Grow Food Like an Alberta Wheat Farmer
Tips to start your own garden
The birds are chirping, the days are getting longer, and the ice is starting to thaw—that can only mean one thing… spring is on the way! If you get as excited as we do about spring, why not try really embracing the season by growing food like an Alberta farmer? Starting your own garden may sound like a daunting task, so we put together some tips to get you started. Even if you’re a seasoned gardener, brush up on these tips so you can get the most out of the 2022 growing season.
Alberta wheat farmers start thinking about the planting season before the time to seed hits. Making decisions like what seed type to grow, when to plant it and what inputs they’ll need to get everything in the ground are essential decisions that they may choose to work with an agronomist on. Weather, soil type and market outlooks are just some of the factors that go into making decisions before seeding begins. You, too, should be taking into consideration external factors before starting your garden. Check out the tips below to have a successful garden this spring and summer!
Understand what you have to work with
Whether you’re in a house with a big, shaded backyard or a super sun-filled city balcony, you can grow your own garden—you’ll just have to consider what you’re working with! Vegetables require more sunlight, so if the area you plan to grow in isn’t particularly sunny, you’ll want to opt for something more along the lines of hostas or outdoor ferns. Farmers think about their soil type, previous crops planted and other factors like season-long weather forecasts to determine the variety of crop and seed they will plant.
Learn your frost dates
The last thing you want to do is work hard on a garden plan only to kill the plants as soon as you’ve seeded them. Check your area’s average final frost dates to make a better-educated decision on when to plant. This is one of the most important decisions to make as a farmer—seeding season can get really busy trying to get the seeds in the ground at the right time. Frost dates will vary in different parts of the province, so whether you’re in central, southern, or northern Alberta, be sure to double-check before your seeds are planted.
Invest in the right tools for your garden
Just like an Alberta wheat farmer would get ready for the season with tools that will help their operation, you’ll need a few key tools to get the job done. Visit your local garden centre to find quality tools to make gardening a fun project rather than a chore. Things like a garden hoe, rake, watering can and shovel may be helpful to you depending on the size of your garden.
Ask for advice when you need it
You don’t have to be a one-person show when it comes to your garden. There are plenty of forums online where people discuss more planting tips, what to do when you run into a pest or disease issue and more. You can also visit your local garden centre, where the staff will be more than willing to help! Oftentimes, farmers are not working alone. They have support from agronomists, certified crop advisers and staff at their local inputs and equipment retailers to help them along with any questions or issues they face. They also talk to each other through the season to learn from other farmers, too. When in doubt, reach out to a friend to chat all things gardening!
We have more resources available to you if you’re looking to start your own garden. Check out these planting tips from an agronomist or learn more about the wheat growing lifecycle, from planting to harvest, to get a better idea of what a farmer’s growing season looks like. Happy gardening!