Gardening

Gardening — Comments Off
19
Jun 11

How to Grow Juicy Organic Tomatoes

Growing organic tomatoes can be very rewarding and easy! There is only one major downside to this method – insects. Because we won’t use any pesticides the plant will be more vulnerable to their activity.

Home grown tomatoes are the absolute best. There’s no doubt in my mind about it. What makes a homegrown tomato even better is to grow it without chemicals and pesticides. The first thing you want to do when growing organic tomatoes is to find a good seed. The local nursery or garden center will have some valuable information to give regarding the variety of tomatoes that grows best in your area. Don’t be afraid to ask them questions. They are happy to help you!

Now, you’ll want to plant the seed perhaps an inch deep in loose compost. Do it up to 7 weeks before the last frost. You want to make sure that the soil stays damp while you are awaiting germination. You will notice that seeds germinate around the 10 day mark ( possibly day or 2 earlier or later ). After the seeds have germinated and grown 2 more leaves other than the germination leaves, you can transplant the seedlings to a different container by themselves. Plant band or cup can make a good container.

The location you choose outside for the plants should be carefully considered. Organic tomatoes prefer aerated soil that contains a lot of rock minerals. The soil needs to drain well and should also contain a lot of compost. One of the best way to make compost is to do it from fallen leaves.

After about 7 weeks, your plants will be ready to transplant into your outdoor bed. While transplanting the plants do it with care and patience to minimize the shock and include a handful of compost to each one of them. You should place the plants about 18-24 inches apart and plant them deep. The role of stake is to support the plant as it grows by tying it around. This keeps them off the ground. Use a soft yarn to tie them off.

Feed the plants once about every three weeks when waiting on them to start bearing. Once the fruit sets, you’ll want to feed the plants about once a week or so. Water them on a daily basis, but not too much. Too much is just as bad as not enough. Keep the soil moist and you’ll be fine!

Gardening — Comments Off
15
Jun 11

Beautiful Gardens Are Created Over Time and Pink Flamingos Have a Place in Them

Pink lawn flamingos and other lawn and garden ornaments can be the difference between an ordinary house and a very special home. As funny as it sounds, the pink birds can have a special place in the outdoor landscape of your home. Outdoor lawn ornaments are not the only item that can make or break the look of an outdoor garden. Rather, it is one of many things that add to the whole atmosphere and decor of your yard.

Creating an enjoyable backyard can be as complex as removing everything and rebuilding, or as subtle as the simple placement of a hammock or special garden art throughout the space.

First and foremost, you must identify what your outdoor needs are and start from there. Do you want a simple retreat for yourself? Or do you need space for a family to play games and eat outside? Do you need a covered patio? Do you want water features? A tropical look?

Once you have identified how the space will be used by your family, removal of the unwanted hardscape or landscape can begin. It’s important to stick to your original plan so that the project does not grow too large, too expensive or exceed your time line.

Once the old hardscape and landscape are removed, it’s time to install the new hardscape, whether it be a cement patio, a garden path, a slate or brick patio or mow strips.

Once the hardscape is complete, the fun begins, which usually includes a trip to the nursery or garden supply shop to pick the plants you will place in your garden. In order for your plants to thrive it’s very important to place them in the proper place in your yard. Before your trip to the nursery, take a walk around your yard and note the shady and sunny spots and pick plants according to their sun and water needs, and how big you can expect them to get when mature. And remember, if you expect plants to last year-round, you must take into account that the sunny and shady areas of your yard change with the seasons. Make a list of how many shade plants and how many sun-loving plants you’ll need. I always like to leave small spaces for annuals since they usually supply the most vibrant color to your garden.

You also must decide whether your plants will be on a drip system or all-encompassing sprinklers. Drip systems are a great way to cut down on water usage which is important these days, and using a drip system also cuts down on weeds. I usually use these most of all except for the small spaces where I plant annuals bunched together.

Once the plants are placed in your garden, it’s time to add the personal touches that add interest to your garden. This is the time to place your bird baths, garden statues, hummingbird feeders and other garden treasures that transform the area and give it a personal touch.

The best part about having a space that was designed and built by yourself is that it is a reflection of you and the things that make you comfortable. A garden is also something that gets better with time. The flowers and foliage will grow and mature and more treasures will be added to your garden. There may even be that perfect spot for a pair of plastic pink flamingos.

