Transform supermarket roses into thriving garden plants with Jason’s expert tips. Learn how to clean, repot, and nourish these miniature roses, transitioning them from stressed gifts to vibrant outdoor blooms for long-term enjoyment and garden beauty.
Jason from Fraser Valley Rose Farm shares his expertise on starting seeds indoors, a vital step for gardeners looking to get a head start on the growing season. Whether you’re a novice or experienced gardener, understanding the distinct stages of seedling growth—germination, early development, and hardening off—can dramatically improve your success. By tailoring environmental conditions…
Starting seeds indoors is an exciting part of gardening, but it’s not without its challenges. One of the most common issues is etiolation, where seedlings become stretched, pale, and weak. This condition often occurs when light is insufficient, leaving plants scrambling to grow taller in search of it. Jason from Fraser Valley Rose Farm recently…
Lavender is a beloved garden plant known for its calming fragrance, elegant blooms, and versatility in landscapes and containers. While growing lavender from seed is an excellent option, it can be slow and yield inconsistent results. Propagating lavender by cuttings, on the other hand, offers a faster, more reliable way to replicate the exact characteristics…
Recently, I had the privilege of visiting Select Roses, the renowned nursery owned and operated by celebrated rose breeder Brad Jalbert. Brad is not only a local legend in British Columbia but also a globally recognized figure in the world of rose breeding. His roses are distributed by leading nurseries worldwide, including in the United…
Prevent and fix leggy seedlings with tips on lighting, temperature, and care. Start seeds indoors successfully for strong, healthy plants and a thriving garden.
Roses are built to survive winter Don’t treat your roses like they’re the fancy dinnerware of the garden. Most are descended from tough, northern climate species, and they’re well prepared to get through the cold of fall and winter – at least in the mild-to-moderate climate of the Fraser Valley. Some of the “special care”…
I’ve always said that roses are the hardest working shrubs in the garden. From the earliest in spring, they provide ornamental interest to the garden, plus food and habitat for insects, birds and other wildlife. In the fall and winter, they demonstrate this work ethic with their ripening fruit – the rose hip. As I…
Even if you only know me casually, you’ve probably caught on that I’m a bit of a plant geek… I mean, more than just the roses, tomatoes and squash. In fact, my real expertise (at my day job) is regarding perennials. I’ve learned a lot there about how to grow each crop to finish for…
If you grow roses in BC’s lower mainland, overall you’re pretty fortunate in your climate. Maybe not quite so fortunate as a rose grower in the highlands of Ecuador, but definitely lucky in comparison to a rose grower in Flin Flon, Manitoba. We benefit from a mild maritime climate, four (usually) distinct seasons, and we’re…
How do species roses compare to the ones hybridized for gardens and cutting? Very different, but beautiful in their own way, I’d answer. Have a look at one of our native roses, Rosa woodsii: It has <gasp> only five petals. Calm yourself. This isn’t a mistake. The garden has one set of rules, and nature…
