Growing Vegetables
You Have The Choice Of Going Conventional or Organic.
Many years ago, there were no such things as supermarkets or grocery stores. If people wanted food, they had
to plant it in the ground, harvest the crop then have this cooked.
You
can still do that today and the only thing you need to think about is doing vegetable gardening either conventionally or organic.
But why vegetable gardening? Because this activity is cheap, easy and fun.
This will save you both time and money from going down to the store and buying them yourself.
So, what is the difference between the two? When people decide to plant conventionally, they will
be relying on fertilizers and herbicides to make these grow.
Studies
have shown that although this may yield better harvests, this is dangerous to our health because of the chemical ingredients
used.
Organic on the other hand lets nature takes it own
course because you will only use sunlight and water to make the vegetables grow.
You will also be using organic seeds and when you enter a store, make sure their produces have been
certified by the National Standard for Organic Agriculture.
In both cases, you'll need a spade,
a mechanical tiller or a rotary hoe. Don't forget to also buy the seeds from the gardening store.
If you have never done this before, it will be a good idea to partner with someone who is experienced
so you'll learn how to do this on your own.
You have
to choose the right location, make the ground ready for planting and then water them everyday so they'll grow.
There are certain things that can impede the growth of
your crops. These are weeds and insects.
Instead of spraying
harmful chemicals, just remove them by and although this is tedious, this is safer for you to consume.
You should also do some research to find out what can ideally be planted given
your environment.
Some of them may not survive if the climate
is too hot or cold, which is why altering these during times of the year is also feasible.
More people are moving towards organic vegetable gardening. You can try this out for yourself and
be proud of the work you have done with your own hands.
Vegetable Gardening Tips Worth Knowing
According to the Department of Health, people should eat vegetables among other
things in order to have a healthy diet.
Growing them is
one way of making sure they aren't contaminated with pesticides and here are a few vegetable gardening tips to help you
get started.
First, choose the ideal vegetables that can
be grown in your backyard. Some of the common ones that can survive almost any weather condition are cabbage, potatoes and
tomatoes. There are others aside from the three mentioned so do your homework.
Next, buy everything you need. You will need a spade and rake to cultivate the land. The seeds can be purchased
from the gardening store. While you are there, you should also buy some pieces of wood or green plastic fences to protect
your crops from birds and other pests.
Once you have all
the materials, it is time to find the right spot to do your vegetable gardening.
This should be exposed to the sun at least 6 hours daily and be placed a few feet away from the trees
because the roots may steal the nutrition from your crops.
People
who don't know any better usually step on the crops they are planting. You can prevent this from happening by making a
path in between each area.
Most
people choose about 4 types of vegetables to plant in the garden. You don't just dig a hole and throw the seeds in but
instead check the condition of the soil and to be sure, mix some compost and fertilizer while feeding it daily with water.
The proper way of sowing the seeds is in rows and from a north to south direction,
which means that choosing right location isn't the only thing that gives it maximum exposure to the sun.
The last tip for people who want to do some vegetable gardening is rotating
the crops several times a year.
This prevents the crops
from sucking away all the nutrition in the soil making it useless for those that want to replant again in the future.
Chances are, the vegetables that you will be harvesting will not be as big
as those at the supermarket.
After all, you aren't a
farmer that does this for a living but you should take comfort in knowing that your hard work and efforts paid off because
you are eating something healthy made by your own hands which is what vegetable gardening is all about.
Vegetable Gardening The Organic Way
Organic vegetable gardening is the trend these days because it has been discovered
that the use of fertilizers and herbicides does more harm than good.
The
end result of which is organic farming which is the old-fashioned way and going back to basics.
There are many ways to do organic vegetable gardening. There is companion farming, crop rotation,
composting, mulching and vermicast. Lets talk about these in detail so you'll understand.
Companion farming doesn't mean tilling the land with a buddy. This is achieved by planting two
kinds of crops beside each other.
Studies show that certain
plants enhance the growth rate of the other by fending off insects and other pests.
There are so many to choose from so you have to know which can be paired together.
Crop rotation means you literally change the kind of crops you are growing
every quarter.
This assures that the current plant doesn't
take away all the rich nutrients in the soil so that it can be used again in the future.
Mulching is the simplest way to do organic farming because you are just putting a protective cover
on your crops.
Vermicast involves the use of earthworms.
Basically, you feed these creatures nutrients in order for them to oxidize and stabilize the unstable organic matter or the
decomposing plant so you'll be able to plant new crops in the soil.
Of the 5, composting seems to be the most interesting because you help the soil cultivate your crops. In order
to do this, you'll need to create around 2 to 3 compost heaps in your backyard.
You don't always have to buy these from the gardening store because some of the garbage that
you plan to throw out will work nicely.
Some examples are
animal manure, lawn clippings, selected fruit or vegetable scraps, old hay or straw and shredded paper. Things that don't
work include meat scraps, orange peels and onion skins.
This
is then placed in a bin or a tumbler because it will soon turn into a nutrient rich soil conditioner that can be added to
the soil.
You have to make sure that it receives a lot of
heat in order to fight off seeds coming from the lawn clipping and weeds.
The methods mentioned can be used one at a time or simultaneously. The important thing is that you are organic
vegetable gardening.
Organic Vegetable Gardening Can Be Done Using A Container
Having limited space in your backyard shouldn't stop you from getting into
organic vegetable gardening.
This is because you can work
around it by putting them into containers. Here are some of the advantages.
First, they can be brought either indoors or outdoors depending on the temperature outside.
It also serves as great decor that can be displayed in the balcony, the patio
or on the kitchen table or by the windowsill.
You don't
have to buy a container to hold your vegetables because you can recycle an ice cream container or anything else in the house
that you may have as long as it can hold soil and provide sufficient drainage.
These are less likely to be attacks by weeds, snails, slugs or soil borne diseases and are very easy to work
with as long as you maintain the right pH levels.
You might
think that cleaning the container and putting in soil from the backyard is the way to go but you are mistaken.
It is better to buy premium potting mix because it is much lighter than soil
and offers excellent drainage.
Given that the vegetables
aren't grown in the garden, you have to make sure that they receive the right number of nutrients.
You can do this by buying organic fertilizer from the store and then following
the instructions on the packaging.
Take note that putting
on too much can kill what you are planting and you wouldn't want that to happen.
Also, given that there are many brands, you have to make sure that this is ideal for what you are
planting.
Vegetable gardening using containers requires
watering them more frequently. This is because the soil dries much quicker compared to when it is planted on the earth.
Aside from water, you can also buy organic liquid fertilizers that can also
be used for foliar feeding and drenching the soil.
To help
you get started, here are some vegetables you can start planting in containers. These include bush beans, carrots, capsicum,
eggplant, lettuce, and onions.
Just like regular vegetable
gardening, these have to exposed to the sun at least 6 hours everyday.
f you live where it is windy, make sure there is protection so it won't fall off and hit the ground. You
have to start somewhere so try two or three pots then add more later on.
Vegetable Gardening For Dummies
You don't have to be a rocket scientist in order to learn vegetable gardening.
By reading this article, you will know some important do's and don'ts
to enable you to reap the fruits of your labor.
Before you
get to work, you have to buy the seeds and the necessary equipment. The best place to go is your local gardening store since
they have spades, fertilizers, rakes and anything else you need.
But
the most important thing to do which everyone should know is how to prepare the soil.
You have to buy a test kit since you can't see the difference by just looking at it to check
the level of lime, nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium.
If
this is too high, it can be balanced with a mixture that contains two parts loam and one part organic matter.
If you don't want to buy it, the other alternative will be to use manure.
This should be mixed with the soil prior to planting because putting in a fresh batch will just kill your vegetables.
It is only when the soil is ready that you will begin to plant the seeds into
the ground.
Farmers advise homeowners that want to do this
in their backyard to do this in an area that is exposed to the sun. It should never be placed in an area where there are trees
because the roots will just take away the nutrients.
You
don't just throw the seeds into the ground. They should be placed properly in rows to compensate for failed germination
and for thinning.
They should then be covered with fine
soil that doesn't have any clods or rocks.
In less
than a week, you will see the seedlings finally push out off the ground. You should pay attention to each one and remove the
weaker ones to give the others room to grow.
After
your first harvest, it is advisable to rotate with another vegetable. This makes sure that there are always nutrients in the
soil ready for the next season.
Making something out of
something small is truly an achievement and vegetable gardening is one of them.
You should know that this task is not going to be a walk in the park because you always have to be watching.
Pests and weeds may appear at any time so you should get rid of them at once
before they destroy your crops.
Three Important Things For Successful Vegetable Gardening
Living a healthy life doesn't always mean buying vegetables from the store.
This is because you can make this happen in your own backyard.
In
order for this to happen, you have to know the three important things for vegetable gardening.
First, is the planning stage. You have to find the right location. You have to check which part in
your garden gets at least 6 hours of sunlight because this is needed in order for your crops to grow.
Once you find it, you have to plot the area properly. Many homeowners plot
an area that is good for 4 types of vegetables.
These should
be evenly spaced so each plant has sufficient breathing room otherwise, one will die in order for the other to survive.
Lets say you don't have enough room to plant vegetables. Does that mean
you should just give up?
The answer is no because you can
use containers instead. It will just take a little more work.
The
second most important thing in vegetable gardening is the preparation of the soil. You might think that the ground in your
backyard is already ready but you are mistaken.
There are
rocks that have to be removed first and the land has to be cultivated using some gardening equipment.
You will also need to compost the soil with fertilizer. It can easily be purchased at the gardening store or by using some
garbage like shredded paper or manure.
The third most important
thing about vegetable gardening is planting the crops.
This
is considered to be fun part because you will be putting in the seeds, covering them up and then watering them so the seedlings
will sprout out from the ground.
Not all the seeds that
you plant will grow because nature after all is still the survival of the fittest.
So aside from watching out for weeds or pests, you will also have to get rid of the weak plants so
the stronger ones will be able to grow.
Planning, preparation
and planting are the three important things that make the difference between successful or unsuccessful vegetable gardening.
You should do some research by reading books or going online, start small and
then eventually build up.
Don't be afraid to make mistakes
because there is always a lesson to be learned making you a better gardener.
The Relationship Of The Kind Of Fertilizer You Use For Vegetable
Gardening And Soil Analysis
You may know that fertilizer
helps out a great deal in vegetable gardening.
The problem
is that they may kill the plant instead of helping it grow. Before wasting your money, you should know when this should be
applied.
For starters, fertilizer should only be applied
if the soil is naturally fertile. You should also know that exact quantity of organic matter already present and what kind
of chemical agent works well depending on the kind of fruit or vegetable being grown.
But how do you know that the soil is fertile? For that, you will have to call some professionals
at the local lab for help.
You can visit the local university
or college that has an agricultural program, garden centers, state agriculture offices and online gardening facilities.
How do you know if the fertilizer you buy is right for
your vegetables? This is much easier because it should be written on the product label.
In the United States and Canada, companies are required to post the fertilizers' formulation.
It should state the nitrogen, phosphate and potash content so all you have to do is calculate how much is needed before applying
it to the plant.
But fertilizers aren't the only things
plants need in order for them to grow. This is because it only gives 3 out of the 16 elements.
Hydrogen, oxygen and carbon come from sunlight and water while the remaining 10 are micronutrients
that are already present in the soil.
Despite that, farmers
and homeowners are encouraged to use both synthetic and organic fertilizers for vegetable gardening.
Those who feel this is too costly can try the alternative, which is by using compost, manure or mulch.
Again, this can only happen after proper soil analysis has been conducted.
If you still don't get it, lets put it in layman's terms. Let's say you have a headache but don't
know the cause.
Like most people, you want the pain to go
away so you head on over to the drugstore and buy medicine. Without proper examination, you don't know if what you bought
will make you feel better or make things worse.
The same
thing goes with vegetable gardening because you could be using something too strong with what you are planting.
In both cases, that is a gamble you must never play because your life and your
crops are both at stake.
Have You Ever Considered Vegetable Gardening In Your Own Backyard
Farmers are being encouraged to go organic and you should probably do so as
well.
This is because it is very healthy but the problem
that many are concerned about is how much they cost at the market.
Fortunately,
you don't have to worry about that anymore when you consider having your own vegetable garden in your own backyard.
This means planting vegetables instead of driving over to the supermarket.
When you need them, you only have to take a few steps, take it out from the ground and you're back in the kitchen.
Any vegetable can be planted, grown and harvested in your backyard. You will
just have to choose which one you want and then buy the necessary materials and equipment.
For example, if you do decide to plant squash, you should know that this vine type plant will require
more living space compared to that of a carrot.
Most people
that engage in vegetable gardening will be planting two variants or more because this isn't the only thing that they eat
in a month. Just remember to choose wisely because you have limited space.
Once you have made a decision, it is time to head on over to the store and buy the seeds. Just double
check the year that these were packaged so you are sure that what you have with you is a fresh batch instead of an old one.
You can skip the phase of planting seeds by buying starter plants. The only
problem is that they will cost more than seeds and it takes away the suspense of seeing these plants grow.
In any case, whether you are using seeds or starter plants, they have to be
narrowly spaced. This will prevent the vegetables from growing out of line and weeds from sprouting out.
Within the next few weeks or months, you will no longer be buying vegetables
or even fruit from the supermarket you'll simply picking be picking them from your garden. You will also save money this
way and at the same time eat right because they are fresh.
If
you have a lot, maybe you can go into business and sell them to your neighbors.
Just think of it as your way of promoting organic vegetable gardening so everyone around you will be able
to live a healthy life.
Three Great Vegetable Gardening Ideas
Most people plant flowers in their gardens. But instead of just doing it for
aesthetic purposes, you can do something healthy with it by getting into vegetable gardening and here are some great ideas.
The difference between conventional vegetable gardening
and ideas mentioned is that this is great to do regardless of your age.
It takes both creativity and teamwork to put this all together so you can see the fruits of your labor all
the way to your dinner plate.
The first is idea is called
the vegetable pizza garden. You aren't planting vegetables to make a pizza but you are using different varieties to make
it look like a pizza.
For this to work, you need to plant
basil, green peppers, selected herbs, jalapenos, oregano, thyme and tomatoes.
You surely know what an ornament is and with the right vegetables, you can also accomplish this as another
option.
There is no right or wrong way to do it. You simply
have to make sure that the colors compliment each other.
