文章
Dummer. ゛☀
2017年08月06日
PLANT TYPE: Vegetable
SUN EXPOSURE: Full Sun
SOIL TYPE: Any
SOIL PH: Neutral
Brussels sprouts are a member of the cabbage family, and an excellent source of protein and vitamins. They have a long growing season, and are generally more successful when grown for a fall harvest, as they only increase in flavor after a light frost or two.
PLANTING
Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last spring frost.
While starting seeds indoors is recommended, you may also direct sow seeds 4 months before the first fall frost. You may also have luck finding seedlings at a nursery.
Raised beds are especially recommended for cold season vegetables, especially when seasons are changing and temps are not consistent.
Work fertilizer into soil a few days before planting or transplanting.
Plant transplant seedlings 12-24 inches apart.
If direct sowing seeds, plant ½ inch deep and 2-3 inches apart. Thin plants to 12-24 inches apart when they reach 6 inches tall.
Water well at time of planting/transplanting.
CARE
Fertilize three weeks after transplanting.
Mulch to retain moisture and keep the soil temperature cool.
Do not cultivate, roots are shallow and susceptible to damage.
PESTS/DISEASES
Aphids
Cabbage Root Maggots
Flea Beetles
Clubroot
Downy Mildew
White Mold
SUN EXPOSURE: Full Sun
SOIL TYPE: Any
SOIL PH: Neutral
Brussels sprouts are a member of the cabbage family, and an excellent source of protein and vitamins. They have a long growing season, and are generally more successful when grown for a fall harvest, as they only increase in flavor after a light frost or two.
PLANTING
Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last spring frost.
While starting seeds indoors is recommended, you may also direct sow seeds 4 months before the first fall frost. You may also have luck finding seedlings at a nursery.
Raised beds are especially recommended for cold season vegetables, especially when seasons are changing and temps are not consistent.
Work fertilizer into soil a few days before planting or transplanting.
Plant transplant seedlings 12-24 inches apart.
If direct sowing seeds, plant ½ inch deep and 2-3 inches apart. Thin plants to 12-24 inches apart when they reach 6 inches tall.
Water well at time of planting/transplanting.
CARE
Fertilize three weeks after transplanting.
Mulch to retain moisture and keep the soil temperature cool.
Do not cultivate, roots are shallow and susceptible to damage.
PESTS/DISEASES
Aphids
Cabbage Root Maggots
Flea Beetles
Clubroot
Downy Mildew
White Mold
0
0
文章
Dummer. ゛☀
2017年08月06日
BOTANICAL NAME: Brassica oleracea
PLANT TYPE: Vegetable
SUN EXPOSURE: Full Sun
SOIL TYPE: Sandy
SOIL PH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral
Broccoli is a cool-season crop that, like spinach, can be grown in the spring or fall. Here’s how to grow broccoli in your garden.
With broccoli, you may even be able to get a continual harvest throughout the summer and fall if you practice succession gardening. A member of the cabbage family, broccoli is rich in vitamins.
PLANTING
Broccoli can germinate in soil with temperatures as low as 40ºF.
Broccoli requires full sun and moist, fertile soil that’s slightly acidic. Work in 2 to 4 inches of rich compost or a thin layer of manure before planting.For spring plantings, seed or set transplants 2 to 3 weeks before last spring frost date. (See local frost dates.) If you transplant, assume 10 less days for growth or the “days to maturity” on the seed packet.
For fall plantings, seed 85 to 100 days before your average first fall frost. If you live in a warm climate, a fall planting is best, as broccoli thrives in cool weather. Plant seeds in mid- to late-summer in most places.
Plant seeds ½ inch deep, or set transplants slightly deeper than they were grown originally.
Within a row, space your plants 12 to 24 inches apart with 36 inches between each row.
Space plants 12 to 24 inches apart, depending on the side heads you want to harvest.
If you overseed, you will need to thin seedlings to 12 inches apart to give room for the broccoli to grow.
CARE
Fertilize three weeks after transplanting.
Provide consistent soil moisture with regular watering, especially in drought conditions. Some varieties of broccoli are heat tolerant, but all need moisture.
Do not get developing heads wet when watering.
Roots are very shallow, do not cultivate. Suffocate weeds with mulch.
Mulch will also help to keep soil temperatures down.
PESTS/DISEASES
Flea Beetles
Aphids: Curling leaves may mean that the plant’s sap is being sucked by insects. Apply soapy water to all sides of leaves whenever you see aphids.
Downy mildew: Yellow patches on leaves are usually caused by moist weather. Keep leaves as dry as possible with good air circulation. Buy resistant varieties.
Cabbage loopers: Small holes on the leaves between the veins mean small green caterpillars are present. Look at the undersides of the leaves. Hand pick if the problem is small or control with Bacillus thuringiensis. Use a floating row cover just after planting through harvest to prevent caterpillars.
Cabbageworms and other worm pests: Treat same as loopers.
Cabbage root maggots
Whiteflies
Nitrogen deficiency: If the bottom leaves turn yellow and the problem continues toward the top of the plant, the plants need a high nitrogen (but low phosphorus) fertilizer or blood meal. Blood meal is a quick nitrogen fix for yellowing leaves.
Clubroot: Quickly wilting plants may be due to this fungus in the soil. The entire plant, including all roots and root tendrils, must be gently dug up and removed. If the roots are gnarled and misshapen, then clubroot is the problem. Act quickly to remove the plants so that the fungus doesn’t continue to live in the soil. Do not compost the plants. Raise the pH of your soil to above 7.2. You may need to sterilize your soil, too.
PLANT TYPE: Vegetable
SUN EXPOSURE: Full Sun
SOIL TYPE: Sandy
SOIL PH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral
Broccoli is a cool-season crop that, like spinach, can be grown in the spring or fall. Here’s how to grow broccoli in your garden.
With broccoli, you may even be able to get a continual harvest throughout the summer and fall if you practice succession gardening. A member of the cabbage family, broccoli is rich in vitamins.
PLANTING
Broccoli can germinate in soil with temperatures as low as 40ºF.
Broccoli requires full sun and moist, fertile soil that’s slightly acidic. Work in 2 to 4 inches of rich compost or a thin layer of manure before planting.For spring plantings, seed or set transplants 2 to 3 weeks before last spring frost date. (See local frost dates.) If you transplant, assume 10 less days for growth or the “days to maturity” on the seed packet.
For fall plantings, seed 85 to 100 days before your average first fall frost. If you live in a warm climate, a fall planting is best, as broccoli thrives in cool weather. Plant seeds in mid- to late-summer in most places.
Plant seeds ½ inch deep, or set transplants slightly deeper than they were grown originally.
Within a row, space your plants 12 to 24 inches apart with 36 inches between each row.
Space plants 12 to 24 inches apart, depending on the side heads you want to harvest.
If you overseed, you will need to thin seedlings to 12 inches apart to give room for the broccoli to grow.
CARE
Fertilize three weeks after transplanting.
Provide consistent soil moisture with regular watering, especially in drought conditions. Some varieties of broccoli are heat tolerant, but all need moisture.
Do not get developing heads wet when watering.
Roots are very shallow, do not cultivate. Suffocate weeds with mulch.
Mulch will also help to keep soil temperatures down.
PESTS/DISEASES
Flea Beetles
Aphids: Curling leaves may mean that the plant’s sap is being sucked by insects. Apply soapy water to all sides of leaves whenever you see aphids.
Downy mildew: Yellow patches on leaves are usually caused by moist weather. Keep leaves as dry as possible with good air circulation. Buy resistant varieties.
Cabbage loopers: Small holes on the leaves between the veins mean small green caterpillars are present. Look at the undersides of the leaves. Hand pick if the problem is small or control with Bacillus thuringiensis. Use a floating row cover just after planting through harvest to prevent caterpillars.
Cabbageworms and other worm pests: Treat same as loopers.
Cabbage root maggots
Whiteflies
Nitrogen deficiency: If the bottom leaves turn yellow and the problem continues toward the top of the plant, the plants need a high nitrogen (but low phosphorus) fertilizer or blood meal. Blood meal is a quick nitrogen fix for yellowing leaves.
Clubroot: Quickly wilting plants may be due to this fungus in the soil. The entire plant, including all roots and root tendrils, must be gently dug up and removed. If the roots are gnarled and misshapen, then clubroot is the problem. Act quickly to remove the plants so that the fungus doesn’t continue to live in the soil. Do not compost the plants. Raise the pH of your soil to above 7.2. You may need to sterilize your soil, too.
1
0
文章
Dummer. ゛☀
2017年08月06日
BOTANICAL NAME: Capsicum annuum
PLANT TYPE: Vegetable
SUN EXPOSURE: Full Sun
SOIL TYPE: Loamy
SOIL PH: Neutral
Peppers resist most garden pests and offer something for everyone: spicy, sweet, or hot; and a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. For this page, we will focus on sweet bell peppers.
PLANTING
Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last spring frost date.
The temperature must be at least 70° F for seed germination, so keep them in a warm area for the best and fastest results.
Start pepper seeds three to a pot, and thin out the weakest seedling. Let the remaining two pepper plants spend their entire lives together as one plant. The leaves of two plants help protect peppers against sunscald and the yield is often twice as good as two segregated plants.
Begin to harden off plants about 10 days before transplanting.
A week before transplanting, introduce fertilizer or aged compost into your garden soil.
After the danger of frost has passed, transplant seedlings outdoors, 18 to 24 inches apart (but keep paired plants close to touching.)
Soil should be at least 65° F, as peppers will not survive transplanting at temps any colder. Northern gardeners can warm up the soil by covering it with black plastic.
Put two or three match sticks in the hole with each plant, along with about a teaspoon of fertilizer. These give the plants a bit of sulfur, which they like.
CARE
Soil should be well drained, but be sure to maintain adequate moisture either with mulch or plastic covering.
Water one to two inches per week, but remember that peppers are extremely heat sensitive. If you live in a warm or desert climate, watering everyday may be necessary.
Fertilize after the first fruit set.
Weed carefully around plants.
If necessary, support plants with cages or stakes to prevent bending. Try commercially available cone-shaped wire tomato cages. They may not be ideal for tomatoes, but they are just the thing for peppers. Or, build your own garden supports.
For larger fruit, spray the plants with a solution of one tablespoon of Epsom salts in a gallon of water, once when it begins to bloom, and once ten days later.
PESTS/DISEASES
Aphids
Flea Beetles
Cucumber Mosaic Virus
Blossom-End Rot appears as a soft, sunken area which turns darker in color.
Pollination can be reduced in temperatures below 60° F and above 90° F.
Too much nitrogen will reduce fruit from setting.
PLANT TYPE: Vegetable
SUN EXPOSURE: Full Sun
SOIL TYPE: Loamy
SOIL PH: Neutral
Peppers resist most garden pests and offer something for everyone: spicy, sweet, or hot; and a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. For this page, we will focus on sweet bell peppers.
PLANTING
Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last spring frost date.
The temperature must be at least 70° F for seed germination, so keep them in a warm area for the best and fastest results.
Start pepper seeds three to a pot, and thin out the weakest seedling. Let the remaining two pepper plants spend their entire lives together as one plant. The leaves of two plants help protect peppers against sunscald and the yield is often twice as good as two segregated plants.
Begin to harden off plants about 10 days before transplanting.
A week before transplanting, introduce fertilizer or aged compost into your garden soil.
After the danger of frost has passed, transplant seedlings outdoors, 18 to 24 inches apart (but keep paired plants close to touching.)
Soil should be at least 65° F, as peppers will not survive transplanting at temps any colder. Northern gardeners can warm up the soil by covering it with black plastic.
Put two or three match sticks in the hole with each plant, along with about a teaspoon of fertilizer. These give the plants a bit of sulfur, which they like.
CARE
Soil should be well drained, but be sure to maintain adequate moisture either with mulch or plastic covering.
Water one to two inches per week, but remember that peppers are extremely heat sensitive. If you live in a warm or desert climate, watering everyday may be necessary.
Fertilize after the first fruit set.
Weed carefully around plants.
