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Let’s Dig Deep into Gardening
Quick links to some great gardening information
Meet Sharon!
Hi! I am Sharon Wallish Murphy. I grew up in my family’s greenhouse at the heels of my father, Charlie, who mentored and helped me to develop my passion – sharing the love of growing. After 20 years of having my own greenhouse, I can say that my mission is to empower others to find joy in their gardening journey and together we can make a more beautiful and life giving world.
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11+ Practical Tips for Starting Plants from Seed
How do you start plants from seed? I am in awe of how plants unfold from seed to maturity. I like to say it’s magical, but it’s incredibly complex. How a plant starts its life impacts the following stages of growth, so let’s talk about how to give plants the best start possible. This blog will discuss 11 practical tips for starting plants from seed, so roll up your sleeves! Tip #1: Always Use Clean Materials for Seeding Even though plants grow in soil, working surfaces, tools, and growing mediums must be clean to control unwanted bacteria, fungus, and mold growth. Dirty equipment can pass on or encourage the growth of disease-causing organisms, resulting in competition for nutrients intended for the new seedlings or causing infections that compromise the plant’s development. Clean materials decrease this risk, so wash trays, pots, and anything else you will use in the seeding process with hot soapy water before seeding. Bleach is unnecessary in most circumstances. Tip #2: Use Seeding Mix Seeding mix is designed explicitly for germinating seeds. Seeding soil differs from regular soil as it has a finer texture to allow the microscopic root hairs to grow unobstructed. It also has added surfactants to break water surface tension, making water more accessible to the developing seeds. Always use fresh, clean seeding soil. Do not reuse seeding soil. I prefer to avoid seeding soils that have added fertilizer for a couple of reasons. First, fertilizer can burn tiny root fibres if it is

11+ Practical Tips for Starting Plants from Seed
How do you start plants from seed? I am in awe of how plants unfold from seed to maturity. I like to say it’s magical, but it’s incredibly complex. How a plant starts its life impacts the following stages of growth, so let’s talk about how to give plants the best start possible. This blog will discuss 11 practical tips for starting plants from seed, so roll up your sleeves! Tip #1: Always Use Clean Materials for Seeding Even though plants grow in soil, working surfaces, tools, and growing mediums must be clean to control unwanted bacteria, fungus, and mold growth. Dirty equipment can pass on or encourage the growth of disease-causing organisms, resulting in competition for nutrients intended for the new seedlings or causing infections that compromise the plant’s development. Clean materials decrease this risk, so wash trays, pots, and anything else you will use in the seeding process with hot soapy water before seeding. Bleach is unnecessary in most circumstances. Tip #2: Use Seeding Mix Seeding mix is designed explicitly for germinating seeds. Seeding soil differs from regular soil as it has a finer texture to allow the microscopic root hairs to grow unobstructed. It also has added surfactants to break water surface tension, making water more accessible to the developing seeds. Always use fresh, clean seeding soil. Do not reuse seeding soil. I prefer to avoid seeding soils that have added fertilizer for a couple of reasons. First, fertilizer can burn tiny root fibres if it is
Growing Food

7+ Simple and Effective Ways for How to Get Rid of Slugs
Garden slug problems can be frustrating, and they can suck the joy out of gardening as they can quickly become an issue if not dealt

The Complete Guide to Raised Bed Gardening
Raised bed gardening is a fantastic way to improve your gardening success, especially in colder Zone 3 and 4 climates like Alberta. I have put

11+ Practical Tips for Starting Plants from Seed
How do you start plants from seed? I am in awe of how plants unfold from seed to maturity. I like to say it’s magical,
Growing Annuals

Marigolds: A Simple and Easy Plant for Any Sunny Garden
If you’re passionate about gardening, want a stunning addition to your garden, or are looking for simple flowers to grow, Marigolds could be a perfect

A Complete Guide to Growing Pansies and Violas, and Their New Panola Cousins
Whether you’re looking to grow pansies from seed, move your pansies out of pots, or have no idea where to start but you just know

7+ Simple and Effective Ways for How to Get Rid of Slugs
Garden slug problems can be frustrating, and they can suck the joy out of gardening as they can quickly become an issue if not dealt
Container Gardening

Understanding Perennial Seasons of Bloom [+ Perennial Flowering Reference Chart]
Perennials play a distinctive role in the flower garden. Sometimes it can be difficult to understand perennial seasons of bloom and how different perennials work

How to Get Rid of Scarlet Lily Beetles
Scarlet Lily Beetles are incredibly destructive bugs. Scarlet Lily Beetles can rapidly defoliate patches of lilies in mere days, and they have been spreading from

7+ Simple and Effective Ways for How to Get Rid of Slugs
Garden slug problems can be frustrating, and they can suck the joy out of gardening as they can quickly become an issue if not dealt

Marigolds: A Simple and Easy Plant for Any Sunny Garden
If you’re passionate about gardening, want a stunning addition to your garden, or are looking for simple flowers to grow, Marigolds could be a perfect

A Complete Guide to Growing Pansies and Violas, and Their New Panola Cousins
Whether you’re looking to grow pansies from seed, move your pansies out of pots, or have no idea where to start but you just know

How to Grow Garlic in Alberta
Garlic is a fragrant and delicious addition to most savoury dishes, but growing garlic can be quite difficult. If you are looking for a complete


Meet Sharon
Sharon Wallish Murphy grew up in her family’s greenhouse at the heels of her father, Charlie, who mentored and helped her develop her passion – to share the love of growing. After 20 years of having her own greenhouse, her desire is to empower others to find joy in their gardening journey and together we can make a more beautiful and life giving world.

The Perfect Place For Plants
Children's Book
In 2019, Sharon pulled out her pen and wrote The Perfect Place for Plants.