The
third idea is to make a rainbow vegetable garden. You know the colors of the rainbow and although you will never find produce
to make up all the colors, having at least three or even four is more than enough to still make this work.
There are other ideas, which you can do to your vegetable garden. You can read
these in gardening magazines or online while others can let their minds wonder and experiment.
In planting vegetables, you might be surprised to know that there are such things as purple beans
or white carrots when you often see them as colored green or orange. These weren't painted but they came out naturally
which are still safe to eat.
So you don't waste any
of the vegetables, make sure that you will be consuming all of these when these will be harvested.
This is better than making it rot because displaying them in a stylish way is just secondary to your
primary goal, which is focusing on healthy living.
Planting
your own vegetables is much cheaper than buying them from the store because you don't have to deal with markup costs.
You just have to make sure that the soil is fertile, these are watered regularly
and the crops are rotated every quarter so the land can be used again for the next season.
Vegetable Gardening Is Fun
Gardening is nothing new given and a lot of women do it at home. Lately, more people are getting
into vegetable gardening not because these are expensive to buy in stores but because they have realized that this is both
fun and healthy.
For this to work, you have to find the
right place in your backyard. It doesn't matter if you have a small or a big yard because there are ways to compensate
for the limited space.
For instance, some people use containers.
The only requirement is that it is able to hold the soil together and provide excellent drainage.
Another option to containers is by using raised beds. This is usually made from wood, bricks or concrete
blocks that are filled with garden soil.
Just like planting
vegetables on the ground, you have to make sure that they get plenty of sunshine that is ideally 5 to 6 hours a day and water
because this runs out much faster being where it is placed.
A
lot of people get excited when they get into vegetable gardening. In fact, some get carried away and want to plant everything
at once.
The best thing to do would be to review a seed
catalog and then start out with a few of those that you like.
This
will allow you to pay close attention to those you have chosen in order to receive proper care.
It is only when you get getter at it that you should consider adding more variations to what you
already have.
For those that have space, there are two
techniques available. The first is called row cropping while the other is intensive.
More homeowners find the second one more appealing because there are different techniques, which
can be used.
This also conserves the space that is used
because you more or less save a square footage of space.
You
can learn about the various techniques by reading magazines, doing research online or purchasing a CD that can be used for
reference.
Before you plant, don't forget to test the
soil. Vegetables work best when the ground is loose.
The
best way to test this is if this easily breaks in your hand. If the opposite happens, this can be fixed by adding compost
to reduce the amount of clay present.
Vegetable gardening
has become another favorite American past time. You can get into it regardless of your age. The most important thing is that
you have fun.
Five Essentials For Vegetable Gardening
Vegetable gardening requires a lot of hard work but in the end is rewarding.
To help you get started, there are five essentials that you should be aware
of that will be discussed in detail.
First, the area that
you have selected should get sufficient sunlight. Experienced gardeners will advise you that what you are planting should
get at least 6 hours of the sun's rays daily.
In order
to achieve this, your crops should be a distance away from buildings, trees or any other structures that prevents this from
happening.
Second, choosing a location is one thing but
is the soil fertile enough to grow the crops?
The best way
to determine this is by doing a soil test with the help of experts in a nearby lab or school.
If they have determined that it is sufficient, then there is no problem. However, if this is not
the case, you can fix this by adding compost and other organic materials.
Third, your vegetables won't grow by themselves and what they need from you is water.
Research shows that your crops will need at least an inch of water weekly,
which you can do yourself or by making sure there is adequate irrigation reaching it.
Fourth, vegetable gardening also needs oxygen. This can be achieved by making sure the site you have
chosen doesn't have a hollow or low spot.
If this happens,
your crops could freeze during the cold months and you have to harvest them even if they aren't ready yet.
Lastly, proximity to your vegetable garden is key so you can watch it carefully.
Again, this won't be a problem if this is in your backyard but for those
that do this elsewhere, this is something they have to consider.
The
essentials mentioned all point to one thing and that location is crucial.
It doesn't matter if you have a small or a large area to play with because beginners are advised to start
small and then expand later on.
Gardening can be a lot
of fun because your hard work begins to pay off when you see the seeds grow.
If you want to learn more about vegetable gardening, take some classes and do some research.
In time, you will learn all the tricks in the book so you can harvest enough
for your family instead of buying them from the supermarket.
Why Should You Get Into Vegetable Gardening
Years ago, most of the country was used as agricultural land. Farmers were
involved mainly in vegetable gardening so that people were able to have a balanced diet.
As years went by, such places moved outside the city walls and they are now delivered and sold in
groceries.
There is nothing wrong with that except for
the fact that a lot of farmers have used pesticides and herbicides that have been proven to cause side effects.
There is a campaign these days for farmers to go organic but if you compare
the prices on the shelves, these are more expensive to buy.
The
alternative to buying organic vegetables from the market is to grow them on your own.
If people back then were able to do it regardless of their limited space, you too can do the same
for the health of your family.
Another reason why you should
get into vegetable gardening is that not only advances in technology have made these harmful but it has also taken away some
of the vitamins and minerals that it is supposed to give.
In
short, they have become impure and if you want to get what you rightly deserve, you should put your trust in nature and give
it sunlight and water to make it grow.
Vegetable gardening
is ideal at home because the soil has not yet been exposed to any chemicals.
After doing a soil test, you will have to choose what types of variants you want to plant and then harvest
them when the time is right.
So that you don't make
the same mistakes farmers have done in the past, you must never use toxic fertilizers but instead purchase organic kinds from
the store.
You can also find here organic soil and organic
seeds so everything you are using doesn't have any impurities.
Of
the three, you will be surprised to know that you can make your own fertilizer at home using shredded paper and even manure.
There are also other things you can use so read up on it.
Vegetable
gardening is hard work but in the end is worth it when you know they are free from harmful chemicals.
As you get the hang of things, this hobby can even be turned into a business because you are promoting
something healthy not only for your family but those around you in the community.
Greenhouses Are Ideal For Vegetable Gardening
When people have greenhouses, the first thing that comes to mind is that they
are growing flowers.
But lately, hobbyists have discovered
this can also be used for vegetable gardening because these crops can also be grown in a controlled environment.
But first, what is a greenhouse?
Typically, this is a structure that comes in all shapes and sizes made of glass with plastic roofing.
When it is exposed to the sun's rays, it heats up everything inside.
There are different types of greenhouses to choose from. The basic type is something that can be attached
to your home.
It is like having another room set up so you
can just walk in at any time and check how your crops are doing.
The
other type is the kind that is set up a few yards away from the house. You may have seen this shaped like a rectangle but
there are also others that are circular or square.
You
can find greenhouses online or at your neighborhood gardening store. These can be installed yourself or with the assistance
of the retailer that has sold it to you.
Aside from the
structure, you will also find inside accessories and other components you will need to help the vegetables grow.
You will need a thermostat to check on the temperature and a heater to keep
things warm during the winter.
Regardless of what you choose,
the important thing is that it does the job of helping you grow your vegetables so that they can be harvested and consumed.
Having everything will allow you to grow different crops
all year round.
This enables you to have certain vegetables
that can be only be grown during certain months of the year, which means their price is quite high.
If there is also a shortage, it also won't be a problem as you have sufficient stock.
You should know that vegetable gardening inside a greenhouse is different than
doing it in the open.
It all sounds good on paper but you
have to do some research by talking to people who are doing it as well as those who work at the local nurseries.
When you have figured it out, you will be able to enjoy the fruits of your
labor by being able to make delicious and healthy meals in your own home.
Just to give you an idea of what can be grown in a greenhouse, they are chard, lettuce, peppers, tomatoes
and a lot more.
8 Things To Remember About Vegetable Gardening
Vegetable Gardening can be a lot of fun. In order for you to become successful
in this endeavor, here are 8 things you should always remember.
1.
Vegetables need to be planted. This can't be done just anywhere so study the location.
Will crops placed in this area get sufficient exposure to the sun? The definition of sufficient is
between 5 to 6 hours daily so if it doesn't, you better look elsewhere.
2. Lets say you have found a site that can give you sunlight. Now comes the next thing to be concerned about
and that is the condition of the soil.
Is the ground deep,
well drained and moisture retentive?
This can be determined
by doing a soil test and if it is not, you can fix this by adding organic compost.
3. You have the ideal site that has fertile soil. The only thing you have to do now is buy the seeds.
Some vegetables attract insects while others don't work well with others.
You should find out which ones are good together so they can be harvested and consumed.
4. Now it is time to sow the seeds. When they are being planted, it should
be done in rows. Also, you should drop a few extras along the way since some will fail.
The soil must be kept moist and you should thin out those that are too small so the others will be
able to grow.
5. Sunlight and water alone can only do so
much for vegetable gardening. You will need to put a small amount of fertilizer as well.
There are different types of these being sold at the store so to avoid making any mistakes, check
which one works best with what you are planting and the type of soil in your garden.
6. The number one enemy of the plants are pests. You can protect them by using compost and engaging
in crop rotation.
Some of nature's friends can also
help like birds, toads and parasitic insects.
7. Another
threat to your vegetables are weeds because they can rob the much needed water, light and nutrients from your garden.
This will still happen after you have cultivated the soil so get a pair of
gloves and pull them out whenever you see them.
8. Lastly,
don't forget to water your vegetables regularly.
Vegetable
gardening will be challenging but with the right location, soil and practices, you can succeed and make home made meals after
picking them from your garden.
Composting In Vegetable Gardening
If after a soil test you discover that the soil you want to use for vegetable
gardening isn't adequate, the best thing to do is to add compost.
Doing
so may not guarantee that you will have a tasty harvest but it can drastically help the environment.
For this to work, you need to know what materials can be used to make compost. You can get them from
alfalfa meal, blood meal or a compost starter because they are rich in nitrogen and have microbes.
After cutting the grass, you can use the clippings as well as food scraps and manure as they have
both carbon and nitrogen for quick decomposition.
Coffee
grounds are also ideal composts. Just drop them in and then let the earthworms take care of the rest because we can also rely
on nature as an ally.
If you are at the beach algae and
seaweed can also help. Just make sure the salt is washed off before mixing it with the soil.
Hay or straw also works. This should be checked for weed seeds because these may soon sprout out
from the ground and you have to remove them manually.
Now
that we have mentioned the things you can use as compost, it is only right to mention the things that can't be used.
These include animal fat, ashes, pet droppings and plants that have been exposed
to herbicides or pesticides.
You have to keep in mind that
you are trying to keep your vegetables free from impurities and do it right.
The only time you can say that the compost is ready for use is when it feels, looks and smells like rich dark
soil. It is usually half the volume of the materials you placed inside but it is now much denser.
The compost must be embedded into ground at least 2 to 4 weeks before vegetable gardening begins.
This will give it enough time to mix and stabilize with the soil.
If
there is still some left in the bin, you should aerate it regularly so air spaces are created which reduces the smell. Remember,
it has to remain damp at all times but not saturated.
Composting
is just one of the techniques you can try for vegetable gardening. Vermicast, companion planting and mulching are the others.
You can also use these simultaneously to help your crops grow.
Vegetable Gardening Requires A Lot Of Planning
It is one thing to consider vegetable gardening and another to actually do
it. Before you actually get your hands dirty, you need to do a little planning.
You first have to assess where you live. Certain vegetables can be grown in a certain environment
while others can't.
Once you have determined the kind
of weather you are dealing with, the better the chances of having a good harvest.
Aside from the climate, you also have to think about the requirements of these vegetables.
For instance, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, onions and peas can only be grown
in temperatures ranging from 10 to 20 degrees Celsius.
Cabbage,
carrots, celery, lettuce and radish on the other hand can only survive if they are grown between 15 to 25 degrees Celsius.
Anything higher or lower than that will damage the harvest.
In
short, you have to get the necessary information and make the right decisions. Here are a few of them.
First, make sure you can protect your crops especially when there is bad weather.
You can't put a dome all around your house but you can plant the vegetables
in a green house or give them cover through mulching.
Vegetables
need plenty of sunshine so choose an area that will get at least more than 5 hours of sunlight daily.
Some vegetables are taller than others, which means the shorter ones won't
get that much sunlight.
You can prevent this from happening
by gardening these in rows so everyone is able to get the same amount.
Aside from sunlight, vegetables need a lot of water. If you don't have time to water them regularly, make
sure you have an irrigation system in place to ensure there is a constant supply.
Engage in crop rotation. This approach allows the soil to regenerate itself so that what you planted
this season can be used again after the next one.
This also
prevents pests and disease from ever ruining your garden.
Drawing
up a plan is the first step to succeed in vegetable gardening.
If
problems should happen, be sure to take the necessary action so that this will not affect the rest of your crops.
Should the situation not improve, don't be afraid to ask help from experienced
gardeners or do some research so that you will know what to do when this happens again in the future.
Worms Can Help With Vegetable Gardening
There are different methods you can use to be successful in vegetable farming.
Fertilizers can help but nature also has something to offer in the form of
earthworms and this method is better known as vermicomposting.
Vermiposting
is the process of feeding the worms organic waste material such as coffee grounds, egg shells, hair, shredded paper, tea bags
and vegetable peelings.
When the earthworms release their
waste into the soil, this is absorbed by the soil making it fertile to grow fruits and vegetables.
You can do this yourself by digging deep into the ground, collecting them and raising a colony.
This may be difficult because it is a hit or miss just looking for them so
it is advisable to buy these from a farm and then multiply them.
The
earthworms have to be housed in a container like a wooden box. Given that they feed on waste, it sounds like a good idea to
have them under the kitchen sink.
You must never
feed the earthworms animal products like bones, left over meat, daily products or manure.
Doing so will make their waste ineffective against pathogens or pests that can do damage to your
vegetable garden.
Certain fruits are also out of the question.
This is because lab tests have shown that both citrus peels and pineapple contain
an enzyme called bromelain that dissolves these little helpers. How can they work for you if you kill them?
There are many ways to raise earthworms so you should read up on it and find
out which is ideal for your setting.
In fact these little
creatures also secrete a liquid called "lechate" that can be collected and then sprayed on your vegetables.
A word of warning for that will be using it is that this is sometimes too strong
for certain vegetables so before applying this on the vegetation, make sure that it is safe to use.
Vermicomposting isn't new because it has been used for years to help grow flowers.
Given that people are more health conscious, this method of organic farming
and others like it and are now being used to also help grow vegetables.
