Growing lettuce has never been so easy. Grab a few essential supplies and start planting. Phyllis at Early's is here to talk you through the process, and is always here to answer your questions. (Video Below)

Steps:

Step 1: Choose your pot. Starting in smaller trays may be easier, but for head lettuce a taller pot may be required later for transplanting.

Step 2: Choose your lettuce seed, make sure you choose a variety that suits your growing space. Make sure to continually plant to have a constant supply of fresh lettuce available at all times.

Step 3: Fill your pots with a moistened soil mix (enough moisture that the soil clumps and sticks).

Step 4: Plant your seeds evenly in the pot.

Step 4: Cover the seeds with a light sprinkle of soil.

Step 5: Mist (do not soak) your soil. Over & underwatering of seeds can kill germinating seeds.

Step 6: Make sure to cover your tray or pot with a humidity dome or lid to retain humidity. A dome with vents can allow for adjustment of moisture.

Step 7: Add to your lights and monitor frequently for moisture level. Once the seeds are up, you may be able to remove the humidity dome and fertilize to maintain flavour.

Clover

Clover seed has become very popular as a lawn seed additive or replacement over the last few years. An easy to care for and low maintenance lawn is most likely to contain some form of clover. At Early’s we have a few varieties of clover available, but our most popular clover is MicroClover.

MicroClover

This unique clover was developed by DLF International. This seed provides a dense healthy turf in areas that require low maintenance. Not only is this plant self feeding (fixing atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form of nitrogen), but it also provides a canopy within your grasses to prevent weeds from establishing. This seed is also unattractive to white grubs, preventing damages to your lawn. MicroClover is also drought resistant, staying green and lush much longer during dry conditions that other traditional grass seeds, also doing well in shady areas, and has a low growth height. Finally, clover naturally will fill in bare or thin spots that other grasses may struggle to grow in.

For more info on our MicroClover – check out our brochure & tech sheet

Ladybugs are by far the most sot after biological control for aphids, spider mites, leafhoppers, mealybugs and so much more. It is almost a daily occurrence at Early’s we receive an inquiry on availability. Many growers use them for indoor as well as outdoors garden spaces. In the past we were able to source ladybugs in quantities of 30,000 exclusively for commercial use. Most recently we had been getting packages of ladybugs for domestic yard and gardens, in groups of 250 or 1000. However, they have not been available since 2020!

Why are they currently unavailable? The short answer is, there is not enough to be had. Unlike our other biological controls, that are mass produced in large facilities, ladybugs seem to be difficult to “farm”. They typically only thrive & reproduce on ideal conditions with an appropriate food source, making it hard to mimic these conditions artificially. For this reason, many suppliers “collect or pick” wild ladybugs from their natural habitats. Sadly, due to very dry conditions & wildfires in the western states where most of our ladybugs are collected from, many of the natural habitats have been disrupted.

In the meantime, it is not impossible to collect your own ladybugs, just a bit time consuming. So far this spring I have seen more ladybugs roaming around in Saskatchewan that I have in the last two years, so hopefully the conditions continue to be favourable for their return.  There are other biological controls available to special order, and they can take 1-2 weeks to have in stock. Most bios are sold in fairly large quantities for commercial use; however, some may be suitable for your growing conditions. Our experts would be happy to chat with you about the options available and discuss whether using biological controls would be beneficial for your situation. Stay tuned to our website and social media for updates on availability in the near future!

Ladybug FAQ’s

• How well do ladybugs work? For reference an adult ladybug can eat 50 aphids per day. Unless you pest population is very high for your area, usually a 250 package covers about 50 square feet.
• How long do they last? Ladybugs can be stored in a fridge for approximately 4 weeks after they are purchased. This means they can be release slowly over a few days, or all at once. Typically you get about 2 weeks of control before they will move along, or begin to reproduce.
• Help! There are little black and orange crawlers with my ladybugs, what are they? Good news – your ladybugs have likely reproduced, and you are most likely seeing ladybug larvae. Ladybug larvae is much more aggressive than adults, so take advantage of these critters before they become adults!
• Do Ladybugs work on other pests besides aphids? While ladybugs are generalist and they are known for eating other insects, their primary food source is aphids. We carry other specific biological controls that work best for spider mites, mealybugs and others!
• Other questions? Feel free to email me any other questions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or call at 306-931-1982

-Audra – Early’s Bio Expert. 

Expert Audra chat's with CTV about tick control for yard this spring. 

Mosquito Barrier - recently registered for ticks, is a great natural solution for repelling blood sucking insects from high traffic areas. When mixed with vegetable oil and liquid dish soap this product can last in your lawn and yard for up to 4 weeks. Reapply as necessary. Safe for children, and pets! Available in an easy attach & spray option, or concentrate solution. The strong garlic aroma only lasts for a few hours after application. Learn more here. 

Trounce - Kills ticks dead! Spray onto lawns and turf with this easy attach and spray applicator. This bottle covers between 100-200 square meters depending on how heavily it is applied and severity of pest problem. Learn more here. 

Starting Seeds & Germination

Starting seeds is usually the first sign that spring is on its way! After a long winter, it is nice to think about the possibility of some fresh green plants and vegetables starting to grow. However, it is also very disappointing when your seeds do not germinate properly, leaving you in a time crunch to re-plant before it is to late in the season!

There are several reasons why seeds may not germinate successfully. While every seed has different requirements during the starting & germinating process the most common reasons for failure include temperature, seed depth, type of soil, irrigation, mis-use of fertilizer, over & underwatering. As well soil quality, pH and consistency can be a contributing factor to poor germination. If any one of these variables are off even by the slightest amount, this can cause a significant drop in germination yield. Some seeds only take a few days to sprout, while others can take several weeks! For best results it is always best to consult the seed packaging for specific starting instructions.

Rest assured at Early’s all our seeds come from our suppliers with 100% germination rate testing. As well our experts regularly test varieties in house to ensure seed remains viable. Starting seeds can be very difficult, and our experts know this firsthand. With their vast experience growing each seed variety we have available; we are sure to help you identify possible issues & troubleshoot solutions to successfully start your seeds this season.

Questions? Call 306-931-1982 – Ask for the garden seed department!

Or email inquiries and pictures to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Early’s Expert’s top 3 most difficult seeds to start:

1. Lavender – Can take up to 30+ days to germinate
2. Petunias (all varieties) – Very small seeds and require lots of light to grow properly
3. Ground cherry – Can take 2-3 weeks to germinate, and need good heat to start

Interested in doing your own germination testing? Here is what you will need:

1. A tray
2. A humidity dome to retain moisture
3. Damp/wet paper towels
4. A sunny spot with lots of heat, or heat mat
5. Tweezers may be necessary to separate very small seeds, just be sure not to crush seeds
6. Pen & paper to track progress
7. Time! Most seeds take several days to germinate, be patient and make sure to check your paper towels to ensure they have enough moisture to further germination.