By Tam Andersen, Farmer Winter in Edmonton asks more of us. More warmth. More nourishment. More intention. Our energy flows to what we have passion for. For me, the farm holds transformative power; a space where food transcends mere sustenance to become a true strategy. I recently spoke at IMPACT in Victoria, BC on the topic of Food Security. It’s …
Posted By Tam Andersen, Farmer December 3, 2025 How you care for hydrangeas during the winter can determine whether your shrubs are bursting with blooms next summer or not. Here’s how to protect them from the cold. Are Your Hydrangeas Ready for An Alberta Winter? Proper hydrangea care in winter directly impacts the quantity of next summer’s blooms. Erratic winter …
Posted By Tam Andersen, Farmer August 19, 2025 Farming, especially growing vegetables for a living, requires knowledge of every stage of crop production. From seed starting to organic fertilization, pest management, regenerative agriculture practices, and knowledge of how to prepare, cook and store these veggies. There’s a lifetime of learning and a lot to know. Today’s small-scale farmers carry the …
Sweet corn (Zea mays) has been a staple at Prairie Gardens since 1988. Although corn was domesticated for over 10,000 years, it is only in the last 20 years that northern Alberta market gardeners, and home gardeners have been able grow and harvest sweet corn from their gardens. The garden corn that was available when I helped my Mum in her garden …
They are Beasts, Beauties and Blizzards of a delightful hardy to -50C berry bush that you can easily grow in your garden, with extraordinary health benefits. The bushes are robust, and offer a great privacy screen, but are not too tall or very wide – so can be grown in a small space. The berry flavor is a unique and …
Growing Hardy Zone 3 Garden Apricots in Alberta Manchurian Apricots are a winter-hardy relative of the native plum. This tree can stand some drought, but will not handle standing water or saturated moist soils. They are wonderful trees for conservation and diversity projects, and can be used in shelterbelts, thickets, or as a specimen tree in a sheltered back yard. …
How to Choose Plants Hardy to Your Zone Our farm and tree nursery, Prairie Gardens, is dedicated to producing plants that grow on the Canadian Prairies – which range from zones 0 (hardy to Alaska) to zone 4 (hardy in Edmonton). Our tree nursery was established in 1956 – with almost 70 years of experience, naturally, we get a lot …
In-depth Fruit Tree Planting Tips for the Home Garden in Alberta The following suggestions will help you to successfully plant fruit trees in Canadian Hardiness Zones 0 to 4 for Alberta gardens, whether it is spring, summer or fall, and you’ll have an in depth understanding on how to grow hardy fruits in the north! Spring Planting Springtime is the …
Hardy Fruit for Zone 2 Gardens The American Highbush Cranberry grows wild in Alberta. It is found around lakes, in shady forest glens, and along forgotten streams that flow in the spring. You’ll smell them on the breeze before you see them. They have a distinct aroma, vaguely reminiscent of blue cheese or more likely – “stinky socks”! The fruit …
It’s not too late to plant cherries in the prairies! Cherry plants that have been grown in containers can be planted from spring and right through until fall. We have planted sour cherries well into early October with great success. We mulch the root balls with about 12” of wood shavings or wood chips the last week of October to …