So go ahead and give earthworms the chance to help you with your vegetable gardening.
Thanks to them, you don't have to mix anything anymore and once you feed these creatures, they
will take care of the rest.
You Can Buy Vegetable Gardening Seeds Online
You can start vegetable gardening at any time after carefully choosing a site
and preparing all the necessary equipment.
The most important
thing you need of course are the seeds which can be purchased at your neighborhood gardening store or online.
People say that buying online is a good idea because it saves you time from
driving over to the gardening store especially if they are out of stock.
Also, these are usually fresh especially when the companies that give them to their distributors make sure
it is with them in the shortest possible time so these can be bought by the customer.
When you do decide to buy online, you are usually protected by a warranty. It states basically in
the event that you aren't satisfied with the results, you can get a refund or get a replacement free of charge.
The prices of the seeds are also cheaper because it doesn't take that much
to operate a website compared to that of a real store. Given that there are a lot of websites, compare the prices first before
you decide to place an order.
If it is your first time
to buy seeds online, get a recommendation from a friend or a family member.
You can also join a chat group or become a member of a gardening club so you won't be wasting time seeing
if one is better than the other.
When the seeds arrive
at your doorstep, follow the instructions carefully.
It
should tell you the amount of water that must be given daily and the amount of sunshine it needs so make sure you don't
give too much or too little as this could kill the vegetable.
As
the season ends, try planting seeds of another variety so that the nutrients from the soil will be able to replenish itself
ready for use again.
Surely, you eat more than just carrots
or cabbage so instead of buying them from the grocery, why not get these fresh from your garden.
Vegetable gardening entails a lot of work but the fun begins when each of them starts coming out
of the ground. It doesn't matter where you buy the seeds.
The
important thing is that they are fresh and ready to go to the ground so they can be harvested in the next few weeks or months.
Hydroponics Is Also Ideal For Vegetable Gardening
We need to eat vegetables in order to have a well balanced diet. Instead of
buying them from the grocery store, you can do vegetable gardening at home.
One technique that makes it possible to grow them all year round without worrying that much about the climate
is hydrophonics.
Hydrophonics is a technique used to grow
crops without the need for soil. This is done by replacing it with a liquid solution that must always have the right pH level.
The pH level of each vegetable is different. Those for
example that thrive on acid need to have a solution no higher than 7 while those that are much stronger will need more.
Aside from having the right solution, you must also ensure that there is proper
air circulation in the room where they are being grown.
You
can purchase these solutions from the gardening store or make them yourself if you are an experienced gardener.
The basic ingredients are usually a mixture of calcium nitrate, magnesium sulfate,
phosphate and potassium. A small percentage is made up of boric acid, copper sulfate, iron sulfate, magnesium chloride and
zinc sulfate.
Normally, the solution you purchase
is good for two weeks. As the vegetables are growing bigger, you will have to replenish this weekly as the plants will be
using up more in order to continue growing.
When it was
mentioned earlier that hydrophonics is done in a room, it naturally means that you will be doing your vegetable gardening
in a greenhouse.
This is because it can only work in a controlled
environment that has the right mixture of carbon dioxide by using dry iced, decomposing organic matter, burning hydrocarbon
fuels or from a compressed bottle.
You will also
need to maintain the temperature with the help of a thermometer.
Vegetables
should be kept between 40 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit but this varies depending on the type of plants being grown.
Another thing you have to check is the amount of light that should be used
to help the vegetables grow.
Although they normally need
6 hours of this daily, you need to do some research as to the kind of artificial light also necessary to make this happen.
Hydrophonics is tricky because you have to pay attention
to the air, light, pH levels, temperature and water.
With
the right information in your possession, this could all work in your favor making this method of vegetable gardening very
rewarding.
Crop Rotation Is Vital For Vegetable Gardening
Vegetable gardening is easy once you get the hang of things. In order to ensure that the soil is
always fertile, experts recommend crop rotation.
The practice
of crop rotation has been going on for years. It ensures that the soils nutrients are never depleted and prevents the buildup
of pathogens or pests.
The best way to do this is to plant
different sorts of vegetables in a marked area. For example, if you just harvested cabbage, another product from a different
family must be planted.
The best way to do this is to divide
the area in your backyard into four or five sectors.
If
you had legume crops in one bed, root crops in another, fruit bearing in a third, foliage in a fourth and brassicas in the
fifth, then just move it over to the next and so forth.
The
process is tedious yes because it is repetitive but this is the only way to ensure that soil where your vegetables will be
planted are able to bear fruit.
So you don't get confused,
you should record everything so you don't make the mistake of planting it again a year from now. Remember, there must
always be a season interval before planting that vegetable.
If
you like the vegetable so much and can't live without it, you can plant the same vegetable again but not in the same place
where it was before. It has to be relocated elsewhere.
You
can never plant a vegetable of the same family in the same area. Take for instance cabbage and broccoli that belong to the
brassicas family.
Both of these require a lot of nitrogen
and if you plant one or the other there again, do you think that there will be sufficient nitrogen for the other one to grow?
Naturally the answer is no which is why the nitrogen level has to be replaced
by putting in beans or peas that belong to the legume family that have nitrogen producing nodules in their roots that will
eventually be passed on to the soil.
So you have to know
which vegetable belongs to what family when you engage in vegetable gardening.
Making a mistake will cost you a season of hard work with nothing to show for it so do some research, get
advice from experts and most of all, have fun in your backyard.
Indoor
Vegetable Gardening
Some who love gardening might
find it frustrating when cold months come. But having an indoor vegetable garden is an option that some are not aware of.
We just need to be creative because during these months you can still continue
gardening and I know you will enjoy it.
Having an indoor
garden has its limitations; you can't plant pumpkins, sweet corn and squash. Of course you can plant some leafy crops,
tomatoes and other root crops.
In selecting a container
for your indoor garden, attention to detail is essential.
Choose
a color that will compliment your home. Make your garden blend with your living space. Check the exact measurements so that
you won't end up buying big containers.
You can use
decorative metal pails, clay pots and even plastic jugs. You can also create an indoor garden where you can let the plants
grow throughout the year.
Choose plants that aren't
seasonal.
In selecting the best plants for your
indoor garden, reserve time for visiting the local nursery and explain to them your plans and you will be amazed on how they
are willing to help.
They will offer you different varieties
of plants. Make sure to ask them how to plant them because some plants requires a different process of planting.
Make sure to prepare the soil, it should have enough nutrients for your plants.
Regular soil doesn't have enough nutrients so you need to purchase special soil for indoor gardening.
Check the temperature and moisture of the soil. Don't over-water the plants,
just water moderately.
Container gardening is best because
you can position them in the best light exposure. Some plants to consider for container gardening are cherry tomatoes, sweet
peppers, short vine cucumbers and squash, spinach, Swiss chard, leaf lettuce, miniature cabbage, eggplant, green onions and
most of the Herbs.
Next, you should decide if you will
be starting from seeds or plants. If you are just a beginner, I suggest that you buy plants rather than seeds.
Starting with vegetable seeds needs your attention and it is frustrating sometimes
if they don't grow as fast as you want them to. You can use seeds if you think you are prepared and have enough knowledge
in planting them.
Be sure that you have time for your vegetable
garden, it is rewarding when you see that your garden is blooming.
Besides,
you can have your favorite salad anytime. I am sure that you won't get worried if it snows and the winds come. These can't
hurt your plants because you have them inside your home.
Maintaining
a Vegetable Garden in Hot Dry Areas
If you are
used to having your garden in wet soil and eventually transfer to a hot area, at first it can be frustrating on your part.
It is hard at first but once you know the proper way of maintaining your garden then it can be less stressful.
First, you need to prepare the soil. In hot areas the soil is different type
so it is important to check it and do some mixing. You can add peat moss and some other organic additives.
You can also add gypsum at 50 to 100 lbs per thousand square feet to assist
in keeping the soil from breaking up.
Make sure to check
the soil, it is important it stays moist. Moist soil will allow the seeds to sprout. Once the plants are established you only
need to keep the root zones wet.
Living in a hot area will
make your plants dry so it advisable watering thoroughly. They should get enough water especially if temperature falls below
100 degrees.
Observe the temperature, Keep the soil moist
and make sure that they get enough water.
As much as possible
have time to check it daily and that way you can monitor the development of your plants.
You can add fertilizer if you think it is necessary to your plants. Place compost underneath and
in the surrounding of the vegetables this will help them get the proper nutrients needed.
Observe proper spacing, this will help during harvesting and when weeding is needed.
Plant your vegetables in a raised beds and plant different but complementary
plants. This will give you lots of vegetables at harvest time.
Since
you are planting in a dry area make sure that there are big trees nearby for shade. This will prevent your plants from direct
sunlight and they won't dry out easily.
No matter where
you place your garden as long as you dedicate your time to take care of it, it will eventually grow.
You will be amazed. You can start enjoying your vegetables by harvesting them and preparing them
for your family.
Vegetables from your own garden gives you
security that you are eating fresh. At the start it may be quite difficult but when you finally get the techniques down you
will eventually find it easy. Since you are just starting you can ask the experts advice.
Organic Vegetable Garden
Organic
gardening is different from conventional gardening in terms of using fertilizers and pest control.
Organic gardeners avoid using the synthetic chemicals because they are dangerous to our health and
to environment.
First you need to choose a location, select
well-drained soil near your water supply. It is also advisable that it is near your home so that you can easily monitor your
garden.
As much as possible enclose it with fence. Do some
research on the proper time of the year to start planting. Check the plants if they are suited for the temperature and soil
in your area.
In soil preparation sometimes it takes three
weeks of mixing it. Check the soil if it has the right temperature and is moist enough for your plants to grow. Remove the
unnecessary elements in the soil.
Using abundant organic
material applied to the soil is the major basis of organic gardening. It is in the form of plant manures, cover crops, mixed
organic fertilizer, compost and animal manures.
Using organic
matter is beneficial because it will improve the stability of the soil to hold nutrients.
It improves the ability of soil to hold water. Organic matter also improves the structure and capacity
of soil. It will also help contribute and releases nutrients slowly to the plants.
Animal manures are the best source of fertilizer for the organic gardener. You can use the manure
at least 30 days.
Usually animal manures have fertilizing
nutrients. In placing the manure you should scatter each side of the row.
Manure isn't a complete well-balanced fertilizer so it is advisable to add a rock phosphate and potash.
In irrigation it is important to check the soil. It should
be thoroughly wet unless it has sufficient rain fall.
It
should be moist throughout the root zone. Through the proper use of organic materials it will retain the soil moisture. Mulching
will also help conserving soil moisture.
Mulch is any organic
material that will be placed on the soil surface surrounding the plants. Materials commonly used are leaves, pine straw, dust,
and wood shavings.
It is beneficial because it can conserve
soil moisture and nutrients. It will help reduce soil erosion and crop loss. It will provide a barrier between fruit and soil
and moderates the soil temperature.
There are lots of options
to consider in having an organic vegetable garden. You just need to do some research and you will eventually master it.
Starting Vegetable Garden from Seeds
If you are planning to start your vegetable garden with planting seeds then it will need a lot of
your time and effort. But of course the result is fulfilling.
Each
type of seed has different requirements so it is very important to check the instructions when planting.
To start with, you need to ready the materials needed. You need containers
for drainage.
It can be trays, plastic pots or whatever
you can find that you can use. You can also purchase a soil-less peat planting mix; it is useful because of its sterility.
You need to check constantly for the temperature for germination so that you
know that your seeds get the right temperature.
You can
also purchase a waterproof soil heating cable; this is used to keep the soil at 72 degrees.
Prepare your pots by filling within + inch of the rim. Water the filling pots with room temperature
water until it is wet.
It is also very important that you
follow the instructions as your plants can drown. Drain the excess water from the pots.
In sowing check if the seeds need treatment before sowing. Some need soaking in a few days or hours
in the freezer so it is really important to check the instructions.
Check the size of the seeds because it will depend on the punch of rows that you will be making.
You can use a dibble stick to create small holes. Keep the rows apart at least
an inch. Small seeds shouldn't be covered; you just need to press them into the soil.
Be sure that you distribute the seeds well; make sure that they aren't crowded. It is essential
to check the light and air circulation because it will help to develop the seedlings.
Seal your pot with a plastic bag, this will create a greenhouse environment. This will help eliminate
the necessity of watering your pots before the seeds germinate. Place in an area with good light and temperature.
If you see an underdeveloped root then your seeds are growing. It is very critical
stage.
You need to check it daily. The soil should remain
moist but not soggy because it will prevent oxygen from reaching the roots.
When you finally see the leaves then it is the right time to feed your plants. You can apply fertilizer.
Before transferring the seeds to its permanent home, make sure that the leaves
and roots are well developed. It is always challenging to start your garden by using seeds but when you start seeing the result
it is really fulfilling.
Tips on Starting a Vegetable
Garden
It is always exciting to make a vegetable
garden. If you are a beginner, here are some tips to get you started.
It
is very important to look for the proper location of your garden. You can place it in a sunny spot like in front of your lawn
with a clear view of your driveway.
You also need to decide
on the types of vegetables you want to grow. You should plan your layout and know the basic planting techniques.
There are vegetables that need big spaces like potatoes. If you have a small
space you better not try planting potatoes. There are still other options to try.
Get the best fence, trellis or low wall for your garden. It will make your garden look decorative.
Check the soil; it should be moist and well-draining. It is also important
that it is free from big pebbles. The pH balance of soil is important, it should be 6.5 pH balance.
Soil should be enriched with compost, peat or organic manure. Check the subsoil if it is too sandy,
hard or clayey. You can correct the pH amount by adding sulfur or lime.
If you are transplanting, the seedlings should be thinned to for healthy growth. You can consider row planting
for vegetables.
In some vegetables like sweet corn it is
advisable to plant in square or rectangular spaces. Leafy vegetables are best sown in drills and replanted.
In sowing the seeds remember to check the correct depths and spacing for each
seeds. Using fertilizer can also help and pest control is also beneficial for your plants to keep your garden fresh and healthy.
Remember to start small. Ask the experts the best plants
for beginners. In that way you aren't wasting your money for the hard to find plants that won't grow.
As much as possible start planting plants not seeds. Seeds need more attention
and for beginners it isn't advisable because it takes more of your time.
It is also important that you know the allotted time you can give for your garden. If you can only make 30
minutes a day then you should go for a plants that don't need much of your time.
