文章
粉团
2017年05月23日
Don’t wait till spring for gardening, begin with 6 things in February so that you’ll have a good start when the weather gets warm again.
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones break down the country into regions based on what their average extreme low temperature can reach for the year. They range from zones 1a to 13b. The majority of the United States falls in between zone 3a, which has a low temperature of between -40 and -35 degrees (F), and zone 8a, with a low of 10 to 15 degrees. That means that most of us have some sort of off season during the winter months when most of our outdoor gardening is put on hold. By December, most annual plants have finished their cycles and been taken up, and many perennials are dormant.
February, right in the middle of the winter, is the perfect time to start strategizing your garden for the upcoming spring. Depending on where you live, February falls somewhere between 6-12 weeks out from when you can start planting outside. The following ideas are some things you can be working on now to have better results from your garden when the weather gets warm.
1. Map Your Garden
Gardening is fun and rewarding whether you have a plan or not. There have been times where I planted seeds very late in the season because I forgot to earlier and still got results. I’ve planted things next to each other that you aren’t supposed to and still gotten results. To have the best turnout, however, a little planning goes a long way.
An easy way to plan your garden is to map it out and divide it into square feet. Depending on the vegetable, you can plant a certain amount of seeds per square foot. The following can be used as a guide:
Seedlings Per Square FootWhat to Plant1 per 2 square feetwatermelon, vining squash1tomato, basil, broccoli, cauliflower, hot peppers2cucumbers4lettuce, other leafy greens8bush beans, snap peas16beets, radishes, turnips, carrots, onions
See an example map of a square foot garden plan.
When mapping out your garden you should also consider companion planting. Companion planting is the practice of planting vegetables or flowers that complement each other and produce higher yields and quality when planted in closer proximity. For almost any garden vegetable, marigolds are a good companion plant because they deter pests like beetles. Plan on including marigolds in your garden layout!
2. Order Seeds
Now that you have your plan, you should have an idea of what seeds you are going to need. If you have been gardening for a while, you’ve probably signed up to receive seed catalogs from a few companies. The catalogs usually start arriving
sometime around January 1st. If you’ve had a chance to look through them and have decided what you would like to plant, now is the time to place your order. You want to may sure they get to you in time if you are going to be starting seeds indoors. If you will be purchasing your seeds from a garden store, you can do that now, too.
If you’ve saved seeds from last year’s crops or from organic veggies you’ve purchased at the store, that’s great! You’re one step ahead.
3. Start Seedlings Indoors
Depending on your hardiness zone, your lasts frost date (and when you can start planting outside) falls somewhere between April 1-May 15. If you live in a more northern zone with an early first frost date like September or October 1st, that window doesn’t give your plants a whole lot of time to flourish if you are starting from seed. Many seedlings will fare better and will have more time to produce a full crop if started indoors first. February is the perfect time to start seedlings indoors so they will be strong enough to harden off and plant outside once its warm enough.
To start seedlings inside, you’ll just need a seedling tray or small containers with drainage holes, sterile seed starter mix, some plastic wrap, and a sunny window. Plant your seeds 1-2 per cell or container in the moistened mix. Cover with plastic wrap. Check each day that the medium is moist. Once seedlings emerge, you can remove the plastic wrap. Provided they get enough water and strong sunlight, your seedlings should be strong enough within the next 2-3 months to go outside. (Make sure to harden them off first).
4. Start Composting
Composting is a garden project you can start in winter or any time of year. Having your own compost bin will save you money in the long run—its cheaper than expensive fertilizer from garden stores, and it uses waste you’d otherwise be filling your garbage bags with. There are a lot of options for compost systems to try, depending on if you’re doing it inside or outside, if you want to use worms or not, etc. For a worm bin compost or a no-turn (i.e. low maintenance) outdoor compost, the turnaround process is 3 months or more, so if you start now it will be ready during the early part of the growing season to start using in your garden. The decomposition process is slower in winter with the cooler temperatures, but there are a few things you can do to speed up the process if you start late and are going to want to start using your compost sooner.
5. Build a Hoop House
If you are especially anxious to get some plants in the ground outside, you can consider building a hoop house. A hoop house is a series of parallel hoops arching over your garden, covered in a heat retaining greenhouse material. This dome acts as a mini greenhouse to protect your plants from frost. It can extend your growing season by as many as 8 weeks in spring and fall. By the middle of February, you should be able to plant cold hardy plants (think arugula, onions, broccoli) in your hoop house. You can try plants less forgiving of frost if you add an extra layer of material inside the dome.
You can try making a hoop house yourself, or they can also be purchased at your local garden store.
6. Plant Fall Bulbs, If You Forgot Earlier
Oh no, you forgot to plant your tulip and daffodil bulbs before Thanksgiving! Plant them now anyway. Fall bulbs need a period of cold to bloom once the weather gets warm. Ideally, they should be planted between September and December, but many will still bloom just fine if planted later, as long as they have some time on the ground in the cold. Bulbs are different from seeds—they won’t make it until next year, so you might as well try to plant them now while they still have a chance at success.
If you have spring bulbs like gladiolus, don’t plant those now! They will need to wait until the soil is warmer and there is no chance of frost, as they do not work the same way as for fall bulbs and won’t survive winter temperatures.
For devoted gardeners, winter can be a dull time. Its natural to be antsy when there’s not much you can do for your garden. Even though I know you’ll be happier once last frost hits and you can get outside digging in the dirt, at least you can chase off the winter blues for now with some of these things on your garden to-do list. After getting started planning and planting your seedlings, the last frost will be here before you know it. Happy gardening!
