A shade cover for heat sensitive plants can reduce UV rays by 70%. Photo: Lee Valley Tools It’s a well-known secret that Kamloops gardeners have a gambling problem. One variety refuses to accept the conventional wisdom that you shouldn’t plant tomatoes before the May long weekend. “But it’s so hot already. A couple of weeks won’t matter,” … Continue reading →
Instead of amending the soil to match the plant, it’s easier to match the plant to the soil you have. Native plants like Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and its many cultivars are well-adapted to the alkaline soils found in dry climates. They thrive in soils with minimal organics. (photo credit: Okanagan Xeriscape Association) Kamloops gardeners expect a lot from the … Continue reading →
After several years of prolonged droughts, watering restrictions, extreme heat and cold, and the threat of wildfires, home gardeners in this region are looking for ways to cope with the new normal. Here are some suggestions. PLANT OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE You probably know that plant hardiness zones are a fairly reliable guide to what plants will grow in your … Continue reading →
What Haskaps would like you to know Although Haskap bushes can easily handle Siberian winters, they are quite fussy about how and where they are planted, and who their neighbours are. Haskaps do best in a sunny location, in well-drained loam or sandy loam soil. They will tolerate well-drained clay soils. Their shallow root system means they can’t compete with … Continue reading →