While you are starting your vegetable garden, it needs your time and effort to maintain it. But of
course when you see the result you will know that everything is worth it.
ORGANIC VEGETABLE GARDENING
Unlike the modern conventional type of gardening, it is believed that organic vegetable gardening
is still preferable by most people.
When we say organic
gardening, it means you don't use synthetic fertilizers or manufactured pesticides in the garden.
They still apply the traditional ones or the old methods as opposed to the modern ways or means of
vegetable gardening.
There are more or less seven basic
guidelines or steps in planting such a garden. If you follow all of these, then you may actually have fresh vegetables and
plants at harvest time.
The first step is the selection
of a location or place where there is full access of sunlight and well-drained organic-based soil.
Beforehand, you must prepare the seed beds measured on a size and length appropriate and convenient
for the selected location of the garden.
Next step is putting
or placing a frame onto the seed bed to protect and contain the soil.
This
can actually alter the drainage system of the garden thus raising the working level of it.
Next, start to mix the organic compost in the seed bed three weeks prior to the actual planting of
the vegetables.
The compost basically comprises of animal
manures or other homemade plant materials.Now it's time to
choose the vegetables to be planted in the garden.
It is
said that plants must be well-adapted to the region the person lives in, the kind of climate is important. Also the vegetables
must be pest and disease resistant.
Once you have planted
all your chosen vegetables in the seed bed, try to put or place beneficial and useful insects like hover and lacewing flies
and lady bugs.
Likewise, you can also put or create turfs
for frogs, birds and other domestic animals.The most important
step is watering and mulching the vegetables.
It is a fact
that healthy plants or vegetables in the garden are less prone or attractive to pests and other insects.
Lastly, to prevent the pests from destroying the plants in your organic vegetable
garden, you must remove unnecessary weeds and grass surrounding the plants.
As much as possible, rotate the vegetables once or twice a year to avoid them from pest buildup.
Also, try to cover certain vegetables with light fabric to prevent the pests
from coming in. Do some research on the vegetables you're planting for identification of their common pests, then you
can start thinking of other ways to eliminate them.
Steps
for Vegetable Gardening
Most people say to have a healthy
and vigorous life, you must have proper diet, exercise and best of all, eat the right types of food like fresh vegetables.
Actually, most houses now tend to build or create such vegetable gardens in
their own backyard so that they can have sufficient and unlimited supplies of vegetables whenever they want.
However, not all families know how to plant a garden that is why they still
buy at the market. Now we'll talk about how to grow a vegetable garden.
It is said that creating a vegetable garden isn't as hard as most people may think, but there are few
methods involved in doing such.
You must first plan and
think about the best location for your vegetable garden, and then start to prepare the needed soil and space for it.
Next will be the actual planting of the vegetable seeds and watering them eventually.
From then on, you need to take care on their plants, thus keeping them away from weeds and pests.
Now to further explain on the first and said to be the most essential step which is the finding the
location of the garden, it is advisable that the land where the vegetable seeds will be planted must be wide enough to place
all the plants you want.
The plants actually need to have
more or less five to six hours each day of sunlight, so the location of the garden really plays an important role for it to
be successful.
The next important step is the preparation
of the soil. The basic rule is, for the plants to grow right, the soil used must be enriched with compost and other organic
natural matter.
Last and final step is the planting of the
vegetable plants which is believed to be the most fun part of vegetable gardening.
If you want to plant your vegetables in the traditional way or through rows, you will just simply
scatter the seeds on the top of each row then lightly cover them with a thin coating of soil.
Consequently, you can also put or place your seeds randomly so that you'll get a natural look
from your garden when they start to grow and begin to have leaves and vegetables themselves.
Seed Selection in Vegetable Gardening
Selecting and buying vegetable seeds for the vegetable garden is said to be one of the most enjoyable pastimes
in gardening itself.
The seeds purchased from any seed company
either online or from community stores actually give a good beginning toward the vision of bountiful harvest in the future.
It is advisable that you keep notes regarding the types of seeds you've
purchased, their qualities and tendencies to certain pests or insects as well as diseases.
From this, you can distinguish whether your chosen seed company has met your needs or whether the
seeds you have chosen are suited or not for the area or style of your vegetable garden.
Saving seeds
Saving
seeds most especially vegetables actually provides a sense of self-sufficiency and pleasure.
Basically, this can save money and can also maintain the types of seeds which aren't available
at other stores or other seed companies.
Actually, there
are considerations that you must bear in mind when saving vegetable seeds for your home garden.
It is said that seeds from mixed varieties won't produce plants the same as the parent plants.
This only shows that varieties of open-pollinated seeds are the ones preferred
to be used for vegetable gardening.
Nowadays, most dealers
of seeds have reacted to the highly increasing interest of people in seed saving that they've marked those open-pollinated
seeds in their catalogs.
Considerations then were brought
up in seed saving such as the possibility of carrying such diseases into the crops or vegetables caused by those seeds.
Many grown vegetable seeds primarily are planted in dry areas which are said
to be unsuitable to viral or fungal diseases that could be present in the location of the vegetable garden.
It is best to take control on those diseases that can be carried out by the
seeds. A weather-related factor for that kind of situation is due to the fast drying of seeds.
This can adversely affect the seeds because of so much rain and wind and humidity.
Lastly, saving seeds for vegetable gardening that comes from cross-pollinated
plants aren't advisable for beginners because it may cause such problems relating to the selection, hand pollination,
biennial habits and lastly generic variability.
The failure
to make certain vegetable seeds mature effectively will definitely lead to having nonviable seeds.
Steps for Vegetable Gardening
Most people say to have a healthy and vigorous life, you need a proper diet, exercise and best of all, eat
the right types of foods like fresh vegetables.
Actually,
most people tend to plant vegetable gardens in their own backyards so that they can have sufficient and unlimited supplies
of vegetables whenever they want.
However, not all families
know how to create such gardens and that is why they still buy from the market. Now, we'll talk about how to grow a vegetable
garden.
It is said that creating a vegetable garden isn't
as hard as most people think, but there are a few steps involved in doing such.
You must first plan and think about the best location of your vegetable garden, and then start to prepare
the soil and location.
Next will be the actual planting
of the vegetable seeds and watering them. From then on, you need to take care of the plants, thus keeping them away from weeds
and pests.
Now to further explain on the first and said
to be the most essential step which is finding the location of the garden, it is advisable that the land where the vegetable
seeds will be planted must be wide enough to place all the plants you want.
The plants need to have more or less five to six hours each day of sunlight, so the location of the garden
plays an important role for the garden to be successful.
The
next important step is the preparation of the soil. The basic rule is, for the plants to grow right, the soil used must be
enriched with compost and other organic natural matter.
The
last and final step is the planting of the vegetables which is believed to be the most fun part of vegetable gardening.
If you want to plant your vegetables in the traditional way or in rows, you
will just simply scatter the seeds on the top of each row then lightly cover them with a thin coating of soil.
Consequently, you can also place your seeds randomly so that you get a natural
look from your garden when they start to grow and get leaves and vegetables.
Online Seed Selection for Vegetable Gardening
In vegetable gardening, it is essential to plan where you'll get the seeds to be planted in your garden.
Actually, you can buy seeds at any store in your community, but nowadays, since
vegetable gardening has been a fad for such families, some companies sell their seeds online.
It is said that most people tend to buy vegetable seeds online because they are more affordable.
Actually, most companies don't sell their seeds beforehand because this
actually makes the seeds stay fresh and natural for a longer period of time.
In online shops, you can also get a wide selection of vegetable seeds that you can't find in the local
stores.
Certain or rather rare seeds like the organic tomatoes
can't be provided by nurseries or greenhouses but can only be found online.
If you think that buying vegetable seeds online is more expensive than local stores, well that's
wrong. Generally, prices of seeds offered online are fairly competitive and comparable just like other stores. There are sites
or companies online who sell seeds cheaper but still with high quality.
It is recommended that you choose a reputable and trusted vegetable seed company online. However, if you are
in doubt on where to find the best sites for these, you can ask your friends or other people you know who also have vegetable
gardens, on where they buy their seeds.
Another way of finding
the best online stores for vegetable seeds is through forums or chat groups who also are gardeners. You can get information
and tips on what sites or shops are commendable.
There are
also important things to consider before buying seeds for your vegetable garden.
Bargain or discounted priced seeds are said to be older stocks which possibly aren't preferable
in terms of quality. However, the best thing to do is to check the back of the seed pack after you receive your order online.
You can determine if the seeds are good to be planted in your vegetable gardening
according to the set date found on the back of the pack.
INDOOR
VEGETABLE GARDENING
It is a basic rule for vegetable
gardening that a wide space is needed so that various kinds of vegetables or plants can be planted in the garden.
However, for some who don't have a big space in their backyard or outside
of their homes, they can create gardens inside their homes with the use of indoor containers.
It is said that in indoor gardening, you don't have to plant lots of vegetables and the options
are limited in a sense that, not all vegetables you want to plant can be planted inside your home. Nevertheless, there are
definitely benefits by using containers for vegetable gardening.
Now,
you might ask, what are the kinds of vegetables most suitable for indoor container gardening?
Basically, the types of plants used in indoor gardening are the smaller vegetables such as bell peppers,
tomatoes, carrots and cucumbers.
Actually, any vegetable
that can be planted in a container without being confined and enclosed from growing well and normal can be placed inside for
gardening purposes.
As regards to the kinds of containers
to be used, there are various kinds for certain vegetables. Generally, containers with holes located in the bottom are said
to be the best containers.
This kind of container lets the
soil eliminate excess or unneeded water that could possibly kill or destroy the plants.
You can place the container on top of a deep plate that can filter the water and then just empty
the dish occasionally, depending on the amount of water the plants eliminate.
As stated earlier, containers are also dependent on the type of vegetable planted. For tomatoes and bell papers,
large containers are more appropriate.
Likewise, for carrots
or string beans, you must have narrow and long containers. Actually, these containers are just like the row-like structures
you find in outdoor vegetable gardens.
Now on the use of
the soil, the specific soil must be for the certain vegetables. Since the soil also needs sunlight, the indoor containers
must be placed in a location where they can have access to sunlight.
After
a few weeks or months of indoor vegetable gardening through containers, you will see that the plants grow normally just like
the ones located outside. You can have fresh vegetables all year long.
Appropriate
Sites for Vegetable Gardening
Selecting the best
site for vegetable gardening is said to be the most important thing you must consider when planting a garden in the backyard
or inside the home.
There are five simple factors to look
at in choosing the best site for the garden despite the size of the location itself.
The first and the most essential factor is the site where plants can get a full supply of sunlight.
The location of the garden must have at least six hours of sunlight each day.
However, it is advisable to have more or less 10 hours of sun exposure for the success of your garden.
The next factor to be considered is the soil. It doesn't have to be perfect
soil.
Nevertheless, the soil should be worked over to be
enriched. It is said that good soil for a garden must be loose and well-drained.
Furthermore, the soil must be provided with the needed organic materials when making a compost pit
for a healthy and normal vegetable growth.
When selecting
the location of the garden, it should be remembered that you should avoid soil or land that tends to be soggy during the rainy
season. Clay soils are also not preferable for the garden.
The
third basic factor is the water supply. It is important that the garden site must have at least one inch of water weekly.
The water may come from rain or irrigation. It is also recommended that the
location of the garden be near a water source so that when it doesn't rain you can still get water.
Another factor is the circulation of air. You must avoid choosing locations
which are deep or have low spots since cool air in low spots can make the plants more prone to freezing.
The last consideration for selecting a site in vegetable gardening, is of course,
it must be near your home.
You must bear in mind that the
nearer the garden, the higher possibility that you can utilize it easily.
Vegetable Gardening Benefits
Vegetable
gardening is said to be the best way to enjoy the benefits of a healthy life because of vegetables needed for a proper diet.
If you are a frequent shopper of foods or vegetables at
the supermarket; you must think about saving money by creating your own vegetable garden.
Organic products or vegetables actually cost more than those of the conventional grown vegetables,
so it would be advisable to begin your home gardening. You can find various ways of having organic products in your own garden.
In this kind of vegetable gardening, you can actually grow or plant unusual
vegetables such as horseradish especially when the family loves them.
Also,
this kind of gardening can include herbs or other medicinal plants that can be used either for cooking or healing purposes.
Other Benefits
You can
have some peace of mind knowing that you have unlimited vegetables. Most people are concerned whether vegetables have harmful
chemicals but you don't have to worry when you go organic.
When
you practice vegetable gardening, you can be assured of very nutritious ingredients in the dishes you prepare for your family.
Consequently, once the family members get energized and
satisfied with what they eat because of all freshness the vegetables from your garden provides, they will be willing to help
not only with the cooking but also the maintenance of the vegetable garden.
Members of the family who tend to be choosy eaters might just start eating their vegetables because they are
part of the vegetable garden.
Children can help with certain
tasks relative to gardening such as pulling or removing weeds, watering the plants, helping to pick the vegetables once they
are ripe. These types of activities can promote family bonding.
Lastly,
you may also find them wanting healthier foods when they have vegetable gardens at home.
Fresh veggies will always be available providing no more excuses for not eating better. Vegetable
gardening at home might be a part of life that could definitely bring benefits even for little effort.
Vegetable Gardening as a Hobby
One of the more popular hobbies nowadays is vegetable gardening. As a matter of fact, 1/3 of the
population is currently engaged in this pastime.
Vegetable
gardening isn't a difficult task. To begin with, even little children can try this hobby because of the simplicity of
the rules that must be followed in order to fully enjoy this pastime.
The
first step in vegetable gardening is choosing the right spot to plant. You don't need a wide space.
Instead, what you should consider are the following: choosing the site, deciding
what to plant, and laying out the garden site, and preparing the site using seed and/or seedlings.
When choosing the site, do remember the following: make sure that your garden is near your house
so that the vegetables are fresh when gathered; make sure that your plants will receive enough sunshine; the proximity
of water sources (faucet for example); and good soil.
In
deciding which seeds to plant, it's best to consider which vegetables will grow with the kind of environment that you
have.
It is advisable to take time in choosing the variety
of vegetables that you will put into your garden.
Also,
it is advantageous on your part not to choose many varieties of vegetables so that you can spend your time in taking care
of each vegetable planted.
There are two kinds of garden
layouts. First is row cropping. In row cropping, the plants are arranged in a long line.