Gardening — Comments Off
15
Jun 11

Different Ways to Create Your Own Mini Herb Garden

If you love the color green, and enjoy plants, then giving yourself permission to create an herb garden would be a great way to develop a hobby that you would reap benefits from. Planting herbs is not only easy to do, but once you get going you will find a variety of ways to have fun with it. Just remember the beginning work of growing herbs requires some dedication and patience if you want good results from your efforts. Besides being interesting, it is also inexpensive to create and could even help lower your food expenses if you like to use herbs for flavoring in the meals you cook, because you will be growing them right there in your own yard or kitchen.

Before actually planting your herb garden, you will want to consider what might be the best locations for your herbs to grow. Obviously you have the options of growing them inside your home or outside. Either of these locations will require adequate sunlight, good soil, plenty of water, and the convenience of being able to tend to them as they are growing.

An outdoor herb garden will be dependent on how good the soil is that is already there, and the herbs themselves could be easily placed among your other plants. If you go with a mini garden just outside the house, near your kitchen door, it will usually take a small amount of ground and you only need to plant the herbs you use on regular basis. It is a wise idea to plant 2 of each herb you have chosen because this will assure you of having enough of the herbs you would use a lot once you get them to start growing. Not only will you be reaping the benefits of having fresh herbs available, but they create a beautiful decoration in and around your flower beds.

Most herbs will grow in either full or partial sunlight, so you always have the option of using your flowering plants as a top cover so they will not be too exposed. There are definite advantages to having a mini herb garden inside as well. When planting the herbs for an indoor mini garden, you can choose to use circular pots or rectangular ones, which depends basically on the way you intend to plant them. Be sure to use soil that is healthy and recommended for herbs, as well as adding fertilizer to the dirt to strengthen the root systems of the herbs you have chosen to plant. What is fun about doing an indoor herb garden is the ability to plant a variety of herbs all in just one pot. All you have to make sure of is that you plant your herbs that will grow and compliment each other close together. When you choose to grow a variety at the same time, you end up saving space as well as having an ample supply of the herbs you will be using in cooking or decoration.

Your efforts in getting your herbs planted and growing will reward you in several ways. Once they are up and growing, you will have time to relax and know you can bring a new taste to your meals because of your multitude of choices of the many herbs you have planted, and all you have to do is step outside and get them. Not only is this a fulfilling hobby, but you get to enjoy the flavorful herbs you love.

Gardening — Comments Off
15
Jun 11

How to Cat Proof a Garden Fence

It is becoming more common for responsible pet owners to keep their cat indoors to protect them from road accidents or attacks from other cats or dogs. If a cat has never been exposed to the great outdoors, then he may be content to live inside the house, but it could be a dull, lonely life. There is a simple system of cat proofing your garden fence so that your pet may enjoy a fuller life, playing and hiding, watching birds and insects.

There are many reasons for keeping your pet indoors or wanting to prevent him from leaving the safety of your garden. The average age of an indoor cat is 16 years, with some living to 21 years. Compare this with the outdoor cat’s average age of only 2 – 3 years, and you can see why some pet owners are reluctant to allow their cat outside. In addition, neighbours can get upset about cats using their garden as a toilet and damaging young plants. If bitten by another cat, your beloved pet may be infected with the feline HIV virus. There is no treatment or preventative vaccine for this fatal disease. In addition, cats can be killed or maimed by dogs, and may be seriously injured or killed if hit by a car.

If your garden is enclosed by a six foot high wooden fence, you can make the fencing cat proof by adding some plastic mesh trellis to the top. It is important that the trellis is set at an angle pointing inwards to the garden, to deter the cat from jumping at the fencing and climbing over the top. In order to climb a fence, a cat will jump about half way up and scramble up to the top by using his claws to get a grip. He will then balance on the top edge before deciding whether to walk along or jump down the other side. When he looks up at a cat proof fence from the ground, he will see that access to the top of the fence is blocked. He may make a few attempts to climb to the trellis, but when he realises he cannot get around the trellis, he will jump back down to where he started. This method of cat proofing a garden fence also has the advantage of keeping stray cats out of your garden, so that your pet will be safe from fights and infectious diseases.

