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From a bag that lets you grow potatoes on your condo balcony to organic fertilizer that also keeps the bugs away, there are lots of new gardening products on the market this summer to get gardeners out in full bloom. "And you can harvest a little bit at a time just out the bottom, and you can pull a potato or two or three out for that night's dinner and then close it back up and continue on," said Vander Zalm. "The larger the container the better," Vander Zalm said. According to owner and master gardener Wim Vander Zalm, if you are looking for a little direction on what to plant this year, try starting with herbs that you'll use often, like chives. When it comes to colour, think tropical this year, says staff member Karen Rohwedder. According to Statistics Canada, 62 per cent of households regularly buy garden supplies and services - spending an average of $210 per household. A total of 72 per cent of B. "After it's been so dark and so wet people are really attracted to all of the colour, so people are coming in just craving bright colour -- the tropical colours, orange is really hot this year," she said. The most popular plants sold at Art Knapp are -- in order -- tomatoes, basil, cucumbers, zucchini, peas and lettuce. is $235. People in Metro Vancouver reported spending $250, while people living in the Interior shelled out $193. "[It's] something you would always use in different ways in cooking, so it's a good one and a simple one, comes back year after year guaranteed. And if your garden requires a little nutritional boost there are great all-natural seaweed fertilizers with a hidden benefit: deterring insects. Those over the age of 55 - 61 per cent -- are more likely to only partake exclusively in ornamental gardening, while those aged 18-to-34 - 24 per cent -- are more likely to only do consumption gardening. Experts say to resist the instant gratification factor of growing multiple lettuce seedlings, which will have to be harvested at the same time, and opt for the 69-cent package of seeds instead. "So you can plant and sow a few lettuce seeds every week or every second week. The highest percentage of growers live on Vancouver Island, with 76 per cent, while the very lowest is Metro Vancouver, with a still-substantial total of 70 per cent. And if you live in a high-rise and think you have no room for a vegetable garden, there are plenty of options for urban dwellers as well as simple container gardening. There are now reusable potato grow bags that allow users to grow potato crops on their balcony, no matter how small. Some high-value plants and veggies produce an impressive yield for a low cost. Of those who grow or cultivate plants, 55 per cent of those polled said it was mostly for ornamental purposes, like flowers or foliage. |
Thursday, 7 June 2012
Top garden trends for 2012
