Got Questions?

We’ve Got You Covered!

We hear these every day in the greenhouse, and so we’ve put together answers to help you grow with confidence this season

Line drawing of a modern greenhouse with glass walls, surrounded by trees and a stone base.

Getting Started

  • It depends on what you’re planting, but here’s a good rule of thumb:

    • Most plants should wait until night time temperatures stay around 5°C consistently

    • Raised beds and sunny spots warm up faster, so you can plant a little earlier

  • We can usually figure it out together!

    If you remember any of these, it helps:

    • Pot size

    • Colour or flower shape

    • Annual, perennial, or vegetable

    • Height or growth habit

    *Tip: Keep your plant tags or snap a photo for next year

  • Yes, we do!

    We accept hard plastic pots 4.25” and larger for reuse.


    (We don’t accept 6-pack trays.)

Illustration of Greenhouses at South Cooking Lake, with a building, trees, bushes, flowers, parked car, and sign, in a blue monochrome style.

Plants & Care

  • There’s no “one perfect plant”, it’s all about choosing the right plant for the right space.

    We’re always happy to help you pick something that will thrive with minimal effort.

  • The selection of petunias can feel a bit overwhelming, and for good reason! There are a lot of varieties, and they’re not all grown the same way.

    The biggest difference comes down to how they’re grown:

    Vegetative (cutting-grown) petunias
    (like Supertunias and many Proven Winners varieties)

    • Fuller, more vigorous growth

    • More blooms throughout the season

    • Better at handling rain and bouncing back

    • Less deadheading needed

    • Beautiful trailing habit, perfect for hanging baskets and planters

    These are typically sold in individual pots because they’re more expensive to grow.

    Seed-grown petunias

    • More compact and uniform

    • Sold in 6-packs (with the exception of Wave varieties)

    • Great for planting directly in the ground

    So which one should you choose?

    • For hanging baskets and planters → you’ll definitely notice the difference with vegetative varieties

    • For garden beds → 6-pack (seed-grown) varieties will perform very well

  • We get asked this one all the time!

    Those are petunias, specifically ‘Vista Bubblegum’, known for their vibrant pink colour and full, trailing growth.

    They grow quickly, fill out beautifully, and put on a show all season long, which is why they’re such a favourite. Most especially, they are VERY HARDY.

Wildlife & Garden Tips

A person walks through a greenhouse filled with hanging and potted plants, with a fan and metal support structures visible.

  • Mint, basil, lemongrass, and salvia are great options.

  • Butterflies & bees:
    Echinacea, lavender, milkweed, zinnias, sunflowers, rudbeckia

    Hummingbirds:
    Salvia, cuphea, fuchsia, and other tubular flowers

  • Some plants need a partner, while others can produce on their own:

    Need cross-pollination:
    Apples, pears, plums, apricots, honeyberries, kiwis

    Self-pollinating:
     Blueberries, cherries, raspberries, strawberries, currants, gooseberries

    Even self-pollinating plants often produce better with another variety nearby!

A woman working in a greenhouse filled with hanging potted plants and trays of seedlings.

Visiting the Greenhouse

  • We have a dog and we love her.  We know that you love your pets too, however there is a trend to bringing dogs to Garden Centres for socializing and outings, and this is not working for us. 


    ​Although we have a big space, we are overwhelmed by the sheer number of people who are calling daily to ask if they can bring their dogs, and those who simply walk in with their dogs.  There are just too many. 


    Please leave your pups at home. 

  • We typically hire after Christmas for the spring season.

    If you love working with plants and enjoy a fast-paced, hands-on environment, we’d love to hear from you! This role requires full weekday availability (Monday–Friday, daytime hours) and is best suited for those who can commit to a consistent schedule.

    Send resumes to: sclgreenhouses@gmail.com

Still Have Questions?

Ask us when you visit! We love talking plants!

Growing for you since 1968