Ladner Community Garden

June is here and all of our gardens are planted. Thanks to all of our allotment gardeners for doing such a fine job getting their seedlings in. The gardens are full of vegetables almost ready to harvest. I know I am having lettuce envy over some of the gardeners. Lettuce just won't grow well back in the children's garden. I use the same seed at home and its fine. Lets take a walk through the garden today.     The rockery which borders the front of the community garden is full of blooms. The Sweet William or Dianthus barbatus is stunning, isn't it? This plant attracts butterflies and bees to the garden.  Next to it is Limnanthes douglasii or poached egg flower. This cute as a button flower is easy to grow from seed. Let it self sow to have it year after year in your garden. This flower attracts hoverflies to the garden and they eat aphids.  The Campanula rambles nicely over the rock wall. This spark of blue in June is a welcome sight. There a...

April is here and if you haven't planted your vegetable seeds yet, its time to get busy. Plants such as peas, broad beans, spinach, lettuce, carrots, arugula, potatoes and onion sets should be in the ground. Its still too early for plants such as basil, peppers, beans, cucumbers or squash but getting your seeds chosen is wise while selection lasts. I like to wait until night time temperatures are a steady 9-10C before placing my warm weather crops outside. Don't forget to harden off your new transplants before planting. They need time to adjust from a warm cozy greenhouse to the lower temperatures of the garden. Take them out for an hour each day to get them used to being outside and lengthen the time as you go. This hardening off can take up to a week but your plants will adjust better.  Thanks to the allotment gardeners that have cultivated their gardens. Try to have your gardens planted by the end of May so you have a successful harvest.      Have you see...

Are you looking for somewhere to garden and be part of a community of gardeners? We have just the solution. This spring a few beds have opened up in the Ladner Community Garden. Each raised bed is 4' by 10' and 10" high. This size bed will produce enough salad greens for two people all summer long. The cost of having an allotment at the Ladner Community Garden is $40 per year with our year running from January 1-December 31. You would also be required to obtain a membership for as little as $10 for seniors over the age of 65, $15 for a single membership and $25 for a family membership. The Ladner Community Garden encourages everyone to help out at work parties during the growing season to keep our garden looking top notch. Having a garden does require commitment as you may have to water often during hot dry weather. It is also a requirement that you harvest in a timely manner to lessen any theft in the garden. We have community meals in the garden during the summ...