One of the advantages of row cropping is that is easier to cultivate because hoes and tillers are
used on the long straight rows. Meanwhile, its disadvantage is the poor development of the space.
The second kind is Intensive cropping. It makes use of several techniques in close planting such
as planting in bands from one to four feet across and dividing the space into four sections with spaces between them.
Generally speaking, intensive cropping maximizes the space. The only setback
with this kind of set-up is that it is more difficult.
Lastly,
using the seeds and/or seedlings, place them in the soil.
There
are people who have opted to use pre-started plants as these plants guarantee early harvest on the part of the gardener.
You see, vegetable gardening is really fun. Besides the pleasure it gives,
it is also very practical and healthy.
With vegetable gardening,
you won't go hungry because you can harvest and eat what you've planted.
What Fertilizers are Needed for Vegetable Gardening?!
All vegetable gardens must have good quality soil for the plants or vegetables to grow healthy. For
that to happen, the soil must be enriched with organic and natural fertilizers.
Basically, the nutrients provided by fertilizers or manures that provide us fast and normal growth of the
vegetable gardens also contribute to pollution.
If you apply
fertilizer at the wrong time, this could actually result to leaching, erosion and groundwater pollution.
Fertilizers are derived both from chemical and organic materials and all of
these can be purchased in various formulations.
These composts
and animal manures can be used as soil amendments. Most of these organic fertilizers are made up of small amounts of nutrients
released into the soil in a matter of time.
The main
essence of putting organic fertilizers in the soil is that they improve the soils structure, making it well-drained and likewise,
holding the nutrients longer and better.
Also through mulches
like the straw or pine needles, they can also hold the nutrients in the soil as well as, it can slow down the water movement
that decreases erosion.
Certain synthetic fertilizers for
vegetable gardens are available in two kinds, first a granular form and second, a water soluble.
The former is sprinkled all over the soil and worked in with a hand tool. The latter type is mixed
with water and then poured out on the vegetables or plants in the garden.
However, it is said that before applying or putting the fertilizer on the garden, it is advisable that it
should be tested first on the soil. This test will let you know the level of nutrients and ph of the soil.
In terms of applying the fertilizer, it is preferable to apply a broadcasting
granular fertilizer all over the vegetable garden as instructed on the directions on the fertilizer bag.
However, this can be wasteful in a sense that if the fertilizer is spread on
spots where there are no plants it can lead to leaching, resulting in water pollution.
Another way of applying certain fertilizers in your vegetable garden is through banding which is
said to be more effective although it is more tedious.
Narrow
bands of organic materials or composts are placed in certain furrows slightly deeper and lower than the seeds to give way
for a buffer spot.
Selecting a Site for your Vegetable
Garden
If you are a beginning gardener with an
average-sized family, you will not need a lot of space for a vegetable garden. An area 25 square feet should be adequate.
Be careful not to start with too large a space; it is easy to "bite of
more than you can chew."
There are five factors to
consider in selecting a garden site. The first is sunlight. The garden should receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight
each day.
Eight to 10 hours each day is ideal. All vegetables
do better in sunny locations than they would in the shade.
If
the only spot you have for a garden is a shady area, remember that leafy vegetables can stand more shade than root vegetables;
and root vegetables will do better in the shade than fruit plants such as cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes.
The second consideration is nearness to the house. The closer the vegetable
garden and the easier it is to reach, the more you will probably use it.
You will be likely to harvest vegetables at their peaks and thus take maximum advantages of garden freshness.
It is also more likely that you will keep up with jobs such as weeding, watering,
insect and disease control, and succession planting if the garden is close.
The third consideration is soil. You don't need to have the ideal type of soil to grow a good garden.
If possible the soil should be fertile and easy to till, with just the right
texture -- a loose, well-drained loam.
Avoid any soil that
remains soggy after a rain. Heavy clay and sandy soils can be improved by adding organic matter. Of course, gardening will
be easier if you start with naturally rich soil.
The fourth
consideration is water. Including rain and irrigation, the garden needs at least 1 inch of water per week.
Therefore, it is essential to locate the garden near a spigot or some other
water source.
The fifth consideration is good air circulation.
Avoid locating the garden in a low spot such as the base of a hill or the foot of a slope bordered by a solid fence.
These areas are slow to warm in the spring, and frost forms more readily on
them because cold air can't escape.
Vegetable gardens
located on high ground are more likely to escape light freezes, permitting an earlier start in the spring and a longer harvest
in the fall.
Fall Vegetable Gardening
Many varieties of vegetables can be planted in midsummer to late summer for fall/winter harvests.
Succession plantings of warm
season crops, such as corn and beans, can be harvested until the first killing frost.
Cool season crops, such as kale, turnips,
mustard, broccoli, cabbage, etc., grow well during the cool fall/winter days and withstand light frosts. Timely planting is the key to a successful fall vegetable garden.
To determine the time to plant a particular vegetable for the latest harvest
in your area, you need to know the average date of the first killing
frost and the number of days to maturity for the variety grown.
The
formula below for determining the number of days to count back
from the first frost will help determine when to start your fall garden.
Number of days from seeding or transplanting outdoors to harvest
+ Number of days from seed to transplant
if you grow your own
+ Average harvest period
+ Fall Factor (about 2 weeks)
+ Frost Tender Factor (if applicable)
_______________________________
= Days to count back from first frost date
The Frost Tender Factor is added only for those crops that are sensitive to frost (corn, beans, cucumbers,
tomatoes, squash), as these must mature 2 weeks before frost in
order to produce a reasonable harvest.
The Fall Factor takes
into account the slower growth that results from cooler weather
and shorter days in the fall, and amounts to about 2 weeks.
This
time can be reduced from 2 to 5 days by pre-sprouting seeds. Almost
any crop that isn't grown for transplants can benefit from
pre-sprouting.
Sprout seeds indoors, allowing them to reach
a length of up to an inch. Sprouted seeds may be planted deeper
than normal to help prevent drying out, and they should be watered well until they break the soil surface. Care should be taken not to break off the sprouts when planting them.
Dry soil may make working the soil difficult and inhibit seed germination during
the midsummer period. Plant fall vegetables when the soil is moist
after a rain, or water the area thoroughly the day before planting.
Seeds
may be planted in a shallow trench to conserve moisture. An old-time
trick for germinating seeds in midsummer is to plant the seeds, water them in well, and then place a board over the row until the sprouts just reach the soil surface; at that time remove the
board.
Fall plantings often have few insect problems, as
they avoid the peak insect activity period of midsummer.
However,
some insects, such as cabbageworm and corn earworm, may be even
worse late in the year than in summer; vigilance is still required!
Avoid some pests and diseases by planting crops of different families than
were originally in that section of the garden.
Common Vegetable Garden Tools
The tools considered essential for maintaining a small or moderate-sized garden are a spade or four-pronged
digging fork, trowel, rake, hoe, measuring stick, string, stakes,
and irrigation equipment. With these tools at hand you can readily handle most
garden tasks.
In purchasing tools consider the size of the
garden, the job to be done, and the amount of money you wish to spend.
In
the long run, it pays to purchase tools of good quality, as they
will give better service andstay sharp longer. If properly cared
for, they can last a lifetime.
Spade
Spade with a sharp edge - used for turning soil and incorporating organic matter.
Four-pronged fork - good for mixing a compost pile.
Round-pointed shovel - good for mixing a compost pile.
Rake
Bow rake - good for smoothing out soil,
removing stones, and breaking up clods.
Straight rake -
designed so that its back can be used to smooth the seedbed and to compact soil over freshly shown seed for improved germination.
Hoe - comes
in all shapes, sizes, and models used for preparing the seedbed, and for cultivating the soil to mix in fertilizer and control weeds.
A
Common or Square-bladed filed hoe is good for most garden jobs.
A
pointed or Warren hoe is good for opening a furrow by string and for cultivating between plants.
A scuffle hoe, made in several patterns with a flat bottom that cuts weeds off under the soil surface
and breaks up the layer on top of the soil as it is pushed back
and forth between the rows.
Long-Handled Cultivator- Used
to Breaks up large clods and refines the seedbed.
Trowel-
Used to transplant vegetable plants.
Hand Cultivator- Used
for breaking up soil clods for light replanting.
Irrigation
Equipment- such as watering can, garden and soaker hoses and sprinklers.
Hand Duster -- Used to apply pesticides in powder form.
Compressed-Air Sprayer -- Most popular piece of equipment for applying pesticides because it gives good coverage,
especially to the underside of plant leafs.
String and Steaks -- For row alignment.
Measuring Stick -- For determining the distance between plants and rows.
Wheelbarrow or Garden Cart -- Makes moving soil, stones, tools, and harvested vegetables much easier.
Wheel Cultivator -- For removing weeds and preparing the soil.
Spreaders -- For lime and fertilizer application:
A drop spreader covers less area than a broadcast spreader with each pass over the site, but the
area covered is easier to detect.
A broadcast spreader applies materials uniformly, although the margins of the area covered may be
difficult to see.
Hand Seeder - Majority of hand seeders
are adapted to a wide variety of seed sizes.
Tiller --
Makes soil preparation easy for serious gardeners who will use it enough to make the purchase worthwhile.
Common Pests that Invades Vegetable Garden
Diseases, insects and other critters will try and invade your vegetable garden.
The first step of defense is to get to know them and be prepared
to treat whatever problems might occur.
Here are the most
common pest problems of common vegetable crops:
Beans -
Granulate Cutworm, Serpentine Leafminer, Aphid, Thrips, Cabbage Looper, Stink Bug, Leafhopper, and Two-spotted Mite.
Beets - Beet Armyworm, Aphid, Garden Webworm, and Flea Beetle.
Broccoli - Granulate Cutworm, Thrips, Cabbage Lopper, Beet Armyworm,
Cabbage Aphid, and Sweet Potato Whitefly.
Cabbage - Granulate
Cutworm, Diamondback Moth, Flea Beetle, Aphid, Thrips, Cabbage Looper, Beet Armyworm, Cabbage Aphid, and Sweet Potato Whitefly.
Carrots
- Granulate Cutworm, Carrot Weevil, Spider Mites, White Grub, and Leafhopper.
Cauliflower - Granulate Cutworm, Diamondback Moth, Flea Beetle, aphid, Western Flower Thrips, Cabbage Looper,
Beet Armyworm, Cabbage Aphid, and Sweet Potato Whitefly.
Celery - Granulate Cutworm, Cabbage Looper, Serpentine Leafminer, Aphid, Spider
Mite, Corn Earworm, Beet Armyworm, Carrot Weevil, and Leafhopper.
Cucumber - Granulate Cutworm, Cabbage Looper, Pickleworm,
Aphid, Southern Corn, and Rootworm.
Eggplant - Serpentine
Leafminer, Sweet potato Whitefly, Aphid and Spider Mite.
Greens
- Cabbage Looper, Flea Beetle, Spider Mite, Beet Armyworm, and Aphid.
Honeydew
- Granulate Cutworm, Cabbage Looper, Melon worm, Sweet Potato Whitefly, Spider Mite, Southern Corn, Rootworm, Serpentine Leafminer, Aphid, and Thrips.
Lettuce - Granulate Cutworm, Cabbage Looper, Serpentine Leafminer, Leafhopper, Corn Earworm, Beet
Armyworm, Aphid, and Thrips.
Muskmelon - Granulate Cutworm, Cabbage Lopper, Melon worm, Sweet Potato Whitefly, Spider Mite, Southern
corn, Rootworm, Serpentine Leafminer, Aphid, and Thrips.
Okra - Corn Earworm, Aphid, and Stink Bug.
Onions - Granulate Cutworm, Thrips, Beet Armyworm, and Onion Thrips.
Parsley - Fall Armyworm, Flea Beetle, Carrot Weevil, and Aphid.
Peas - Granulate Cutworm, Aphid, Fall Armyworm, Cabbage Looper.
Peppers - Granulate Cutworm, Beet Armyworm, Pepper Weevil, Aphid, Spider Mite, Corn Earworm, Serpentine
Leafminer, Flea Beetle, and Thrips.
Potatoes - Granulate Cutworm, Leafhopper, Wireworm, and Flea Beetle.
Pumpkin - Southern Corn, Rootworm, Serpentine Leafminer, Melon worm, Aphid, Spider Mite, Cabbage
Looper, Squash Vine Borer, Squash Bug, Sweet Potato Whitefly,
Southern Corn, and Rootworm.
Spinach - Granulate Cutworm,
Beet Armyworm, Flea Beetle, Aphid, Cabbage Looper, Garden Webworm, and Grasshopper.
Squash - Southern Corn, Rootworm, Serpentine Leafminer, Melon worm, Aphid, Spider Mite, Cabbage
Looper, Squash Vine Borer, and Sweet Potato Whitefly.
Sweet Corn - Wireworm, Corn Earworm, Flea Beetle, Aphid, Fall Armyworm, and
Grasshopper.
Sweet Potatoes - Granulate Cutworm, Sweet
Potato Weevil, Flea Beetle, and Wireworm.
Tomatoes - Granulate
Cutworm, Cabbage Looper, Fall Armyworm,
Tomato Pinworm, Stink Bug, Thrips, Corn Earworm, Beet Armyworm, Tomato(tobacco),
Hornworm, Serpentine Leafminer, Sweet Potato Whitefly, and
Two-spotted Mite
Watermelon - Granulate Cutworm, Beet
Armyworm, Texas Leaf cutting Ant, Aphid, Thrips, Southern Corn, Rootworm, Cabbage Looper, Serpentine Leafminer, Squash Bug, Sweet Potato Whitefly, Spider Mite, and Garden Webworm.
Raised bed gardens: A step up from the traditional
garden
Limited space in your backyard shouldn't stop you from planting vegetables in your garden.
There is always a way to conquer this shortcoming. It involves the use of a raised bed. A wooden frame filled with a soil describes a raised
bed often used in gardening. Using this structure, you can grow
plants above the level of the grounds.
Having a raised bed
garden has its own advantages since it's flexible and easy to use. For instance, the soil mixture is easily controlled in raised beds since you can dictate the content of your soil mixture.
You can actually come up with the soil mixture that contains all the nutritional requirements of the crop that you are going to plant in it.
However this isn't
the only good thing about this type of garden.
Adjustable
height is another one of the numerous benefits of this type of garden.
Moreover, it gives you more space for planting
since it is designed so you don't have to step into the bed to maintain it. This allows you to produce morevegetables and fruits.