Most garden centres sell plastic mesh climbing plant trellis in 50 cm widths. You will need enough trellis to run along the top of your fencing, some metal brackets bent at 45 degrees to support the trellis, fencing staples and cable ties. These items can be purchased from good DIY stores or builders merchants.

After installing the trellis, supervise your cat to make sure there are no weak spots where he can make his escape. Then sit back and enjoy pottering in the garden with your feline friend!

Gardening — Comments Off
14
Jun 11

Chrysanthemum Flowers and Facts

Chrysanthemum flowers are the member of the Asteraceae along with dandelions, dahlia and asters. According to the horticultural studies the Asteraceae flowering plant features florets and bracts. The florets is a cluster of flowers composed as the disk flower heads usually in the centerpiece of the end of the main stem, and its color is yellow. Each floret is capable of producing a seed. While the bracts are some structures of ray flowers surrounding the florets which are usually seen in various color; yellow, red, orange, purple, etc. Because of its boldness and multi cultivars, this flower has become one of the most popular flowers either in floral bouquets and cut flower arrangements or used as a herbaceous border in the garden landscaping.

You could learn that this bloom comes in various shapes and sizes depending on the type and arrangement of the disk (florets) and ray flowers (bracts) if you are interested in more details on the nature of the chrysanthemums. Some of them look alike a daisy and others might resemble dahlia.

Apart from the growing in the garden plant and nursery, the very exciting point to discover about this flower, has involved in so many cultural symbols in history. In Japan it has becomes the noble crest noted by the Japanese Emperor to award the honor such as The Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum. As in Chinese traditional remedy, Chrysanthemum is used as a flavored tea for relaxation and rejuvenation of mind and soul. For white chrysanthemums some formally used to show the feeling of grief and sympathy for the funerals or as the flowers on the grave.

In the business that involves the flower bouquets arrangement and service i.e. florist center, chrysanthemum has become a favorite flower next to roses demand in some special occasions such as in wedding anniversary, birthdays, valentine’s day, for sympathy expression for death, and congratulations bouquet or wreath. It is also picked to be as a birthday flower for the month of November.

This perennial is easy to be planted and taken care off in any kind of soil. You can even plant this in a flower pot near the window at your apartment or in the decorative container in your patio. Its life cycle is considerably long and requires a tropical climate for the best performance. As long as you water, cut, and fertilize it you could enjoy the beautiful blooming from the spring until the fall season comes in. By planting your own chrysanthemum and giving it as a gift to your beloved friend might be a satisfying gift to express your sincerity of your friendship.

Gardening — Comments Off
12
Jun 11

Hydroponics Tips For the New Or Experienced Gardener

If you want to start, upgrade, or modify an existing hydroponic garden, you’re probably reading this hoping to get some hydroponics tips to help your endeavor. You won’t go wrong reading here!

Let’s start by looking at what a typical hydroponics system will look like and how it can be modified, improved, or expanded. Most existing systems can be easily expanded or restricted to suit the size of any given crop or garden. That’s one of the great strengths of hydroponics.

A typical hydroponics system for a home gardener will be located in a basement, garage, shed, closet, or greenhouse. It will consist of trays (beds), a nutrient solution circulation system with a reservoir, a support matrix for the plants (either media or netting), and a grow light or access to sunlight.

To better illustrate how all this works, let’s look at the typical components put together. If you’re not using a medium or using a static culture, the parameters involved can be easily modified to fit. Since the typical home hydroponic garden uses both media and circulated solution, we’ll assume that is the case for this scenario.

The trays are on a framework or table to support them and give easier access. The hydroponics tips slightly towards a drain in one end of the beds, which has a hose going into a reservoir (this is usually a fancy word for “bucket”). From this reservoir will come another hose, going to an electric pump, to move water and nutrients back to the beds. This pours into the tray, dribbles down the bed trays to the drain. That’s the solution circuit.

Above the beds are a group of grow lights to supply artificial sunlight. In the beds, covering the bottoms, is a rock wool medium for the plants to root to. The plants themselves reach up from the solution running over their roots to get light from the grow lights above.

This basic setup has everything needed to keep a good hydroponics garden growing and thriving. The solution is occasionally augmented or replaced through the reservoir. Once in a while, the circulator is turned off and the reservoir emptied, cleaned, and replenished with new solution and water. This is the maintenance required to keep this setup running and healthy. Notice I didn’t mention any weeding of the garden beds. That’s my favorite part of hydroponics.