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones break down the country into regions based on what their average extreme low temperature can reach for the year. They range from zones 1a to 13b. The majority of the United States falls in between zone 3a, which has a low temperature of between -40 and -35 degrees (F), and zone 8a, with a low of 10 to 15 degrees. That means that most of us have some sort of off season during the winter months when most of our outdoor gardening is put on hold. By December, most annual plants have finished their cycles and been taken up, and many perennials are dormant.
February, right in the middle of the winter, is the perfect time to start strategizing your garden for the upcoming spring. Depending on where you live, February falls somewhere between 6-12 weeks out from when you can start planting outside. The following ideas are some things you can be working on now to have better results from your garden when the weather gets warm.
1. Map Your Garden
Gardening is fun and rewarding whether you have a plan or not. There have been times where I planted seeds very late in the season because I forgot to earlier and still got results. I’ve planted things next to each other that you aren’t supposed to and still gotten results. To have the best turnout, however, a little planning goes a long way.
An easy way to plan your garden is to map it out and divide it into square feet. Depending on the vegetable, you can plant a certain amount of seeds per square foot. The following can be used as a guide:
Seedlings Per Square FootWhat to Plant1 per 2 square feetwatermelon, vining squash1tomato, basil, broccoli, cauliflower, hot peppers2cucumbers4lettuce, other leafy greens8bush beans, snap peas16beets, radishes, turnips, carrots, onions
See an example map of a square foot garden plan.
When mapping out your garden you should also consider companion planting. Companion planting is the practice of planting vegetables or flowers that complement each other and produce higher yields and quality when planted in closer proximity. For almost any garden vegetable, marigolds are a good companion plant because they deter pests like beetles. Plan on including marigolds in your garden layout!
2. Order Seeds
Now that you have your plan, you should have an idea of what seeds you are going to need. If you have been gardening for a while, you’ve probably signed up to receive seed catalogs from a few companies. The catalogs usually start arriving
sometime around January 1st. If you’ve had a chance to look through them and have decided what you would like to plant, now is the time to place your order. You want to may sure they get to you in time if you are going to be starting seeds indoors. If you will be purchasing your seeds from a garden store, you can do that now, too.
If you’ve saved seeds from last year’s crops or from organic veggies you’ve purchased at the store, that’s great! You’re one step ahead.
3. Start Seedlings Indoors
Depending on your hardiness zone, your lasts frost date (and when you can start planting outside) falls somewhere between April 1-May 15. If you live in a more northern zone with an early first frost date like September or October 1st, that window doesn’t give your plants a whole lot of time to flourish if you are starting from seed. Many seedlings will fare better and will have more time to produce a full crop if started indoors first. February is the perfect time to start seedlings indoors so they will be strong enough to harden off and plant outside once its warm enough.
To start seedlings inside, you’ll just need a seedling tray or small containers with drainage holes, sterile seed starter mix, some plastic wrap, and a sunny window. Plant your seeds 1-2 per cell or container in the moistened mix. Cover with plastic wrap. Check each day that the medium is moist. Once seedlings emerge, you can remove the plastic wrap. Provided they get enough water and strong sunlight, your seedlings should be strong enough within the next 2-3 months to go outside. (Make sure to harden them off first).
4. Start Composting
Composting is a garden project you can start in winter or any time of year. Having your own compost bin will save you money in the long run—its cheaper than expensive fertilizer from garden stores, and it uses waste you’d otherwise be filling your garbage bags with. There are a lot of options for compost systems to try, depending on if you’re doing it inside or outside, if you want to use worms or not, etc. For a worm bin compost or a no-turn (i.e. low maintenance) outdoor compost, the turnaround process is 3 months or more, so if you start now it will be ready during the early part of the growing season to start using in your garden. The decomposition process is slower in winter with the cooler temperatures, but there are a few things you can do to speed up the process if you start late and are going to want to start using your compost sooner.
5. Build a Hoop House
If you are especially anxious to get some plants in the ground outside, you can consider building a hoop house. A hoop house is a series of parallel hoops arching over your garden, covered in a heat retaining greenhouse material. This dome acts as a mini greenhouse to protect your plants from frost. It can extend your growing season by as many as 8 weeks in spring and fall. By the middle of February, you should be able to plant cold hardy plants (think arugula, onions, broccoli) in your hoop house. You can try plants less forgiving of frost if you add an extra layer of material inside the dome.
You can try making a hoop house yourself, or they can also be purchased at your local garden store.
6. Plant Fall Bulbs, If You Forgot Earlier
Oh no, you forgot to plant your tulip and daffodil bulbs before Thanksgiving! Plant them now anyway. Fall bulbs need a period of cold to bloom once the weather gets warm. Ideally, they should be planted between September and December, but many will still bloom just fine if planted later, as long as they have some time on the ground in the cold. Bulbs are different from seeds—they won’t make it until next year, so you might as well try to plant them now while they still have a chance at success.
If you have spring bulbs like gladiolus, don’t plant those now! They will need to wait until the soil is warmer and there is no chance of frost, as they do not work the same way as for fall bulbs and won’t survive winter temperatures.
For devoted gardeners, winter can be a dull time. Its natural to be antsy when there’s not much you can do for your garden. Even though I know you’ll be happier once last frost hits and you can get outside digging in the dirt, at least you can chase off the winter blues for now with some of these things on your garden to-do list. After getting started planning and planting your seedlings, the last frost will be here before you know it. Happy gardening!
