- StumbleUpon Some general considerations for growing vegetables: Sowing Tips When sowing seeds, a good general rule of thumb is to sow to a depth of approximately twice the thickness of the seed. Some smaller seeds require light to germinate and should not be sown too deep; otherwise they may never germinate or break through the surface of the soil. Conversely, large seeds planted too shallow may not develop properly. Keep seeds well-moistened while awaiting germination and check regularly. Select a light-weight, well-drained medium for sowing to ensure good seed to soil contact. Growing Tips Most vegetables will produce better results if sown and grown in a soil-medium that is well-drained, rich in organic matter (fertile), and fairly lightweight. Most vegetables will prefer good quantities of natural, direct sunlight daily. Harvesting and Seed Saving Many vegetables will be harvested in the fall, especially if grown in lower hardiness zones.
Snake Oil? The scientific evidence for health supplements See the data: bit.ly/snakeoilsupps. See the static versionSee the old flash version Check the evidence for so-called Superfoods visualized. Note: You might see multiple bubbles for certain supplements. This visualisation generates itself from this Google Doc. As ever, we welcome your thoughts, crits, comments, corrections, compliments, tweaks, new evidence, missing supps, and general feedback. » Purchase: Amazon US or Barnes & Noble | UK or Waterstones » Download: Apple iBook | Kindle (UK & US) » See inside For more graphics, visualisations and data-journalism:
List of companion plants Dill is one of the few plants to grow with Fennel This is a list of companion plants. Many more are in the list of beneficial weeds. Vegetables[edit] Fruit[edit] Herbs[edit] Flowers[edit] Other[edit] See also[edit] References[edit] External links[edit] Further reading[edit] Cunningham, Sally Jean.
5 Easy to Grow Mosquito-Repelling Plants As the outdoor season approaches, many homeowners and outdoor enthusiasts look for ways to control mosquitoes. With all the publicity about the West Nile virus, mosquito repelling products are gaining in popularity. But many commercial insect repellents contain from 5% to 25% DEET. There are new DEET-free mosquito repellents on the market today which offer some relief to those venturing outdoors in mosquito season. Here are five of the most effective mosquito repelling plants which are easy to grow in most regions of the US: 1. Citronella is the most common natural ingredient used in formulating mosquito repellents. Citronella is a perennial ‘clumping’ grass which grows to a height of 5 – 6 feet. Gardening centers usually sell citronella as small plants in pots, ready to transplant to a larger pot or into raised garden beds on the ground. When purchasing citronella, look for the true varieties, Cybopogon nardus or Citronella winterianus. 2. 3. 4. 5.
4 Simple Steps to Grow a Hundred Pounds of Potatoes in a Barrel Container gardening isn't only for savvy urban gardeners and folks with limited space to grow, it can also be for folks who want to maximize their yields in a controlled environment. Not only does growing potatoes in a barrel reduce the amount of weeding and exposure to pests and fungi, you don't even have to risk shovel-damage to the tender potatoes by digging them out of the ground when they're done, just tip the container over! After extensive research to plan my own potatoes-in-a-barrel, I've boiled all of the recommendations down to 4 simple steps to a winning potato harvest. 1. You'll need to pick out a container such as a 50-gallon trash barrel or one of those half whiskey barrel planters. Good drainage is critical for the cultivation of healthy potatoes so you'll want to cut or drill a series of large drainage holes in the bottom and bottom sides of your container. 2. Fill in the bottom of your container with about 6 inches of loose planting mix and compost. 3. 4.
Are We Hardwired to Damage the Environment? When mentioning Rio de Janeiro, one normally thinks of beaches, bikinis, soccer, and slums. But this week there is something else going on in Rio which could determine the fate of humanity. (the +20 refers to the 20 years that passed since the 1992 Rio conference on climate change ) and many world leaders are making an appearance. So how far have we come since the last Rio conference in fostering environmental sustainability? So what does human nature tell us about environmental sustainability? In our article we first dispel the myth that our ancestors were the Green Types. . . We argue that many modern environmental problems are caused, or at least exacerbated, by five human instincts. As an illustration, suppose you could herd an extra cow on the commons to feed you and your family without anyone noticing, would you do it? When we give people these dilemmas, most of them prefer the immediate reward although it is smaller. Don’t you believe me? Here is a final question. References
Companion Planting Chart, Map and Guide | Companion Gardening Map & Chart Companion planting means putting plants together in the garden that like each other, or help each other out. Companion planting can have a real impact on the health and yield of your plants. Organic gardeners strive to achieve a balance in their gardens so that they don't require chemicals for pest or disease control. Companion planting can play a significant role in assisting with pest control. Some combinations work because of scents they use to repel insects, others work because they attract good bugs. When planning your garden, take some time to think about the layout of your garden to incorporate some of the companion planting ideas. Companion Planting Garden Map Types of Companion Planting There are a number of systems and ideas using companion planting. Another system using companion planting is the forest garden, where companion plants are intermingled to create an actual ecosystem, emulating the interaction of up to seven levels of plants in a forest or woodland.
