Thin layers of glass clippings make excellent mulch It's important to add grass clippings thinly – aim for no more than an inch (3cm) deep. I find the benefits outweigh the drawbacks however – a weekly hoeing before adding more mulch helps keep it...
Over time, the lowest tiers of a sloped site gain organic matter as it trickles down from the higher beds, so adding organic matter to the higher beds benefits the lower ones, too.
Sweet Corn Stubble for Fall Crop Protection Every situation doesn't merit wholesale renewal. Last year, I cut off the corn stalks at 14-inch (35cm) height, and used the tall stubs to support a row cover, which protected the fall greens from insects, deer...
Reducing the amount of water you give plants is the best way to ‘stress out' plants. Once consistently cooler weather arrives it's time to bring all of the fruits indoors, whether they're ready or not.
Avoid removing branches that are less than three years old unless you have to. Make sure your tools are sharp and sturdy enough for the job; hand pruners can be used for very small twigs, but anything larger calls for loppers or a saw.
How to Make a Chili Pepper Ristra A ristra is simply an arrangement of drying chili peppers. They shouldn't take longer than two to three weeks to dry, after which time they can be finished off in an oven set to a low heat for an hour.
Balance and Speed Using a watering can? Try two – one for each hand. If your water source is some distance from your beds, it also means less walking back and forth. Success with Germination In hot, dry conditions getting seeds to germinate can be tricky,...
First, the warmth of late summer means that second-crop seed potatoes do not need to be pre-sprouted – they're primed to get growing without delay. Seed potatoes for second cropping are sold by garden suppliers and potato merchants anytime from mid...
Fewer, bigger fruits are generally more useful than many tiny fruits. We need to thin them to just one or two fruits per cluster. The fruits left to grow on will enjoy more airflow, sunlight and energy from the tree for even ripening.
Begin with a good, strong blast from the hose to knock the whitefly off your plants and onto the ground where they'll perish. It's that time of year again, when wafts – nay, clouds – of whitefly lay siege to summer favorites like tomatoes and cabbage.
Thin the seedling to 3 inches apart in rows spaced 12-18 inches apart. It is cultivated for its high sugar content (up to 20%) and accounts for almost half of the world's sugar production.
None of these techniques are exactly rocket science, but by applying each you'll almost certainly be able to eke out more from your fruiting and pod-producing vegetables – and others for that matter.
That may sound like a solution, but the problem is it also wipes out the beneficial insects – your own private army – at the same time. And don't forget to report any pests you see at BigBugHunt.com .
Ensure they have all the space and nutrients they need by carefully weeding between plants with a hoe or by hand. Unless your soil is naturally alkaline, sprinkle garden lime onto the soil either after you've dug it over, or rake it in at planting time.
Position it somewhere you can easily hear it so it becomes a relaxing backdrop as you go about your business. This has the effect of reducing the air temperature inside to cool your drinks.
Diversify your fall garden with red-skinned Chinese radishes (top), white daikon radishes (right), and watermelon radishes (left) Daikon radishes have long, upright leaves with wavy edges, and some varieties can develop roots more than 12 inches (30cm)...
Ideally chutneys should be left to mature for at least four months before serving – just long enough to make a batch in summer for giving at Christmas. Place them into a pan with your spices, plus sugar and vinegar.
See my Miraculous Micronutrients article for more information on using boron in the vegetable garden. My Swedish grandmother made a rutabaga-potato mash called rutamouse, which resembles Scottish neeps and tatties, or perhaps clapshot in Orkney.
If they are black then you are good to go. This isn't difficult but there is a specific process to do this correctly. After a few weeks like this the seed heads can be rubbed between the palms of your hands to coax the seeds free.
Other seeds don't absolutely require it, but nicking will encourage the seeds to germinate more reliably. Because the bean embryo is attached just under the hilum, it is best to nick the seed opposite this point to avoid causing damage.After nicking,...
Check each one to see if any are firm and separate them from the rotten ones.Rotting is bacterial damage, and it can affect healthy seeds if they are kept together. Learn more about whether drying out wet seeds is possible in this article.There may be...
They are essentially renewable plants, an environmentally responsible way to garden. You may also find your fruits and vegetables are prolific reseeders, sometimes. That being said, these plants can quickly get out of hand without the right management.
While it is sometimes just that easy, the success rate for this process is not particularly high. You can smear some honey directly on your cutting or, if you want, mix up a tea of 1 tbsp.
When selecting a plantable pot, it is important to consider how much time your plants need to start vs. Plantable pots can be made from: peat, manure, rice hulls, paper, coconut coir, bioplastic, wood fiber, and straw.
Many gardeners prefer to water from the bottom, which keeps the surface of the soil drier. (93 C.) oven for 30 minutes.and garden tools in a mixture of one part bleach to 10 parts water.and be careful not to plant the seeds too deep.
Roots will form along the part of the stem that's underground.freestar.queue.push(function() { googletag.display("div-gpt-ad-300x250-ATF-1"); });– Tip layering works by pushing the very tip or point of a stem underground and holding it in place with...
You need to take some extra steps though to ensure that cross pollination does not occur.Prevent Cross Pollination by Growing One Species of PlantOne method is to only grow one variety of a species in your garden.
