion.ca.

Ag in Motion: Seeing results where they count

At Ag in Motion, seed, crop protection and fertilizer companies, as well as grower associations and industry members will showcase field crop products as they should be seen — in the ground. Ag in Motion, running July 18-20 at Langham, Sask., northwest of Saskatoon, is home to over 100 acres of crop plots from over […] Read more


Soybean Field

Beneficial bacteria getting close

New products may promote plant growth and protect crops from disease

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria are present in the root nodules of the majority of legumes, like soybeans and alfalfa. Other “beneficial bacteria” can be found in symbiotic relationships with crop plants that promote growth, increase stress or pest resistance, or increase nutrient solubility. Only in recent years have scientists been able to point to specific bacteria that […] 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.

Some info on growing artichokes

Singing Gardener: Plus, Ted shares more feedback from readers

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


Got winter blues? Try sprouting some greens

Got winter blues? Try sprouting some greens

Sprouts are delicious and packed with nutrition and only take a few days to grow

My green thumb gets a little twitchy in wintertime and there’s only one cure. I start a little garden on the windowsill, planting to plate in just five days. Yes, I am speaking of sprouts. Delicious, nutritious and green. It is well documented that sprouts are more nutritious than the seeds themselves and, in some […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Revisions in the works for Canada’s Food Guide

Health Canada is planning changes to one of its key policy documents to reflect how Canadians’ diets are generally coming up short in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, milk and milk alternatives. At the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress in Montreal on Monday, the federal health department launched a 45-day public consultation on changes to Canada’s Food Guide, […] Read more