Potato Growing Hacks
Potatoes are a staple in most home gardens and in general, they are very easy to grow for even the most novice of gardeners. If you’re looking to try your hand at growing your own potatoes this summer, here are a few tips to get you started!
Quality Matters
You can plant potatoes using leftovers from store bought potatos but you will find that choosing a high quality seed potato that is suitable to your local climate will usually give you better results.
Location, Location
Potatoes are a cool weather crop and prefer a growing temperurature around 64-68 degrees. In cooler climates, plant in full sun for extra warmth. In warmer climates, potatos may do better in a more shaded spot.
Potatoes can be a space consuming plant but if you’d like to grow potatoes with limited space, a potato grow bag is a fantastic option, allowing you to grow potatoes wherever you have a little extra space – on your deck, balcony, etc.
Keep Tubers Covered
Tubers exposed to sunlight while growing may form a green skin. To prevent this, keep tubers fully covered and mulch heavily to prevent sunlight from getting threw!
Watch Out!
The biggest issues with potatoes are overwatering, disease and insects. Overwatering, especially early on, can cause the seed potatoes to rot. A consistant water level of about 1-2 inches/week is best.
Potatoes can be at risk to a variety of insects and diseases. A great way to reduce this risk is with companion planting. Fortunately, there is a wide selection of vegetables, herbs and even flowers that can help project your potato crops! For more information on companion planting, including 30 plants that help and 8 you should avoid, check out this fantastic article by Rural Sprout!
Rotate Your Crops
To keep soil healthy, you should not plant potatoes in the same spot repeatedly. Instead, rotate potatoes through-out your garden on a 3 year schedule, planting non-Solanaceae crops in between.
If you’re using a grow bag, replace the soil between each planting to ensure your potatoes get fresh, nutrient rich soil each year.
Keep Them Longer
You can start harvesting potatoes as soon as the plant finishes blooming but if you’re growing potatoes to store for future use, give them plenty of time to mature. Once harvested, cure potatoes and store in a dark, cool area in a box or bin that allows for some ventilation.
Staff Favorites for July: Water Fun
Our staff picks for July are fun and whimsical and are great for the whole family! It is no surprise that these amazing products made our list!
This 360 degree sprinkler is flexible to any watering pattern and is perfect for watering a specific area of your yard or can be great fun for children during the hot summer months.
This comfortable and stylish water hammock has a mesh center seat that keeps you partially submerged and cool. This amazing floaty is perfect for those hot summer days when you just want to relax in the water. This fun water toy would be a great addition to your collection.
This whimsical sprinkler is fun for the whole family on a hot summer day! Simply inflate, connect to your garden hose and have a great time. This cute water toy is perfect for children of all ages!
This water toy is fun for the whole family with its combination of a volleyball net and basketball hoops! With this amazing pool float you will be able to spend many hot summer afternoons cooling off in the water while having tons of fun with family and friends!
Are you looking for a fun outdoor activity to keep your kids cool during a hot summer afternoon? Then this awesome sprinkler play mat is the water toy for you! With this cool addition to your water toy collection your children will be able to enjoy hours of fun!
Summer BBQ Must-Haves
BBQ season is here – and we’re probably just as excited as you are! We’re looking forward to many delicious dinners featuring burgers, grilled veggies, baked potatoes and more. As you prepare for the best BBQ season yet, here are some must haves to make the most of your BBQ season!
The apron anyone an use! This denim apron offers a simple, sophisticated style that works well for the grill king or queen of your house. Oversized pockets make it easy to keep necessary items on hand while protecting your clothes at the same time.
Expand your grilling possibilities with this reusable mesh grill bag. Microwave, dishwasher and oven safe, this grill bag makes it easier to grill fragile or small items such as vegetables, fruits, fish, wings, shrimp, bacon and more.
Bring the flavor of a smoker to your BBQ with this BBQ tube! Simply insert your favorite pellets, light the pellets then place on the grill grates. Perfect for both hot and cold smoking pork, ribs, hot dogs, sausages, chicken, lamb, fish, even vegetables and fruits, this grill tube is compatible with most wood pellets.
Get the best flavour out of your meat with this professional meat tenderizer. Creating “heat channels” within the meat also helps to reduce cooking time, reduce shrinkage and ensure a more evenly cooked meat!
Protect your hands when handling hot foods! These heat resistant gloves are made of sturdy silicone and easy to work with. They are great to take hot dishes, meats, and skewers from the grilling plate. No more fumbling and juggling hot dishes with potholders!
Beachy Backyard Oasis Inspiration
The two-tone finish on this rustic picnic table inspired me to create a backyard oasis inspired by afternoons spent at the beach. A color palette that combines a mix of ocean-inspired blues with bright, sunny yellows is complimented with vintage details and rustic, drift-wood inspired wooden finishes.
If you’ve ever watched one of my design segments on the Marc & Mandy Show, you’ll know that I love mixing and matching dinnerware to add more visual depth and interest to a tablescape. This outdoor place set, which is available in 4 different colors, is the perfect way to do just that! I added in a wood-look tray and rustic wood and steel candle holders to bring that natural, vintage feel to the tablescape. A simple macrame style drink coaster at each place setting is the perfect finishing touch to add a it of textured detail.
A pretty printed outdoor rug elevates the space, giving it a touch of elegance while a few throw pillows in a soft knit add texture and create an inviting, cozy feel to the space. To finish the look, a vintage style steel bucket is the perfect place to display a selection of beverage on ice!
Expanded From: Canadian Home Trends Magazine Cottage & Outdoor Living Special Edition 2021!
Creating a Bohemian Backyard Oasis
After a year of self-isolation and travel restrictions, we understand more then ever the importance of creating space in our own homes and yards where we can escape and unwind! For this design concept, I wanted to embrace the idea of creating an outdoor space that is just as lovely as your indoor spaces and bring in exotic touches that will transport you to other parts of the world!
The starting point for this design board was the picnic table and rug. The Summerwood table and benches are a modern take on the traditional picnic table and offer a stylish look that could just as easily sit in your dining room! The Persian style rug caught my eye because it offers bold colors and traditional elegance but in an outdoor rug!
Textiles with plenty of texture are important in creating this exotic oasis. Pillows with plush detailing combine with a bold red throw pillow to create a bold statement that looks and feels cozy and inviting. Of course, I couldn’t resist taking it a step further with a gorgeous bohemian style hammock that makes me think of lazy summer afternoons at the cottage spent reading a good book while swaying softly in the breeze!
Additional accessories shown: Outdoor Dinnerware, Crate & Barrel; Outdoor Lantern, Giant Tiger; Bar Cart, Pottery Barn
Expanded From: Canadian Home Trends Magazine Cottage & Outdoor Living Special Edition 2021!