If necessary, support plants with cages or stakes to prevent bending. Try commercially available cone-shaped wire tomato cages. They may not be ideal for tomatoes, but they are just the thing for peppers. Or, build your own garden supports.
For larger fruit, spray the plants with a solution of one tablespoon of Epsom salts in a gallon of water, once when it begins to bloom, and once ten days later.
PESTS/DISEASES
Aphids
Flea Beetles
Cucumber Mosaic Virus
Blossom-End Rot appears as a soft, sunken area which turns darker in color.
Pollination can be reduced in temperatures below 60° F and above 90° F.
Too much nitrogen will reduce fruit from setting.
1
0
文章
Dummer. ゛☀
2017年08月06日
BOTANICAL NAME: Beta vulgaris
PLANT TYPE: Vegetable
SUN EXPOSURE: Full SunPart Sun
SOIL TYPE: LoamySandy
SOIL PH: Neutral
Beets are a cool season vegetable crop. This root veggie grows quickly and has many different varieties, which showcase deep red, yellow, or white bulbs of different shapes.
Beets can survive frost and almost freezing temperatures, which makes them a great choice for northern gardeners and an excellent long-season crop.
PLANTING
A soil pH above 5.5–6 is best, otherwise growth will be stunted. Beets are a good indicator of soil pH.
Till in aged manure before planting. Beets require especially good nutrition and a high phosphorus level to germinate. Go easy on nitrogen however, an excess will cause sprawling greens and tiny bulbs beneath the soil. Wait until soil reaches 50°F before planting.
Plant seeds ½ inch deep and 1-2 inches apart.
Make sure soil remains moist for germination.
In zones with low moisture and rainfall, soak the seeds for 24 hours before planting.
Early crop can be planted in March/April, and late crop anytime from June to September. Successive plantings are also possible as long as the weather doesn’t exceed 75°F. Space plantings about 20 days apart.
Winter crops are a definite possibility in Zone 9 and above.
CARE
Thinning is necessary, as you may get more than one seedling out of each seed. Thin when they reach about 2 inches high by pinching them off. Pulling them out of the ground may disturb the roots of nearby seedlings.
Established plants should be thinned to 3–4 inches between plants.
Mulch and water well. Beets need to maintain plenty of moisture.
Any necessary cultivation should be gentle, beets have shallow roots that are easily disturbed.
PESTS/DISEASES
Flea Beetles
Leaf Hoppers
Mexican Bean Beetles
PLANT TYPE: Vegetable
SUN EXPOSURE: Full SunPart Sun
SOIL TYPE: LoamySandy
SOIL PH: Neutral
Beets are a cool season vegetable crop. This root veggie grows quickly and has many different varieties, which showcase deep red, yellow, or white bulbs of different shapes.
Beets can survive frost and almost freezing temperatures, which makes them a great choice for northern gardeners and an excellent long-season crop.
PLANTING
A soil pH above 5.5–6 is best, otherwise growth will be stunted. Beets are a good indicator of soil pH.
Till in aged manure before planting. Beets require especially good nutrition and a high phosphorus level to germinate. Go easy on nitrogen however, an excess will cause sprawling greens and tiny bulbs beneath the soil. Wait until soil reaches 50°F before planting.
Plant seeds ½ inch deep and 1-2 inches apart.
Make sure soil remains moist for germination.
In zones with low moisture and rainfall, soak the seeds for 24 hours before planting.
Early crop can be planted in March/April, and late crop anytime from June to September. Successive plantings are also possible as long as the weather doesn’t exceed 75°F. Space plantings about 20 days apart.
Winter crops are a definite possibility in Zone 9 and above.
CARE
Thinning is necessary, as you may get more than one seedling out of each seed. Thin when they reach about 2 inches high by pinching them off. Pulling them out of the ground may disturb the roots of nearby seedlings.
Established plants should be thinned to 3–4 inches between plants.
Mulch and water well. Beets need to maintain plenty of moisture.
Any necessary cultivation should be gentle, beets have shallow roots that are easily disturbed.
PESTS/DISEASES
Flea Beetles
Leaf Hoppers
Mexican Bean Beetles
0
1
文章
Dummer. ゛☀
2017年08月06日
BOTANICAL NAME: Phaseolus vulgaris
PLANT TYPE: Vegetable
SUN EXPOSURE: Full Sun
SOIL TYPE: Loamy
Green beans are delicious eaten fresh off the plant or incorporated into a recipe.
The main difference between bush and pole beans is the plants’ growing styles: bush beans tend to grow more compactly and do not require support, while pole beans will vine and need to be grown up stakes or trellises. Bush beans generally require less maintenance and are easier to grow, but pole beans typically yield more beans and are very disease resistant.
PLANTING
Pole beans will grow as a climbing vine that may reach up to 15 feet tall. Therefore, pole beans require a trellis or staking. Bush beans will spread up to 2 feet, but do not require support. Watch this video to learn how to support beans properly.
Do not start seeds indoors; they may not survive transplanting.
Seeds can be sown outdoors anytime after the last spring frost; minimum soil temperature is 48 degrees F. Plant 1 inch deep in normal soil, and a little deeper for sandier soils. Cover soil to warm if necessary.
Bush beans: Plant 2 inches apart.
Pole beans: Set up trellises, or “cattle panels,” and plant 3 inches apart.
If you like pole beans, an easy support for them is a “cattle panel”—a portable section of wire fence—16 feet long and 5 feet tall. The beans will climb with ease and you won’t have to get into contorted positions to pick them.
For a harvest that lasts all summer, sow beans every 2 weeks. If you’re going to be away, skip a planting. Beans do not wait for anyone.
Rotate crops each year.
CARE
Mulch soil to retain moisture; make sure that it is well-drained.
Water regularly, from start of pod to set. Water on sunny days so foliage will not remain soaked.
Beans require normal soil fertility. Only fertilize where levels are low. Begin after heavy bloom and set of pods.
Use a light hand when applying high-nitrogen fertilizer, or you will get lush foliage and few beans.
Weed diligently and use shallow cultivation to prevent disturbing the root systems.
PESTS/DISEASES
Aphids
Mexican Bean Beetles
Japanese Beetles
Cucumber Beetles
White Mold
Mosaic Viruses
Woodchucks
Cutworms
Bean blossoms will drop from the plant if the weather is too hot, and too much nitrogen in the soil will prevent pods from setting.
PLANT TYPE: Vegetable
SUN EXPOSURE: Full Sun
SOIL TYPE: Loamy
Green beans are delicious eaten fresh off the plant or incorporated into a recipe.
The main difference between bush and pole beans is the plants’ growing styles: bush beans tend to grow more compactly and do not require support, while pole beans will vine and need to be grown up stakes or trellises. Bush beans generally require less maintenance and are easier to grow, but pole beans typically yield more beans and are very disease resistant.
PLANTING
Pole beans will grow as a climbing vine that may reach up to 15 feet tall. Therefore, pole beans require a trellis or staking. Bush beans will spread up to 2 feet, but do not require support. Watch this video to learn how to support beans properly.
Do not start seeds indoors; they may not survive transplanting.
Seeds can be sown outdoors anytime after the last spring frost; minimum soil temperature is 48 degrees F. Plant 1 inch deep in normal soil, and a little deeper for sandier soils. Cover soil to warm if necessary.
Bush beans: Plant 2 inches apart.
Pole beans: Set up trellises, or “cattle panels,” and plant 3 inches apart.
If you like pole beans, an easy support for them is a “cattle panel”—a portable section of wire fence—16 feet long and 5 feet tall. The beans will climb with ease and you won’t have to get into contorted positions to pick them.
For a harvest that lasts all summer, sow beans every 2 weeks. If you’re going to be away, skip a planting. Beans do not wait for anyone.
Rotate crops each year.
CARE
Mulch soil to retain moisture; make sure that it is well-drained.
Water regularly, from start of pod to set. Water on sunny days so foliage will not remain soaked.
Beans require normal soil fertility. Only fertilize where levels are low. Begin after heavy bloom and set of pods.
Use a light hand when applying high-nitrogen fertilizer, or you will get lush foliage and few beans.
Weed diligently and use shallow cultivation to prevent disturbing the root systems.
PESTS/DISEASES
Aphids
Mexican Bean Beetles
Japanese Beetles
Cucumber Beetles
White Mold
Mosaic Viruses
Woodchucks
Cutworms
Bean blossoms will drop from the plant if the weather is too hot, and too much nitrogen in the soil will prevent pods from setting.
0
0
文章
Dummer. ゛☀
2017年08月06日
BOTANICAL NAME: Asparagus officinalis
PLANT TYPE: Vegetable
SUN EXPOSURE: Full Sun
SOIL TYPE: Sandy
SOIL PH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral
Asparagus is a perennial bulb and stem vegetable that greets us every spring. Here’s how to grow asparagus in your garden.
Asparagus plants may take 2 to 3 years to truly get started and produce, so patience is needed! But then again, the plant can be productive up to 20 years, so we think it’s worth the wait.
Asparagus has male and female plants, with the female plants producing berries. Regions with cool winters are best for this cool-season crop.
PLANTING
Asparagus is planted in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked. The plant is grown from “crowns” (1-year-old plants).
Eliminate all weeds from the bed, digging it over and working in a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost, manure or soil mix. (Learn more about soil amendments and preparing soil for planting.)
Dig trenches of about 6 inches wide and 6 to 12 inches deep. Some experts believe shallow trenches of 6 inches are best.
Asparagus does not like to have its feet “wet,” so be sure your bed has good drainage. For that reason, raised beds can be a good place to plant asparagus. Learn how to make a raised garden bed.
Create a mound in the trench and plant the crowns 15 to 18 inches apart, spreading the roots over the ridge.
Cover the roots and crowns with soil 2 inches deep and water thoroughly.
As the stems grow, fill in the rest of the trench with soil, leaving 3 to 4 inches of the stem exposed.
For more planting tips, see our page on growing asparagus from seed.
CARE
When the trench is filled, add a 4 to 8 inch layer of mulch and water regularly.
Do not harvest the spears in the first year, but cut down dead foliage in late fall and side-dress with compost.
During the second year, keep the bed thickly mulched, side-dress in spring and early fall, and cut down dead foliage in late fall.
PESTS/DISEASES
Asparagus beetles
Cutworms
Slugs
Crown rot
Rust
Asparagus is considered a deer-resistant plant, so plant it near more susceptible crops.
PLANT TYPE: Vegetable
SUN EXPOSURE: Full Sun
SOIL TYPE: Sandy
SOIL PH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral
Asparagus is a perennial bulb and stem vegetable that greets us every spring. Here’s how to grow asparagus in your garden.
Asparagus plants may take 2 to 3 years to truly get started and produce, so patience is needed! But then again, the plant can be productive up to 20 years, so we think it’s worth the wait.
Asparagus has male and female plants, with the female plants producing berries. Regions with cool winters are best for this cool-season crop.
PLANTING
Asparagus is planted in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked. The plant is grown from “crowns” (1-year-old plants).
Eliminate all weeds from the bed, digging it over and working in a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost, manure or soil mix. (Learn more about soil amendments and preparing soil for planting.)
Dig trenches of about 6 inches wide and 6 to 12 inches deep. Some experts believe shallow trenches of 6 inches are best.
Asparagus does not like to have its feet “wet,” so be sure your bed has good drainage. For that reason, raised beds can be a good place to plant asparagus. Learn how to make a raised garden bed.
Create a mound in the trench and plant the crowns 15 to 18 inches apart, spreading the roots over the ridge.
Cover the roots and crowns with soil 2 inches deep and water thoroughly.
As the stems grow, fill in the rest of the trench with soil, leaving 3 to 4 inches of the stem exposed.
For more planting tips, see our page on growing asparagus from seed.
CARE
When the trench is filled, add a 4 to 8 inch layer of mulch and water regularly.
Do not harvest the spears in the first year, but cut down dead foliage in late fall and side-dress with compost.
During the second year, keep the bed thickly mulched, side-dress in spring and early fall, and cut down dead foliage in late fall.
