Toronto Botanical Garden

URBAN VEGETABLE GARDENING 2011

See and Do

Urban Vegetable Gardening at the TBG

This year we are offering our five step process to successful and sustainable urban vegetable gardening – from planning your garden to harvesting and preparing for the next growing season – as well as supplemental classes that give you more chances to develop your expertise in growing your own food. Each class in the five step series has both outdoor and indoor components and you take home a container planted with seasonally appropriate herbs and vegetables. Classes are taught by many of our star instructors and are suitable for those with small balconies or large properties. The five part series is held in partnership with the Toronto Master Gardeners.

(classes are in date order)

Vegetable Gardening for Rookies
[PG11W43] Elizabeth Stewart, Marjorie Mason
Always wanted to grow your own vegetables but didn't know where to start? This is the first step in your quest to harvest your own delicious food. This class is for the complete novice - no experience necessary.
Wednesday February 23, 2011, 7 - 9 pm
Public $25 / Members $20

Vegetable Garden Design
[PG11W44] Elizabeth Stewart
Learn how to combine maximum productivity with maximum visual appeal. By combining a smart layout and interesting structures with plants that are both tasty and pretty, you can create an ornamental vegetable garden. The result? A highly decorative feature in your yard that provides delicious and nutritious food for your household. Bring along pictures and plans of your existing property for discussion
Wednesday March 23, 2011, 7 - 9 pm
Public $25 / Members $20

Advance Vegetable class
[PG11S01] Ken Brown
This class is for experienced vegetable growers and will cover advanced tips and techniques as well as problem solving. We can help with any query and if you like, you can submit your concerns to adulted@torontobotanicalgarden.ca before the class. Please bring a lunch.
Saturday April 2, 10 to 3
Public $45 / Members $40

Urban Orcharding
[PG11S27] Laura Reinsborough, Liz Hood
Get ready to take local eating to the next level. Urban orchards are emerging as a way to achieve food sustainability in the city and their high productivity levels make it easy to see why. Explore the various techniques for growing fruit trees in back yards, parks and other small spaces. Learn native and domestic fruits you can grow at home and discuss the various dwarfing techniques through examples on the TBG grounds. Find out how to create your own neighbourhood community orchard from leaders in the field.
Wednesday May 11, 2011, 1-4 pm
Public $35 / Members $30

Tackling the Tomato: Tips and Techniques for Terrifc Tomatoes
[PG11S34] Ken Brown
Tomatoes top the list as the most popular home grown vegetable yet success can be tricky. Ken, one of the architects of our Urban Vegetable Series, will share his tried and true tomato tips and techniques.
Tuesday June 7, 7 -9 pm
Public $20 / Members $15

THE FIVE STEP PROGRAM FOR EDIBLES

Take all 5 Steps
[PG11S11]
no description needed
40628,
Public $325 / Members $290

Take 3 out of 5 Steps
[PG11S52]
no description needed
40628,
Public $195 / Members $175

Step 1: Welcoming Spring in the Vegetable Garden
[PG11W45] Elizabeth Stewart Connie Hunter, Paul Zammit, Marjorie Mason
An introductory class covering the basic information you will need for a successful harvest - soil, tools, crop timing, and information to allow you to create a layout for maximum food production. Learn how to start seeds and take some home to try. You will also plant up a take-home container of early spring vegetables.
Saturday March 26, 2011, 10 to 4
Public $72 / Members $65

Step 2: Getting Down and Dirty in the Vegetable Garden
[PG11S14] Ken Brown, Paul Zammit, Marjorie Mason, Sandra Pella
Learn about growing and protecting vegetables that grow in cooler weather; learn about raised beds including how to build one; and learn about innovative techniques for small spaces. You will be planting a variety of cool weather vegetables in a take-home container along with some recipes that use these herbs and vegetables.
Saturday April 16, 10 to 4
Public $72 / Members $65

Step 3: Raising Vegetables Right
[PG11S26] Connie Hunter, Marjorie Mason, Paul Zammit (morning intro only) Sandra Pella
This session will cover the techniques necessary to encourage warm weather vegetables like tomatoes. We will cover mulching, staking, vertical growing, weeding, watering, early harvesting and how to enjoy these foods at home. You will also plant up a take home container with warm weather vegetables. Make time to visit TBG's plant sale on today!
Saturday May 14, 2011, 10 to 4
Public $72 / Members $65

Step 4: Reaping What You Sow in the Vegetable Garden
[PG11S45] Elizabeth Stewart, Ken Brown, Marjorie Mason, Sandra Pella
Now is the time to enjoy the fruits of your labour with our recipes and suggestions for preparing the harvest. You will learn about vegetables that can be planted now for a late season harvest and take home a container with new vegetables and herbs.
Saturday July 23, 2011, 10 to 4
Public $72 / Members $65

Step 5: Seeds, Weeds and Winter
[PG11F01] Connie Hunter, Ken Brown, Sandra Pella
With the season almost done, you still need to know about seeds (what to keep and how), what to overwinter, what to plant (garlic anyone?), and how to plan for next year. The final take-home container will be used indoors and should take you through the winter with herbs and lettuces.
Saturday Sep 17, 10 to 4
Public $72 / Members $65