Down To Earth Home and Garden | vegetable garden

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As food prices climb higher and organic foods rise in popularity, many homeowners are starting their own home gardens. Of course, supplementing the food supply is not the only reason to maintain a garden. Some nurture a relaxing green getaway in their own backyard by growing fragrant flowers and privacy bushes. No matter what kinds of flora you keep in your garden, it is necessary to allow plants to get plenty of sunlight and water.

Even the savviest gardener cannot control the sun, but the true green thumb knows how to encourage growth through prudent pruning, proper fertilization, and customized watering. The best rate and amount of water to give certain plants often stumps those who are trying to garden for the first time. Finicky species of plants can be just as put off by too much water as they are by dry conditions.

If you find yourself in a dampening dilemma, take a look at these common watering tips:

Research your plants. Just like people, pets, and snowflakes, every plant is different. Depending on where they are found in nature, some may need monsoons while others can go weeks without moisture. Beginning gardeners should try to pick local plants for their first effort, because they are likely to thrive with only natural rainfall levels.

Books, landscapers and nursery owners are all good sources of information about how to care for certain plants. If you are still confused after seeking instruction, set up a simple experiment. Try watering different plants of the same type with the same amount of light at different intervals. Within a few weeks, it should be clear which method produces the desired results. Reliable information is certainly attainable with the proper amount of research, ask around or do your own searches to find the answers you are looking for.

Water in the late evening or early morning. It may seem as though the middle of the afternoon is the perfect time to spend time in the garden tending to the plants, but it is best to leave the patch alone during the day. Plants are working hard in the heat to produce food from the sunlight and store it.

Though it does not hurt or “boil” the plant to water when the sun is at its strongest, the heat and wind cause loss of water and evaporation. This means that less of the moisture actually makes it to the plant. Waiting until the evening or working early in the morning allows the water to soak into the soil. Actually, morning watering is even more preferable because the sun will dry the crust of the dirt and keep the soil around the roots damp for most of the day.

Use the right food. If you decide to add a fertilizer or any other additive to the water, make sure that the product is appropriate for the particular variety of plant. This is especially important for vegetable and herb gardens because certain chemicals can leave harmful substances on the food. The product should have plant recommendations and directions for use clearly listed on the packaging.

Plan irrigation systems carefully. A professional landscaper can create a pleasing green area and advise the homeowner on proper watering techniques, but often they also design irrigation systems. These systems do not always need to be professionally installed, but they do need to be properly planned in order to ensure that all of the plants receive the correct amount of moisture.

Many systems use sprinklers and drip hoses that dampen the soil around the flora on a regular basis. Some can even be set to deliver more liquid to certain areas or change watering frequency automatically at different times of year. These setups also tend to conserve more water than hand watering.

Be consistent. If you opt not to install an automatic irrigation system, make sure to stick to a regular watering schedule. Light, frequent showers encourage strong root systems that are less susceptible to drought. Giving the plant lots of water once a week may produce the same green, healthy appearance, but it will be less likely to bounce back after a dry spell or pruning.

Though watering is essential to the success of your garden, there are a number of other tasks at hand for the home gardener. Nurturing vegetables and flowers from seeds often takes months of hard work, but even planting mature plants can be a challenge. Proper preparation of soil, weeding, pruning, and fertilization are mandatory for a lush, lovely garden.
However, by observing these watering tips, you can get one step closer to growing your dream garden. After all, your plants depend on water to grow into herbs, vegetable, and flowers. Only you can provide them with this live-giving substance.

AeroGarden 6-Pod Seed Kit
Organic Gardening Advantages

The definition of organic gardening is a garden that does not use pesticides to kill pests. This method can be used in either vegetable or flower gardens. In vegetable gardens organic is the safest for you since you will be consuming what you have grown. But, if you utilize it in flower gardening also, it is safest for the environment.

Raising an organic garden has many sound reasons to encourage gardeners to go this route. As mentioned above all of your vegetables will be pesticide free, which means no poison on the food you are growing. While in flower gardening, many people plant flowers that will attract butterflies or bees which you won’t attract if you use pesticides. You especially want to remain pesticide free if you have small children or pets because chemicals could be harmful for them.
Gardening Nature’s Way Organic Gardening Step 1
Your organic garden will be anything but simple gardening. Every garden takes effort and research and your organic garden is no exception. As with all gardens you must start with a plan. Research the plants you wish to grow. Find out what their needs are when it comes to light, fertilizer, PH in the soil and drainage. Be diligent in picking a spot that is well suited to your plants. If you are planting an herb garden select a site that is close to your kitchen door for easy harvesting. Find out if there are companion plants and if there are, consider using them.

When planting an organic garden you will need some really good compost. You can make your compost out of soil and organic matter. Organic matter includes leaves, manure, vegetable refuse, coffee grinds and eggshells. You can include peels from fruits and vegetables. (Potato skins, apple skins, orange rinds, etc.) Start your compost early, find a place to put your compost and work it frequently. By working it I mean turn it with a shovel so the organic material will break down. When you are ready to start planting work your compost into the garden beds before you plant.

Your garden location is very important. You need to pick a spot that gets lots of light and drains well. If it is a very windy spot you will have to figure out some way of sheltering. Don’t pick a low spot on your property since that might flood during heavy rains. You really want to put the garden in a place that has easy access for you and for watering with your hose.

Mentioned above were companion plants. Companion plants are plants that repel unwanted pests. If you plant roses, plant some garlic. It is said that garlic will repel rose’s nemesis, aphids. Cucumber beetles will not be a worry if you plant oregano. Marigolds will also repel many pests. For a good natural pesticide follow this recipe:
The Winter Harvest Handbook: Year Round Vegetable Production Using Deep Organic Techniques and Unheated Greenhouses
In a jar, combine 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid and 1 cup vegetable oil. Shake vigorously. In an empty spray bottle, combine 2 teaspoons of this mixture and 1 cup water. Use at ten-day intervals (or more often if needed) to rid plants of whiteflies, mites, aphids, scales, and other pests.

If you come up with a good plan you can have flowers and vegetables mixed together. Make sure that you know your zone and the conditions that apply in your area. Flower and vegetable gardens will be very different in Alaska than in Florida.

Your organic garden will take some work, but it will not be in vain when you can sit back and enjoy your beautiful blooms or make some culinary delights from the vegetables and herbs you have grown.

Happy Gardening!

Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.

Mary Hanna is an aspiring herbalist who lives in Central Florida. This allows her to grow gardens inside and outside year round. She has published other articles on Cruising, Gardening and Cooking. Visit her websites at Gardening Landscaping Tips Gardening Outside and Herb Gardening

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