Pest Report - July 23, 2026
August @ The Kingsway Garden!
Hello Kingsway Gardeners,
I hope you have been enjoying the lovely weather we have been experiencing over the Summer so far.
It has been a nice mix but boy, could we use more rain!
Here are a few updates:
WATERING WHILE AWAY
If you're going to be out of town for more than a couple days, here are the three best ways to keep your plants happy and well-watered:
1. Ask a friend or family member to help water for you while you are away
2. Post a request along with your bed numbers on the notice board
3. Make a sign out of a piece of cardboard that says ‘Please Water Me’ and leave it on your bed for other gardeners to see
PLANNING FOR FALL & WINTER
It might seem strange, but now is the right time to start planning and planting your fall and winter crops so you can make the most of the growing season.
West Coast seeds have a great resource which explains and provides helpful tips for what to plant for the fall and winter season. You can find the document HERE.
Stay cool out there!
Pest Report - July 9, 2026
Pest Report - June 29, 2026
July @ The Kingsway Garden!
Hello Gardeners,
Wow - what a gorgeous June we had!
Hopefully July is just as nice but we have not been blessed with much rain for our city gardens.
When this happens, our crops will be under stress, but with adequate watering, we should also see great growth with the upcoming sunshine.
Here are a few updates for July:
WATERING
When the days become consistently hotter, it is a good idea to plan on visiting the garden every day or two, to soak your soil. This is crucial for your plants to continue to thrive. Early morning watering is the best time and the second best option is during the cooler evening hours. Watering during the hottest midday hours can scald your leaves and fail to penetrate those deeper layers in the soil where you want your roots to dig.
Not able to visit the garden to water? Consider asking a friend or garden neighbor so that other gardeners can help you out :)
HOSES & NOZZLES
Our watering system tends to get a lot more use this time of year, which can often lead to wear and tear. Please continue to keep an eye out for leaky hoses and broken nozzles, and let us know if something has come up. You should see a phone number near the hoses in case of any urgent matters.
PEST CONTROL
The large bush inside of the garden has been taken down in a continued effort to help ease the growing rat population. You can check out the reports from our pest control company which are posted on the blog twice a month.
Enjoy your summer - so far!
Pest Report - June 11, 2026
Pest Report - May 29 2026
June @ The Kingsway Garden!
Hello Kingsway Gardeners,
We certainly had higher temperatures in May and thankfully some recent rain.
Heres to hoping we survive 'June-uary' aka The June Gloom :)
Here are a few updates:
UNUSED BEDS
Remember, all we ask of our gardeners is that they use their garden beds!
Last week we made note of all seemingly empty and unused beds and will begin the process of alerting those gardeners this week.
We give two weeks notice to plant, or at least let us know of the intention to plant asap.
After those two weeks, if we do not hear back - we will begin offering any unused or surrendered beds to the next people in line.
The demand for growing space is so high right now, and we want to utilize every bed.
GET WATERING
As temperatures slowly climb, and we get into Summer - watering becomes a bigger priority.
Regular, thorough watering is your best defense against upcoming heat.
If you can’t make it to the garden every 2-3 days, consider asking a neighbour to help out or create a 'WATER ME' sign and leave it on your bed.
Please note: Not everyone in the garden is completely able bodied or super strong. Remember to put the hoses away neatly, so people do not have to pull the hose nozzles out of a mess.
VEGGIE THEFT
Plant theft is something that happens every season throughout all community gardens across the city. This is an unfortunate risk for community gardeners and it tends to happen more when plants are beginning to mature and are ready for harvest.
A few tips and advice for reducing theft:
Plant less desirable "shiny" crops: e.g. Leafy greens and root vegetables are the most recommended for a strong harvest. Things like strawberries, tomatoes, peppers or fruiting veggies tend to be first targets.
Harvest fast: Once your veggies are ready to be eaten, pick them! The longer you wait the more likely someone could raid your yield.
Grow more than you need: Consider growing more than you'll expect to eat, so if/when a thief swoops in you will still have a harvest.
Talk with other gardeners: Get to know your neighbors. If we all keep an eye on each other's beds and know who's meant to be gardening where, the more likely we'll be able to call out a thief in the act or at least give them the eyes of disapproval.
Enjoy your June!
May @ The Kingsway Garden!
Hello Kingsway Gardeners,
May can be a busy time as it is a great month to get most seeds and starts in the ground - we will keep it short :)
Here are a few updates:
WATERING SYSTEM
The watering system will see increasing use as the weather heats up.
Please help us keep the system intact by handling the hoses with care and turning the water OFF before you leave the garden. Let us know by email or phone if there are any issues.
GREEN WASTE
Lots of folks are pulling up last year’s growth, which is awesome.
Please help us out by thoroughly shaking dirt off the roots before transferring them to the Green Waste Bins.