Raised
beds also make maintenance easy. In raised beds, weeds and pests are easily removed from the bed.
The number of black plastic mulch used
in controlling weeds is significantly lessened. Your crops also become unavailable to rodents and pests for their consumption.
Another great advantage involves making watering easier
and more efficient. Only areas where plants grow are irrigated.
Moreover,
you don't have to walk in between your garden rows. Plants distance from each other may also be lessened. This will shade the soil to reduce moisture loss.
In a raised bed, soil and plants can easily be changed. During the summer, you can plant annuals.
Then you can easily replant the
bed with bulbs in the latter part of the growing season.
Raised
beds are also capable of increasing the growing season since soil can easily reach the optimum temperature for a particular plants. You can also cool your beds by adding a removable
plastic frame.
Lastly, creativity is tapped in this type
of gardening. Building a raised bed requires you to make use of different kinds of materials such as hardwoods, bricks, stones, and even recycled materials.
So you really have to make your imagination work in order
to make an effective yet attractive raised bed.
Having
a raised bed garden has its own advantages. Sometimes, under certain conditions, it is much better than a traditional garden.
So
take a look at these raised bed gardens to see which type of garden fits your life.
Putting Plant Relationships to Good Use in Gardening
You might think that organizing a vegetable garden entails having each vegetable
in a single plot.
For instance, herbs are planted in one section of the garden while the cabbage is placed in another. In your eyes, this may
look great.
However, it may not be the ideal and practical thing to do. The ideal and most beneficial way to plant crops
is companion planting.
Companion planting is a technique
which makes use of how nature works. Some organisms have symbiotic relationships wherein both the species involved are benefited. By using this technique, a gardener creates a suitable environment
for plant growth.
There are different types of plant relationships which a gardener can use in organizing
and maintaining a vegetable garden.
One of these involves
nitrogen fixation. Nitrogen is an element that is essential for the production of protein, a bi-molecular necessary to sustain life.
However,
nitrogen isn't readily available to these plants. Nitrogen in the atmosphere comes in a form which is unusable.
So, there
is a need to convert nitrogen gas into a form that can be used in protein synthesis.
Not all the plants are capable of this conversion. Only
some plants can take up nitrogen gas in the air and convert it to a usable
form, which is ammonia.
Some of these plants are legumes
and rye. These plants provide shelter to Rhizobium bacteria which
have the capacity of converting nitrogen gas to ammonia.
Ammonia
is then absorbed by the plant and is converted to ammonium nitrate,
which becomes the nitrogen source the plant.
So, if you
are thinking of growing nitrogen-loving crops such as broccoli
and kale, you might as well plant them with beans or peas.
Another
symbiotic relationship that a gardener may want to consider is the production of insect-repelling chemicals.
Some plants produce
all chemicals, which are insect repellants. For instance, caterpillars are repelled from diamondback moths by the chemicals that tomatoes produce.
This will then prevent the destruction of cabbage, which are the food sources of these moths.
Some
plants are capable of protecting nearby plants by attracting insects that feed on pests. A classic example is the beans.
Beans release chemicals that attract insects that survive by consuming corn
pests.
Planting each crop in separate plots may be good
to your eyes. However, this isn't the most beneficial to plant crops.
Before planting your vegetables, it is always
best to look at various symbiotic relationships that exist among your vegetables.
Then, you should try companion planting and see how this technique can save you not only money on
fertilizers and insecticides but also time.
Planning: A Garden Essential
Setting up a home vegetable garden isn't as simple as picking up your tools, digging and planting
some seeds.
It entails careful planning before starting growing vegetables. This ensures that you'll have a harvest
at the end of the season.
Planning for setting-up a home
vegetable garden consists of major steps: selecting a site; and planning the garden.
A beginner might think that a lot of space is necessary for a garden. What they don't know is
that a 25 feet square area is adequate enough to grow vegetables
for the entire family.
No matter what the size of the garden,
there are five factors that should be taken into consideration in picking a garden site.
First, there should be a source of
energy for plants to grow. Hence, the site should be exposed to sunlight at least six hours a day.
So, you have to cross out
areas near buildings, trees or shrubs from the list of potential garden sites.
Another factor is its proximity to the house. When the garden is close to the house, you are more likely to
pay your garden more visits to keep up with jobs like weeding,
watering, and controlling pests.
Soil is another consideration.
Having the ideally natural rich soil isn't always the case. However, the soil that you use should have the required nutrients and the right texture.
In cases where you have heavy clay or sandy soil, you can improve the soil by using organic matter.
Water
is a requirement for a plants survival. The garden should then be receiving at least an inch of water every week. Thus, the site should be placed near a water source.
Good air drainage is the fifth consideration. Locating the garden in a low spot like the base will
only bring about the formation of frost since it is impossible
for cold air to drain away. So, do away with these low spots and opt to locate the garden on high ground.
As mentioned earlier,
planning the garden is a major step in setting up the home vegetable garden. This major step is divided into two.
The first involves the
selection of the vegetables to be grown in the garden. In selecting the vegetables, you should consider space limitations, climate and other factors that may inhibit the growth of the vegetables
you want to include in your garden.
It is always best to look up the vegetables necessary growing conditions before including them in
your garden. This saves you the time and the frustration of having
nothing to harvest.
The last step in planning the garden
makes use of your artistic skills. This step requires you to make a diagram containing the kinds of vegetables to be planted, the distance between plots and the time of planting. You can
also put in the dates to remind you of the necessary tasks.
Vegetable gardening may save you a fortune in buying these products from the
nearest supermarket. However, it isn't an easy task.
It requires planning to yield a harvest at the end of the planting season.
As what they always say, you only reap what you sow.
Have a great time planting!
Pest Control Leading to a Good Harvest
Vegetable
gardening doesn't end with planting a seedling in a garden plot. It is just the beginning of a journey towards a great harvest.
In
between the start and the final destination of this journey is a task that involves maintaining a suitable condition for plant growth.
In
vegetable gardening, maintenance involves pest control, which can be done in various ways such as the use of chemicals.
However,
many experienced gardeners recommend non-chemical pest controls to avoid any allergic reaction to the chemicals.
One easy and
natural way of controlling pests is the use of vegetable varieties that are genetically modified to resist diseases.
When you go to a store
to get some of the seed packets, look for the letters V, F, N and T beside the name.
These letters indicate that the variety
is resistant to diseases. The letters V and F denotes verticillium and fusarium.
Verticillium and fusarium are responsible for the yellowing, wilting and death of tomato plants.
N, on the other hand, is an indication of resistance to nematodes,
which are responsible for the appearance of knots on the stems and roots. Meanwhile, T indicates a resistance to tobacco mosaic virus.
Another way of controlling pests without the use of chemicals is watering early. Plants that hold more moisture
during night time are more susceptible to diseases. Leaves become
breeding grounds for fungi.
So, it is best to water your
vegetables early in the day in order to have ample time for drying
before the sun sets.
Crop rotation is another effective
means of controlling vegetable pests.
When you plant the
same crop at the same plot every year, fungi and other microorganisms
responsible for plant disease get a chance to build resistance to any natural defense that the plant holds.
So, make sure that
you rotate your crops to different plots in your garden.
The
use of beneficial insects takes the last spot on the list of various means of controlling pests.
There are insects that were found to
be beneficial by feeding on bugs or other insects that poses a threat to your crops. Some of these are ladybugs, lacewing flies and praying mantises.
Maintaining your own vegetable garden involves controlling organisms that may bring about plant diseases to
your crops.
Other gardeners make use of chemicals such as insecticides. However, research has found that these chemicals bring
about allergic reactions to the people who consume the vegetables.
So, it is recommended to use non-chemical and organic means of controlling pests.
Maintaining soil fertility
through crop rotation
Maintaining soil fertility
can be done various ways. Proper drainage can be installed in the garden. Soil moisture is
maintained at optimum levels. Each species of crops can also be planted in different plots each year.
This method of planting crops
in different plots each year is called crop rotation.
Each
plant has a unique nutritional requirement. If this species of plant is planted in the same area every year, all the nutrients in the soil will be used up disturbing the soil balance.
Hence there is a need for crop rotation. In crop rotation, the garden is divided into four plots.
Each
plot will be planted with a vegetable group with plant species that have the same nutritional requirements.
The first plot may be planted with the cabbage group. Cabbage, cauliflower,
brussel sprouts, turnips, lettuce all fall under this group. This
group of vegetables are fast growing and they require a manure enhanced soil.
These vegetables can also be grown with rank soils.
Only the turnip can't be planted in rank soils.
The
second plot may contain the root vegetables such as red beets, carrots, onions and potatoes. Like the cabbage group, these crops prefer a manure soil.
This type of soil allows the roots to develop slowly but steadily. Take note that this group of vegetables isn't suitable in rank soil. Planting root vegetables
in rank soil may only cause the roots to fork.
Pod-bearing
vegetables may now be grown as the third plant. This group will help nourish the soil with nitrogen.
This will then prepare the soil for the
next group of plants that will be grown in the next planting season.
On
the last plot, vine vegetables may be planted. Cucumbers, marrows, tomatoes and pumpkins may be gown on a fence or on a bed separate from the other plant groups.
In the next planting season, these groups of vegetables are then rotated in each plot.
After dividing the garden into four plots, separate beds are formed within each plot.
In laying out the bed, use a wheel-barrow.
Make sure that each bed has the same width and is elevated to six inches from
the path level.
Fertility is achieved through a variety
of ways, one of which is crop rotation. In crop rotation, plant groups are rotated in the four plots within the vegetable garden.
Through
this planting technique, soil fertility is ensured and nutritional balance
is maintained.
Growing Garlic Made Easy
Garlic is a spice you love to put on your dishes. It adds that unique flavor to gravies, tomato sauces,
soups, stews, pickles, salads, dressing and breads.
Hence it is only logical to grow garlic in your own vegetable garden.
Before starting to
plant garlic in your garden, it is always best to have a background on how garlic is planted and maintained. Here, we'll
give you a quick look on how garlic is cultivated.
A loamy soil enriched with organic matter provides a suitable environment for
planting garlic. If you are familiar with growing onions, then
you won't get lost in growing garlic since their cultivation are similar.
Generally, three pounds of 10-10-10 fertilizer
is recommended for every 100 square feet. You can also use manure or compost every year to keep the soils nutritional content in balance.
Moreover,
the soil should hold enough moisture to avoid getting bulbs of irregular shapes.
Take note that clay soil will also produce irregular bulbs.
The time of planting
is also critical to the growth of garlic. This crop grows best on long days and warm temperatures.
In addition, you should also plant the
cloves early to allow for the development of the leaves and the stems during short and cool days.
Planting during this
period ensures a good harvest at the end of the season.
In
planting the garlic cloves, they should be placed three to five inches away from each other and a half to an inch deep.
Make sure that they are in an upright position in the row.
Remember that a decreased yield will occur when the bulbs are divided into cloves long before they are planted. This will cause the cloves
to dry up and become unsuitable for planting.
Knowing when
to harvest this delightful vegetable is easy. You only need to see if the top of the bulb is starting to dry.
This indicates that the garlic is ready for harvesting. In harvesting, don't
pull the garlic to avoid damaging the steam.
Instead dig
them up and allow them to dry.
Garlic is an indispensable
ingredient in the kitchen so it is necessary to include them in a vegetable garden.
In planting this flavorful crop, these
are basic things that you need to know. It involves, soil requirements, time of planting, spatial requirements, and method of harvesting.
After
getting a birds eye view on these considerations, you are now ready to include garlic in your home vegetable garden.
Achieving
a Fertile Soil for a Good Harvest
Fertile soil
contributes to the attainment of an optimum condition for plant growth. This soil should contain enough moisture and nutrition to support the growth of the plant.
However, this soil condition isn't always present in every vegetable garden. Some gardens may contain coarse and sandy soil that easily dries out.
The fertility of this type of soil is also hard to maintain. In some gardens, there are clay soils that hold too much moisture. Moreover, these clay
soils are easily compacted depriving the plant of the essential
elements.
The presence of either a clay soil or a coarse
and sandy soil shouldn't stop you from gardening.
There
is always a way to achieve a fertile soil suitable for gardening.
In achieving the high level of soil fertility, several factors should be considered.
One of the basic considerations is the water drainage.
A good harvest isn't possible in soil with poor water drainage. In addressing
drainage problems, you may use four-inch drain tiles.
These
tiles should be used in lines that are each separated by a distance
of 25 feet. Another way of dealing with drainage problems is growing vegetables on ridges or beds that are raised.
Moisture is another
factor to look into in obtaining fertile soil. You should look at the moisture content of the soil at the time of planting.
Some gardeners
tend to work early in the spring. During this period, the soil usually holds more water so they shouldn't be tilled.
To
determine whether soil moisture content is appropriate for planting, you can use the squeeze test.
In this test, a slice of
soil from six inches below the surface is turned over using a spade.
Then
the soil is squeezed using your hands. Crumbling of the soil after
pressure is released is a go signal for planting.
Another
basic consideration involves erosion. Clay soils are easier to work with after nature does it work.
The freezing and thawing during winter
produces loose and fluffy soil in the springtime. It is only necessary to level and rake the soil in the spring before planting.
Soil
texture and structure is important in vegetable gardening. Modifying these characteristics of the soil entails the use of soil conditioners such as compost, peat moss, sawdust and wood chips.
These conditioners affect soil aeration, drainage and the moisture holding capacity of the soil.
Having a productive vegetable garden isn't possible without fertile soil. However, fertility isn't
something that every garden soil will have.
Some gardens have clay soils or coarse and sandy soils that need to be worked
on to achieve fertility.
So in achieving the optimum condition
for the garden soil, several factors should be considered and taken seriously.
Once fertility is achieved, a good harvest
is assured at the end of the planting season.
A quick guide in planting tomatoes
Tomatoes are one if not the easiest to grow in a vegetable garden. Anyone can
do it if they know the basic rules of tomato growing.
One of these rules is to always stake the plants you're growing and to
water only the bottom of the tomato plant rather than the whole
plant. Wet plants are more susceptible to burn and dry up rather than dry ones.
Garden lovers or even salad eaters know that there are many different types of tomatoes and choosing the right
variety is an important factor.
Some tomato plants stop growing after 3 feet. These are the determinate types of tomatoes. Indeterminate
types are those who grow as high you'll let them.