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文章
Gina
2017年05月23日
Houseplants are just another way to garden. Indoor gardening has been polar for centuries, and I think it’s a basic human need to want to nurture nature, even within our homes. Plus, houseplants are great decorating accents, and help clean the air within a home. However, I think killing houseplants is an all time top factor behind the term “black thumb”. There are houseplants, however, that are easy to grow, and hard to kill. Here are our top easy houseplants that any gardener can grow indoors. In addition, the plants we have chosen are great for families because they are all non-poisonous. Remember however, to always check with your poison control center with the Latin name from the tag on the plant you buy. Our featured photo plant (above) is the house plant Peperomia. Easy to find in any nursery, and tolerant of a wide range of conditions. Prefer well drained soil, bright light and only water when soil is dry on the surface.
Norfolk Pine – This is an upright plant that reminds me of Christmas. In fact, my Norfolk Pine started it’s life as a mini holiday tree during December vacation to the beaches of Oregon. Likes bright light, but not direct sun. Can grow up to ten feet tall with time. Loves moist air as well, so keep out of the draft of a heating vent. Water when soil surface is dry to the touch.
Spider Plant – Who doesn’t love a Spider Plant? Famous for their “babies”, or little plant lets that grow at the ends of stems, and their wonderful arching shape. You can root the “babies” in water easily and create more plants! I love the variegated foliage. Bright to medium light. Keep evenly moist. Leaves will lose color if they are thirsty, but they will bounce right back.
Umbrella Tree (Shefflera) – This larger upright plant has a fan of glossy dark green leaves attached to each stem. Can grow to eight feet tall. Will look leggy in too low of light. Water moderately.
Grape Ivy – Do not confuse this with English Ivy, which can be poisonous. Grape ivy is a wonderful hanging plant, and has glossy bright green leaves shaped like an oak leaf. Will tolerate lower light, but prefers moderate light. Water moderately.
Cast Iron Plant – This plant coms by it’s name honestly…its made like cast iron! Hard to kill… will even bounce back from a bad wilt from lack of water, will tolerate low light and neglect. That having been said, it’s stripy leaves (sometimes spotted with cream) look best in medium light, with evenly moist soil. Thats it! Doesn’t get easier!
Whether it’s because it’s the depths of winter and you want to see some green living things, or just because you enjoy having houseplants in your home, these easy houseplants are a great place for busy gardeners to start their “indoor garden”.
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文章
Hande Salcan
2017年05月23日
I never like to use the word “chores” (ick!) when it comes to gardening, but let’s face it…there are a few things we need to do each season to keep our garden healthy and productive. Frankly, the fall prep can be a little tough for me…after all, it can be hard to see how it will affect your garden months down the road. (Even when you know better ’cause you read all my good advice. :) But spring prep, now that’s a diff story. You get to see the results of your efforts quickly, and besides, the first stirrings of spring is enough to prod you along to get these (not chores) done. And I don’t know about you, but after this winter, I’d do anything to get outside, even prep! (Again, not chores.) So here is your spring garden prep checklist that you can start working on as the snow melts (and it will!) and the temperatures warm!
1. Pull out the toolbox, cause it’s time to repair! Before you are kept busy pulling weeds, planting and designing, and harvesting veggies, make sure anything that has been put aside for repairs gets fixed. Stepping stones heaved from the ground? Time to lay them back in flush with the ground. Solar path lights not working? Repair or replace!
2. Time to cut it all back. Perennials and some shrubs need to have all the old dead growth cut back in early spring, to allow them to regrow with plenty of light and air circulation. (Also, it’s prettier!) If you haven’t cut back your ornamental grasses and rose bushes, the sooner the better.
3. Clean it up! Scrub out containers to get them ready for new designs this spring and summer, any tools that missed your fall prep need to be cleaned and possibly oiled, birdhouses, ponds and fountains all need a good cleaning out and checking over. If your spring bulbs are covered with a mash of fall leaves, clean them up so they won’t rot underneath.
4. Plant bare root roses and trees and shrubs. This is a great time to get good deals on bare root plants… get them in the ground before the weather warms too much. Tip: Make sure you already know where the plant is going to go when you bring it home… Bare root plants are great until they break dormancy, then you better hope they are in the ground already! It’s really easy to set a new rose bush or two aside until you decide where to put them, only to find them dried out and stunted because they broke dormancy without the benefit of soil and water.
5. If you have some perennials that were crowded last season, or you just want to create more plants, now is the time to divide those perennials.
6. Check for watering needs. If you have had a dry winter, make sure you give all your plants a good long drink to help them wake up to spring. In mid-late spring you can begin your fertilizing schedule.
7. Now the fun part…plant something! Early spring veggies, pansies and primroses, and new perennials are prime for planting in spring. Make sure after all the (not chores) you reward yourself by doing the one thing you’ve been waiting to do all winter…get your hands in the soil, and nurture a living plant (or five)!
Was that so hard? And besides, it got you out in the garden! I know, I say that a lot. :)
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文章
Hande Salcan
2017年05月23日
Just because the weather is turning cooler is no reason to turn your back on the garden! In fact, giving your garden a little extra time now can help you have a great gardening season next year. It also happens to be an excellent time to get out and dig in the dirt, get a little exercise, and dream about the changes you are going to make in your garden design. Cooler weather and fewer outdoor activities create the perfect excuse to complete this fall garden checklist!
Amend Your Soil
This is a great time of year to work compost into your soil to improve the texture, drainage or available nutrients. Till in compost from your own yard and kitchen waste, or pick up a couple bags at the store. Do this every fall to have the best garden on the block. This is the number one thing you can do to improve your garden results for next year!
Clean Up!
