Wiikwemkoong Gardening Program

STARTING ONIONS AND BRASSICAS Starting onions and brassicas (brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli) can be started during the winter! These plants can tolerate cold and will germinate on their own as soon as it warms up outside. When purchasing onion seeds, make sure you purchase long day varieties as they will grow well in northern Ontario. Make sure you select containers that are food grade and DID NOT CONTAIN CHEMICALS. Check out the video for more detailed instructions. https://www.youtube.com/watch

PLANNING YOUR SEED ORDER It is important to get a head start planning your garden this year as some companies are already starting to run low on their inventory of seeds. If you want to save seeds from your vegetable plants, do not purchase hybrid seeds. With hybrid seeds the next generation will not be the same as the parent plants. In some cases they will end up being totally different plants. If a seed package says that it contains 18 to 22 seeds, assume the lower num...Continue reading

The IAPO (Indian Agricultural Program of Ontario)is hosting a series of 4 workshops online for those who are interested in Poultry Production, Vegetable Gardening, and Maple Syrup Production at the end of this month and next month. If you are interested, the workshops are free. All you need is internet or you can even phone in to hear the workshops. Click on the link below to find out more and to register. Please share this post so your friends can sign up too. http://indianag.on.ca/workshops/

When planning next year's garden, consider adding some plants that will attract beneficial insects. Every year I plant borage to attract pollinators to my raised beds. Even at this late time of the year, the honeybees and the bumble bees love it and appreciate the nectar at a time when most other plants have died off. You can also plant marigolds to repel some pests and alyssum to attract parisitic wasps and other beneficial insects to the garden (parasitic wasps are good because the prey on soft-bodied insect pests like aphids). Companion planting is yet another way to manage the insect presence in your garden without using chemicals. To learn more, take some time this winter to study companion planting.

Time to start thinking about next year's garden!