Soil in the green waste bins = a huge headache for us! Thanks for your help with this.
NEW GARDENERS WANTED
Our Kingsway garden has some space open - please tell your friends and family to reach out if they are interested in community gardening.
Happy sunshine!
New Gardeners Wanted!
Pest Report - April 15, 2026
April @ The Kingsway Garden!
Hello Gardeners,
It’s undeniable: gardening season is just around the corner at the community garden!
Cherry blossoms are opening up across the city and bees are waking up around the garden, we couldn't be more excited to get this growing season started.
Here are a few garden updates:
WATERING SYSTEM
Water service and hose hookups will resume during the second week of April.
Please remember to turn the water OFF before you leave the garden - this helps the equipment last longer.
Also, watch for any leaks or a broken nozzle, and let us know ASAP via email or text. There is
often a spare nozzle in the garden shed for a quick fix.
COMPOST DELIVERY
Many of the gardens already have a compost pile delivered or are receiving one this week.
We supply organic compost to boost your garden beds with nutrients for the growing season.
You’re invited to add a bucket or two to each of your beds - if you do not see buckets at your garden, they will be dropped off within the next week.
Please don’t take too much––we’d like everyone to get the opportunity to freshen their bed.
WEST COAST GROW GUIDE
Check out this regional grow guide for South Coastal BC for planting info.
Happy Spring!
December @ The Kingsway Garden!
Dear Kingsway Gardeners,
We at Vancouver Community Garden Builders wanted to take this opportunity - to thank you all for being a part of the garden during 2025 :)
With your devotion and enthusiasm, we have been able to keep an otherwise vacant lot as a beautiful urban food forest!
Here are a few updates:
NEXT YEAR - 2026
As everyone knows, this community garden is a temporary one. We hope to continue the garden into 2026 and are well positioned to do so. As always, we will let you know with as much notice as possible, if the property is ready to be developed.
Keep an eye on your email during February/March - as we will be reaching out regarding registration and payment for the new season.
GARDEN HOURS
Despite the days being short and the weather being cold and wet, the garden will remain open all through the winter. Feel free to frequent the space any time you like.
TIDY UP
Thank you to all who have made it to the garden to clear out and tidy your beds. If you haven’t yet, please set aside some time to get to the garden and remove any dead plants from your beds and place them in the green waste bin.
HELP US GROW
Help us grow and create new garden spaces by reviewing us online!
A quick Google rating will let us know how we're doing and will increase our online presence.
Happy Holidays!
November @ The Kingsway Garden!
Hello Kingsway Gardeners,
We are officially approaching colder weather, so please make sure to take the time to get your garden bed(s) ready for winter.
Here are two very quick updates:
WATER OFF
The water will be shut off and the hoses pulled up for winter, within the next couple of weeks. We will get everything set up again in early Spring - once we’re passed the final frost date.
BEDS TO REST
November 15th is the deadline that we would ideally have you put your beds to rest for the winter by. This involves visiting the garden to pull up any dead plant matter and in general tidying up your bed(s) for the dormant months ahead.
If you have not been to the garden for some time, please make it a priority to come out for one last visit before winter arrives, to clean out your beds. Beyond general aesthetics, tidying your beds helps reduce the amount of rotting biomass in the garden, which helps mitigate rodent issues.
Thanks for your help with this as we know it can feel like a chore!
Note: You are welcome to plant winter crops and continue visiting the garden, but remember the water will be shut off soon.
That’s all for now - stay warm and stay dry out there!
October @ The Kingsway Garden!
Hello Kingsway Gardeners,
Fall has officially arrived in our city and in the gardens - hopefully with the start of the season we get some much needed rain!
Harvest is waning and we’re just about ready to put the garden to rest for the winter season.
WATER SHUT OFF
As always, we will be shutting off the water in the garden sometime in late October - mid November - depending on just before the frosts begin. We do this so the water lines won’t freeze.
CLEANING UP YOUR BEDS BY NOVEMBER 15TH
Cleaning up your beds cuts down on rotting vegetation and gives the garden a tidy look through the winter months.
Greens waste goes in the greens waste bins - make sure to shake off soil first!
Feel free to add fallen leaves to your beds as cover.
"Can we still garden during the Winter?"
Yes, feel free to garden during the winter months, but remember, the water will be turned off.
NEXT YEAR - 2026 SEASON
As we all know, our garden is a temporary one.
We hope to keep the garden going into the 2026 season and beyond!
Keep an eye on your emails in Feb/March, as we will be reaching out regarding registration.
Happy Harvest Season!
September @ The Kingsway Garden!
Hello Kingsway Gardeners,
We have been experiencing some nice warm temperatures during the end of August but we know that it will start to cool down this month. Soon we will need a sweater to head down to the garden!