Yea, you knew I was getting to this… Maybe not the most fun part of fall gardening, but important just the same. Pull out dead or diseased plants and dispose of them. Clean up plant matter at the base of plants and throughout beds. Doing this will make it harder for pests and disease to invade the garden come spring.
Mulch Your Tenders
If you have plants that are borderline in your cold zone, and you would like to try to get them through the winter, make sure you mulch them with a layer of at least 2-3 inches thick. If you mulch trees and evergreens, leave a gap around the base of the trunk to prevent pests from munching.
Order Your Bulbs
If you have always admired those tulips and daffodils in the neighbors yard, well now is the time to set up your own little spring show. Order your bulbs now for best selection online, and plant in late fall before the ground freezes.
Divide Perennials
Now is the time to dig up those overgrown perennials, divide them into smaller plants, and replant. Doing it now instead of spring gives the new plants a chance to put down roots and be ready to go when winter is over.
How to Divide Perennials
Feed the Birds
If you haven’t been feeding the birds all summer, now is a great time to start as their natural food becomes more scarce in autumn.
5 Upcycled Bird Houses, Feeders and Baths!
Feed the Lawn!
If you want that rich green lawn in spring, it needs some attention now. Talk to your local nursery about the right nutrients to apply to your lawn in fall, and get fertilizing one last time!
Sprinkler Care
In late fall, empty all hoses, place faucet protectors, and have your underground systems winterized.
Plant Fall Annuals
Mums, pansies and kale will fill those planters and pots well into fall, so get to planting!
Enjoy!
This is the perfect time of year to enjoy a cup of tea or glass of wine in the garden, and watch the natural world slowly get sleepy. It’s a calming feeling to wait for the coming of winter, because it reminds us there is a season for every thing, and things do change, but that spring will return again!
Here is a wonderful infographic that we came upon and thought we would add to this post – on how to prepare your yard for winter. Check it out. Some good info here.
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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.
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文章
扭扭
2017年05月23日
If you live in a city and have a small space (a balcony, rooftop, patio etc.) to grow plants, embrace vertical gardening. And with these 16 Vertical Gardening Ideas you can do this easily.Vertical Gardening Ideas for Small Urban Gardens1.
1. Vertical Lettuce Planter
If you love to grow lettuce, herbs or other green leafy vegetables, this project is for you. With minimal space and efforts, make this vertical planter. This simple project can be completed before lunchtime. Check out the tutorial on Bonnie Plants.
2. Vertical Pallet Planter
You can have different types of plants (herbs, salad greens or ornamentals) growing in a limited space you have, this way. Here are a few more ideas using pallets in the garden.
3. DIY Trellis Planter Holder
She had two trellises and she found an idea! Attaching them to the windows can make the dull wall interesting and she could save her plants (herbs) from her daughter who loved to pick and throw the leaves. Here’s what she had done!
You can do something similar in your balcony garden too.
4. Pallet Container Holder
Arrange a pallet board and hang several pots on it and place on your balcony, where it will receive some sun. It’s easy! And the best part is it will create plenty of vertical space.
5. DIY Stacked Planter.
This DIY stacked planter can spruce up any boring place of your garden. It is quick and easy to make and only requires 5 terracotta pots of different sizes, a few of your favorite plants, a center rod, and potting soil. Here is the tutorial.
6. Vertical Picture Frame Planter
A cool idea for your balcony garden to make it greener, you can also hang a wall planter like this in your room. See the step by step tutorial on our website.
7. Vertical Pot Holder From Pallet Planks
Dismantle a pallet board and separate the pallet planks; nail them on to the wall and fix the pots. Simple!
8. DIY Herb Planter
You can learn how to do this on Ginger Snap Crafts. They have used cedar boards and a few other items to build this.
9. Hanging Garden For Apartments
If you live in an apartment then every inch of space is precious for you and having a vertical hanging garden like this can greatly add more planting space to your urban container garden. To see the tutorial, visit this site.
10. Hanging Gutter Garden
If you have a small patio, balcony or roof garden, make a hanging gutter garden like this one, to grow a lot of plants. See more vertical garden ideas for Balcony.
11. Arrange shelves to keep pots
If possible arrange old shelves or something so that you can keep your pots there, this will also create a lot of space in your tiny garden.
12. Hanging Terracotta Planters
No problem if you don’t have a big outdoor area you can still create a lot of space with the help of vertical gardening. A tutorial is available here.
13. Cool Vertical Garden
Buy a cool vertical garden like this or if you have great DIY skills, make one for yourself. You can also arrange small but useful gardening tools and watering can in it.
14. Staircase Plant Stand
Perfect for city people who have balconies, roofs or terraces as an only outdoor space. You can keep containers on there and grow flowers or herbs.
15. Iron Grid Pot Holder
You can make a grid like this by welding the iron rods or weave them by any other method so that you’ll be able to hang the pots. You can paint that too in your favorite color. *The grid can also be made of wood.
16. Mason Jar Herb Garden
Have some mason jars and wooden boards? Make a herb garden like this. One of its kind tutorials is available here.
1. Vertical Lettuce Planter
If you love to grow lettuce, herbs or other green leafy vegetables, this project is for you. With minimal space and efforts, make this vertical planter. This simple project can be completed before lunchtime. Check out the tutorial on Bonnie Plants.
2. Vertical Pallet Planter
You can have different types of plants (herbs, salad greens or ornamentals) growing in a limited space you have, this way. Here are a few more ideas using pallets in the garden.
3. DIY Trellis Planter Holder
She had two trellises and she found an idea! Attaching them to the windows can make the dull wall interesting and she could save her plants (herbs) from her daughter who loved to pick and throw the leaves. Here’s what she had done!
