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The Pros and Cons of Floating Row Covers

admin — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Floating row covers, a transparent fiber-like blanket used to cover rows and beds of plants, have advantages and disadvantages. Knowing the pros and cons of using floating row covers helps you decide whether the covers are the right addition for your garden.

A floating row cover blankets your growing plants, and the thin material allows sunlight through but prevents harmful pests from getting to the plants. The cover contains no harmful pesticides or chemicals, and its light weight allows you to cover small, young crops without crushing the fragile plants.The whole story can be found at http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/homegarden/2016163375_gardenerwithin10.html?syndication=rss The cover “ floats” by raising up as the plants grow. The row covers can also be used during a frost to protect plants and to hide plants from wild animals.

Despite its many benefits, there are disadvantages to using floating row covers in your garden. Floating row covers are typically harder to manage in a larger garden area, and even if you secure the cover, it may be dislodged during severe weather and damage the plants. You can’t easily see your plants — you must remove the cover — so you might miss the early signs of an infestation or plant disease. In warmer areas, the use of a cover during a hot streak can cause heat damage to the plants.

Tips For Growing the Best Chili Peppers

admin — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Growing peppers can be a tricky endeavor without the right knowledge, but it can also be truly rewarding. There are so many varieties of peppers out there with varying spices that it is easy to find one to suit your culinary needs. There are a few tips to follow, however, that are sure to make this growing season a success. These fickle plants crave consistent heat and plenty of sunshine, at least 6 hours of full sun a day. They grow best in well-amended soil that contains organic matter, balanced fertilizer or, if possible, higher nitrogen and phosphorous levels. Fertilizer should be utilized again when the first vegetables are about one inch in size. One level tablespoon should be sprinkled about six inches from each stalk and then worked into the soil evenly. Don’t forget to water right after the fertilizer is applied. You should water frequently, but their soil should not be soggy. You should also check to ensure that their soil is draining correctly, which can be helped by constructing raised beds. They should then receive fertilizer every three to four weeks during their growing season. If you follow these easy steps, you are sure to have some spicy treasures to add to any dish.

Is Tilling Really the Best Thing for Your Garden?

admin — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Soil that is compacted can cause plants to form shallow roots, and it does not absorb water and nutrients well. Tilling soil loosens the soil and allows for better drainage, and it also removes grass and weeds that are present in the soil. Although tilling soil has many benefits, it also has quite a few negatives, and with the rising popularity of no-till gardening, many have begun to wonder if the benefits of tilling are greater than the negatives.

Tilling soil can be harmful to beneficial insects and microorganisms that are present in the soil. Earthworms live in soil and provide it with aeration, and their waste helps fertilize the soil. Tilling soil can kill earthworms, and it can take a considerable amount of time for the earthworm population to recover after heavy tilling.

Soil erosion is when the top layers of soil are washed or blown away. Soil erosion is a large problem in many areas, and tilling is considered a major cause of soil erosion. Tilling loosens the top layers of soil and allows them to easily be moved by wind or rainfall. When soil erosion occurs, it can lessen the fertility of soil as the top layers of soil generally contain many of the nutrients plants need to grow.

Great Beginner Home Garden Plants

admin — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

When you buy your first home your natural instinct may be to unpack your boxes, set up your security choice alarm and get that garden growing! But don’t act too quickly and make sure you grow what will work best in your climate. Here are a few really easy plants to start with:
Herbs: There are a number of herbs that do really well in a variety of climates such as basil, tarragon, and mint. If you cook with herbs a lot planting some at home can be a real money saver as well so try it out!
Verbenas: The roots of verbenas are really strong and they easily transport to other parts of the yard. They’re beautiful when they flower and they’ll make you look like a real pro when your garden’s in bloom.
Willows: They practically take root when you stick them in the ground and they need little more than rain and sun. Make sure they’ve got plenty of water and plant them where they can get the most sunlight daily.

Going Green: The Best Composter For Your Garden

admin — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Composting is the number one secret of green thumb gardeners. Composting not only recycles and reuses organic matter and kitchen and yard waste, it is also a great way to go green and do your part to help the environment. Composting your yard waste alone can reduce the amount of yard waste hauled to the dump by 50 to 75.

