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Seed starting season is here!

We’ve been telling you to be patient… but not anymore.

March marks the beginning of the garden season.

Stick around to the very end for special VIP newsletter content

But first, make sure you’re ready.

Get your ducks in a row:

1. Have a plan. If you’re new to gardening, the best thing you can do to set yourself up for success is to make a garden plan. Don’t know how? Our Garden Planning Guide is all you need. It’ll walk you through the planning process step by step.

2. Set up an indoor grow station. Starting seeds indoors early requires some specific tools and accessories. Read all about that here.

3. Brush up on your seed starting knowledge. After putting all that time and effort into creating your garden plan and setting up a grow station, make sure you know how to keep your seeds happy!

Now for the main event.

March is a great time to start:

Celery, Eggplant, Leek, Onion, Peppers, Strawberries, Tomatoes, and most herbs.

March momentum!

Important garden-y dates in March:

March 12th: Daylight savings time begins. Clocks will “spring ahead” for most of us in Canada (except you lucky ducks in the few provinces on Standard Time all year long)

March 20th: Spring Equinox! This is the first day of spring and the period of the year where the northern hemisphere of the earth is tilted toward the sun. That means warmer sunshine and more daylight than darkness.

“Spring-time sweet!

The whole Earth smiles, thy coming to greet.”

- Unknown

Updates from our store:

We’re changing things a little.

We’ve had so many requests for the return of our Honey Baby collection that we’ve decided to immortalize it in the permanent collection!

We’re also doing away with a few of the apparel options and expanding on your favourites: the mugs and totes

We’re excited to make these changes based on what you’ve asked for. Thank you for all your continuous feedback and support!!!

AND NOW…

VIP Newsletter Content!

In Step 2 last month, we germinated our Echinacea seeds to make Whole Plant Echinacea Tincture. If you missed last month’s newsletter, you can click here to catch up.

Now for Step 3: Growing on

When sprouts begin to appear, remove the clear plastic dome and seed starting mat to lower the temperature for growing on. Otherwise, the warm humid conditions will be a perfect breeding ground for mold and moisture-related issues.

Watch your seedlings closely, checking on them at least once a day to make sure their needs are being met.

The Process:

Place your new seedlings under grow lights (or a sunny south-facing window). Watch out! The removal of the dome combined with warmth from grow lights and/or sunshine means your trays will dry much faster than when they were covered. Keep watering as-needed in the mornings. Remember, the seed starting mix should be damp but not soaked.

Pot up your seedlings when the first two true leaves appear. True leaves develop after the cotyledons, which are the first 2 leaves you’ll see. Cotyledons are round and nondescript. True leaves have the characteristics of mature leaves.

When potting up, choose a good quality potting mix and a pot that is only marginally bigger than the previous one your plant inhabited. Potting up in small increments has several benefits such as encouraging more rigorous growth, reducing the risk of overwatering, and saving space on your shelves.

It’s also a good idea to aim a small fan at your grow station to give it a breeze. Good air circulation reduces the occurrence of pest and disease and contributes to strong plant growth.

That’s it! We hope you’re enjoying this special newsletter-only content. And if you want to make your own echinacea tincture, you can still join in! Try a quick weekend stratification and get germinating.

Stay tuned for Step 4 in April’s newsletter.

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Thank you!