Here are some updates for the upcoming transition to Autumn:
HARVEST
Planting and growing your own food is satisfying but harvesting your vegetables is one of the greatest pleasures. It may seem obvious and silly to remind gardeners to pick and eat their food, but here it is: get picking! There's nothing worse than watching vegetables and greens over ripen, wilt or rot because they've gone unpicked for weeks.
Along with this, picking your veg when it’s ready and ripe for the eating will reduce the amount of theft and opportunity for it, as well as unwanted attention from pests and rodents.
PLANNING FOR FALL & WINTER
There’s still time to start planting your fall and winter crops. West Coast seeds have a great resource which explains and provides helpful tips for what to plant for the fall and winter season. You can find the document HERE.
We will have an update on putting beds to rest for the Winter and shutting off the watering system come October!
Enjoy the end of Summer!
August @ The Kingsway Garden!
Hello Kingsway Gardeners,
I hope you have been enjoying the lovely weather we have been experiencing over the Summer so far.
It has been a nice mix but boy, could we use a bit of rain!
Here are a few updates:
WATERING WHILE AWAY
If you're going to be out of town for more than a couple days, here are the three best ways to keep your plants happy and well-watered:
1. Ask a friend or family member to help water for you while you are away
2. Post a request along with your bed numbers on the notice board
3. Make a sign out of a piece of cardboard that says ‘Please Water Me’ and leave it on your bed for other gardeners to see
PLANNING FOR FALL & WINTER
It might seem strange, but now is the right time to start planning and planting your fall and winter crops so you can make the most of the growing season.
West Coast seeds have a great resource which explains and provides helpful tips for what to plant for the fall and winter season. You can find the document HERE.
Stay cool out there!
July @ The Kingsway Garden!
Hello Gardeners,
It looks like Summer weather is officially going to begin this week! It is starting off slow this year, and we have not been blessed with much rain for our city gardens. When this happens, our crops will be under stress, but with adequate watering, we should also see great growth with the upcoming sunshine.
Here are a few updates for July:
WATERING
When the days become consistently hotter, it is a good idea to plan on visiting the garden every day or two, to soak your soil. This is crucial for your plants to continue to thrive. Early morning watering is the best time and the second best option is during the cooler evening hours. Watering during the hottest midday hours can scald your leaves and fail to penetrate those deeper layers in the soil where you want your roots to dig.
Not able to visit the garden to water? Consider asking a friend or garden neighbour so that other gardeners can help you out :)
HOSES & NOZZLES
Our watering system tends to get a lot more use this time of year, which can often lead to wear and tear. Please continue to keep an eye out for leaky hoses and broken nozzles, and let us know if something has come up. You should see a phone number near the hoses in case of any urgent matters.
Enjoy your summer - so far!
June @ The Kingsway Garden!
Hello Gardeners,
It has been a Spring of cooler weather so far, but hopefully June will bring some more sunlight into our thriving gardens.
Here are a few updates:
UNUSED BEDS
We are about to pass the deadline for planting / making use of your garden beds - June 3rd.
In May we made note of all seemingly empty and unused beds and began the process of alerting those gardners. We give two weeks notice to plant, or at least let us know of the intention to plant asap.
Emails were sent out on May 20th with a list of beds that were not being used - make sure to check if you were included in those emails.
After June 3rd, we will begin to offer out any beds that have been ignored or given up to the next people in line because the demand for growing space is so high right now, and we want to put each and every bed to use.
GET WATERING
Temperatures will slowly be climbing, and as we get deeper into summer, watering becomes a bigger priority. Regular, thorough watering is your best defense against upcoming heat.
If you can’t make it to the garden every 2-3 days, consider asking a neighbour to help out or to create a 'WATER ME' sign and leave it on your bed.
Please note: Not everyone in the garden is completely able bodied or super strong. Please remember to put the hoses away neatly, so people do not have to pull the hose nozzles out of a mess.
VEGGIE THEFT
Plant theft is something that happens every season throughout all community gardens across the city. This is an unfortunate thing about community gardens and it tends to happen more so at the time of year when plants are beginning to mature and become ready for harvest.
A few tips and advice for reducing theft:
Plant less desirable "shiny" crops: e.g. Leafy greens and root vegetables are the most recommended for a strong harvest. Things like strawberries, tomatoes, peppers or fruiting veggies tend to be first targets.
Harvest fast: Once your veggies are ready to be eaten, pick them! The longer you wait the more likely someone could raid your yield.
Grow more than you need: Consider growing more than you'll expect to eat, so if/when a thief swoops in you will still have a harvest.
Talk with other gardeners: Get to know your neighbors. If we all keep an eye on each other's beds and know who's meant to be gardening where, the more likely we'll be able to call out a thief in the act or at least give them the eyes of disapproval.
Enjoy your upcoming harvests!