The best type of composter to buy for your garden depends on many factors. In truth, you don’t even need a composter at all and can make a simple compost pile in an out-of-the-way corner of your property, or use a method like trench composting. These methods work great and are fine to use if you can’t afford a composter.

There are many options to build your own composter, and plans to make one from wire or old wooden pallets are readily available online.

If you wish to go the store-bought route, there are many different types of composters available, from simple wire bin composters, wood and wire worm bins, plastic barrel composters and the ultimate in fancy drum tumbler composters.

The tumbler drum composter offers the ultimate advantage of making less hands-on work and faster composting times, simply give it a spin once a week or so for fast and efficient composting.

How to Create Raised Bed Garden Systems

admin — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Raised beds have become very popular for gardening, and several books, websites, and forums have been dedicated to raised bed gardening. It is generally much easier to create a raised bed than to prepare an existing area of ground for planting. The major reason for raised beds popularity is that it can offer a gardener an immediate gardening option if they have poor soil conditions. The following will explain how to create your own raised bed.

1)To begin creation of a raised bed determine placement, and size of bed. Things to consider are what will be grown in the bed, plants’ sunlight requirements, and the size the plants will grow.

2)Select the materials to use in bed creation. Wood, cement blocks, bricks can all be used to surround a raised bed; the bed frame should be built to allow for at least 8 inches of soil and compost to be added to the bed

3)Fill Bed. Before adding soil to the bed cardboard or layered newspaper can be placed in the bottom of the
bed. Select soil and compost that drains easily and is ideal for the plants that will be grown in the bed.

4)Finally, ensure that the soil is level and plant seeds.

Organic Seed: The Pros and Cons

admin — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

If you are planning your first garden, and started researching whether to use plants versus seeds, you might be wondering what the difference is between organic and non-organic seeds. While both seeds types will grow, there are pros and cons you want to weigh before making a purchase decision.

If you are planning a strictly organic garden, you might consider choosing organic seeds. The pros of using organic seeds include they are not treated with fungicide, which is intended to improve germination.Want more? Click here/tag Additionally, organic seeds are not chemically modified. Companies producing organic seeds do not use GMO (genetically modified) methods or plants for seed production. This keeps your soil healthy and does not introduce these chemicals into food crops, keeping you healthy too. Another pro of using organic seeds is they often include heirloom varieties sometimes not found with standard, treated seeds. Heirloom seeds are hardier and produce more reliably than hybridized varieties.

The cons of organic seeds is the germination rate is often poorer than treated seeds since they can succumb to diseases before sprouting. They are also more expensive because of strict Federal requirements for products carrying the organic designation, increasing costs. Additionally, seeds may be in limited supply, so it pays to order early. Another con is many varieties of plants are not yet available as organic seeds.

Jump-starting Your Garden: Starting Seeds Indoors

admin — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

When spring begins to peep out of the dreary grips of winter it is easy to get garden fever. Many people that garden, have discovered that starting certain seeds inside before the ground is ready for planting gives them a great start for their gardening adventures. Starting seeds inside is really easy to do and the ending results are fantastic when the family can enjoy juicy ripe tomatoes before they are due to be ready.

Starting seeds early will allow the seeds to germinate and produce healthy plants when it is time to transfer them into the ground. The best way to start them for most people is by using a mini-greenhouse or other type of controlled environment for starting seeds. Though many people may start seeds in plastic containers that food products come in, while this is an acceptable way to start them, some people simply don’t have the room. Using a mini-greenhouse and following the rules of thumb for watering and lighting for particular plants will provide the gardener with healthy fresh vegetables sooner than waiting for the ground to be warm enough.

Before starting any seeds inside it is important to know which seeds can be started in containers, and those that need to be directly sown into the ground. Some plants do not do well if started inside or in containers and then transferred into the ground. Doing some research and making a garden journal of discoveries along the way will assist in turning you into a successful gardener. Just don’t be surprised when your envious gardening friends try to sneak some of your ripe tomatoes and such.