Purpose to build this page

In this section, we will share valuable insights and advice on gardening techniques and practices. Visitors can find information as under

1. We share the process of seedling Indoor or outdoor depending on temperatures in your area.
2. How to prepare soil and how to make compost from kitchen waste or mulch.
3. We share the process of plant hardening before you transplant in outdoor environment.
4. How to take care of your outdoor plants.
5. Share affiliated links as recommendations of products that we personally used and tested. (see at the bottom of this page.)

Discover the joy of growing your own plants and creating a beautiful garden. From choosing the right soil to selecting the perfect plants for your space. Together let us learn about the best practices for watering, fertilizing, and pruning your plants to improve their health and vitality. Join our community of gardening enthusiasts and share your experiences, ask questions, and get inspired. Let’s embark on this green journey together and create

Growing Happiness, One Seed at a Time

What is Gardening?

Gardening is the process of growing plants for their vegetables, fruits, flowers, herbs, and appearances within a designated space. 

Difference between Soil, Compost and worm castings.

What is Soil?

Soil is a material composed of five ingredients — minerals, soil organic matter, living organisms, gas, and water.  

NPK ratio in Soil – A NPK ratio of 4:2:1 (N:P2O5:K2O) is generally considered ideal and accepted for macro-level monitoring of consumption of plant nutrients for the country as a whole. 

What is Compost ?

Compost is a mixture that consists largely of decayed organic matter and is used for fertilizing and conditioning land. 

Finished compost is a dilute fertilizer, having an analysis of about 1-1-1 (N-P2O5-K2O), but varying according to the original materials that were incorporated into the pile and how they were composted. 

What is worm castings or Vermicompost ?

Vermicompost is the product of the decomposition process using various species of worms, usually red wigglers, white worms, and other earthworms, to create a mixture of decomposing vegetable or food waste and bedding materials. 

Worm castings also called black gold are rich in micronutrients, containing iron, sulfur, magnesium, zinc, copper and calcium. They also provide macronutrients and can have even a nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) ratio up to 5-5-3 

What is potting mix ?

It is mix of soil and compost

You can either add 1 part worm casting to 4 parts soil.

Role of manure or alternative fertilizers

What is manure as fertilizer ?

We already have talked about ,Soil, Compost and garden mix i.e Soil and compost mix.

There is other fertilizer that can replace compost or mixing all three or even four components ,third is manure and forth is  peat moss.

manure, organic material that is used to fertilize land, usually consisting of the feces and urine of domestic livestock, with or without accompanying litter such as straw, hay, or bedding . I believe in Canadian agriculture practice it is stored in liquid form in silos and sprayed on land. Different countries has different procedure to utilize manure.

Peat moss is soilless but is often added to soil to lighten, aerate, and help retain moisture. Although peat moss is good for keeping in moisture and aerating the soil, peat moss is not often used for lawns since its acidity hinders grass growth and can kill earthworms .

Role of heat ,Sunlight or grow lights during different stages of growth of a plant 

The basics of seeding or gardening in general is to understand the process of germination(also called sprouting of seed) and growth after leaves are visible outside the surface of soil.

Let us talk about the first stage i.e germination. 

It is important to maintain certain level moisture and temperature to initiate germination.

Either you can place seeding trays on the floor heat mats that are used in Bathroom to heat flooring tiles ,or you can maintain air temperature where seeding trays are stores to required level. Most seeds germinate when the soil temperature is between 68° and 86°F.  If we convert to degree centigrade it becomes 20°C to 30°C. If the moisture in the seed is higher than 45-60% then germination takes place. However, from this moisture range down to 18-20% respiration is extremely high, both seed respiration and respiration of microorganisms. Heating can occur where there is little or no aeration. Sunlight or grow light is not required in this stage.

Let us Talk about second stage when leaves are coming out the soil surface.

At this stage plant needs sunlight or grow lights in addition to maintain moisture level. Keep the plants in sunlight or add plant grow lights close to 12 to 24 inches from the plant. Check for  water needs at regular intervals or consider self watering reservoir technique.

The most important thing to note before you transfer your plants into garden.

The plants that we germinate and grow in an indoor environments may not survive outside weather conditions without going through hardening off process.

What is hardening off process.

The process that involves making the plants strong enough to face natural conditions of the outdoor environment by putting them 5-6 hours a day in daytime sunny hours.

There are three parametes that effects the plants when we transfer from indoor environment to outdoor enviornment.

1.) Temperature  change – Indoor temperatures are set to constant temperature whereas outside temperature may change throught the day by significant amounts.

 2.) Sunlight intensity – Of course plants needs sunlight but indoor plants are not used to intense sunlight unless their  leaves develop a protective coating. 

 3.)  Air flow or wind – Indoor environment do not have very high air flow that is way different than outside environment.

The hardening off process gives the plants 2-3 weeks of transition time to get used to outdoor environment conditions.

For Alberta Winters

Hardy vegetables are cold-tolerant crops that can withstand frost and freezing temperatures, including leafy greens like Kale, Spinach, Collards, Sorrel, root vegetables like Carrots, Turnips, Beets, Radish, alliums like Onions, Leeks , garlic and brassicas such as Cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, plus others like Peas, Swiss Chard, Corn etc. often becoming sweeter with cold. These veggies are excellent for fall planting and winter harvests, with some tolerating temperatures well below freezing. 

Leafy Greens & Herbs

• Kale: Very hardy, great for year-round harvest.
• Spinach: Tolerates teens, sweeter after frost.
• Collards: Exceptionally cold-resistant, even in deep freezes.
• Arugula: Tender salad green that handles cold well.
• Swiss Chard: Resilient, down to 20°F.
• Sorrel: Tart and lemony, survives deep cold.
• Corn Salad (Mâche): Very cold-hardy green.
• Cilantro & Parsley: Can survive hard frosts. 

Root Vegetables

• Carrots: Freezing makes them sweeter; overwintering yields best quality.
• Parsnips: Among the most cold-hardy root crops, sweeten in winter.
• Turnips & Rutabagas: Hardy root vegetables, common in winter gardens.
• Beets: Tolerate temperatures into the mid-teens. 

Alliums & Brassicas

• Leeks: Very tolerant of cold, some varieties down to 0°F.
• Garlic: Extremely hardy, often the hardiest.
• Onions: Bunching/green onions are super hardy; some bulb onions too.
• Cabbage & Brussels Sprouts: Love cold weather, can survive hard freezes.
• Broccoli: Thrives in cool temps, survives down to 28°F. 

Other Hardy Choices

• Peas: Can tolerate soil temps as low as 4°C (39°F).
• Fava Beans: Hardy, good for fall planting.
• Jerusalem Artichokes: Very cold tolerant.