If you have a lot of space in your garden, then why not try the indeterminate type. If you only have limited space, then try the determinate
types like sunbeam or cherry tomatoes.
Planting tomatoes
too close to one another is avoided in vegetable gardening. Tomatoes need at least 1 + feet between plants.
To be more effective, make it 2 feet for plants that are on stakes and cages.
If tomatoes are spaced too closely they are more likely to grow less fruit and can get more diseases. Remember to maintain your tomatoes to not
spread on the ground.
It is necessary in vegetable gardening
to get a lot of sunlight. This means in planting your tomatoes, it is advised to plant them in an open area not in a shady spot.
The
fruits of tomatoes need at least 7 hours of direct sunlight just like any other plants that bears fruit.
In plants that
produces fruit, they need a lot of energy and getting that energy is mainly taken from the sun. Less sunlight means less fruit.
What
tomatoes need is a balance of everything. This means equal amounts of its fertilizers like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
It
is best to choose the fertilizers that are a perfect fit for tomatoes. When buying one, follow the instructions for the best results.
Lastly,
it's your choice to prune or not prune your tomatoes in vegetable gardening. If you want to have bigger fruit then a slight pruning is acceptable.
However, it will result in less fruit production as compared to choosing not to prune your plant. It's all up to you on which choice to make.
A first look at fall vegetable gardening
Many have tried vegetable gardening during the fall season. A lot of those supports have failed due to lack
of thoughtful planning and poor cultural practices.
Planning the maturity cycle of vegetables should be a top priority when it
comes to fall gardening.
The early days of August are usually the best time for seeding in the fall. However, seeding shorter-season
vegetables like turnips and leafy greens are planted a month after.
Soil preparation should be done after you decide on what to do with your previous
spring garden.
It may be a simple decision but before you destroy everything, save the ones that you need for the fall
like your tomatoes, eggplant, peppers and your okra.
A fall garden should have a perfect seedbed. To make this possible, your soil
should have a depth of 6 to 8 inches.
Rotten organic matter shouldn't be included in this soil because it makes the
soil dry faster making your crop starve of water.
Tilling
your soil 1 + to 2 weeks before you plant is important. This makes the soil perfect for seeding because time allows the crop residue to decompose.
If you lack healthy soil for seeding you can also buy additional soil before you fertilize and plant.
During
the spring and summer seasons, seeds are planted shallow however, in a fall season, in order to plant successfully, seeding should be at least 1 + to 2 times deeper than the usual because the
soils moisture level is lower than the other planting seasons.
Unfortunately, fall is no different from any other planting season when it
comes to insects and diseases.
These may be due to the build up of their population during the summer and spring.
This can be prevented by researching problems with insects to determine if these problems can either be prevented or if they are severe enough
to have a professional take a look at it and treat it.
As all gardening, water is the most important in providing nutrition for your
plants. Make sure that you water your garden at least one inch
more each week.
If your fail to give sufficient moisture
to your vegetables, it can cause drought that can damage your
vegetables.
Extra nitrogen is also important for a successful
fall vegetable garden. Be sure to give nitrogen midway through the vegetables
maturity cycle.
Fall vegetable gardening can be complicated
to the uninformed, but with reading and proper planning you'll find it as easy as 1, 2, and 3.
Vegetable picks for
first time gardeners
Selecting among numerous vegetables
to plant in your home vegetable garden seems like an overwhelming task.
Everyone simply wants to have all the vegetables
they need for everyday cooking in their very own garden.
However,
this isn't recommended especially for a first-time gardener.
Setting up and maintaining a home vegetable garden is a daunting task.
It
may require more than the time you've allotted for gardening.
So, here are some of vegetables that first-timers may include in their backyard
vegetable gardens.
Tomatoes are one of the commonly used
vegetables in the kitchen. We use them for making the heartwarming meatball spaghetti sauce.
We toss them with leafy greens to
make a vegetable salad. So, it is only right to have these produce in your garden.
To start planting these round and red tomatoes, place each seedling in the plot 50 to 60 centimeters
apart.
Four weeks later, check the plant growth. Make sure that lateral side growths from the leaf axils are removed.
On the sixth week, the tomatoes will start to flower. When the first flower appears, add some organic based fertilizer to keep the plants
healthy. Six weeks later, you'll be able to harvest tomatoes
that are fully ripe.
Spring onions aren't only capable
of bringing more life to a dish. They are also easy to grow and maintain in your garden.
In starting to grow this produce, each
seedling root has to be trimmed down to 5 centimeters. Make sure that pun nets are detached from each seedling.
Then, place
each seedling in a five-centimeter furrow and cover them up with the extra soil.
After a few days, seedlings will be seen standing upright. After a month, trim down the seedlings.
Use the trimmings as a replacement for chives.
In addition, start planting a succession in order to have a continuous supply
of spring onions. A few more weeks later, you would be able to
enjoy your bountiful harvest.
Carrots are another easy-to-grow
vegetable that you can include in your garden. In planting carrots, make a mixture of carrot seeds and light friable soil.
This
mix should then be sown 10 to 15 mm below the surface. In covering up the furrows, place some compost on top of the mixture and gently add water.
Keep dampening the soil with water for two to three weeks. In this period, seedling would emerge.
On
the fifth week, trim each young seedling to 3 centimeters from the next seedling. Do this when they reach the height of five centimeters.
When the seedlings are 15 centimeters tall, trim them down to five centimeters apart. On the twelfth week, your carrots are ready for harvesting.
Tomatoes, spring onions and carrots are almost always used in everyday cooking. Having them in your
own backyard is easy.
They also will cut down your food
costs. So in planning for your home vegetable garden, make sure that these vegetables are included in vegetable list.
Common
Vegetable Garden Problems
To avoid repeating mistakes
in the vegetable garden it is helpful to take note of them. Here are some common garden problems and recommendations for preventing them:
Seedlings
die shortly after emergence -- This problem is most likely to occur with beans, peas, vine crops, and sweet corn.
The presence of soil-borne fungi and planting in cold, wet soil are the main
causes. The situation can usually be avoided by planting treated
seeds in warm soil.
Broccoli flowers before the heads mature
-- This situation is likely to occur if the plants have been stunted by poor growing conditions or if the plants have been set too late in the spring.
Broccoli needs cool weather for the best head formation.Cabbage heads split -- Certain varieties are more prone to this condition than others.
However, heavy rains after the heads are almost mature will often cause splitting. Twisting or pulling the cabbage head to break some of the roots
will decrease the amount of water the cabbage absorbs and thus
reduce splitting.
Corn ears don't fill properly -- Poor
pollination due to hot, dry weather is likely the cause.
Since
corn is pollinated by wind, it is advisable to plant corn in blocks
of three to four rows rather that one long row.
Too much
nitrogen in the soil, low potassium levels, and insects feeding
on the silks may contribute to the problem.
Bitter cucumbers
-- Older plants, low fertility, drought conditions, and high temperatures contribute to bitterness in cucumbers.
Maintaining adequate
moisture, mulching the soil, and fertilizing properly will delay or possibly prevent bitterness.
Most bitterness can be removed
by peeling off a thicker portion of the skin during preparation.
Cantaloupes
with poor flavor -- Poor taste in cantaloupes is caused by too much water during the last week of vine growth.
Try to avoid watering the plants just before harvest. Nothing can be done,
of course, about excessive rainfall during this critical period.
Poor fruit set of vine crops -- Poor pollination is the problem. Squash, cucumbers,
and other vine crops produce both male and female blossoms.
It is normal for vine crops to produce 10 to more male blossoms before female
blossoms are formed.
The male blossoms will drop without any food production. Bees are needed to transfer the pollen from
male to female blossoms.
Remember, blossoms of vine crops
are open only one day for pollination.
Tomatoes will flower
without setting fruit -- Temperature extremes -- too high or too low -- will prevent fruit from forming.
Generally, night temperature below 60o F and day temperature above 90o F will
keep tomato plants from setting fruit.
Tomatoes rot on the
blossom end. -- This type of rot is caused by lack of calcium in the blossom end of the fruit.
It can be reduced by proper liming and
fertilization, mulching, and maintaining a uniform moisture supply.
Happy
gardening and Good Health.
E - Dove Services 24 -09
- 2008 New
Gardening Organically
What is Organic Gardening
What
Does Organic Gardening Mean?
Conventional wisdom says that
organic gardening is a simple process wherein one just plants seeds and for it to grow to its potential, fertilizers are put
around the area and pesticides are used to brush off annoying insects that may storm the garden.
However, organic gardening is more than a step-by-step process; it is a science and even an art by
itself, with myriad ways to let the plant flourish and it is always scrutinized by millions of scientists around the world
to ensure safety and efficiency of the gardens growth.
Also,
common wisdom says that organic gardening simply involves a plough and a rake. In fact, it can be as high-tech as the newly
released cellular phone.
This agricultural art utilizes
many things like rotary tillers, synthesized fertilizers and even biodegradable pesticides.
With all the wonderful inventions for gardening, it seems as if its possibilities for growth are
limitless and the dream of the disappearance of famine and hunger will soon be reachable.
The Basics
Of
course, you have to be in touch with the fundamentals of organic gardening to fully take advantage and properly use the new
agricultural technology products and methods when they finally come to the market and the gardening community, respectively.
First of all, you have to know how build the soil to make
it as accommodating to the plant as possible.
There are
many substances that include this, namely: mulches, cover crops, manure, compost, and ground-rock mineral supplements.
With this in your soil-nurturing kit, it will be a cinch to cultivate your
plants and make your garden as beautiful as possible by using natural and/or organic methods.
Protection
But
even though the soil is perfect for the plants, you cannot ensure that the plant won’t be harmed as it grows. Insects
always lurk around plants and your garden is no exception.
Many
natural methods are available to prevent this predicament. You can avoid the threat of bugs by pheromone traps, insecticide
soaps and many others that are favorites of organic horticulturists.
The
Shades of Organic Horticulture
Second, you just
cannot dive in into the world of organic gardening without doing your homework.
It is a broad science, with each subject that branches out of it all contributing to the complex yet fulfilling
world of organic horticulture. There are five schools of thought about organic horticulture.
The first is floriculture, which obviously means the cultivation of flora in your garden and the
secrets, skills and knowledge required to maintain it.
The
science of knowing how to market these floras for your business is also included in this school of thought.
The second area of study is olericulture, where one learns how to cultivate
and protect vegetables, which are very fragile vis-à-vis the pests that may exist in your garden.
Third is pomology, where the type of plants involved are fruits, the ones highly
targeted by insects because of their edibility and their natural usage of giving life onto the garden, which basically means
it has the necessary minerals and nutrients to carry that on.
Next
is landscape horticulture, where one gets to design creative and captivating landscapes for the garden not only to attract
people to it. But also provide the perfect backdrop for landscape plants.
And the last area of study in organic horticulture is post harvest physiology, which involves keeping the
soil fresh for future usage and for the gardens general maintenance.
Also,
this is the school of thought wherein one gets to learn how to prevent spoilage from current horticultural crops.
With these five areas of study mastered and put under your belt, you are sure
to carry them all out and make the best garden possible.
With
all these said, one can be an exceptional gardener with a little interest tucked in and a lot of perseverance carried over
to create the best garden possible.
All one has to do is
to study the basics of organic gardening, which is knowing the soil, learning how to protect the plants and mastering the
intricacies and needs of certain types of plants.
Organic
Butterfly Garden
Creating an Organic Butterfly
Garden
There’s always that little girl inside every
woman who just adores butterflies fluttering around a wonderful garden full of delicate flowers, all just starting to bloom
under the morning light.
But creating ones requires a lot
of work and a little bit of patience, since attracting butterflies is no easy task.
You have to research thoroughly and think creatively so the butterflies will be attracted to your
garden and consider it as a newfound home.
A Basic
Rule
The basics of creating an organic butterfly
garden is pretty easy because you only have to do one important thing, which it to plant a lot of flowers.
If you love a variety of butterflies to visit your garden, then you need to
diversify your plant choices, all encompassing the correct taxonomy.
You
may also have to put a water area or two to make it look and seem more livable for these insects. But these are mainly the
basics.
Planning is a different story if you want more than
just a crowded garden full of random butterflies.
Planning
Even though the average human simply adores wonderful aesthetics and design
coupled with beautiful butterflies fluttering across worthy flora, the existence of design doesn’t really matter to
these delicate creatures.
Where can you find a butterfly
that avoids a bountiful garden just because it isn’t her type?
In
dreamland, of course. So to speak, if you’re just a beginner trying out a new hobby and it happens to involve creating
a butterfly garden, then don’t introduce too much added stress in your life.
Take it easy and focus on the basics, which is put a lot of flowers in your garden coupled with water
areas in strategic areas.
So with that said, do plant a
lot of flowers because this is the natural target for butterflies and also put up some pretty butterfly houses along with
water areas not only to make it more accommodating to the butterfly, but also make the garden very attractive to both butterflies
and people.
Envision the Garden
But also, you have to take into account the overall layout of the butterfly
garden.
What size is good enough for the house and also
for the butterflies?
What are the species that exist within
the area of your home?
Take those two questions to heart
before planting flowers.
Butterflies, as studies have shown,
are receptive to specific types of flowers. So if you want a particular type of species living in your garden, then choose
wisely and create an area to its liking and plant its favorite flower.
Make
sure that you don’t focus entirely on the butterflies but also yourself. Pick out your favorites from the myriad of
species out there and adjust the size so that both the butterflies and your demands are met.
Stamp the notion that balance should be achieved in your garden so at the end of the day, not only
the butterflies but you, the gardener, will also be pleased.
Once
you have thought of the species and correct balance for your garden, do take into account color coordination in your flower
beds.
This is important because not only will a specific
type of butterfly visit your garden and probably live there, it will also be beneficial aesthetically because your garden
won’t look like a rather weird and murky place with colors that rival the things drug addicts see.
As the old adage goes, keep it simple and streamlined, and you’re good
to go.
Good advice when you’re still in the planning
stage is to deftly sketch the area on paper.
Seeing everything
in a tangible object makes things a lot easier and helps one refocus to the goal at hand.
Don’t just sketch, also color it out so as you can create an overall theme to your butterfly
garden.
Do you want your garden to seem cool and calm?
Then place flowers with cool colors like blue and purple so as to soothe the
senses. You may also sprinkle some white flowers in the background to make it look clean and serene.
Its all up to you, and you can help realize that by simply creating a draft for the gardens layout.
