Plants need their companions too!

Let plants help you increase your production, keep moisture in your soil and control bugs! Companion planting skills are important to develop if you want to make the most of your garden space, or if you want to be a lazy gardener!

What is companion planting? It is the ability to combine plants that help each other or to avoid growing certain plants side by side that don’t seem to get along for some reason.

Helpful companions can enhance vigor, growth, flavor, or at least one of the companions will benefit from the presence of the other.  For example, basil is known to enhance the flavor of tomatoes and lettuces. Members of the Brassica family such as cabbage, kohlrabi, and broccoli, tend to inhibit tomatoes’ growth.

Marigolds are well known for their ability to attract beneficial insects, repel undesirable insects and control soil nematodes. Many gardeners plant them among their crops or at the end of their aisles.

Companion planting is not just about bug control, it can also be about water preservation, and weed control. Companions can work in all types of growing space, tall sun loving plants can be used to create shade and a moist environment for shorter plants that like a more humid area.

Alternating planting is another way of companion planting. Growing legumes as a cover crop will contribute to replenishing nitrogen in the soil after growing vegetables.

For more information, visit the Territorial Farmers Association website. 
A list of useful plants to use against a variety of bug problem can be found here., or a companion chart here

DIY Greenhouse

Greenhouses provide us with an extended growing season by creating a suitable environment for healthy plant growth. It also gives us the opportunity to grow plants that otherwise would not grow in an unprotected arctic environment. For example, The University of Saskatchewan Agriculture Greenhouse has a banana tree that fruits in the dead of winter. Crops grown in greenhouses also reach maturity much faster and can potentially provide you with multiple harvests per season. Leafy greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers are popular crops amongst greenhouse growers.

Heat builds up in a greenhouse by trapping the sun's long-wave, high energy radiation. A micro-climate is created within the confined space in which there is ample heat, light and humidity, much to a plant's delight. However, a greenhouse does require attention as plants can quickly wilt and die if left unattended, especially mid-summer. Photosynthesizing plants, especially under high light such as in a greenhouse, deplete carbon dioxide in their surroundings. Plants require carbon dioxide as building blocks for glucose production. Therefore maintaining carbon dioxide through ventilation by opening a door/window is a must. Since photosynthesis increases in this warm environment, so will a plant's watering needs. Soil will dry out much faster in a greenhouse and therefore must be watched closely and watered accordingly.

Building your own greenhouse does not have to be elaborate or expensive. Start with simple components such as PVC piping or wood to construct a frame and cover with high light transmitting plastic. You can make it as big or as small as you like, as long as it can accommodate your selected crop. Here are 10 plans for a DIY greenhouse.  Remember to start off small an familiarize yourself with greenhouse management. You will greatly enhance your chance of success with this approach. Your greenhouse may be covering an in ground garden or have raised beds and pots within, it's your choice!

Making the most of your crops

Today we will talk about a number of ways you can increase your yield.

Succession planting refers to a variety of planting methods to ensure availability of produce throughout the harvest season.  The methods are explained here: 

If you have the space inside keep seeding every week or so and continue transplanting as time permits; it can be really therapeutic working with your seedlings and soil.  Once you move to your outdoor spaces, continue seeding lettuce, mustards or Asian greens until the middle of July.

Season extending methods are key to more food production in our short season, find out some great tips on how to here.  Be aware of germination needs, for example, some seeds germinate better with light.

For those of you who want to maximize produce production for the market, a book about building a successful organic micro-farm by Jean-Martin Fortier, Les Jardins de la Grelinette , Quebec, may be a tool to add to your collection.  This book focuses on low-tech, high-yield production methods.

Give it the light!

Have the first seedling sprouted out of your pots yet?  You are wondering what to do next?  Proper seedling maintenance provides adequate space, light, moisture, and food for your seedlings.  General information and species specific growing guides are helpful tools. Here is a great link and video to help guide you:

Here in the North, longer Spring days and a South facing window can provide adequate natural light for seedlings.  However, if your seedling are getting too spindly you can give them supplemental light with fluorescent or LED lights of the proper spectrum.  Here is how you can make a grow light

The sun is so nourishing you will notice even when you use supplemental lighting the plants will still reach for the sun. This is because certain wavelengths are not provided by artificial lighting. There is nothing like the sun for maximum plant health!

Have fun with starting your own seeds, it's easier than you think!

The space and time you have for your seedlings will determine what you will seed into.  If you do not have much time, you may want to use a flat production technique where you spread the seeds over a surface of soil and later on, transplant the best individuals to a development tray.  This technique is particularly useful when dealing with very small seeds, such as oregano and mixed greens.

You don’t have to purchase trays – recycle what you already have at home!  Choose containers that can promote good root development, that are easy to handle, and easy to clean and sanitize  Reuse the plastic containers you purchase food in at the store, a clear top and a dark bottom, such as roasted chicken containers.  These containers serve as a mini greenhouse which helps keep the environment humid and may reduce the watering frequency. The dark bottom absorb light and help increase the temperature of the soil.  Salad containers also work well.  

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Proper watering (always humid; never saturate the soil with water), proper air circulation around the plants and ideal germination temperature for the variety of plant you grow are factors to consider to prevent the development of diseases.  Make sure your container can drain excess water.  If you use clear tops on your containers, do not forget that temperature will build up! Remove the lids when needed.

Check out more great tips on starting your seedlings and choosing pots here