PESTS/DISEASES
Asparagus beetles
Cutworms
Slugs
Crown rot
Rust
Asparagus is considered a deer-resistant plant, so plant it near more susceptible crops.
1
0
文章
Dummer. ゛☀
2017年06月30日
Nickname upon food
The dish is also called mature, and secondly, beans, rouge, the purple leaf angle soft ginger, vine vegetable, vegetables, sunflower and other aliases Zhong rouge.
The growth habit of Chan food
The dish is comparison of plant tolerance to high temperature and high humidity, it is love loose fertile sandy soil. The requirement of illumination is not high, and the suitable temperature for growth is between 25 and 30 degrees, and the soil should be kept moist.
The food is generally sowing reproduction.
Upon the role of food
The dish has a certain role in the garden, the plants and flowers are lovely, can be used as a decorative window, etc..
However, its biggest use is to eat, often used as vegetables, the taste is very good.
When eating is picking it near the stem part of the stem and leaf shape, a bit like broccoli, green green. Leaves, leaves alternate, heart shaped, 8-15 cm long, 9-16 cm wide, 0.2 cm thick, fleshy, fleshy, smooth, glabrous, with a short handle, can grow massive axillary bulbils, 2-4 cm long, 1-3 cm wide.
The young leaves and shoots soft and smooth, suitable for the boiling water, it is rich in vitamin C, calcium and carotene, can heat, cooling blood, slippery bowel, detoxification, enjoyed "hundred dishes king" reputation. The Song Dynasty Su Dongpo praise it "seems to be the enemy Chun soup". "Guangdong language" that it "leaves and edible, slightly sour in taste, are advised to fish soup". But people think it is more Chan (mucus), "said Chan food derogatory". Guangdong folk in cooking practice, find a method to make dishes Chan Chan Chan, the vegetable broth is made out of soup, it cool sweet, soft and smooth, with heat dampness, facilitate the bowels of the power, for the summer when the delicious family soup.
The dish is also called mature, and secondly, beans, rouge, the purple leaf angle soft ginger, vine vegetable, vegetables, sunflower and other aliases Zhong rouge.
The growth habit of Chan food
The dish is comparison of plant tolerance to high temperature and high humidity, it is love loose fertile sandy soil. The requirement of illumination is not high, and the suitable temperature for growth is between 25 and 30 degrees, and the soil should be kept moist.
The food is generally sowing reproduction.
Upon the role of food
The dish has a certain role in the garden, the plants and flowers are lovely, can be used as a decorative window, etc..
However, its biggest use is to eat, often used as vegetables, the taste is very good.
When eating is picking it near the stem part of the stem and leaf shape, a bit like broccoli, green green. Leaves, leaves alternate, heart shaped, 8-15 cm long, 9-16 cm wide, 0.2 cm thick, fleshy, fleshy, smooth, glabrous, with a short handle, can grow massive axillary bulbils, 2-4 cm long, 1-3 cm wide.
The young leaves and shoots soft and smooth, suitable for the boiling water, it is rich in vitamin C, calcium and carotene, can heat, cooling blood, slippery bowel, detoxification, enjoyed "hundred dishes king" reputation. The Song Dynasty Su Dongpo praise it "seems to be the enemy Chun soup". "Guangdong language" that it "leaves and edible, slightly sour in taste, are advised to fish soup". But people think it is more Chan (mucus), "said Chan food derogatory". Guangdong folk in cooking practice, find a method to make dishes Chan Chan Chan, the vegetable broth is made out of soup, it cool sweet, soft and smooth, with heat dampness, facilitate the bowels of the power, for the summer when the delicious family soup.
0
0
文章
lenny
2017年05月23日
Make a Terrace Vegetable Garden on your rooftop, it is easy if you’ll do this with some planning. In this article you’ll learn which vegetables are suitable and how you can grow them on terrace.
Fresh home grown vegetables taste delicious, are good for health and safe from chemicals. You don’t need to acquire a regular garden to grow them, you can also grow these on a balcony or terrace.
There are some really interesting ways to incorporate the vegetable crops on the terrace. These alternatives are space saving and also a real eye-catcher.
1. Creating a vegetable Garden in Pots
In containers you can plant almost any vegetable. Choose large and deep pots, avoid thin and poor quality plastic pots because they heat up quickly and drain poorly.
Soil
Using normal garden soil is a bad idea for growing vegetables in pots. Instead use good quality potting mix for healthy growth of plants and productivity. You can also prepare it yourself, read this article.
Vegetables for Pots
Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Radishes
Beans
Potatoes
Onions
Carrots
Beetroot
Lettuce
Garlic
Chilies and Peppers
Gourds
Eggplant (Brinjal)
2. Create Raised Beds on Terrace
If you’re looking for practical as well as stylish way to make a terrace vegetable garden. Make a raised bed, in raised beds you’ll be able to grow lot of vegetables in compare to containers. Plants will thrive better with less care and maintenance, plus they are cheap.
The raised bed on the terrace does not differ fundamentally from those you see in a regular garden.
In well-stocked hardware stores or even online shops you will find special raised beds for terraces, you’ll only need to configure which one is better for you or you can make your own raised bed, which is very easy. Just ensure before installing it that the surface of terrace below it is waterproofed efficiently or not.
Fill Raised Bed with Soil
If you fill the raised bed with soil, consider to prevent voles and pests from entering the bed.
To make soil, just mix quality garden soil, ripe compost and manure.
Advantage of Raised Beds
Probably the greatest advantage of raised bed is of course its height and wideness on terrace. Gardening can hardly be more convenient.
3. Integrate Vegetable Patch on the Terrace
You can also integrate a vegetable patch on your terrace and grow vegetable on the surface itself. But doing this is only good on large rooftops. Vegetable patch is similar to making a normal garden bed.
The integrated bed should be filled normally with soil like a regular garden bed. An addition of compost in soil is a perfect natural fertilizer for most of the plants.
4. Creating a Vegetable Terrace Garden in Planter boxes
Flower boxes and planters can be used to create a vegetable garden. You can hang these on an existing railing or set them just on the floor. How do you use them is entirely up to you.
Do not use ordinary garden soil in these planter boxes, either use quality potting mix or compost rich soil. Fertilizing is also important to improve productivity but it varies according to plants: peppers and tomatoes are heavy feeders, whereas green leafy vegetables do not need much fertilizer.
Plants for Flower Boxes
Cucumbers
Tomatoes
Garlic
Chilies
Herbs
Radishes
Bush beans
Greens
Cucumbers, tomatoes and beans require a climbing aid, so that the plants do not break.
5. Repurpose Sandboxes
A sandbox is not just for games. From a small simple wooden sandpit, you can also make a hefty vegetable patch. This looks not only decorative, but provides your plants an optimal space to thrive.
Instead of using gravel for drainage, just fill the quality compost with soil. In the sandbox you can grow all sorts of small vegetables and herbs, mostly low growing that spreads too much.
Radishes
Herbs
Garlic
Lettuce
Spinach
Ginger
Asian Greens and lot of other green leafy vegetables
6. Optimize Vertical Space
Your main challenge is how smartly you utilize your vertical space to double up the space you have on your terrace, make a plan on how you should do this, if you have walls, hang planters on it.
Grow vegetable shrubs and vines like beans, squashes, gourds and tall tomato varieties near the walls and railings. This way they’ll not only get support but also grow outside and upward and you’ll save a lot of your space.
Use old shelves, racks to keep pots and buy pot holders, put them around the corners.
On these you can grow herbs to improve the taste of salads and cuisines you’ll prepare, you can also grow lot of flowers to appease ornamental views.
Tips for the Prolific Terrace Vegetable Garden
Fertilize vegetables regularly with good quality organic fertilizer. With some research and experience you’ll be able to find out which type of fertilizer you should feed to specific vegetables.
Water plants regularly and deeply. Read this article for container watering tips.
Check plants regularly for pests. Read this article for homemade natural pesticide recipes.
Prune vegetable plants to keep them in good shape and in healthy growth. Look out for suckers, especially in tomatoes and pinch them off immediately if found one.
For the vegetables, it is always good to grow them on the Southern or Western face, so the plants will have enough sun and can thrive easily. But too much sun is not good either. If you live in a warm tropical climate and the sun is too strong, it is advisable to provide afternoon shade to plants.
Fresh home grown vegetables taste delicious, are good for health and safe from chemicals. You don’t need to acquire a regular garden to grow them, you can also grow these on a balcony or terrace.
There are some really interesting ways to incorporate the vegetable crops on the terrace. These alternatives are space saving and also a real eye-catcher.
1. Creating a vegetable Garden in Pots
In containers you can plant almost any vegetable. Choose large and deep pots, avoid thin and poor quality plastic pots because they heat up quickly and drain poorly.
Soil
Using normal garden soil is a bad idea for growing vegetables in pots. Instead use good quality potting mix for healthy growth of plants and productivity. You can also prepare it yourself, read this article.
Vegetables for Pots
Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Radishes
Beans
Potatoes
Onions
Carrots
Beetroot
Lettuce
Garlic
Chilies and Peppers
Gourds
Eggplant (Brinjal)
2. Create Raised Beds on Terrace
If you’re looking for practical as well as stylish way to make a terrace vegetable garden. Make a raised bed, in raised beds you’ll be able to grow lot of vegetables in compare to containers. Plants will thrive better with less care and maintenance, plus they are cheap.
The raised bed on the terrace does not differ fundamentally from those you see in a regular garden.
In well-stocked hardware stores or even online shops you will find special raised beds for terraces, you’ll only need to configure which one is better for you or you can make your own raised bed, which is very easy. Just ensure before installing it that the surface of terrace below it is waterproofed efficiently or not.
Fill Raised Bed with Soil
If you fill the raised bed with soil, consider to prevent voles and pests from entering the bed.
To make soil, just mix quality garden soil, ripe compost and manure.
Advantage of Raised Beds
Probably the greatest advantage of raised bed is of course its height and wideness on terrace. Gardening can hardly be more convenient.
3. Integrate Vegetable Patch on the Terrace
You can also integrate a vegetable patch on your terrace and grow vegetable on the surface itself. But doing this is only good on large rooftops. Vegetable patch is similar to making a normal garden bed.
The integrated bed should be filled normally with soil like a regular garden bed. An addition of compost in soil is a perfect natural fertilizer for most of the plants.
4. Creating a Vegetable Terrace Garden in Planter boxes
Flower boxes and planters can be used to create a vegetable garden. You can hang these on an existing railing or set them just on the floor. How do you use them is entirely up to you.
Do not use ordinary garden soil in these planter boxes, either use quality potting mix or compost rich soil. Fertilizing is also important to improve productivity but it varies according to plants: peppers and tomatoes are heavy feeders, whereas green leafy vegetables do not need much fertilizer.
Plants for Flower Boxes
Cucumbers
Tomatoes
Garlic
Chilies
Herbs
Radishes
Bush beans
Greens
Cucumbers, tomatoes and beans require a climbing aid, so that the plants do not break.
5. Repurpose Sandboxes
A sandbox is not just for games. From a small simple wooden sandpit, you can also make a hefty vegetable patch. This looks not only decorative, but provides your plants an optimal space to thrive.
Instead of using gravel for drainage, just fill the quality compost with soil. In the sandbox you can grow all sorts of small vegetables and herbs, mostly low growing that spreads too much.
Radishes
Herbs
Garlic
Lettuce
Spinach
Ginger
Asian Greens and lot of other green leafy vegetables
6. Optimize Vertical Space
Your main challenge is how smartly you utilize your vertical space to double up the space you have on your terrace, make a plan on how you should do this, if you have walls, hang planters on it.
Grow vegetable shrubs and vines like beans, squashes, gourds and tall tomato varieties near the walls and railings. This way they’ll not only get support but also grow outside and upward and you’ll save a lot of your space.
Use old shelves, racks to keep pots and buy pot holders, put them around the corners.
On these you can grow herbs to improve the taste of salads and cuisines you’ll prepare, you can also grow lot of flowers to appease ornamental views.