Why I Use Epsom Salt in the Garden *Why I Use Epsom Salt in the Garden*By: LL4e14 June 2004 I wanted to show everyone what a difference it makes with and without with only water being added all of these plants was planted on the same day and time. I am showing you ones I am growing with the sq. ft. method. All of these photo's were just taken today. I do have several baby tomatoes now. However now the non Epsom salt plants will be fed it also this was only to show those what a difference it makes. In the Garden House Plants Mix one teaspoon per gallon of water and feed to the plants every two to four weeks. Garden startup Sprinkle approximately one cup per 100 square feet. (10’x10’) and mix into soil before planting. Tomatoes Apply one tablespoon per foot of height for each plant every two weeks. Roses Apply one teaspoon per foot of height for each plant every two weeks. Evergreens, Azaleas, Rhododendrons Apply one tablespoon per nine square feet (3’x3’) over the root zone every two to four weeks.
VERTICAL HERB GARDENS - gardening, planting, nature, garden, sustainable lifestyle, do-it-yourself, creative environmental options, craft, organics, gardening, planting, flower pots, reusing, old and vintage, nature, environmenta comments on 04/22 at 01:35 AM Oh wow, I like this too. I'll have to research this...like how do they get the plants to stay in the box?! I also like the boxes themselves. on 04/22 at 12:56 PM Hey! I want to build one too! on 04/22 at 01:00 PM My question would be how to water it. on 04/22 at 01:02 PM Inside the house environment. on 04/29 at 12:33 PM Wow, that's pretty awesome (not really a word I use that often!). on 05/26 at 03:40 AM Idon't know if you can do vertical planting, but I am doing an art project in which I give out seeds of trees that survived the atomic bombing to the people of US and the world. on 05/28 at 01:14 PM Saw this article and it made me think of your post...
The Most Popular Ages to Sign Up for Social Security You can sign up for Social Security at any time after age 62. However, your monthly payments will be larger for each month you delay claiming them up until age 70. Here is when most people start receiving Social Security payments, and how signing up at each age impacts your payout. Age 62. Social Security payments are reduced if you claim them before your full retirement age, which is typically age 66 or 67, depending on your birth year. Age 63. Age 64. Age 65. Age 66. Age 67. Age 68. Age 69. Age 70. Gardening Take Two We’re approaching our last frost date here in south eastern Idaho, and that means we can finally start thinking about our vegetable garden. Who remembers when I wrote about our gardening plans last year? I told y’all about how my parents kept an incredible garden using the Jacob Mittleider method. You can read that post and view the pictures right here. In short, the Mittleider method combines the best features of soil-based gardening and hydroponic gardening, but without hydroponic expense! It’s a complete, easy-to-follow plan that eliminates guesswork and ensures success anywhere: an apartment patio, a city yard, a country lot, or a farm. The method is based on maximum utilization of space, time, and resources. I’ve received a lot of questions during the past year on how Square Foot Gardening compares and I really couldn’t say. Here are the garden plans I drew up last year. Last year we built 14 grow boxes; 8 inches deep, 4 feet wide, and 8 feet long. Dr. Here’s our to-do list:
10 Killer DIY Garden Hacks Gardening is one of the most rewarding home hobbies you can do. It's fun, sustainable and you get healthy, tasty results. A lot of people like the idea of gardening but find excuses like it's too time consuming, it's too expensive, they don't have enough space, blah blah blah. There's no room for excuses when going green, all you need is a little initiative and a little ingenuity to overcome these so called excuses. Here are 10 killer garden hacks that can help you save time, space and money while satisfying your green thumb... 1. Vertical Gutter Garden When Suzanne Forsling moved to Juneau Alaska from Iowa, she found that it was a little bit harder to get her garden to grow. 2. Reclaimed Tire Garden If you have some old tires laying around that you don't know what to do with, you could burn them... if you hate the environment, or you could put them to work as cool looking raised garden beds. 3. DIY Earth Box An Earth Box is more than just a box with soil. 4. Self-Watering Garden 5. 6. 7.
Growing Tomatoes | How to Grow Tomatoes | The Old Farmer's Almanac Tomatoes are the ultimate backyard vegetable, and growing tomatoes is easier than you might think. These tips on how to grow tomatoes should help you to take care of your most delicious plants. There are a multitude of reasons to have a backyard vegetable garden, but for many of us, the only reason we garden at all is to raise our own tomatoes. Is there anything better than a fully ripe tomato eaten while it’s still warm from the garden? Tomato Varieties: Type Casting Tomatoes have two types of growth: determinate and indeterminate. An indeterminate tomato plant will keep on growing and producing fruit until it is killed by frost. For information on even more tomato varieties, see “Tomato Trials.” Tomato Plant Care: Use Mulch Don’t forget to mulch! Tomato Plant Care: Pruning Tomatoes To pinch or not to pinch, that is the big question. Pruning also affects flavor. Tomato Plant Care: How Much to Water Tomato plants need 1 to 2 inches of water per week. Tomato Plant Care: Feeding