Retaining wall blocks that mimic stone are easy to work with, and their uniform size simplifies bed construction. A terraced vegetable garden stabilized by raw wood follows similar processes, only from the side.
Cool-season Cover Crops Parts of the garden that won't be planted until late spring are prime spots for growing cool-season cover crops , also known as green manures because they are grown to benefit the soil.
Secure it at the sides with rocks or bricks. Remove the cover during the day or leave it in place if it is forecast to remain cold. Simply pop the fruit(s) into a paper bag then loosely close it at the top.
It's naturally full of potassium, which fruit and pod-bearing plants love. Top up mulches with new material. Keep on Picking to Keep Plants Producing The first rule with any fruit or pod-producing vegetable is to keep up with the picking.
Compost any remaining plant debris from the beds once the crop is cleared to prevent pests hiding out under leaves or in dead stems, and give greenhouses and hoop houses a good clean once a year.
Summer cabbages are the first to be sown, in mid spring, followed by autumn and winter types later on in spring. Spring cabbages are sown from the second half of summer to harvest the following year.
Cheers! < All Guides If you're patient, why not lay down plans for a country wine or two? Place your beers, wine or sodas inside, then lay a soaked towel over the top. As well as the usual patio set of table and chairs, consider installing a bench in...
Violet ‘Sweet Baby' won an All America Selections Award in 2016 for its taste, vigor and uniformity. Watermelon radishes provide a unique color in the kitchen that's welcome in salads, sandwiches and sushi Thin slices of watermelon radish turn any salad...
The cooking process then needs to be stopped in its tracks by plunging the blanched vegetables into ice-cold water (I use a clean bucket of water stuffed with fistfuls of ice). No matter how meticulous you are with planning crop timings, there's always...
Plants Related to this Article Rutabaga Grow Guide Bugs, Beneficial Insects and Plant Diseases Flea Beetle Guide Aphids (General) Guide Aphid, Cabbage Guide < All Guides The best rutabagas are harvested from cool soil after autumn leaves start to fall.
Saving Onion & Leek Seeds Onions, leeks and shallots set seed in their second year. It'll save you money, closes the loop on your growing but, above all, it's delightfully satisfying.
It's better to use a more powerful tool and make a clean cut than to struggle to force the blade of a lightweight tool through a thick branch. They look like they've been used for shotgun target practice, giving the disease its alternative name of ‘shothole'...
Keep them whole or halved for dropping into spicy homemade curries, or pulverise them first – in the food processor or with the end of a weighty rolling pin (somewhat noisy but strangely satisfying!).
This means you can water carefully and precisely, enjoying the convenience of a hose – without wasting a drop! Water from the Bottom Watering pots from the bottom, rather than the top, can save a lot of time – and water – in hot weather.
If you want to grow potatoes in the ground first consider how much of the growing season is left. You can also protect plants against light frosts by wrapping the container in layers of corrugated cardboard or bubble wrap.
Selectively removing young fruits is called thinning. Plums are notorious for over-producing – with often-disastrous results. Thin fruits clusters to two fruits, so there's around 4-6 inches (10-15cm) between fruits.
Here are five tactical techniques to help you banish the bugs: 1. They'll feast on aphids too. With an initial assault complete, it's now time to apply an organic insecticidal soap, again taking great care to cover all areas of the leaf including, crucially,...
Harvesting Harvest in early summer when the tops begin to fail, and the bulbs have divided into several plump bulblets. Companions Beet, Chamomile, Carrot, Strawberry, Lettuce, Chinese Cabbage and Cabbage.
You can also coat the fingertips of a yellow rubber glove with petroleum jelly to make it easier to collect any beetles clustered in blossoms. Preventing Problems: Plants including buckwheat, borage, catnip and radishes attract numerous beneficial that...
Crop Rotation Group Miscellaneous ● Soil Any average, well drained soil. Troubleshooting Beware of sleepy bees when pruning or otherwise working with mature borage plants. Planting and Harvesting Calendar < Back to All Plants Pests which Affect Borage...
Managing Outbreaks: Remove badly damaged plants, as the maggots can move from one plant to another. Frequently the plant will break off as you pull it from the ground. Preventing Problems: Floating row covers (fleece) are an effective way to prevent egg...
Dried valerian roots are used to make a bedtime tea that promotes sleep. After two years, valerian will grow into a 18" (45 cm) wide clump. Companions Echinacea, Catnip, Agastache and Dill.
Locate it where leaves can be conveniently picked, crushed and sniffed. Spacing Single Plants: 1' 11" (60cm) each way (minimum) Rows: 1' 11" (60cm) with 1' 11" (60cm) row gap (minimum) Sow and Plant Start with a purchased plant, or obtain a rooted piece...
Most tulips are hardy to -35F (-37C); cold tolerance varies with species. Position Full sun. As the flowers fade in the garden, trim them off with scissors or pruning shears. Frost tolerant Excellent.
Harvesting Snip off spent blossoms to keep plants looking neat, and to prolong flowering. Spacing Single Plants: 7" (20cm) each way (minimum) Rows: 7" (20cm) with 11" (30cm) row gap (minimum) Sow and Plant Sow tiny ageratum seeds atop moist seed starting...
Set out after the last frost has passed, when the soil is warm and settled. Companions Marigold, Broccoli, Chives, Mint, Borage, Parsley, Basil, Pepper, Asparagus, Monarda, Lettuce, Garlic, Dill and Calendula.
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.