Tips for the Prolific Terrace Vegetable Garden
Fertilize vegetables regularly with good quality organic fertilizer. With some research and experience you’ll be able to find out which type of fertilizer you should feed to specific vegetables.
Water plants regularly and deeply. Read this article for container watering tips.
Check plants regularly for pests. Read this article for homemade natural pesticide recipes.
Prune vegetable plants to keep them in good shape and in healthy growth. Look out for suckers, especially in tomatoes and pinch them off immediately if found one.
For the vegetables, it is always good to grow them on the Southern or Western face, so the plants will have enough sun and can thrive easily. But too much sun is not good either. If you live in a warm tropical climate and the sun is too strong, it is advisable to provide afternoon shade to plants.
1
1
文章
扭扭
2017年05月23日
Learn how to grow cucumbers vertically to get the most productive plant. Growing cucumbers vertically also save lot of space, which is suitable for small gardens.
Cucumber is a refreshing vegetable, especially if picked up fresh. It is eaten in variety of ways: raw in salad, cooked or pickled. It is easy to grow and only requires a warm, sunny exposure and deep and regular watering.
What if you want to grow cucumbers but you have a small garden. Definitely, it will take a lot of space. In that case growing cucumbers vertically is an space savvy option.
Benefits of Growing Cucumbers Vertically
One advantage of Growing Cucumbers Vertically is that by this you can avoid a common problem of fruit rot associated with cucumber cultivation, which happens when fruit sitting in moist soil for long period of time. When you allow cucumber vines to grow up vertically, it improves the air circulation around the plant that prevents fungal diseases. Cucumber plants have sprawling habit and growing cucumbers vertically allow their leaves to absorb more sun, which result in healthy plant and large cucumbers. One more key benefit is that you can harvest the fruits more easily and in time.
Why you should grow cucumbers vertically
When cucumbers grown horizontally they usually cover 10 – 20 sq ft of space, plant sprawls over the surface around it. However, smaller and bushier varieties take only 1/3 of this space but they produce less fruits. Climbing, vine type varieties are more productive and when you grow them vertically they barely take 1 sq ft of space, climbing up on the support of trellis.
How to Grow Cucumbers VerticallyChoosing Container and Trellis
If you’re growing cucumbers vertically in containers, prefer large containers that are about at least 12 inches deep and wide. How many cucumber plants you can grow in such a container depends on the variety you are planting. A vining variety grows tall and send long roots, whereas bushier varieties are short.
Trellis Size
Choose a 5 to 6 feet tall trellis that is sturdy and doesn’t topple. If growing climbing varieties use “A frame trellis” so that the plant crawl up and down from it easily.
Propagation and Planting Cucumbers
Sow seeds directly onto the desired spot or in small pots. Cover them with about 2 cm of soil. Once the seedlings germinate and have a few leaves, transplant the healthiest ones into a bigger pot or on the frost free ground in spring or summer when soil temperature is around 70 F (20 C). If you live in tropical or subtropical climate, you can grow cucumber year round.
Cucumber plant is a heavy feeder like tomatoes, prepare your soil well before planting by incorporating decomposed manure and compost.
Requirements for Growing Cucumbers VerticallyPosition
Cucumber loves a warm and sunny exposure that is less windy. It does not tolerate temperature below 50 F (10 C). Optimum temperature to grow cucumbers fall in the range of 60 – 95 F (15 – 35 C).
Soil
It prefers well drained, loose and deep soil, rich in organic matter and neutral in pH.
Watering
Regular and deep watering is the key of productive harvest, when growing cucumber. It is due to the high water content of its fruits. While watering, avoid wetting the foliage as it may encourage fungal diseases.
Mulching
Mulch around the base of plant to improve moisture retaining ability of soil.
Fertilizer
At the time of planting add all purpose slow release fertilizer in soil. Once the plant starts to flower, side dress the plant with aged manure. Also apply balanced liquid fertilizer at that time according to manufacturer’s instructions.
Diseases and Pests
Cucumber plants particularly suffer from anthracnose, powdery mildew and in pests look out for aphids.
HarvestWhen and how to harvest cucumbers?
Cucumbers are ready for harvest in 60 to 90 days after seed sowing, depending on the variety. Pick cucumbers when they are developed enough, do not
let the fruit to overripe.
Cucumber is a refreshing vegetable, especially if picked up fresh. It is eaten in variety of ways: raw in salad, cooked or pickled. It is easy to grow and only requires a warm, sunny exposure and deep and regular watering.
What if you want to grow cucumbers but you have a small garden. Definitely, it will take a lot of space. In that case growing cucumbers vertically is an space savvy option.
Benefits of Growing Cucumbers Vertically
One advantage of Growing Cucumbers Vertically is that by this you can avoid a common problem of fruit rot associated with cucumber cultivation, which happens when fruit sitting in moist soil for long period of time. When you allow cucumber vines to grow up vertically, it improves the air circulation around the plant that prevents fungal diseases. Cucumber plants have sprawling habit and growing cucumbers vertically allow their leaves to absorb more sun, which result in healthy plant and large cucumbers. One more key benefit is that you can harvest the fruits more easily and in time.
Why you should grow cucumbers vertically
When cucumbers grown horizontally they usually cover 10 – 20 sq ft of space, plant sprawls over the surface around it. However, smaller and bushier varieties take only 1/3 of this space but they produce less fruits. Climbing, vine type varieties are more productive and when you grow them vertically they barely take 1 sq ft of space, climbing up on the support of trellis.
How to Grow Cucumbers VerticallyChoosing Container and Trellis
If you’re growing cucumbers vertically in containers, prefer large containers that are about at least 12 inches deep and wide. How many cucumber plants you can grow in such a container depends on the variety you are planting. A vining variety grows tall and send long roots, whereas bushier varieties are short.
Trellis Size
Choose a 5 to 6 feet tall trellis that is sturdy and doesn’t topple. If growing climbing varieties use “A frame trellis” so that the plant crawl up and down from it easily.
Propagation and Planting Cucumbers
Sow seeds directly onto the desired spot or in small pots. Cover them with about 2 cm of soil. Once the seedlings germinate and have a few leaves, transplant the healthiest ones into a bigger pot or on the frost free ground in spring or summer when soil temperature is around 70 F (20 C). If you live in tropical or subtropical climate, you can grow cucumber year round.
Cucumber plant is a heavy feeder like tomatoes, prepare your soil well before planting by incorporating decomposed manure and compost.
Requirements for Growing Cucumbers VerticallyPosition
Cucumber loves a warm and sunny exposure that is less windy. It does not tolerate temperature below 50 F (10 C). Optimum temperature to grow cucumbers fall in the range of 60 – 95 F (15 – 35 C).
Soil
It prefers well drained, loose and deep soil, rich in organic matter and neutral in pH.
Watering
Regular and deep watering is the key of productive harvest, when growing cucumber. It is due to the high water content of its fruits. While watering, avoid wetting the foliage as it may encourage fungal diseases.
Mulching
Mulch around the base of plant to improve moisture retaining ability of soil.
Fertilizer
At the time of planting add all purpose slow release fertilizer in soil. Once the plant starts to flower, side dress the plant with aged manure. Also apply balanced liquid fertilizer at that time according to manufacturer’s instructions.
Diseases and Pests
Cucumber plants particularly suffer from anthracnose, powdery mildew and in pests look out for aphids.
HarvestWhen and how to harvest cucumbers?
Cucumbers are ready for harvest in 60 to 90 days after seed sowing, depending on the variety. Pick cucumbers when they are developed enough, do not
let the fruit to overripe.
1
0
文章
小马奥
2017年05月23日
Want to grow FRESH & ORGANIC vegetables but short of space? No problem, you can even do this near your kitchen window. Just learn about the Windowsill Vegetable Gardening and 11 best vegetables you can grow there!
So what if you don’t have a big outdoor space to grow your own food, you can also grow your own fresh and organic vegetables in a small space– on your windowsill. Improvise and act, get some window boxes, hanging baskets or make some cool DIY containers.
Also Read: Windowsill Herb Garden
It’s fun and exciting and you’ll be successful if you care about a few things: Your window must receive minimum 4-5 hours of sunlight, you should fertilize your plants correctly and the balance in watering must be maintained (avoiding both overwatering and underwatering).
Also Read: How to Water Container Plants
1. Green Onions
Fresh green onions can be a wonderful and delicious addition to your salad bowls and sandwiches. In a small space like a windowsill, you can get enough harvest. You can even grow green onions in water. See the tutorial! If you want, you can try to grow onions, too. Also, vertically in plastic bottles. Check out this post.
A Tip: If you’re growing green onions in water, replace the water every day.
2. Loose Leaf Lettuce
After green onions growing lettuce is one of the easiest things in the windowsill gardening! It doesn’t require a sunny window, a few hours of sunlight is enough, if not, you can also use artificial light. And the best part is you can make decorative arrangements, combining red or green leaf lettuces in the same pot or choosing variegated ones.
A Tip: Wide-shallow containers are sufficient and provide you small crop. Learn how to grow lettuce in a pot here.
3. Tomatoes
Growing tomatoes on a windowsill is easy if it is sunny. A great way to grow and enjoy fresh, organic, juicy tomatoes indoors. For best results, choose dwarf varieties (cherry tomatoes, are perfect). Also, some varieties that grow well on windowsill includes Early Salad, Red Cushion, Pretty Patio and Tiny Tim.
Also Read: How to Grow So Many Tomatoes in So Little Space
A Tip: Cherry tomatoes don’t require a big deep pot, you can use a small to medium sized container. If you like to grow them in hanging baskets near your windows, it is possible too. Learn how to do this here.
4. Spinach
You can have your own spinach and you don’t need a big yard for this. You can grow it on a windowsill if it receives only a few hours of sun. Here’s the helpful guide on growing spinach in containers.
A Tip: Keep the soil slightly moist and provide shallow but wide planter, a 6 inches deep pot would be sufficient.
5. Chillies
Exotic, hot, spicy, and colorful– You can grow chilies on your kitchen windowsill. But only if it is sunny and warm. Also, the pot you use should be at least 8-10 inches deep. It’s fun and you’ll love your plants once they’ll start to flower and fruit. You can make your curry recipes spicier this way.
Also Read: How to Grow Banana Peppers
A Tip: Provide as much sun as possible and keep your eyes on pests.
6. Carrots
Growing carrot on a windowsill is possible and you can expect a decent homegrown harvest in small pots or window boxes. Carrot plants need regular watering, otherwise, the roots (carrots) will dry out and crack. Growing this root vegetable in containers is easy and it doesn’t take much space too. Read this to learn how to grow carrots in containers.
A Tip: Choose smaller varieties.
7. Sprouts
The healthiest stuff you can grow– Almost anywhere in your home, also on the windowsill. It is such a rewarding experience as they grow easily and quickly. All you need is a quart jar, a few tablespoons of sprouting seeds and water. In a week, you’ll have a jar full of healthy delicate sprouts that you can sprinkle on salads, add to sandwiches or toss into soups for a delicious and healthful twist on your favorite recipes.
A Tip: Just read these two articles– here and here.
8. Garlic
No need to teach you about the GARLIC glories! Let’s come to the point– Garlic will grow happily on your windowsill. To grow it, buy some fresh garlic from a grocery store. Plant a large, unpeeled clove with the pointed side up, in well-draining soil. Keep the soil moist and in a few days, you should see a green shoot. You can use its leaves in many recipes in place of garlic, will taste delicious. To harvest the leaves, cut them off with a sharp scissor, only a few inches at a time. When the leaves dry, dig up the soil to harvest the garlic bulbs.
A Tip: Choose at least 6 inches deep pot.
9. Microgreens
A big bowl of green leaves can be a prime source of vitamins A, C, K and folic acid. And microgreens (aka seedlings of herbs and vegetables) maybe even more nutrient-rich and tasty than the mature ones. Here is everything about growing microgreens.
A Tip: To grow microgreens you will need seeds of various greens and a wide but shallow tray.
10. Radishes
Radishes grow so fast and require little care and don’t mind the small pots. Plus, there leaves are also edible and you can prepare delicious exotic recipes from them. They need sunny windowsill and a moist soil.