You can do something similar in your balcony garden too.
4. Pallet Container Holder
Arrange a pallet board and hang several pots on it and place on your balcony, where it will receive some sun. It’s easy! And the best part is it will create plenty of vertical space.
5. DIY Stacked Planter.
This DIY stacked planter can spruce up any boring place of your garden. It is quick and easy to make and only requires 5 terracotta pots of different sizes, a few of your favorite plants, a center rod, and potting soil. Here is the tutorial.
6. Vertical Picture Frame Planter
A cool idea for your balcony garden to make it greener, you can also hang a wall planter like this in your room. See the step by step tutorial on our website.
7. Vertical Pot Holder From Pallet Planks
Dismantle a pallet board and separate the pallet planks; nail them on to the wall and fix the pots. Simple!
8. DIY Herb Planter
You can learn how to do this on Ginger Snap Crafts. They have used cedar boards and a few other items to build this.
9. Hanging Garden For Apartments
If you live in an apartment then every inch of space is precious for you and having a vertical hanging garden like this can greatly add more planting space to your urban container garden. To see the tutorial, visit this site.
10. Hanging Gutter Garden
If you have a small patio, balcony or roof garden, make a hanging gutter garden like this one, to grow a lot of plants. See more vertical garden ideas for Balcony.
11. Arrange shelves to keep pots
If possible arrange old shelves or something so that you can keep your pots there, this will also create a lot of space in your tiny garden.
12. Hanging Terracotta Planters
No problem if you don’t have a big outdoor area you can still create a lot of space with the help of vertical gardening. A tutorial is available here.
13. Cool Vertical Garden
Buy a cool vertical garden like this or if you have great DIY skills, make one for yourself. You can also arrange small but useful gardening tools and watering can in it.
14. Staircase Plant Stand
Perfect for city people who have balconies, roofs or terraces as an only outdoor space. You can keep containers on there and grow flowers or herbs.
15. Iron Grid Pot Holder
You can make a grid like this by welding the iron rods or weave them by any other method so that you’ll be able to hang the pots. You can paint that too in your favorite color. *The grid can also be made of wood.
16. Mason Jar Herb Garden
Have some mason jars and wooden boards? Make a herb garden like this. One of its kind tutorials is available here.
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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
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
If you are new to gardening or get little impatient when growing vegetables– Must see this list of Fast Growing Vegetables. All vegetables in this list can be grown in containers and harvested in 2 months or quicker.
These vegetables are ready to eat in just a few days and the best thing is all of these grows easily in pots.
1. Lettuce
When it comes to fast growing vegetables, lettuce is our favorite. Healthy and continuously productive, this crispy salad green has many qualities that make it a blessing for health. Growing lettuce is easy and fun too, to read more about this click here!
2. Arugula (Rocket)
Arugula is an aromatic, peppery-flavored salad green. This easy to grow veggie is fast growing and you can start to harvest it in just 20-21 days for baby leaves. You can easily grow it in places where space is premium. Window boxes or other shallow wide containers are suitable, you can place this edible where it will receive a fair amount of sun and plenty of moisture.
3. Spinach
Spinach is one of the vegetables that can be grown in both shade and sun. It grows easily in containers and you can even plant it indoors on a windowsill. For growing spinach in pots, choose a pot that is least 6-8 inches deep and use a quality potting mix that is rich in organic matter. Check out this article to learn how to grow it in pots.
4. Beets
Growing beets in containers is quick and easy and you don’t need a large container for planting it, too. A container that is 6-8 inches deep and soil that is rich in compost is all you need. Its roots get ready to harvest in as little as 45 days although you can harvest the greens within two to three weeks.
5. Radish
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 as they have a shallow root system. Radishes are ready for the harvest within 24-60 days, depending more on the variety.
6. Asian Greens
Asian greens are great to grow in pots in shady spaces, they grow fast and don’t need a lot of sun. You can grow them in a spot that receives only 3-4 hours of sun. Providing them plenty of moisture and organic fertilizer is important so that they thrive.
Bok choy of one of the Asian greens that get ready to harvest as soon as about 30 days for baby varieties.
7. Green Onion
Green onions can be a crispy and delicious addition to your salad bowls and sandwiches. Even in a limited space like a windowsill, you can get enough harvest. Green onion stalks can be picked after 3 or 4 weeks.
8. Sprouts
If you are little impatient for harvesting, grow sprouts. Sprouts can grow almost anywhere in your home. 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 can be sprinkled on salads, added to sandwiches or tossed into soups for a delicious and healthful twist on your favorite recipes.
9. Fenugreek
Fenugreek is a lesser known annual Asian vegetable (popularly used in the Indian subcontinent), it grows quickly if the temperature is warm in summer. You can start this plant from seeds just like spinach. Check out more here!
10. Peas
Within 2 months after planting peas can be harvested. If you choose a right variety and growing conditions are optimal, growing peas is super easy, even in containers. Also, check out our article on BEST CONTAINER VEGETABLES!
11. Kale
Kale can tolerate some heat but the best flavor comes when the weather cools down, especially in spring and fall. You can plant kale from early spring to late summer and if you want to try this green in subtropical or tropical climate, winter is the right time for its growth.
12. Okra
Also known as “Lady Finger”, this slimy-sweet, warm weather vegetable is favorite of many Southerners and in other parts in the world. It’s true that no other vegetable can taste like okra! Many okra varieties start to produce pods in just 50 days, not only this– it’s flowers look beautiful too.