You may get closer to the garden of your dreams with these
tips to make the most accommodating and attractive butterfly garden in your area.
Make sure that you do your homework and know the types of flowers that specific species of butterflies
are attracted to.
Is the flower Milkweed a good choice?
Or are Daisies and Sunflowers better?
Those are the types of decisions you have to make when planning your butterfly garden.
Sketch your future garden and put the butterfly’s favorite plant in it
so you create the perfect garden to make that little girl innocently hiding inside you smile.
Pest Control
Pest
Control and Organic Gardening
Man-made pesticides have been
thoroughly disrupting our environment since World War II.
While
it may be true that the concept did succeed in its first few decades, in time their chemicals not only made tougher and more
resistant bugs, it has also poisoned a lot of plants that fell victim to the chemical-enriched sprays that hogged the plants
air.
Nowadays, people are finally making it a point to
consider alternatives, especially organic pesticides, in order to curb this recurring problem.
There are a few countries in the world that put a step forward in the elimination of synthetic pesticides
by outlawing them, an example of which is The Virgin Islands, and have promoted incessantly the hidden advantages and new
techniques of organic gardening.
Why are Synthetic
Pesticides Bad?
While it may thoroughly kill the
pests that may hound all plants, big and small, it has slowly strengthened these pests into freakish super-bugs.
Let me explain.
The
main feature of insects that have been overlooked by our ancestors is that they have short life spans and they can multiply
at powerful degrees, making swarms in a blink of an eye.
That
means that their evolution is faster than humans, who have long life spans and take a little longer to evolve.
With that in place, the select few that could have survived the pesticide blast
may mate with another bug and create an offspring that has inherited that pesticide-repelling gene.
And since life spans are short, these bugs keep mating until they make a powerful swarm that enables
them to get to their goal, which is eating up the plants, without them getting hurt by pesticides.
This is the conundrum that the contemporary farmer must face. The old pesticides don’t work
as effectively as before, and new ones will only make them stronger in the long run.
This is only the first and most important problem of synthetic pesticides.
Another problem that this kind of pesticide causes is that they may poison the plants and even us
if we partake in pesticide-drowned plants.
Just think about
it: what are the chemicals in pesticides? Of course, the chemicals involved are the ones that can kill bugs and potentially
humans.
Even though it only hurts us in rather trivial degrees,
a large amount of which can hurt us if we eat and eat the same chemical-blasted plant again and again.
In a nutshell, synthetic pesticides may seem beneficial for us in the short
run, but if we look forward to the generation of our children, we will see a huge problem that threatens our food supply and
more importantly, our existence.
Natural Strategies
to Fight off Pests
There are a lot of wily strategies
that farmers use to tackle the recurring problem of pests without threatening the human race in the long run.
And that is using Mother Natures old methods to outsmart and outmuscle these
pests.
The first one is cultural control; this is the process
where the farmer does the little things to avoid pests potentially living in their garden.
One may remove diseased plant material and cutting off weeds and plentiful plant debris that may
potentially be used as a home by insects.
The farmer must
also remove dead plants and corn plant stumps to avoid the same predicament.
Another wily method is planting specific plants in raised beds in the rainy season, making the pests attempt
crossing at a miniature moat which will likely kill them if they tried.
There is also the option of rotating crops time and time again to different locations so that the problem
of soil insects and disease build-up will be minimized.
This
requires a lot of planning and may stress out the average farmer, but crop rotation is the most effective method around.
Natural Weapons
Another method is using Mother Natures natural poisons. It has been said again and again by farmers that if
it is natural, then it is safe
The most deadly poisons
present in nature are actually the ones found in certain plants. You have to be careful when handling these poisons because
it may hurt them too.
So use them carefully, but use it
without impunity against those annoying pests. Common poisons found in plants are Nicotine, Pyrethrum, Rotenone and Ryania.
And another effective method is Biological Control, where
one utilizes natural predators to prey on pests to keep their population down.
But don’t forget to maintain that natural balance by also finding some animals that prey on these pest-munching
predators.
It’s a bit complicated, but a little remedial
lesson of the life cycle won’t hurt.
Don’t sway
into the pitches of salesmen saying that synthetic pesticides aren’t only effective, but also take the hassle out of
farming.
Please don’t buy into that. History has proven
that this kind of pesticide has created two major problems in our agriculture and has hurt the human race in many ways.
Stick to the tried and tested methods and don’t forget to use Mother
Natures weapons and humankinds ingenuity to curb this recurring problem in our gardens.
Organic Vegetables
Organic Vegetable Gardening
The rising prices today ranging from food to appliances, all due to the oil price hike, have taken
a toll on the contemporary middle-class family.
There’s
a simple yet cost effective way to cut costs: create a simple vegetable garden.
It may seem absurd, but with a vegetable garden, it will cut some costs in the long run and give you healthier
eating.
Things You Need to Know First
Beautiful and successful vegetable gardens don’t take a jiffy to complete.
It takes a lot of perseverance and ingenuity not to mention weeks of planning, constant care and the sincere desire to make
it happen.
The thing about this is that it pays off given
that it offers a lot more than simply some extra food on the table.
You
will experience a fresh atmosphere in your home and not to mention could bring in some supplemental income.
You must take into account that you must use organic gardening rather than
a conventional one.
This will benefit the garden in a myriad
of ways and of course help avoid the risks involved with synthetic pesticides.
The difference between these two is mainly based on fertilization and pest control. Using methods such as
crop rotation and putting in some natural predators to fight off pests are a few examples that define the efficiency of organic
gardening.
Plans
As with gardening in general, you have to plan everything out thoroughly so you can envision and
turn your ideal garden into reality.
You must consider the
variables involved in creating a garden. First is the size of your family, so that you’ll have a good idea on what amount
you will have to plant.
If you plan on creating a business
out of the garden however, you should measure the demand for certain vegetables in your area and adjust accordingly.
A little knowledge on Economics will help here.
In regards to the location of your garden, do some research and find a plant that matches the soil
type of the area, and if you’re lucky the soil might be good enough to accommodate more types of plants.
When you are designing the garden, it is important that you put proper spacing
on top of customary aesthetic design to not only make the garden attractive, but also give enough leeway for the plants to
thrive and grow.
Planting guides are available on the net
to help you out in getting information about the leading varieties and the types of soil essential to grow those. Just surf
away and you’ll find the information you need.
Adding
Organic Matter
One of the most important aspects
of organic gardening is knowing what kind of organic material you should apply to the soil.
It comes in a myriad of forms, from animal manures and cover crops to compost. Knowing how each changes
the soil is integral to creating the perfect backdrop for the plants.
There
are many benefits that come from adding organic matter to the soil. It improves a lot of things, the ability of the soil to
hold water, nutrients and its buffering capacity.
With
all the soaring prices that affects everything in the market, it becomes more and more important for one to be resourceful
and become more self-sufficient.
Creating a vegetable garden
fulfills both of these things.
It builds discipline not
only for the gardener, but for their children as well. It also opens doors for a business, helping you gain profit form selling
certain vegetables to a rather picky market if you choose to do so.
Children
and Organics
Organic Gardening and Your Children
As soon as that school bell rings on the last day of classes, kids just rush
out of their rooms, excited of the freedom they experience once more and the new lessons they will learn in the summer months.
But what activity should they spend time on in these three warm months?
Why not introduce them to the world of gardening?
From preparing the soil, planting seeds, selecting the plants and finally watching them grow it is
entertaining and educational for children because their curiosity is piqued and the wonders of nature revealed.
Plans
The
planning phase for the organic garden is entirely different from a conventional one. The area should be substantially smaller
than the one the gardener is used to.
For a child as young
as 2 to 4 years old, planting as few as a couple of tomatoes will be a wonderful new world for the child even though it seems
so small and insignificant to the adult.
You should remember
not to overwhelm the child, but tease his/her imagination and let the child ponder on what’s going to happen next, taking
in every moment of the plants growth.
Not only will it
be beneficial for kids, it also helps avoid weeds that may grow in the area since they only thrive in large spaces.
These miniature vegetable gardens help in more ways than you could imagine.
Soil Preparation and Discovery
Soil preparation is arguably one of the most fun moments a child can have in
gardening.
Digging the ground with a rather large spoon
thrills the child because not only is it a new experience, the child also gets to interact and have fun with the adult.
After you’ve opened up a reasonably sized crevice on your garden, you
should make the soil healthier by adding compost or peat.
Teach
the child how these rather pungent and seemingly useless things contribute to the plants growth. This will help the child
appreciate the balance of nature.
If you don’t live
in a suburb, where lawns are rather customary and commonplace, but in a townhouse or an apartment a small corner in a balcony
is sufficient space for both the child and you to work.
You’ll
be surprised by the fresh image of a bright-colored plant on your balcony when you see it at the break of day.
Tomatoes are a good choice for a balcony plant given its fresh-looking nature.
Peppers and beans also do well in small containers.
Adjust
Accordingly for Older Children
If the child is
older, say five to eight years old, you should extend the rather cramped garden with only two plants described upgraded to
a more substantial one.
More varieties should be in place,
tomatoes, peppers, lettuce and many more. Don’t forget to put some flowers along the side, making the garden as beautiful
as possible for the child’s admiration.
A rule of
making a garden for the child is to make the varieties as different as possible, making the garden multi-colored and enchanting
as possible.
Make sure that it entices all five senses,
from sight to smell.
At this age, children aged from five
to eight can grasp the more complex rules of organic farming, namely crop rotation and biological control.
Seeing how the cycle of life takes place before their eyes is insightful and
enchanting for a child that age.
And seeing how some insects
prey on pests that harm plants also give the kids a little more appreciation for bugs, seeing them in a better light as opposed
to children who are used to seeing cockroaches getting squished relentlessly by their older brother.
Children learn faster when they use all their five senses, taking in everything that comes their
way.
Kids love it and giving them an experience that uses
all that, while creating a parent-child bond that lasts reaps far-reaching benefits.
Organic gardening can also be a wonderful experience for the family, all playing a role in creating
and designing the best garden possible.
All it takes is
a little research and a whole lot of dedication and support from the family.
Relationships are strengthened by doing things together, and you can do that with your whole family.
Soil Preparation
Preparing the Soil for an Organic Garden
Soil
preparation is one of the most important aspects of creating an organic garden.
It affects everything in the garden, from germination rates and seed failure. So making a good bed for your
plants is the single most important thing to make the best and most productive garden.
How to Prepare
There
are a good number of conditions that must be fulfilled in order to insure that you have the perfect soil for your plants.
First is that the soil particles must be small enough so there will be room
for the roots to spread and the water to circulate.
A good
size such as 0.5 to 5 millimeters is perfect for this, a good metaphor of which is that the soil must be as small as rice.
Moisture is also important in creating a soil bed because this signifies not
only the ease that the plants roots will spread, but it also tells about amount of nutrients present in the soil.
But do take into heart that too much of something is counterproductive, so
a soil that is too moist won’t work.
To see if the
soil is firm yet moist enough, see if it breaks down under the rain or not, this is a good indicator of the soil particles
size and the soils overall firmness.
Knowing the
Soil Properties and Types
You should also analyze
the soil properties. It should be rich in organic matter that could already be.
However, most soils aren’t as ideal as this, some with too much clay or loam. Make sure that you study
the pH level so you’ll have a general idea of the nutrient saturation rate in the soil.
This shouldn’t be done manually but rather with the help of a cheap soil testing kit from your
neighborhood garden center.
After you’ve done all
that and tested the soil and have seen some imbalances and/or discrepancies, just talk to the professional that’s always
available in garden center where you’ve bought your gardening kit.
Don’t forget, you don’t learn anything if you doesn’t ask!
After making the soil as accommodating as possible for growth, you should study the soil because
each type, whether it loamy or sandy, brings unique challenges for the gardener.
The latter could be to dry to incorporate fertilizers at an early phase and loam soils could be difficult
to break up for organic matter.
Study the pros and cons
of each and see what plants thrive in specific kinds of soils.
After
these two general procedures, you should make the area a comfortable place for plants to grow, with distractions and pests
almost non-existent; so clear out those weeds using forks, rakes or any other garden tool.
Other obstructions such as rocks, stones and the like should also be removed.
Finishing Touches
Now, the soil is ready for some organic matter to help the plant grow. Of course, these should have
been prepared beforehand from past seasons.
Its very easy
because all you have to do is collect all the remaining leaves, branches and snipped grass into one big heap and earthworms
and the Earths decomposers will do the job and make it healthy compost for the soil.
After that, you can go back and work on the soil again. There will be some soil lumps present in
certain areas so rake through it or stomp it down with a boot to break it down.
Cultivate the area deeply and if it is possible, put it down as low as 7-10cm. A good indicator is you can
just push your finger through the soil.
And when you’re
done with that, you can now remove some little stones that surround the area.
Preparing the soil isn’t exactly a walk in the park. But its pretty doable and automatic when you get
the hang of the intricacies involved.
The most important
aspect that you must take into heart is the soils nutrient content. If there’s too little, then expect low germination
rates.
Everything else is merely supplemental to make the
growth rates of your plants as good as possible.
Just do
what any gardener has to do and you’ll be on your way to creating a good soil base for the garden of your dreams.
A Water Garden
How About an Organic Water Garden?
Water
gardens have risen in popularity over the years, taking part in the scenery of modern America.
They are one of the most refreshing benefits a homeowner can have.
The various animals that flutter or swim through the ponds and the charming lilies dotted across
the pond surface are enchanting.
Designs are limitless
for the water garden and the planting options are numerous.
This type of garden is for keeps as it helps fix our rather imbalanced ecosystem, but to also paint the town
light blue and green with its refreshing allure.
Basics
Of course, you cannot create a water garden without knowing the nuts and bolts
behind it. The gardener should acquire enough knowledge so the plants will thrive.
The first thing you must settle when planning a water garden is its location. Nothing else matters
because this determines the ecology of the garden and how much sunlight and traffic/exposure it will get.
For the location, it should get around six hours of sunlight per day. That's
the optimal amount of light it should get.
Second, you
should be able to control the water garden in terms of what goes in the area. Ideally, it should be viewable by your bedroom
window so you will spot any predators that may have jumped in the garden.
With that, you will not only enjoy beautiful scenery every time you wake up, you will be able to scan the
place for any unsolicited visitors and/or predators. That will be safe not only for the garden, but for the family as well.