A Tip: Ensure the pots you use have sufficient drainage holes and the potting soil must be well-drained and rich in organic matter.
11. Beans and Peas
Both the beans and peas can be grown on windowsills if there is space. Pole beans if planted in window boxes can be trained and supported by tying a string or wire from the planter to the window frame.
A Tip: Dwarf and bushier bean varieties and peas don’t require any special support, thus more suitable for windowsill gardening.
So what if you don’t have a big outdoor space to grow your own food, you can also grow your own fresh and organic vegetables in a small space– on your windowsill. Improvise and act, get some window boxes, hanging baskets or make some cool DIY containers.
Also Read: Windowsill Herb Garden
It’s fun and exciting and you’ll be successful if you care about a few things: Your window must receive minimum 4-5 hours of sunlight, you should fertilize your plants correctly and the balance in watering must be maintained (avoiding both overwatering and underwatering).
Also Read: How to Water Container Plants
1. Green Onions
Fresh green onions can be a wonderful and delicious addition to your salad bowls and sandwiches. In a small space like a windowsill, you can get enough harvest. You can even grow green onions in water. See the tutorial! If you want, you can try to grow onions, too. Also, vertically in plastic bottles. Check out this post.
A Tip: If you’re growing green onions in water, replace the water every day.
2. Loose Leaf Lettuce
After green onions growing lettuce is one of the easiest things in the windowsill gardening! It doesn’t require a sunny window, a few hours of sunlight is enough, if not, you can also use artificial light. And the best part is you can make decorative arrangements, combining red or green leaf lettuces in the same pot or choosing variegated ones.
A Tip: Wide-shallow containers are sufficient and provide you small crop. Learn how to grow lettuce in a pot here.
3. Tomatoes
Growing tomatoes on a windowsill is easy if it is sunny. A great way to grow and enjoy fresh, organic, juicy tomatoes indoors. For best results, choose dwarf varieties (cherry tomatoes, are perfect). Also, some varieties that grow well on windowsill includes Early Salad, Red Cushion, Pretty Patio and Tiny Tim.
Also Read: How to Grow So Many Tomatoes in So Little Space
A Tip: Cherry tomatoes don’t require a big deep pot, you can use a small to medium sized container. If you like to grow them in hanging baskets near your windows, it is possible too. Learn how to do this here.
4. Spinach
You can have your own spinach and you don’t need a big yard for this. You can grow it on a windowsill if it receives only a few hours of sun. Here’s the helpful guide on growing spinach in containers.
A Tip: Keep the soil slightly moist and provide shallow but wide planter, a 6 inches deep pot would be sufficient.
5. Chillies
Exotic, hot, spicy, and colorful– You can grow chilies on your kitchen windowsill. But only if it is sunny and warm. Also, the pot you use should be at least 8-10 inches deep. It’s fun and you’ll love your plants once they’ll start to flower and fruit. You can make your curry recipes spicier this way.
Also Read: How to Grow Banana Peppers
A Tip: Provide as much sun as possible and keep your eyes on pests.
6. Carrots
Growing carrot on a windowsill is possible and you can expect a decent homegrown harvest in small pots or window boxes. Carrot plants need regular watering, otherwise, the roots (carrots) will dry out and crack. Growing this root vegetable in containers is easy and it doesn’t take much space too. Read this to learn how to grow carrots in containers.
A Tip: Choose smaller varieties.
7. Sprouts
The healthiest stuff you can grow– Almost anywhere in your home, also on the windowsill. It is such a rewarding experience as they grow easily and quickly. All you need is a quart jar, a few tablespoons of sprouting seeds and water. In a week, you’ll have a jar full of healthy delicate sprouts that you can sprinkle on salads, add to sandwiches or toss into soups for a delicious and healthful twist on your favorite recipes.
A Tip: Just read these two articles– here and here.
8. Garlic
No need to teach you about the GARLIC glories! Let’s come to the point– Garlic will grow happily on your windowsill. To grow it, buy some fresh garlic from a grocery store. Plant a large, unpeeled clove with the pointed side up, in well-draining soil. Keep the soil moist and in a few days, you should see a green shoot. You can use its leaves in many recipes in place of garlic, will taste delicious. To harvest the leaves, cut them off with a sharp scissor, only a few inches at a time. When the leaves dry, dig up the soil to harvest the garlic bulbs.
A Tip: Choose at least 6 inches deep pot.
9. Microgreens
A big bowl of green leaves can be a prime source of vitamins A, C, K and folic acid. And microgreens (aka seedlings of herbs and vegetables) maybe even more nutrient-rich and tasty than the mature ones. Here is everything about growing microgreens.
A Tip: To grow microgreens you will need seeds of various greens and a wide but shallow tray.
10. Radishes
Radishes grow so fast and require little care and don’t mind the small pots. Plus, there leaves are also edible and you can prepare delicious exotic recipes from them. They need sunny windowsill and a moist soil.
A Tip: Ensure the pots you use have sufficient drainage holes and the potting soil must be well-drained and rich in organic matter.
11. Beans and Peas
Both the beans and peas can be grown on windowsills if there is space. Pole beans if planted in window boxes can be trained and supported by tying a string or wire from the planter to the window frame.
A Tip: Dwarf and bushier bean varieties and peas don’t require any special support, thus more suitable for windowsill gardening.
3
1
文章
Eyin Thor
2017年05月23日
Growing eggplants in containers is not complicated, and if you’re a fan of grilling and oven broiling, you should grow this delicious and PRODUCTIVE vegetable.
Eggplant is a perennial tropical vegetable plant native to South and East Asia (namely, China and India) and a member of the tomato family. The plant loves heat and full sun and requires evenly moist soil in its native environment to thrive and fruit heavily.
These are the medium sized bushes, and nowadays a much more dwarf and compact cultivars are available for limited space gardeners. Similar to the other cousins of nightshade family e.g. tomatoes and peppers, it is possible to grow this vegetable in a container.
How to Grow Eggplants in Pots
Growing eggplants in pots is possible in two ways– Either start them using seeds or buy the seedlings from a nearby nursery or garden center. If you’re new to growing plants and have not grown them much– buy a few seedlings of your favorite eggplant variety. This will make things hassle free! If you’ve decided to germinate them from seeds, then that is also relatively easy.
Planting Time
Usually, in the spring, it’s the season when eggplant seedlings are transplanted on the ground when all the dangers of frost are passed. BUT container grown eggplants can be planted in summer and even in early fall, if you’re ready to move the pots here and there to control the temperature, especially during the nighttime when the temperature dips down. If you’re growing eggplants in a hot and warm frost-free climate, planting in winter is also possible.
Note that; this vegetable plant is more sensitive to low temperatures than tomatoes and peppers.Starting Eggplants from Seeds
Ensure you plant up to two seeds in each cell of a seedling tray or directly sow two seeds in each container. Remember, the eggplants require a lot of warmth for germination, more than tomatoes and peppers. Therefore, if you think the outdoors is not warm enough (temperature above 68 F (20 C) is good enough for eggplant seeds to germinate), you can place them indoors to kick start their growth, that’s the best of container gardening. Once they have sprouted and had up to four leaves, they can be transplanted into the desired containers.
Choosing a Pot
You’ll need a large container, depending on the cultivar, the larger the variety you’re growing, the larger the pot! Usually, the eggplant is relatively large, similar to a pepper plant or tomato so it requires a large pot which should be big enough for the capacity of five gallons, at least. In other words, use a pot that is at least 12 inches deep in size for each plant. If growing in a cooler region, choose a pot that retains heat. Here’s an informative article on choosing the best pot type for your container garden!
Requirements for Growing Eggplants in Containers
Position
Place the pots in a spot which has good air circulation and gets direct sunlight and some wind. This is because the eggplant requires a lot of warmth and sun exposure when growing. West or south facing direction is appropriate.
Soil
The eggplants require a lot of nutrients for growth and a neutral or slightly acidic soil in pH. Use soil that is rich in nutrients, most preferably loamy soilless potting mix. Eggplants thrive in the soil which has adequate and sufficient moisture so think about the moisture retaining capability of soil too. Therefore, you should also add a lot of compost or aged manure to the soil to enhance its capacity to retain water.
Watering
Eggplants love to grow in evenly moist soil, ensure you provide adequate moisture for them. Make sure the drainage is good to avoid root rot. Also, take care not to saturate the soil with too much water making it soggy.
Fertilizer
To provide ample nutrients for more productivity, you should apply fertilizer following the recommendations on the fertilizer bag. As eggplants are heavy feeders and need the fertilizer high in phosphorous, use the 5-10-5 fertilizer or other in a similar ratio, you can apply the balanced fertilizer, too. If required, spray on the leaves of your plants with liquid plant food, typically known as the foliar feeding.
Temperature
Once the plants are germinated and transplanted into the pots, provide them heat and try to keep them in the temperature above 50-54 F (10-12 C). If you’re growing eggplants in a warm climate, you don’t need to worry about temperature requirements much.
Eggplant Care
Pruning and Removing Suckers
Growing eggplant in a pot is not different than tomatoes, however, pruning it and picking the suckers is not necessary unlike TOMATOES but to improve productivity you can do this. When the plants are mature, you’ll need to look out for suckers to remove them. Yellowing or diseased leaves or branches growing tall and lanky and hindering the growth and productivity should be removed too.
Staking
As eggplant bush grows tall and its fruits are plump and heavy, you’ll need to tie your plants to the stake to support them. The most simple thing you can do is to thrust a stick in the pot and tie your plant to it, you can also use a cage to help the plant from falling.
Pests and Diseases
The most common pests for the eggplant is the black flea beetle, which feeds on the leaves of the plant, these insects are the common sight but if the plant is healthy, they won’t do any harm and also the aphids. One more common pest is the cutworm. This worm, as its name suggests, usually cuts the plant at its base. This can be prevented by using a cutworm collar or you can easily eliminate them by yourself. These pests can also be controlled using CHEMICAL pesticides, which we don’t recommend.
Eggplants grown in pots don’t get affected by diseases often. However, if you want, check out the list of eggplant diseases here!
Harvesting
The eggplant usually reaches maturity after two to three months after planting, to say more clearly, in 60-80 days, depending more the type of variety you’re growing and the climate. At around this time, the plant starts to produce fruits which grow to become glossy when fully mature.
Eggplant is a perennial tropical vegetable plant native to South and East Asia (namely, China and India) and a member of the tomato family. The plant loves heat and full sun and requires evenly moist soil in its native environment to thrive and fruit heavily.
These are the medium sized bushes, and nowadays a much more dwarf and compact cultivars are available for limited space gardeners. Similar to the other cousins of nightshade family e.g. tomatoes and peppers, it is possible to grow this vegetable in a container.
How to Grow Eggplants in Pots
Growing eggplants in pots is possible in two ways– Either start them using seeds or buy the seedlings from a nearby nursery or garden center. If you’re new to growing plants and have not grown them much– buy a few seedlings of your favorite eggplant variety. This will make things hassle free! If you’ve decided to germinate them from seeds, then that is also relatively easy.
Planting Time
Usually, in the spring, it’s the season when eggplant seedlings are transplanted on the ground when all the dangers of frost are passed. BUT container grown eggplants can be planted in summer and even in early fall, if you’re ready to move the pots here and there to control the temperature, especially during the nighttime when the temperature dips down. If you’re growing eggplants in a hot and warm frost-free climate, planting in winter is also possible.
Note that; this vegetable plant is more sensitive to low temperatures than tomatoes and peppers.Starting Eggplants from Seeds
Ensure you plant up to two seeds in each cell of a seedling tray or directly sow two seeds in each container. Remember, the eggplants require a lot of warmth for germination, more than tomatoes and peppers. Therefore, if you think the outdoors is not warm enough (temperature above 68 F (20 C) is good enough for eggplant seeds to germinate), you can place them indoors to kick start their growth, that’s the best of container gardening. Once they have sprouted and had up to four leaves, they can be transplanted into the desired containers.