Also Read: How To Grow Okra In Pots
13. Mustard Green
Like other greens, mustard is one of the fast growing vegetables. It is easy to grow and prefers warm weather. You can use its tender leaves in salads, or use it like spinach. There are also many curry recipes that require mustard leaves.
These vegetables are ready to eat in just a few days and the best thing is all of these grows easily in pots.
1. Lettuce
When it comes to fast growing vegetables, lettuce is our favorite. Healthy and continuously productive, this crispy salad green has many qualities that make it a blessing for health. Growing lettuce is easy and fun too, to read more about this click here!
2. Arugula (Rocket)
Arugula is an aromatic, peppery-flavored salad green. This easy to grow veggie is fast growing and you can start to harvest it in just 20-21 days for baby leaves. You can easily grow it in places where space is premium. Window boxes or other shallow wide containers are suitable, you can place this edible where it will receive a fair amount of sun and plenty of moisture.
3. Spinach
Spinach is one of the vegetables that can be grown in both shade and sun. It grows easily in containers and you can even plant it indoors on a windowsill. For growing spinach in pots, choose a pot that is least 6-8 inches deep and use a quality potting mix that is rich in organic matter. Check out this article to learn how to grow it in pots.
4. Beets
Growing beets in containers is quick and easy and you don’t need a large container for planting it, too. A container that is 6-8 inches deep and soil that is rich in compost is all you need. Its roots get ready to harvest in as little as 45 days although you can harvest the greens within two to three weeks.
5. Radish
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 as they have a shallow root system. Radishes are ready for the harvest within 24-60 days, depending more on the variety.
6. Asian Greens
Asian greens are great to grow in pots in shady spaces, they grow fast and don’t need a lot of sun. You can grow them in a spot that receives only 3-4 hours of sun. Providing them plenty of moisture and organic fertilizer is important so that they thrive.
Bok choy of one of the Asian greens that get ready to harvest as soon as about 30 days for baby varieties.
7. Green Onion
Green onions can be a crispy and delicious addition to your salad bowls and sandwiches. Even in a limited space like a windowsill, you can get enough harvest. Green onion stalks can be picked after 3 or 4 weeks.
8. Sprouts
If you are little impatient for harvesting, grow sprouts. Sprouts can grow almost anywhere in your home. 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 can be sprinkled on salads, added to sandwiches or tossed into soups for a delicious and healthful twist on your favorite recipes.
9. Fenugreek
Fenugreek is a lesser known annual Asian vegetable (popularly used in the Indian subcontinent), it grows quickly if the temperature is warm in summer. You can start this plant from seeds just like spinach. Check out more here!
10. Peas
Within 2 months after planting peas can be harvested. If you choose a right variety and growing conditions are optimal, growing peas is super easy, even in containers. Also, check out our article on BEST CONTAINER VEGETABLES!
11. Kale
Kale can tolerate some heat but the best flavor comes when the weather cools down, especially in spring and fall. You can plant kale from early spring to late summer and if you want to try this green in subtropical or tropical climate, winter is the right time for its growth.
12. Okra
Also known as “Lady Finger”, this slimy-sweet, warm weather vegetable is favorite of many Southerners and in other parts in the world. It’s true that no other vegetable can taste like okra! Many okra varieties start to produce pods in just 50 days, not only this– it’s flowers look beautiful too.
Also Read: How To Grow Okra In Pots
13. Mustard Green
Like other greens, mustard is one of the fast growing vegetables. It is easy to grow and prefers warm weather. You can use its tender leaves in salads, or use it like spinach. There are also many curry recipes that require mustard leaves.
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文章
Gina
2017年05月22日
Looking for a quick and easy garden container to add some flair to a boring deck, yard or patio? Here is a before and after project that will take less than 30 minutes, can be inexpensive and is a creative take on ordinary container gardening!
Supplies:
Any container that has sections.
(We used an old wood soda crate)
Potting soil
Alpine or compact plants
Polished stones
Step One: Choose plants that are of an alpine or compact nature. You don’t want to the plants overgrowing the container so much that you can no longer see the structure that gives it a good design. Line the container with plastic to protect it if you choose, but be sure it has some drainage. If drainage is an issue, place a layer of gravel at the bottom of the container first. Fill the container with potting soil, gently pack down, and place the plants. Fill with more soil, gently press down with your fingers, and water. Tip: Don’t plant all the sections of your container. Leaving some empty space highlights the plants and gives the eye a place to rest.
Step Two: Fill some of the empty sections with polished stones or glass. You can find these at craft shops or dollar stores, or perhaps you already have a collection. The stones are a nice contrast to the container and the plants.
Step Three: Place your container, keep it watered and prune the plants as needed to keep them controlled. Remember, in this particular project, you are highlighting the creative container as much as the plants!
Done! Some ideas?
Use recycled materials from a building renovation store and succulents for a more modern or contemporary look.
Repeat the same plant over and over, or vary your plants for more contrast. Try small grasses, succulents, compact annuals, or even experiment with a trailing houseplant over one side. Think about all containers that have sections…kitchen containers, building supplies, plastic organizing trays, or create your own by placing a series of smaller containers inside a larger one!
Easy, quick garden container project to make your small space or patio garden something special. You can make it as budget friendly as you wish, and this is a great project to reuse and recycle, making it green gardening as well!
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文章
Gina
2017年03月16日
If you are looking for an indoor gardening project that is cool, easy and just a little bit trendy, cactus and succulent projects are for you! Here we found for you some great inspiration and tutorials to help you bring the modern vibe to any room of your home. Did we mention, they are really easy to take care of, too? So if your thumb is brown, that’s ok… these plants and projects are just for you! Our featured project above and below, is from Cassidy at ‘Succulents and Sunshine’. Oh my, these are cute! These DIY painted planters are perfect little accents, and the succulents are really easy to grow. While you are there checking out her tutorial, be sure to check out her e-book, “How to Grow Succulents Indoors“. Then you will be an expert too!