Now, how can this hydroponic garden be improved? Several things come to mind right away: a timer on the lights is first, to give maximum light. Simple “on-off” timers can be purchased for just a few dollars to give 12 hours on and 12 hours off. More complex timers, for a little more, can be purchased to give any amount of darkness and light wished (many use an 18-6 or 20-4 on-off).

Another is an automatic solution dribbler. This attaches to the reservoir or the circulation hoses themselves and “dribbles” measured solution into the system slowly. Sort of like an IV on a hospital bed. For ultra-control over the nutrient solution or additives, this is the way to go.

If you’re using a flood-drain or ebb-and-flow system, you’ll likely have a timer on the solution pump or flood gates. If you’re doing this manually, a timed system is easy to set up and will save you a lot of headaches and trouble. Especially on those days when something prevents you from being there to do it yourself.

Gardening — Comments Off
11
Jun 11

Creating Your Fall Garden – Part 1

Although the flowers of summer are magnificent, the ones that linger into the fall are unbeatable. Warm days and cool nights seem to bring out the very best in flowers such as Geraniums, Dahlias, Black-Eyed Susan’s, Zinnias, and perhaps most of all, chrysanthemums. While the purple and pink shades we see so commonly during the hot months of summer are lovely, it would be hard to surpass the fiery, intense colors that dominate the fall garden. Perhaps that’s why so many people throughout the country travel to the New England states during the months of September and October to witness these incredible color combinations in the heavily wooded areas of these states. A drive through the countryside during this time of year provides a veritable feast for the eyes.

While we can’t all afford to take the time off and spend the money to visit this well known area to enjoy the view, we can enjoy these same breathtaking colors in our very own yards if we devote a little time and a little money to achieve this effect. Not a lot is required to make an area of your yard a fall masterpiece.
If you neglected to plant the Zinnia or Dahlia bulbs in the spring/summer months you can still get all the color you desire by buying the mature flowering plants and placing them in attractive pots to display in a variety of ways. These plants, along with others, also look great in an assortment of baskets.

Geraniums are one of the premier fall plants because the intense red color that is so readily available brings a dramatic touch to any arrangement and will last until the very cold weather arrives. Even then, if you cut the leaves and blossoms way back and place them in a cool spot inside your home or garage where they can get some sunlight they will remain in a dormant stage throughout the winter months and be ready to blossom again when summer returns. They need only a very small amount of water during this period.

Intermingle some pumpkins among your potted plants and place a cornstalk where it can serve as a fun backdrop. Use your imagination to create a beautiful and interesting fall garden.

Gardening — Comments Off
11
Jun 11

In the Garden Towards the End of March

In the sense that garden flowers wait for no man. Lupin and delphinium shoots can be taken from the crown, dipped in rooting powder and inserted in pots of sandy com璸ost and placed in the greenhouse. They should be kept close, but do not require heat.

Gladioli should be planted at intervals of a fortnight from the middle of March to April: they take about ninety days from planting to flowering. Corms should be planted in groups, 6-9 ins. apart, and 4-5 ins. deep; cushions of sharp sand at the base of the corms will help to prevent rotting.

The gardener should stake early and give the plants a good soaking once a week, stirring the top soil so that the water soaks in, after which the plants should be mulched around their roots to prevent moisture from evaporating. Dribs and drabs of water are to be avoided. After flowering, watering should cease.

Gladioli for cutting are best planted in the vegetable garden, for once they have flowered they lose their appearance. Leaves should be left when picking the stem. Small flowered types, the hooded primulinus and the butter璮lies provide a wide range of colour in different shades and have more charm than their big brothers.

Shrubs obviously are a longer term project, however they do require maintenance. The beginner should go round his rosebeds a second time to make sure he has left no dead or crossing branches: the best roses cannot be expected from old hard wood. He must also make sure all newly planted bushes are firm in the ground.

Roses should be given a rose fertilizer at the rate the manu璮acturers recommend. Preparations should be made for planting evergreens and conifers. Hedges are like shrubs in many ways in that they are a longer term project as well.

Have the shears been sharpened? Privet and lonicera hedges will soon need attention. Laurel should be trimmed with secateurs to avoid mutilation of leaves.