Choosing a Pot
You’ll need a large container, depending on the cultivar, the larger the variety you’re growing, the larger the pot! Usually, the eggplant is relatively large, similar to a pepper plant or tomato so it requires a large pot which should be big enough for the capacity of five gallons, at least. In other words, use a pot that is at least 12 inches deep in size for each plant. If growing in a cooler region, choose a pot that retains heat. Here’s an informative article on choosing the best pot type for your container garden!
Requirements for Growing Eggplants in Containers
Position
Place the pots in a spot which has good air circulation and gets direct sunlight and some wind. This is because the eggplant requires a lot of warmth and sun exposure when growing. West or south facing direction is appropriate.
Soil
The eggplants require a lot of nutrients for growth and a neutral or slightly acidic soil in pH. Use soil that is rich in nutrients, most preferably loamy soilless potting mix. Eggplants thrive in the soil which has adequate and sufficient moisture so think about the moisture retaining capability of soil too. Therefore, you should also add a lot of compost or aged manure to the soil to enhance its capacity to retain water.
Watering
Eggplants love to grow in evenly moist soil, ensure you provide adequate moisture for them. Make sure the drainage is good to avoid root rot. Also, take care not to saturate the soil with too much water making it soggy.
Fertilizer
To provide ample nutrients for more productivity, you should apply fertilizer following the recommendations on the fertilizer bag. As eggplants are heavy feeders and need the fertilizer high in phosphorous, use the 5-10-5 fertilizer or other in a similar ratio, you can apply the balanced fertilizer, too. If required, spray on the leaves of your plants with liquid plant food, typically known as the foliar feeding.
Temperature
Once the plants are germinated and transplanted into the pots, provide them heat and try to keep them in the temperature above 50-54 F (10-12 C). If you’re growing eggplants in a warm climate, you don’t need to worry about temperature requirements much.
Eggplant Care
Pruning and Removing Suckers
Growing eggplant in a pot is not different than tomatoes, however, pruning it and picking the suckers is not necessary unlike TOMATOES but to improve productivity you can do this. When the plants are mature, you’ll need to look out for suckers to remove them. Yellowing or diseased leaves or branches growing tall and lanky and hindering the growth and productivity should be removed too.
Staking
As eggplant bush grows tall and its fruits are plump and heavy, you’ll need to tie your plants to the stake to support them. The most simple thing you can do is to thrust a stick in the pot and tie your plant to it, you can also use a cage to help the plant from falling.
Pests and Diseases
The most common pests for the eggplant is the black flea beetle, which feeds on the leaves of the plant, these insects are the common sight but if the plant is healthy, they won’t do any harm and also the aphids. One more common pest is the cutworm. This worm, as its name suggests, usually cuts the plant at its base. This can be prevented by using a cutworm collar or you can easily eliminate them by yourself. These pests can also be controlled using CHEMICAL pesticides, which we don’t recommend.
Eggplants grown in pots don’t get affected by diseases often. However, if you want, check out the list of eggplant diseases here!
Harvesting
The eggplant usually reaches maturity after two to three months after planting, to say more clearly, in 60-80 days, depending more the type of variety you’re growing and the climate. At around this time, the plant starts to produce fruits which grow to become glossy when fully mature.
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文章
lenny
2017年05月23日
Container vegetable gardening allows you to cultivate edibles in smallest of spaces and in this article you’ll find out easy container vegetables which you can grow on your balcony or rooftop garden.
Easy Container Vegetables
Beans
Most of the beans are climbers and really easy to grow. You can grow them on your balcony or rooftop garden on a trellis near a wall and within weeks, you will get a green wall of a climber running up through soft tendrils over the trellis. For growing beans you will need a spot that receives the sun in abundance, a pot that is minimum 12 inches deep and a trellis like structure for support. Since beans fix the nitrogen most of the vegetables that require more nitrogen are good to grow with them. If you’re growing beans in a very large pot you can grow summer savory, kale, and celery in the base.
Tomatoes
Without a doubt, tomatoes are easiest to grow. If you receive ample sun (at least 5-6 hours) you can grow tomatoes. For this, choose a large pot that is 12 inches deep. On a limited space, growing dwarf varieties of determinate type are best. You should also try cherry tomatoes for higher yield. Read our article on growing tomatoes on a balcony.
Lettuce
Growing lettuce in pots is easy. It grows up quickly and you will have the opportunity to harvest repeatedly. Lettuce is a cool season crop and you have to decide what is the right time for its growth according to your climate, usually, seeds are started in spring. But if you live in warm climate, grow lettuce in winter.
For growing lettuce, choose a wide planter rather than deep (6″ deep is enough). Leave space of 4-7 inches between each plant. Remember, leaf lettuces can be grown more closely than head lettuces. Use well draining soil and do shallow and frequent watering to keep the soil slightly moist.
Cucumber
Cucumbers are one of the easy container vegetables though it requires regular watering, full sun, warm temperature and fertilizer. If you have some space, instead of growing dwarf and bushier varieties grow tall, climbing varieties for higher yield. You can grow these varieties on a trellis in a large container in barely 1-2 sqft. of space. To know more about growing cucumbers vertically read our post.
Peppers and Chilies
After tomatoes, peppers and chilies are easiest to grow in containers and they are most productive too. If you keep the pot in a sunny spot and provide right soil and fertilizer at the time the plant will fruit prolifically. The Large and deep pot that is minimum 12 inches deep is optimum. Pepper plants are susceptible to pests. You will have to keep an eye on aphids.
Carrots
Sow the seeds of carrot varieties that are short instead of standard as they require more room to grow their roots. Choose containers that are deep enough (12″). Carrots are easy to grow in pots if you choose a right variety. Keep the plant in partial sun and water it regularly to keep the soil slightly moist, avoid overwatering. Also, carrots are susceptible to mildew so don’t wet the foliage.
Radishes
Radishes are one of the quickest growing vegetables and suitable for container vegetable gardening as you can also grow them in small pots. A planter that is 6 inches deep is enough but if you are growing larger varieties use 10 inches deep pot. You can plant radishes closely, allow 3 inches of space between each plant in a wide container. Radishes are ready for the harvest in 24-60 days, depending on the variety.
Peas
Peas require moist soil and cool to moderate weather to thrive. All varieties are suitable for container gardening but dwarf bushier varieties are better. A pot that is 6-12 inches deep is enough. You can grow 4-6 plants in a 12 inches wide and deep container, it depends more on the variety you are growing. Keep the potted plants in the partial sun if reach to full sunlight is not possible.
Eggplant
Most of the vegetables grow fairly easy in standard size 5-gallon pot. For growing eggplant, choose a one foot deep and wide pot to provide sufficient space. Eggplant is very productive
vegetable and fruits heavily if you provide it at least 6 hours of direct sun daily. Also, it is a heavy feeder like tomatoes, thus requires regular fertilizing. You have to provide support to plant by staking or caging. Simply poke a stick in the pot to help the plant when it starts to look lean.
Beets
Growing beets in containers on a balcony or terrace is easy. It is a fast growing crop and you don’t need a large container for planting it. A medium sized container that is 6-8 inches deep is sufficient. The soil you use must be permeable and rich in compost.
A Tip
Do mulching, it also helps in container vegetable gardening. Mulch the surface of your potted vegetables with organic matter. It will reduce the process of evaporation and after the decomposition, the organic mulch will provide nutrition to plants.
Easy Container Vegetables
Beans
Most of the beans are climbers and really easy to grow. You can grow them on your balcony or rooftop garden on a trellis near a wall and within weeks, you will get a green wall of a climber running up through soft tendrils over the trellis. For growing beans you will need a spot that receives the sun in abundance, a pot that is minimum 12 inches deep and a trellis like structure for support. Since beans fix the nitrogen most of the vegetables that require more nitrogen are good to grow with them. If you’re growing beans in a very large pot you can grow summer savory, kale, and celery in the base.
Tomatoes
Without a doubt, tomatoes are easiest to grow. If you receive ample sun (at least 5-6 hours) you can grow tomatoes. For this, choose a large pot that is 12 inches deep. On a limited space, growing dwarf varieties of determinate type are best. You should also try cherry tomatoes for higher yield. Read our article on growing tomatoes on a balcony.
Lettuce
Growing lettuce in pots is easy. It grows up quickly and you will have the opportunity to harvest repeatedly. Lettuce is a cool season crop and you have to decide what is the right time for its growth according to your climate, usually, seeds are started in spring. But if you live in warm climate, grow lettuce in winter.
For growing lettuce, choose a wide planter rather than deep (6″ deep is enough). Leave space of 4-7 inches between each plant. Remember, leaf lettuces can be grown more closely than head lettuces. Use well draining soil and do shallow and frequent watering to keep the soil slightly moist.
Cucumber
Cucumbers are one of the easy container vegetables though it requires regular watering, full sun, warm temperature and fertilizer. If you have some space, instead of growing dwarf and bushier varieties grow tall, climbing varieties for higher yield. You can grow these varieties on a trellis in a large container in barely 1-2 sqft. of space. To know more about growing cucumbers vertically read our post.
Peppers and Chilies
After tomatoes, peppers and chilies are easiest to grow in containers and they are most productive too. If you keep the pot in a sunny spot and provide right soil and fertilizer at the time the plant will fruit prolifically. The Large and deep pot that is minimum 12 inches deep is optimum. Pepper plants are susceptible to pests. You will have to keep an eye on aphids.
Carrots
Sow the seeds of carrot varieties that are short instead of standard as they require more room to grow their roots. Choose containers that are deep enough (12″). Carrots are easy to grow in pots if you choose a right variety. Keep the plant in partial sun and water it regularly to keep the soil slightly moist, avoid overwatering. Also, carrots are susceptible to mildew so don’t wet the foliage.
Radishes
Radishes are one of the quickest growing vegetables and suitable for container vegetable gardening as you can also grow them in small pots. A planter that is 6 inches deep is enough but if you are growing larger varieties use 10 inches deep pot. You can plant radishes closely, allow 3 inches of space between each plant in a wide container. Radishes are ready for the harvest in 24-60 days, depending on the variety.
Peas
Peas require moist soil and cool to moderate weather to thrive. All varieties are suitable for container gardening but dwarf bushier varieties are better. A pot that is 6-12 inches deep is enough. You can grow 4-6 plants in a 12 inches wide and deep container, it depends more on the variety you are growing. Keep the potted plants in the partial sun if reach to full sunlight is not possible.
Eggplant
Most of the vegetables grow fairly easy in standard size 5-gallon pot. For growing eggplant, choose a one foot deep and wide pot to provide sufficient space. Eggplant is very productive
vegetable and fruits heavily if you provide it at least 6 hours of direct sun daily. Also, it is a heavy feeder like tomatoes, thus requires regular fertilizing. You have to provide support to plant by staking or caging. Simply poke a stick in the pot to help the plant when it starts to look lean.
Beets
Growing beets in containers on a balcony or terrace is easy. It is a fast growing crop and you don’t need a large container for planting it. A medium sized container that is 6-8 inches deep is sufficient. The soil you use must be permeable and rich in compost.
A Tip
Do mulching, it also helps in container vegetable gardening. Mulch the surface of your potted vegetables with organic matter. It will reduce the process of evaporation and after the decomposition, the organic mulch will provide nutrition to plants.
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文章
lenny
2017年05月23日
Want to know how to make an Urban Vegetable Garden? This article will help you in creating a functional and productive city vegetable garden.
What a pleasure to taste freshly picked vegetables and herbs in soups, stews, salads, in curries and other delicious cuisines, which have been cultivated in your own garden? But what if you live in a city and you don’t have a space for a regular garden?
Well, there are options available even for the city gardeners who have a small home, apartment or a flat. The solution is optimization of the available space you have.
Your little urban vegetable garden will not look like a traditional garden, where rows of tomatoes, beans, onion and cucumbers are planted in line in garden beds and thrive abundantly, but it will bring you immense satisfaction with enough homegrown harvest.
Urban Vegetable Garden Design
First of all, decide how much space you have– do you have a small patio, a balcony or a flat roof? If you have a veranda or a porch, you can use that space too. You can even grow a few plants on a windowsill.