From Brittni Mehlhoff via ‘Curbly’, these DIY metallic planters took her 5 minutes to make. Cactus and succulents always look better when displayed in a cool pot… Simple, fast, easy!
Want to do a project that is a bit more traditional? Learn how to make an indoor succulent dish garden from Manuela at ‘A Cultivated Nest’. Pretty way to use those dishes that aren’t very practical, but too gorgeous to get rid of!
Again from Cassidy at ‘Succulents and Sunshine’, these miniature succulent bird cages look like so much fun to put together, and can be whimsical or traditional… Ok, and they are just so sweet! Find out just how to make them.
Looking for a simple cacti garden? Elsie at ‘A Beautiful Mess’ has you covered, and teaches you all about getting it done. Pretty colors on these desert plants!
Need a little “Zen”? Put down those adult coloring books, and try out this bright and cheerful Zen garden from Allison at ‘Dream a Little Bigger’. Step by step photos, and you gotta love that color! Perfect for your desk, right? That’s what I was thinking’…
Don’t want to figure it all out yourself? We found this Zen terrarium kit at the Etsy shop ‘Wendiland’… When we checked, this wasn’t available, but others like it were!
From ‘East Coast Creative’ learn how to make a DIY garden wall, from start to end! Great tutorial with step by step photos… depending on how large you make yours, this could be a major focal piece in a room. Love!
Make this DIY wire plant stand with this tutorial from ‘The Merry Thought’ to make your cacti stand out above the rest. Want to guess what she used?
I love these DIY mid century plant stands by ‘Sugar and Cloth’… they are perfect for the vibe of any cactus, don’t you think? These Christmas cacti will look amazing when they bloom! Yes, cacti bloom!
That isn’t enough? You need more ideas? Try this planted vintage dump truck from ‘The Potted Store’…
And if that wasn’t enough, jump on over to our post on sedum and succulent planters, for outdoors!
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Gina
2017年03月15日
If you need more gardening space, or you just want to try something a little more unique and interesting, consider a vertical garden. There is nothing new about the idea of going up in garden design… hanging planters, trees and arbors and porticos are all examples of taking things skyward. But these DIY vertical gardens are clever and smart, and give your garden a creative edge. So the next time you’re trying to figure out how to find enough space to grow those herbs, or what you can do to liven up a ho-hum garden space, go vertical! Our feature photo below, is a modern, space saving DIY vertical garden from Chris at ‘Man Made DIY’. He grew veggies in it, but anything is fair game!
Rachel at ‘Shades of Blue Interiors’ wanted a pop of color for her small front porch. Her DIY ladder vertical garden brought that color to eye level and added charm to her porch as well! This is an easy project with inexpensive materials. The key would be an attractive wooden ladder! If you don’t have an authentically old one, consider picking up a cheap wood ladder at a home improvement store and staining it.
Got a roll of rusty metal fence? Or already have a fence that could use a spruce up? Punch holes in simple metal or plastic containers, and hang onto the fence with an s-hook. Plant with your fav flowers or herbs! Remember, keep the containers small enough so that the fence will hold the weight when they are full of soil. This project is from Jill at ‘Sew a Fine Seam‘.
Make succulent frames with this tutorial from ‘Sunset‘. This is a fun project that can turn a patio or balcony space into a really special garden area, even if you have only concrete flooring! Photo from ‘Sky Parlour‘.
‘AKA Design’ built an arbor support for their DIY vertical garden. I love these kinds of container gardens because they are so versatile. This could be all moss, ferns, succulents, herbs, or flowers. Use a color theme or all the colors you can. Trailing plants or mounding ones. Having the same pot throughout ties it all together. Great tutorial!
This vertical herb garden trellis wall from Carrie at ‘Making Lemonade’ is perfect for adding some shade to a window with none, or just making fresh herbs easily accessible from the kitchen door! Simple project anyone can do with ordinary trellis from the home improvement store and some Ikea pots. Plus, I love her theory on how important it is to take care of yourself! (Go read it, the whole deck makeover is so cute!)
Love this DIY suspended vertical garden from ‘The Heathered Nest’ via ‘Remodelaholic’. This project is made with some simple pots and galvanized wire, and they walk you through it step by step. They even make suggestions on how you can customize it!
This DIY outdoor succulent wall garden from ‘Sugar & Cloth’ was made using an unfinished hand rail and used paint tins! Love how clever this is.
Lovin’ on this DIY simple modern vertical wall garden from ‘The Fresh Exchange’. Would love to grow container veggies in this! This is made with felt from the fabric store, believe it or not!
This vertical garden DIY is from ‘Numi Tea Blog’, and is made from ordinary rain gutters. I wonder if we could figure out a way to mount these to a stone block wall? :)
Make a cinderblock garden! You can visit our tutorial for our DIY cinder clock vertical planter to get all the instructions. This photo from ‘The Rainforest Garden‘.
Last, learn how to plant a vertical garden from ‘Front & Main’, the blog of ‘West Elm’. This project would look amazing indoors or out on a covered patio. Simple and awesome!
Get creative! No matter how small or boring your garden space, there is always a way to create your own amazing little bit of green earth!
