What and When to Grow
“What should I plant in Kelowna and when should I plant it?”
As a Kelowna Garden Centre, we get asked this question often by our customers. For starters, it is good to know that Kelowna is located in Canadian plant hardiness Region 2, Zone 5a. This allows Kelowna to support a wide variety of ornamental and native plants.
“So, which plants are native to Kelowna?”
For starters, the hardy perennials you can find at The Greenery are good plant choices. They are drought-resistant, which is helpful for life in Kelowna. For example, we sell Sempervivum (Hens and Chicks) and Sedum (Stonecrop) in 100 varieties! To make it easy for you to picture how these plants will look in your garden, you can check out our perennial plant gardens located at the far north of our retail space.
With so many varieties to choose from, no two gardens in Kelowna will be the same. Your unique color preferences and tastes can shine through in your plant choices.
Summertime planting of your annuals and perennials can be very successful, especially with a proper watering schedule, and choosing an appropriate spot that allows the right amount of sun or shade. Don’t forget to check on which fertilizers work best for the plants you are growing.
“My yard has a steep slope to it. What can I plant?”
In Kelowna we are surrounded with beautiful mountains, but the steep slope of many yards can make it a challenge to plant. Many Kelowna planters design rock gardens to suit the landscape. Rocks added to an already sloped area will look natural. We have many plants labeled Rock Garden and Alpine Plants - so you can easily spot which will work well in your yard.
Violas, pansies and petunias add color and wonderful fragrance to your garden and lend well as border plants and within the rock garden setting.
Other Kelowna plants that thrive well are, of course, vegetable plants! Some hardy veggies can get in the ground as early as late March, while April, May and June are generally the best time to plant in Kelowna’s zone for many vegetable plants. We carry a massive selection of tomatoes, beans, carrots, eggplant, cucumber, green pepper, lettuce, onion, peas and parsley as well has many other specialty herbs and vegetables that are hard to find.
When it comes to tomato plants, we admit we’re a bit fanatical! New and seasoned Kelowna gardeners alike should give tomato plants a try. We offer enough varieties for you to make all the sauces and salsas your cupboards will hold!
Just a few of our favorites includes Sweet Orange, Tumbler, Brandywine, Ultra Girl, Health Kick, Mr. Stripy and Black Cherry. Don’t know which to choose? Come and ask us. June is not too late to plant tomatoes in Kelowna, but you will want to be sure and read the instructions for the variety you select and use cages around your plants.
It can be easy to get overwhelmed with plant choices and understanding planting season in Kelowna. Never fear! We are here to help you. Come by our garden centre and ask one of our knowledgeable staff. You can also post the question on our Facebook page or email us at flowers@thegreenery.ca
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