Author Archives: hillstreetgarden

When there is lots of rain and high humidity squash, pumpkin and cucumber plants are susceptible to powdery mildew. You’ll quickly see the white spots on the green leaves to know if you have it. This will continue to spread, so take action as soon as you notice the signs: 1. Cut off the mostContinue reading “Powdery Mildew on plants in squash family”

Some crops are harvested early, like peas and salad greens, which means you might have empty spaces in your garden mid-season. What now? You can re-plant in that spot for a second harvest! Beans are quick to mature and are an ideal choice. You can also put in cold weather and frost tolerant plants likeContinue reading “Succession Planting”

In order to give your plants the water they need and at the same time make the most of the water we have available, consider these tips: Add mulch around your plants to decrease by 2/3 the amount of water (and number of times!) needed. Avoid watering in the heat of the day (10am –Continue reading “Watering Tips”

“Home Gardeners aren’t farmers.” This is what Mel Bartholomew writes in his book “Sqaure Foot Gardening”. He encourages gardeners to plant a manageable amount so you don’t get overwhelmed – with weeding, thinning, or even a bumper harvest. I use this method for my gardening. Want to know more? It is available from the HamiltonContinue reading “Gardening Strategy”

Planting dates vary by crop. The average last date of frost in Hamilton the end of April / early May. So most things can go in the garden by then. There are even some hardier plants which could have been planted even three weeks ago. At the same time, there are some plants that needContinue reading “When to Plant”