Read our post on windowsill herb garden
Choose the solution of square foot gardening for a city vegetable garden. Square foot gardening is proposed by Mel Bartholomew, it allows to utilize the small space well and increases the productivity.
In a square foot garden, vegetables are grown in raised bed made of individual squares of one square foot each (30 cm) and at least 6″ deep.
Either you can place individual squares side by side to form one large square or make a whole 4’*4′ size raised bed and divide it into 4 squares. Square foot gardening method is a revolutionizing culture, it favors organic gardening. According to Bartholomew, only fertilizer you should use is compost. You can also use manure if it is readily available to you.
In contrast to the traditional garden, which requires a large field to grow vegetable patches and a lot of care, small square foot garden is suitable for limited spaces.
Indeed, this way of growing vegetables greatly helps. Some everyday actions are extremely easy to maintain. You can easily manage crops, it’s so easy to water each plant in a right amount with a simple watering can. No waste, no weed and almost no to less problem of pests. And the icing on the cake are those checkered appetizing and colorful vegetables that look very decorative too in an urban vegetable garden.
You can make such raised beds of wood, PVC pipes and if you don’t mind having permanent structure make a concrete raised bed or you can put individual square containers side by side.
Urban Vegetable Garden on a Balcony
Balconies are even more limited space, but if you receive enough sun there you can easily manage to grow a lot of vegetables and herbs. You can imply the same square foot gardening method or grow plants in containers.
If you want to make a vegetable garden on the balcony, read this post.Rooftop Vegetable Garden
A lot of space in compare to small balconies and if you optimize it well, you’ll be able to cultivate enough vegetables for home use, fresh and organic.
When choosing what to plant in your urban vegetable garden, consider your personal taste first, then of course how compatible your location and space is to grow it. Almost all the species demand ample sun and if your terrace garden is shady, your choices will shrink.
Patio Vegetable Garden
In a city having a patio is a boon. You can make a productive patio vegetable garden there by this square foot gardening method. You can grow vegetables both on grounds and in containers. In addition, grow herbs that you’re fancy about. Almost all the herbs are easy to grow.
You can grow citrus varieties in containers too.
Urban Vegetable Garden on Veranda, Porch or other Enclosed Spaces
Living in a city you know how precious every inch of space is, if you have a porch or veranda, use it to grow vegetables and herbs in containers. Choose plants that are easy to grow in partial shade as most of the time these spaces are roofed and don’t receive full sun. You can try all the green leafy vegetables like spinach, bok choi, and lettuce, root vegetables like carrot, parsnip and potatoes too. Home grown fresh and organic potatoes taste heavenly.
Tips
Don’t cram up the containers or your squares with a lot of plants. Be aware that some vegetables need to be grown alone as they need more space for root development like peppers and chilies. Same in the case with tomatoes, eggplant, and cucumbers. Zucchini also needs to grow alone in a large container.It is best to choose a variety of vegetables that do not send runners and spread as they will fill up the space of containers.By combining vertical supports in squares or containers, you can also grow beans, peas, and small gourds.Carrots, radishes, lettuce, beets are also easy to grow.Fertilize plants regularly with organic fertilizer.
And do not forget that a small urban vegetable garden can be as beautiful as it is functional, especially if you grow flowers in it with vegetables.
What a pleasure to taste freshly picked vegetables and herbs in soups, stews, salads, in curries and other delicious cuisines, which have been cultivated in your own garden? But what if you live in a city and you don’t have a space for a regular garden?
Well, there are options available even for the city gardeners who have a small home, apartment or a flat. The solution is optimization of the available space you have.
Your little urban vegetable garden will not look like a traditional garden, where rows of tomatoes, beans, onion and cucumbers are planted in line in garden beds and thrive abundantly, but it will bring you immense satisfaction with enough homegrown harvest.
Urban Vegetable Garden Design
First of all, decide how much space you have– do you have a small patio, a balcony or a flat roof? If you have a veranda or a porch, you can use that space too. You can even grow a few plants on a windowsill.
Read our post on windowsill herb garden
Choose the solution of square foot gardening for a city vegetable garden. Square foot gardening is proposed by Mel Bartholomew, it allows to utilize the small space well and increases the productivity.
In a square foot garden, vegetables are grown in raised bed made of individual squares of one square foot each (30 cm) and at least 6″ deep.
Either you can place individual squares side by side to form one large square or make a whole 4’*4′ size raised bed and divide it into 4 squares. Square foot gardening method is a revolutionizing culture, it favors organic gardening. According to Bartholomew, only fertilizer you should use is compost. You can also use manure if it is readily available to you.
In contrast to the traditional garden, which requires a large field to grow vegetable patches and a lot of care, small square foot garden is suitable for limited spaces.
Indeed, this way of growing vegetables greatly helps. Some everyday actions are extremely easy to maintain. You can easily manage crops, it’s so easy to water each plant in a right amount with a simple watering can. No waste, no weed and almost no to less problem of pests. And the icing on the cake are those checkered appetizing and colorful vegetables that look very decorative too in an urban vegetable garden.
You can make such raised beds of wood, PVC pipes and if you don’t mind having permanent structure make a concrete raised bed or you can put individual square containers side by side.
Urban Vegetable Garden on a Balcony
Balconies are even more limited space, but if you receive enough sun there you can easily manage to grow a lot of vegetables and herbs. You can imply the same square foot gardening method or grow plants in containers.
If you want to make a vegetable garden on the balcony, read this post.Rooftop Vegetable Garden
A lot of space in compare to small balconies and if you optimize it well, you’ll be able to cultivate enough vegetables for home use, fresh and organic.
When choosing what to plant in your urban vegetable garden, consider your personal taste first, then of course how compatible your location and space is to grow it. Almost all the species demand ample sun and if your terrace garden is shady, your choices will shrink.
Patio Vegetable Garden
In a city having a patio is a boon. You can make a productive patio vegetable garden there by this square foot gardening method. You can grow vegetables both on grounds and in containers. In addition, grow herbs that you’re fancy about. Almost all the herbs are easy to grow.
You can grow citrus varieties in containers too.
Urban Vegetable Garden on Veranda, Porch or other Enclosed Spaces
Living in a city you know how precious every inch of space is, if you have a porch or veranda, use it to grow vegetables and herbs in containers. Choose plants that are easy to grow in partial shade as most of the time these spaces are roofed and don’t receive full sun. You can try all the green leafy vegetables like spinach, bok choi, and lettuce, root vegetables like carrot, parsnip and potatoes too. Home grown fresh and organic potatoes taste heavenly.
Tips
Don’t cram up the containers or your squares with a lot of plants. Be aware that some vegetables need to be grown alone as they need more space for root development like peppers and chilies. Same in the case with tomatoes, eggplant, and cucumbers. Zucchini also needs to grow alone in a large container.It is best to choose a variety of vegetables that do not send runners and spread as they will fill up the space of containers.By combining vertical supports in squares or containers, you can also grow beans, peas, and small gourds.Carrots, radishes, lettuce, beets are also easy to grow.Fertilize plants regularly with organic fertilizer.
And do not forget that a small urban vegetable garden can be as beautiful as it is functional, especially if you grow flowers in it with vegetables.
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文章
Alicia
2017年05月22日
These 7 vegetable gardening tips on companion planting, intercropping and crop rotation will improve the productivity of your garden.
1) Do Crop Rotation: Avoid planting the plants of the same family at similar site each year
It is a good practice, avoid planting the plants of the same family at the same site continuously. Usually, the plants from similar family have common pest and disease problems, they also draw the same nutrition from the soil again and again. A useful and informative article on this issue that you must read for more information is available on the Harvest to Table.
2) Consider the Depth of Roots: Grow shallow root plants with deep root plants
Combine vegetables that have different root development. Those with shallow roots (lettuces) are best planted with those that root deeply (tomatoes). It allows them to “catch” the nutrients at different depths and this will prevent their competition for nutrients at the root zone.
3) Interplanting: Plant fast growing species with slow growing species
Cultivate the fast growing smaller crop at the same time with the large vegetable plants that take time. This will give all the space and time to both the species to develop well until harvest without damaging the other. For example, you can grow radishes with carrots, radishes mature early and harvested first, thus making more space for carrots to grow.
4) Grow legumes: Planting legumes fix the nitrogen in soil
Although there are vegetables that poorly tolerate their presence, it is always advisable to grow legumes in crop rotation. The reason is obvious: the plants (peas, beans, clover etc.) belong to this family have the ability to fix nitrogen. Thanks to the action of nitrogen-fixing bacteria that live in symbiosis with their roots.
5) Companion planting: Grow pest repellent plants
Plants from allium family such as garlic, leek and onion. Herbs like lavender, oregano, lemon balm, holy basil and flowers like nasturtiums and marigold are great pest repellents. These plants can be tucked here and there in your vegetable garden bed to deter some harmful insects and pests. For example, if nematodes are the problem in your soil, plant marigolds. Marigold roots consist thiophene that repels nematodes. Vegetables like potatoes and tomatoes usually suffer from them, in such a case you can plant marigold at the same site for a couple of months before planting these crops. For more information about marigold and its repellent properties read this educative article of the University of Florida.
6) Avoid plants that have high nutritional requirements: Don’t grow vegetables together that require higher amount of nutrition
Avoid the cultivation of plants that require a high consumption of nutrients (especially nitrogen) together. Grow them with plants that are less demanding and have low nutritional requirements. However, there is an exception to this rule, plants that have the same nutrition and watering needs must be grown together.
7) Disparity in size: Maintain balance in the size of the plants
Another element to be considered in the choice is the size of the vegetables you’re growing together. Plants that grow much in volume or in height (as in the case of cucumber, vertically) can shade smaller plants and disturb their growth. Conversely, this disparity in size can be best used if you grow such plants that thrive well in a little shade under tall, spreading plants.
1) Do Crop Rotation: Avoid planting the plants of the same family at similar site each year
It is a good practice, avoid planting the plants of the same family at the same site continuously. Usually, the plants from similar family have common pest and disease problems, they also draw the same nutrition from the soil again and again. A useful and informative article on this issue that you must read for more information is available on the Harvest to Table.
2) Consider the Depth of Roots: Grow shallow root plants with deep root plants
Combine vegetables that have different root development. Those with shallow roots (lettuces) are best planted with those that root deeply (tomatoes). It allows them to “catch” the nutrients at different depths and this will prevent their competition for nutrients at the root zone.
3) Interplanting: Plant fast growing species with slow growing species
Cultivate the fast growing smaller crop at the same time with the large vegetable plants that take time. This will give all the space and time to both the species to develop well until harvest without damaging the other. For example, you can grow radishes with carrots, radishes mature early and harvested first, thus making more space for carrots to grow.
4) Grow legumes: Planting legumes fix the nitrogen in soil
Although there are vegetables that poorly tolerate their presence, it is always advisable to grow legumes in crop rotation. The reason is obvious: the plants (peas, beans, clover etc.) belong to this family have the ability to fix nitrogen. Thanks to the action of nitrogen-fixing bacteria that live in symbiosis with their roots.
5) Companion planting: Grow pest repellent plants
Plants from allium family such as garlic, leek and onion. Herbs like lavender, oregano, lemon balm, holy basil and flowers like nasturtiums and marigold are great pest repellents. These plants can be tucked here and there in your vegetable garden bed to deter some harmful insects and pests. For example, if nematodes are the problem in your soil, plant marigolds. Marigold roots consist thiophene that repels nematodes. Vegetables like potatoes and tomatoes usually suffer from them, in such a case you can plant marigold at the same site for a couple of months before planting these crops. For more information about marigold and its repellent properties read this educative article of the University of Florida.
6) Avoid plants that have high nutritional requirements: Don’t grow vegetables together that require higher amount of nutrition
Avoid the cultivation of plants that require a high consumption of nutrients (especially nitrogen) together. Grow them with plants that are less demanding and have low nutritional requirements. However, there is an exception to this rule, plants that have the same nutrition and watering needs must be grown together.
