Holden Lake Farm & Garden
The Island Gardener’s Guide
A Year of Growing with Holden Lake Farm
Island grown quality you can see and taste.
Welcome to your year‑round companion for growing on Vancouver Island! Whether you’re nurturing containers on your patio or cultivating a backyard garden, this guide offers seasonal wisdom, sustainable practices, and local tips from Holden Lake Farm & Garden in Nanaimo, BC.
Inside this guide:
- Seasonal garden checklists
- Small‑space and patio growing tips
- Month‑by‑month planting guide
- Companion planting made simple
- Notes from our growers
Spring (March–May)
Checklist
- Start seeds indoors: tomatoes, peppers, herbs
- Direct seed peas, radishes, lettuce
- Plant hardy annuals & perennials
- Prep beds with compost or mySoil mix
- Prune shrubs and fruit trees
Tips
- Add cool‑season colour: pansies, daffodils
- Use row covers to protect early crops
- Mix edible & ornamental plants in containers
From the Farm: Spring is our busiest time in the greenhouse. Planning now means longer harvests and more colour later.
Summer (June–August)
Checklist
- Succession plant greens, carrots, beans
- Stake tomatoes & harvest regularly
- Water deeply & mulch beds
- Monitor pests; use barriers or hand‑pick
- Enjoy strawberries & early tomatoes
Tips
- Mulch to conserve water
- Add heat‑tolerant plants like zinnias & peppers
- Create patio salad gardens with lettuce, basil & cherry tomatoes
From the Farm: Nothing beats harvesting dinner from your own garden. A good mulch layer can save your garden in July heat.
Fall (September–November)
Checklist
- Plant garlic and overwintering onions
- Add compost or cover crops
- Clean up spent plants (leave some for pollinators!)
- Divide perennials & plant spring bulbs
- Prepare containers for winter interest
Tips
- Use ornamental grasses & mums
- Insulate beds with straw or leaves
- Sow spinach & kale for early spring
From the Farm: Fall gardening sets the stage for success next year. Garlic and soil prep are our October priorities.
Winter (December–February)
Checklist
- Plan your garden & order seeds
- Clean & sharpen tools
- Prune dormant trees
- Top up compost bins
- Force bulbs like hyacinths indoors
Tips
- Sketch garden ideas & plans
- Check stored produce & seed packets
- Attend workshops or local gardening events
From the Farm: This season is all about reflection and preparation—dreaming of spring while you recharge.
Month‑by‑Month Planting Guide (Zone 8b)
| January | Plan, prune, indoor herbs |
| February | Start onions, clean beds, seed cool crops |
| March | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce; transplant hardy starts |
| April | Plant potatoes, herbs, broccoli, pansies |
| May | Warm‑season transplants, beans, squash |
| June | Carrots, lettuce, succession plant |
| July | Harvest, mulch, fall crops |
| August | Sow spinach, chard, radish |
| September | Garlic, fall bulbs, compost |
| October | Clean‑up, prep soil |
| November | Mulch, indoor greens |
| December | Review garden, rest |
Companion Planting Cheat Sheet
- Tomatoes: basil, marigold, parsley
- Carrots: onions, lettuce, chives
- Cucumbers: nasturtiums, dill, beans
- Lettuce: radishes, strawberries, beets
- Peppers: basil, oregano, onions
Avoid: Tomatoes near corn or potatoes; beans near onions or garlic.
Bonus: Use alyssum, calendula, and nasturtiums to attract pollinators and beneficial insects.
Notes & Inspiration
Seasonal Thoughts from Holden Lake Farm:
“Every garden tells a story. Whether you’re harvesting handfuls of peas or watching bees hover over lavender, your space is part of something beautiful.”
Your Notes
Connect With Us
Holden Lake Farm & Garden – Nanaimo, BC
Your Garden Center for Every Season
Workshops | Fresh Produce | Locally Grown Plants
holdenlakefarm.com | 250-323-2255