Gardening — Comments Off
11
Jun 11

Planting Seeds Indoors – What I Learned About Planting Different Types of Seeds

In a series of videos, Barbara Phillips-Conroy demonstrated how to plant seeds indoors in preparation for later transplant to the garden. She planted four different types of seeds, each with its own technique. Here’s what I learned from these videos.

Annuals

The first was an example of an annual, in this case Browallia ‘Marine Bells’. This particular annual seed does not have to be covered, which we discovered by reading the information on the seed packet. (Barbara emphasized the value of all the information provided on seed packets.)

Another valuable tip was not to simply rip the packet open and tip them onto the soil, which results in plants growing too close and difficult to deal with later. Instead, Barbara carefully opened the package, picked up the very tiny seeds and placed them one by one on top of the soilless mix. She then pressed the soil down very gently with the back of her knuckles to be sure there is contact between the seeds and the soil. She then gave them a little water, ready to be placed on her light tray.

Perennial Grown Like an Annual

This particular plant, Echinacea ‘Pink Parasol’, is a perennial, but Barbara explained we treat it as we would an annual. I was surprised to learn that the seed packages actually say how many seeds are in them, and in this case Barbara sowed just half of those provided.

Following instructions on the packet, Barbara covered these seeds with small amounts of soilless mix, pressed them down lightly and watered just as she did with the Browallia.

Regular Perennial

Barbara reassured me that perennials are not as difficult as people think, but may require more than one step. This particular plant is Corydalis, which needs two steps: six weeks on the light table and then outside to Canadian spring weather, which can be very up-and-down in temperature.

These seeds came already mixed into a planting medium, which Barbara very carefully spread over the top of the soilless mix, pressed it down lightly and watered. She then put the pot into a sealable plastic bag, with a note on the side of the date it will go outside, and then placed the whole bag on the light table.

Ornamental Grasses

Unlike regular lawn grass, ornamental grasses are more like plants, and they are planted for the beauty of their seed pods and leaves. In this case, Barbara planted Carex ‘Red Rooster’(tm Stokes).

These were extremely tiny seeds and had to be handled carefully to avoid losing any. They were planted in groups of five in each quarter of the four-pack, as they look best when they come up in clumps.

As directed on the packet, Barbara covered these seeds completely with soilless mix before lightly pressing down, watering and placing on the light table.

The process of planting these seeds indoors was really quite simple, but it was important to understand the different techniques required for the various types of seed.

Gardening — Comments Off
8
Jun 11

Herb Gardens For Beginners – Getting Dirty

Okay, once you decide which herbs to grow and whether you are going to plant in a plot or a container, you are ready enter the “start herb garden” mode.

Getting the herbs in the right kind of dirt may be a lot easier if you are going be a container gardener. All you need is the planting material that came in your kit, or some potting soil and a lightening material – like sand or perlite – to make the type soil your herbs will love.

However, if you are going to be a plot gardener you may have a little more work ahead of you. It probably won’t be too hard to find a gardener friend, or a helpful associate at a local garden shop, to help you learn what you will need to do to the soil in your plot to prepare it for herbs. Just remember most herbs like a light, well draining soil in which to thrive. And if you start reasonably small you shouldn’t have too much trouble preparing a soil that your herbs will love.

If your soil is very sandy a good quality soil improver may help. In heavy clay you might want soil improver and sand. You shouldn’t have to do too much, and as I mentioned a local resource can’t be beat to get you started. Also ask for a local recommendation on adding lime to the soil.

Once so armed, just break up the soil really well after removing any weeds or grass, make any needed additions and plant your herbs. If you’re starting from seed you should find the depth and spacing directions with the package. The same is true for plants. Otherwise, the web resource at the bottom of the page can certainly help you out.

Once planted, herbs just need sun, watering when the top layer of soil gets a little dry and weeding if any unwanted green things pop up in your garden. If you’ve done a good job of preparing the soil you shouldn’t need to fertilize, but you can add a light dose of liquid fertilizer (check the label) to every third or forth watering if you wish.

Herbs love to be gently pruned once they have a good stand of leaves, and be sure to cut off any flowers if you want them to continue to add leaves.

Just follow these easy steps and poof, you have an herb garden.

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →