It could be worth investing in a small shredder. It's essential to make sure that no weedkiller has been used on the grass, as any residues may harm your crops. Wood-derived Mulches Wood products such as sawdust, wood chips, bark chips and pine needles...
Then use a measuring tape to estimate the site's rise (elevation gain) and run (distance from front to back). Raised Beds for a Sloping Vegetable Garden Building a terraced vegetable garden is basically making raised beds on a slope, and it's important...
Just keep picking and the others will surely follow! How to Ripen Squashes and Pumpkins Winter squashes and pumpkins naturally color up as they mature towards the end of the growing season.
Grass clippings are a ready-to-hand source of instant mulch too, and will help to keep plant roots cool and moist in hot, dry weather. In cooler climates, now may be the time to wash off or remove any greenhouse shading, to trap more of the late summer...
Practice crop rotation to help prevent a build-up of crop-specific pests in the soil, and if you have suffered from a soil-borne pest such as wireworm it's a good idea to dig or at least disturb the top few inches of soil with a fork between crops –...
Red cabbages are popular for braising or pickling. Spring cabbages are sown from the second half of summer to harvest the following year. Ensure they have all the space and nutrients they need by carefully weeding between plants with a hoe or by hand.
The towel wicks moisture away from the pot, which then evaporates. Make the most of late summer's abundance by seeking out imaginative recipes to turn any gluts into delicious drinks.
Warm soil temperatures promote fast germination, so the seeds will be up and growing in a matter of days. Diversify your fall garden with red-skinned Chinese radishes (top), white daikon radishes (right), and watermelon radishes (left) Daikon radishes...
Herbs can be chopped up and frozen into ice cubes that can be dropped whole into recipes. Dehydrators are a joy. Plants Related to this Article Cucumber Grow Guide Zucchini Grow Guide Beans (Pole) Grow Guide Bugs, Beneficial Insects and Plant Diseases...
They will keep in good condition for two months or more, should they last that long. The roots will push up as they gain size, and garden-grown rutabagas tend to be more top-shaped than round.
This way you will actively select for those plants that perform the strongest and are best suited to the conditions in your garden. Seeds should be stored in paper envelopes labeled with the variety and date.
They often tend towards what's known as biennial or alternate bearing, where trees produce a bumper crop one year, only to take the following year off. Photo by Jerzy Opiola In summer the leaves of infected plums take on a silvery sheen (although the...
To speed drying, and ensure a thorough job, start by splitting the just-picked chili peppers in two lengthways. Dried chilies are just as versatile as fresh chilies. Again, a pair of gloves will come in handy for this.
Don't be a slave to the watering can; here are our tips to help you deal with drought conditions in your garden, so you can continue to enjoy good harvests this summer! EMBED VIDEO HERE Wise Watering Prioritize Watering When water's precious it pays to...
If you thought growing potatoes was hugely satisfying, second-crop potatoes will prove even more so! Give your holiday season dinners a home-grown boost and try them for yourself. Check the shoots periodically for aphids and plant them before they begin...
The fruits left to grow on will enjoy more airflow, sunlight and energy from the tree for even ripening. Plums are notorious for over-producing – with often-disastrous results. Early summer offers us a tempting taste of what's to come in the fruit garden.
Grow some of them next to the greenhouse door to tempt these beneficial bugs closer. And it gets worse. Greenhouse whitefly are tiny but can seriously weaken plants Greenhouse Whitefly Organic Controls Whitefly can strike any time from the middle of summer.
Position Full sun. Remove infested plants. If storing shallots, cure in a dry place for 10 days after pulling the plants. They will root during the winter, and multiply into a cluster in late spring or early summer.
Damage: Striped cucumber beetles emerge in late spring and immediately begin feeding on cucumber, melon and squash seedlings. You can also try growing varieties like ‘Little Leaf' and slicing cucumbers, which lack the bitter gene and are less attractive...
Large plants produce edible, starry blue flowers that attract bees in droves. Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
At the end of each season, be sure to pull all onions from the garden. Tips: Yellow sticky traps or yellow pans of water can be used to monitor and trap onion flies. Damage: When young onion plants wilt for no apparent reason, pull up a sample plant to...
Valerian can stand 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall when it is in full bloom. Plants die back to the ground in winter and re-emerge in spring. They are also much loved by cats and dogs. Feeding Not generally needed.
Frost tolerant A cold-hardy perennial, lemon balm can survive temperatures to -20F (-30C). Troubleshooting Control lemon balm's spread by cutting back flowering stems in late summer.
Frost tolerant Excellent. Cover the bulbs to four times their depth with loose soil. Hot pepper sprays help to deter these nibblers. Perennial candytuft makes an ideal companion plant.
Dwarf types make good edging plants for beds and containers. Ageratum cannot tolerate cold temperatures. Tall varieties make great cut flowers. Feeding Mix a light application of a balanced organic fertilizer into the soil prior to planting.
Companions Marigold, Broccoli, Chives, Mint, Borage, Parsley, Basil, Pepper, Asparagus, Monarda, Lettuce, Garlic, Dill and Calendula. Set out after the last frost has passed, when the soil is warm and settled.
Feeding Not required. Spacing Single Plants: 7" (20cm) each way (minimum) Rows: 7" (20cm) with 11" (30cm) row gap (minimum) Sow and Plant Sow direct into soil, and cover the seeded bed or furrow with a board to keep it moist.