7) Disparity in size: Maintain balance in the size of the plants
Another element to be considered in the choice is the size of the vegetables you’re growing together. Plants that grow much in volume or in height (as in the case of cucumber, vertically) can shade smaller plants and disturb their growth. Conversely, this disparity in size can be best used if you grow such plants that thrive well in a little shade under tall, spreading plants.
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文章
Mirella
2017年05月22日
Learn how to grow bitter melon. Growing bitter gourd is easy. This healthy vegetable grows up quickly and fruits productively. You can also grow it in pots.
USDA Zones— 6-11
Difficulty— Easy
Other Names— African Cucumber, Ampalaya, Balsam Pear, Balsam-Apple, Balsambirne, Balsamo, Bitter Apple, Bitter Cucumber, Bitter Gourd, Bittergurke, Carilla Fruit, Carilla Gourd, Cerasee, Balsam Pear, Balsam-Apple, Balsambirne, Balsamo, Bitter Apple, Bitter Cucumber, Bitter Gourd, Bittergurke, Carilla Fruit, Carilla Gourd, Cerasee, Chinli-Chih, Cundeamor, Fructus Mormordicae Grosvenori, Karavella, Kathilla, Karela, Kareli, Kerala, Kuguazi, K’u-Kua, Lai Margose, Melón Amargo, Melon Amer, Momordica, Momordica charantia, Momordica murcata, Momordique, Pepino Montero, P’u-T’ao, Sorosi, Sushavi, Vegetable insulin, Wild Cucumber
Bitter Melon is one of the most popular vegetables grown in South-East Asia. Like cucumber, melon or pumpkin it belongs to the gourd family. A native of Indian subcontinent it is used in Asian delicacies. It one of the healthiest vegetables and has many medicinal uses. It has a uniquely bitter and crunchy taste.
Bitter Melon (Bitter Gourd) Information
This very short living tropical perennial climber with thin stems can grow up to 5 m in length. Like other plants of this family, it needs support. Both the stem and lobed leaves are hairy. Bitter melon produces yellow flowers, male or female, which are pollinated by insects.
Bitter taste fruits are eaten unripe when they are still green or slightly pale. They have delicate skin and can be eaten after cooking. Inside there are large seeds. The flesh somewhat resembles a cucumber and is watery and crusty.
How to Grow Bitter MelonPropagation
Seeds can be purchased online or in garden shops. You can also use seeds you get from ripe yellow fruits. Ripe seeds have a crimson red color coat. Germination is not difficult, but there are some tricks to make it faster.
Seeds will germinate slowly in 3-4 weeks if you directly sow them without pre-treatment, especially in low temperatures. But to increase germination rate and for the faster germination, you have to scarify them to remove seed coat. For this, rub the seeds from one side without making any damage to endosperm inside the seed coat. Soaking seeds for 24 hours in water before sowing will also help.
Planting Bitter Melon
Sow seeds 2 cm deep. Seeds can be sown directly into the ground or in the containers but only when the risk of frost has passed and the soil warms up enough. Seeds require the temperature above 70 F (20 C) for germination.
In temperate regions best seed sowing time is summer, usually between late April to May. Whereas in tropics (USDA Zone 10, 11), you can start seeds anytime.
Types and Varieties
There are two types of bitter melons. One from India, which is smaller in size and has spiny skin and the other one is from China. Chinese bitter melons are milder in taste, generally large and smoothly ridged. If you want the higher yield, choose hybrid variety.
How to Grow Bitter Gourd in Pots
Growing bitter gourd (bitter melon) in pots is easy. Similar to squashes, cucumbers, and melons. You’ll need a 12 inches deep pot and a sturdy trellis. However, the bitter melon vine can grow more than 5 m (16 feet) long. A trellis or any other support structure that is at least 5-6 feet tall is required. Once the vine has reached that height you’ll have to redirect it.
Requirements for Growing Bitter Melon
This plant is cultivated in the same way like squashes, melons or cucumbers.
Position
Provide full sun to this vine and it will produce heavily. Also, as it is a tall vine you will need to provide it a support. A tall trellis or a garden fence. If you want to grow it on your patio, terrace or balcony grow it near the wall so that it can go up along with it.
Soil
It tolerates a wide range of soils, but prefers permeable, sandy loam soil that is very rich in organic matter. Bitter melon grows in slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil. The pH range around 6 to 7.1 is ideal.
Watering
It can tolerate drought like conditions for a short time but regular watering to keep the soil evenly moist is essential to ensure a good yield.
Temperature
In the initial phase of growth, growing bitter gourds require a temperature more than 70 F (20 C). Humid and warm temperature accelerate the growth of the plant. It is more resistant to low temperatures than other plants of this family but requires the hot temperature and humidity to grow.
Bitter Melon Plant CareFertilizer
Overuse of nitrogen-rich fertilizers should be avoided, which could encourage the development of foliage at the expense of fruits. At the time of planting, you can mix slow-release complete fertilizer in the soil. Enriching the soil with compost or well-rotted aged manure and regular inputs of organic matter will be enough later. Still, if your plant is not growing well, you can feed it with liquid vegetable fertilizer once in a month.
Trellising
Bitter gourd perks up very quickly and within two weeks after planting you must arrange something to support it. You can also grow this vine on pergolas, arches or arbor.
Growing bitter gourd vertically increases the yield and fruit size, moreover, in the case of growing horizontally on the ground, there is a high risk of fruit rot and fungal infection to the plant.
Pruning
The plant produces numerous side shoots, which must be removed to improve yield, remove the side shoots (lateral branches) until the runner reaches the top of the trellis. Leave only 4–6 laterals and cut the tip of the main runner to improve the productivity of the plant.
Overwintering
In cooler climates bitter gourds are grown as annual so you may not need to care about overwintering.
Pollination
Pollinators like bees will do the pollination for you so be good to them. If you don’t find pollinators around the flowers you may need to hand pollinate them in the morning.
Pests and Diseases
It is prone to diseases like watermelon mosaic virus, other cucurbit diseases, and powdery mildew. In pests, it gets affected by aphids and spider mites.
Harvesting
Bitter melon starts to fruit quickly in 2 months. Harvest fruits when they are green, little pale and unripe and about the size of 3 to 6 inches (depending more on the variety and type). Within 6 to 8 weeks after the germination, you’ll see the blossoms and in the next 2-3 weeks, fruits will appear and are ready to be picked.
USDA Zones— 6-11
Difficulty— Easy
Other Names— African Cucumber, Ampalaya, Balsam Pear, Balsam-Apple, Balsambirne, Balsamo, Bitter Apple, Bitter Cucumber, Bitter Gourd, Bittergurke, Carilla Fruit, Carilla Gourd, Cerasee, Balsam Pear, Balsam-Apple, Balsambirne, Balsamo, Bitter Apple, Bitter Cucumber, Bitter Gourd, Bittergurke, Carilla Fruit, Carilla Gourd, Cerasee, Chinli-Chih, Cundeamor, Fructus Mormordicae Grosvenori, Karavella, Kathilla, Karela, Kareli, Kerala, Kuguazi, K’u-Kua, Lai Margose, Melón Amargo, Melon Amer, Momordica, Momordica charantia, Momordica murcata, Momordique, Pepino Montero, P’u-T’ao, Sorosi, Sushavi, Vegetable insulin, Wild Cucumber
Bitter Melon is one of the most popular vegetables grown in South-East Asia. Like cucumber, melon or pumpkin it belongs to the gourd family. A native of Indian subcontinent it is used in Asian delicacies. It one of the healthiest vegetables and has many medicinal uses. It has a uniquely bitter and crunchy taste.
Bitter Melon (Bitter Gourd) Information
This very short living tropical perennial climber with thin stems can grow up to 5 m in length. Like other plants of this family, it needs support. Both the stem and lobed leaves are hairy. Bitter melon produces yellow flowers, male or female, which are pollinated by insects.
Bitter taste fruits are eaten unripe when they are still green or slightly pale. They have delicate skin and can be eaten after cooking. Inside there are large seeds. The flesh somewhat resembles a cucumber and is watery and crusty.
How to Grow Bitter MelonPropagation
Seeds can be purchased online or in garden shops. You can also use seeds you get from ripe yellow fruits. Ripe seeds have a crimson red color coat. Germination is not difficult, but there are some tricks to make it faster.
Seeds will germinate slowly in 3-4 weeks if you directly sow them without pre-treatment, especially in low temperatures. But to increase germination rate and for the faster germination, you have to scarify them to remove seed coat. For this, rub the seeds from one side without making any damage to endosperm inside the seed coat. Soaking seeds for 24 hours in water before sowing will also help.
Planting Bitter Melon
Sow seeds 2 cm deep. Seeds can be sown directly into the ground or in the containers but only when the risk of frost has passed and the soil warms up enough. Seeds require the temperature above 70 F (20 C) for germination.
In temperate regions best seed sowing time is summer, usually between late April to May. Whereas in tropics (USDA Zone 10, 11), you can start seeds anytime.
Types and Varieties
There are two types of bitter melons. One from India, which is smaller in size and has spiny skin and the other one is from China. Chinese bitter melons are milder in taste, generally large and smoothly ridged. If you want the higher yield, choose hybrid variety.
How to Grow Bitter Gourd in Pots
Growing bitter gourd (bitter melon) in pots is easy. Similar to squashes, cucumbers, and melons. You’ll need a 12 inches deep pot and a sturdy trellis. However, the bitter melon vine can grow more than 5 m (16 feet) long. A trellis or any other support structure that is at least 5-6 feet tall is required. Once the vine has reached that height you’ll have to redirect it.
Requirements for Growing Bitter Melon
This plant is cultivated in the same way like squashes, melons or cucumbers.
Position
Provide full sun to this vine and it will produce heavily. Also, as it is a tall vine you will need to provide it a support. A tall trellis or a garden fence. If you want to grow it on your patio, terrace or balcony grow it near the wall so that it can go up along with it.
Soil
It tolerates a wide range of soils, but prefers permeable, sandy loam soil that is very rich in organic matter. Bitter melon grows in slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil. The pH range around 6 to 7.1 is ideal.
Watering
It can tolerate drought like conditions for a short time but regular watering to keep the soil evenly moist is essential to ensure a good yield.
Temperature
In the initial phase of growth, growing bitter gourds require a temperature more than 70 F (20 C). Humid and warm temperature accelerate the growth of the plant. It is more resistant to low temperatures than other plants of this family but requires the hot temperature and humidity to grow.
Bitter Melon Plant CareFertilizer
Overuse of nitrogen-rich fertilizers should be avoided, which could encourage the development of foliage at the expense of fruits. At the time of planting, you can mix slow-release complete fertilizer in the soil. Enriching the soil with compost or well-rotted aged manure and regular inputs of organic matter will be enough later. Still, if your plant is not growing well, you can feed it with liquid vegetable fertilizer once in a month.
Trellising
Bitter gourd perks up very quickly and within two weeks after planting you must arrange something to support it. You can also grow this vine on pergolas, arches or arbor.
Growing bitter gourd vertically increases the yield and fruit size, moreover, in the case of growing horizontally on the ground, there is a high risk of fruit rot and fungal infection to the plant.
Pruning
The plant produces numerous side shoots, which must be removed to improve yield, remove the side shoots (lateral branches) until the runner reaches the top of the trellis. Leave only 4–6 laterals and cut the tip of the main runner to improve the productivity of the plant.
Overwintering
In cooler climates bitter gourds are grown as annual so you may not need to care about overwintering.
Pollination
Pollinators like bees will do the pollination for you so be good to them. If you don’t find pollinators around the flowers you may need to hand pollinate them in the morning.
Pests and Diseases
It is prone to diseases like watermelon mosaic virus, other cucurbit diseases, and powdery mildew. In pests, it gets affected by aphids and spider mites.
Harvesting
Bitter melon starts to fruit quickly in 2 months. Harvest fruits when they are green, little pale and unripe and about the size of 3 to 6 inches (depending more on the variety and type). Within 6 to 8 weeks after the germination, you’ll see the blossoms and in the next 2-3 weeks, fruits will appear and are ready to be picked.
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