Get Ready to Garden: Preparing Your Garden for Planting

Garden

As winter turns to spring, it is time to start working on your garden. Hopefully, you have used the time during winter to think about what vegetables and flowers you plan to grow.

Both vegetable and flower gardens need early preparations to get them ready for planting. The first step is to clear away all the debris from last year’s garden and put dead vegetable matter into your new compost pile.

All leaves, stems and twigs from last year’s crop should be placed into a new compost pile. Dead weeds should be placed in the trash for disposal as you should have done all during the growing season to prevent further propagation of the unwanted plants.

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Tips for Growing Cabbage in Your Garden

by Robert Donaldson

Green Cabbage

Cabbage is one of the most popular gardening crops for the home gardener. There are many varieties available, many of which can be grown during all seasons of the year. Cabbage leaves can be crinkled or smooth depending on the variety. Cabbage can have leaves that are green or purple in color. The heads can be round, flat or pointed and reach a weight of up to three pounds.

In recent years, varieties of cabbage with a more delicate flavor have been developed. Or you can choose to grow the mild flavored Chinese cabbage which has gained in popularity. (cont’d)

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Red Cabbage

Creating the Perfect Garden

Beefsteak Tomatoes

Would you like to create the perfect garden at home and enjoy the benefits of your efforts? Would you like to enjoy the results of eating better? Would you like to have better health through exercising by working in  your garden? Would you like to have a way to relax and unwind from a hard day’ of work?

If you would like to reap these benefits, then gardening is the way to go. It costs little and can save you money on food. Gardening will provide you with pesticide-free, healthy food. And what better way to relax than to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air outdoors.

The first thing you need to do is think about what you would like to grow. This would include any herbs, vegetables, and flowering plants you enjoy eating or seeing in your garden. Vegetables can be successfully grown in all areas of the United States. Tomatoes, beans, carrots, asparagus and corn are are some of the favorites. Do a Google Search for plants that grow well in your area.

Carrots

Next, you will want to draw a layout of your garden. A good method for your garden layout is the Zone Method. With the Zone Method you group different plants together so that they benefit each other by providing shade and allowing for water retention. The premise of the Zone Method is to divide your garden into “zones”. You could have one zone for herbs, another for vegetables, another for leafy vegetables, another for flowers. You are only limited by your imagination when planning out your garden.

Certain plants do better when planted near other plants. This is called companion planting. When you visit your nursery of garden shop consult the staff about your gardening layout plan. They should be able to give you plenty of helpful advice.

A successful garden begins with thought and planning. With the right planning and effort, your garden should provide you with much enjoyment and a bountiful harvest.

Green Beans

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Tips for Growing Artichokes

Green Globe Artichoke

Artichokes are one of those vegetables that most gardeners avoid simply because it is sometimes seen as an exotic vegetable that requires lots of care. On the contrary, artichokes need little special care and can be grown in many most parts of the US. Growing artichokes can be a challenge, but they can become a gardening favorite once you learn how to grow them and have had a chance to enjoy the rich, earthy flavor of steamed artichokes with dipping sauce.

The artichoke is thought to have originated in the Middle East and later became popular in the Mediterranean region with Italy and Spain leading the world in production. They are often grown as an ornamental because of their silvery leaves and beautiful lavender and blue flowers. The plants can reach heights of up to four feet and are often just a wide…(Click Here to Read Entire Article)

Artichokes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Tips for Growing Okra in Your Garden

Okra

Okra is a very popular gardening crop, especially in the Southern part of the US. Okra is also known as “gumbo,” “Ladies Fingers” and “Quimbombo,” among many other names. Okra is native to North Africa where wild okra can still be found growing in the rich soil along the banks of the Nile.

Okra is a warm weather vegetable crop that is often added to soups and stews. It can be boiled, steamed, fried or pickled. Pickled okra is a very popular recipe in the Southern part of the US.

The okra plants can reach a height of up to six feet. Newer hybrid varieties are available that are not quite as tall, making it easier to harvest the pods. Okra need space between plants to allow sunlight to penetrate to the stalk where the pods form…

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Protecting Your Garden from Animal Intruders

Head Cabbage

Animal intruders may eat whatever crop you choose to grow. It can be frustrating to go to your garden one day and discover that your crop has been decimated by that cute little rabbit or deer that has found a nutritious and convenient source of food. Avoid using chemical animal repellents as the ingredients in many of these are of questionable safety.

 

A garden, with is diverse selection of crisp green plants and tender shoots, seems to attract a host of intruders–especially game and rodents. The tasty vegetables you are trying to grow may fall victim to rats, mice, moles, rabbits and even pets that live in your area.

The simplest solution to the problem of animal intruders is to place a fence around your garden. If rabbits, rats, moles or cats and dogs are a problem, a three foot tall fence should do the trick. For deer, make the fence four to six feet tall. Make sure the fence is sturdy enough to keep out the deer. Hang streamers of brightly colored ribbon along the top of the fence to make it more visible. Avoid using traps. These invariably injure or even kill the intruders. The idea is to deter invasive species while, at the same time, avoiding harm or destruction to animals that are a part of the environment.

 

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Protecting Your Garden from Insect Pests

Insect pests can wreak havoc on your garden. Some insects, such as bees and ladybugs are a necessary part of successful gardening. These beneficial insects provide for plant pollination and the control of unwanted  attacks by the more harmful insects.

Pollination by bees is important to allow your plants to produce seeds for next year’s crop. Some plants are by choice bred to discourage seed production as in the case of parthenocarpic fruit. But for the most part, seed production is a part of the growing cycle of most crops.

Some growers even place bee hives near their garden or field to promote pollination. At other times, however, this is not needed because bees are naturally attracted to the flowers produced by plants.

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Tips for Growing Okra in Your Garden

Okra

Okra is a very popular gardening crop, especially in the Southern part of the US. Okra is also known as “gumbo,” “Ladies Fingers” and “Quimbombo,” among many other names. Okra is native to North Africa where wild okra can still be found growing in the rich soil along the banks of the Nile.

Okra is a warm weather vegetable crop that is often added to soups and stews. It can be boiled, steamed, fried or pickled. Pickled okra is a very popular recipe in the Southern part of the US.

The okra plants can reach a height of up to six feet. Newer hybrid varieties are available that are not quite as tall, making it easier to harvest the pods. Okra need space between plants to allow sunlight to penetrate to the stalk where the pods form.

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Growing Cucumbers in Your Garden

Cucumbers are a gardening  favorite. Crisp, delicious “cukes” are easy to grow and can be used in many salad recipes. They can also be pickled and stored for later use.

The cucumber is a warm weather crop that matures in about 50-65 days. Cucumbers are in the same family as pumpkins and squash so they require similar care. The plants produce long vines that need lots of room for growth. If you have a trellis or fence nearby, it is easy to train the vines of your plants to grow upward off the ground.

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Build a Cold Frame for Winter Gardening

Cold Frame

 

A cold frame is an enclosed structure that allows you to grow garden crops in winter. The cold frame can be a simple three- or four-sided structure built of scrap wooden boards or concrete blocks that abuts an existing structure. The four sided cold frame can be a free-standing structure. 

With a little care, you should be able to have fresh vegetables 12 months of the year. The cold frame will also give you a head start in sprouting seeds for planting in spring. 

Before building your cold frame, select a location that receives sunlight for most of the day. The cold frame should be placed in a location facing south. The next best location is to place your cold frame in an area facing west. Avoid placing the cold frame in the shade of overhanging tree limbs. Select an area with a gentle slope for better drainage. 

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