Rachel at ‘Shades of Blue Interiors’ wanted a pop of color for her small front porch. Her DIY ladder vertical garden brought that color to eye level and added charm to her porch as well! This is an easy project with inexpensive materials. The key would be an attractive wooden ladder! If you don’t have an authentically old one, consider picking up a cheap wood ladder at a home improvement store and staining it.
Got a roll of rusty metal fence? Or already have a fence that could use a spruce up? Punch holes in simple metal or plastic containers, and hang onto the fence with an s-hook. Plant with your fav flowers or herbs! Remember, keep the containers small enough so that the fence will hold the weight when they are full of soil. This project is from Jill at ‘Sew a Fine Seam‘.
Make succulent frames with this tutorial from ‘Sunset‘. This is a fun project that can turn a patio or balcony space into a really special garden area, even if you have only concrete flooring! Photo from ‘Sky Parlour‘.
‘AKA Design’ built an arbor support for their DIY vertical garden. I love these kinds of container gardens because they are so versatile. This could be all moss, ferns, succulents, herbs, or flowers. Use a color theme or all the colors you can. Trailing plants or mounding ones. Having the same pot throughout ties it all together. Great tutorial!
This vertical herb garden trellis wall from Carrie at ‘Making Lemonade’ is perfect for adding some shade to a window with none, or just making fresh herbs easily accessible from the kitchen door! Simple project anyone can do with ordinary trellis from the home improvement store and some Ikea pots. Plus, I love her theory on how important it is to take care of yourself! (Go read it, the whole deck makeover is so cute!)
Love this DIY suspended vertical garden from ‘The Heathered Nest’ via ‘Remodelaholic’. This project is made with some simple pots and galvanized wire, and they walk you through it step by step. They even make suggestions on how you can customize it!
This DIY outdoor succulent wall garden from ‘Sugar & Cloth’ was made using an unfinished hand rail and used paint tins! Love how clever this is.
Lovin’ on this DIY simple modern vertical wall garden from ‘The Fresh Exchange’. Would love to grow container veggies in this! This is made with felt from the fabric store, believe it or not!
This vertical garden DIY is from ‘Numi Tea Blog’, and is made from ordinary rain gutters. I wonder if we could figure out a way to mount these to a stone block wall? :)
Make a cinderblock garden! You can visit our tutorial for our DIY cinder clock vertical planter to get all the instructions. This photo from ‘The Rainforest Garden‘.
Last, learn how to plant a vertical garden from ‘Front & Main’, the blog of ‘West Elm’. This project would look amazing indoors or out on a covered patio. Simple and awesome!
Get creative! No matter how small or boring your garden space, there is always a way to create your own amazing little bit of green earth!
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Joss
2017年02月22日
Alliums are one of the best and easiest bulbs to #grow in the gardening world, but often overlooked. Gorgeous, show stopping blooms, easy growing requirements, and amazing architectural shape make these perfect for any gardener, beginner or seasoned veteran. The large round or oval #flowers are borne on single stalks that tower over the garden from 1-4 feet, usually in mid spring to early summer, but there are varieties that bloom even in the fall. Flowers can be tiny little globes, or large 6 inch giants. One of the best traits of the allium over other spring and summer bulbs is that most animals will avoid eating them. Apparently, people aren’t the only ones who want to avoid onion breath! That’s right, alliums are simply ornamental, or flowering onions. Don’t let images of big smelly onions growing in your garden dissuade you, these plants are nothing of the sort, with a gorgeous, sweet scent. Beautiful as cut flowers as well, they come in whites, blues, purples, pinks and even yellow. Your tulips and daffodils may still get top billing in the spring, but make sure you tuck some alliums into your flower beds as well. Here is how to grow those amazing alliums! Photo below by ‘Dutch Flower Bulbs‘.
Photo below by ‘Fine Gardening‘. Allium “Jeannine”.
How To Grow Alliums
Buy allium bulbs from a good nursery or online resource. You want healthy bulbs with no cuts or soft spots. Research varieties to include several varieties of different bloom times to keep the show going!
Most varieties are hardy zones 3-9.
Like most bulbs, these look best planted in groups.
Plant the bulbs in the fall, before the ground freezes. Plant them to a depth of 3 times their diameter in a sunny or mostly sunny position. Generally, 6-8 inches.
Fertilize at planting and yearly in spring with bone meal or a bulb food.
Water well, then leave till they burst out in flower in spring and summer! After flowering, allium foliage will wither, brown, and go dormant.
Plant them under, behind, and around other perennial plants whose growing foliage will cover the allium foliage later in the summer when it browns.
Do not cut back the browning allium leaves until fall, that is how they store energy for flowers the next season. (This is why planting foliage plants around them is important.)
Photo below by ‘Gardener’s Supply‘.
Our Favorite Allium Varieties
Gladiator – A giant variety. 3-4 feet tall, this showstopper blooms with 6 inch flowers in May-June. It prefers sun but will tolerate partial shade, and has a sweet scent. From ‘Eden Brothers‘. If you are looking to make a statement in your garden, this is it.
Globe Master – This one is the biggest giant we know of, with blooms topping out at a foot across! 36-40 inches high, it’s a gorgeous pick for any spring to early summer garden. Blooms are slightly more blue than Gladiator. From ‘American Meadows‘.
Allium obliquum – This unusual shade of yellow in a small flowered allium is a perfect selection for a naturalized planting. Growing to just 24 inches high, it’s fragrant and blooms late spring to early summer. From ‘Dutch Bulbs‘.
Mount Everest / Purple Sensation – Long the standard for garden alliums , “Purple Sensation” has 4-5 inch globes and grows to 24-30 inches high. It’s white partner here is “Mount Everest”, perfect in combination because they grow to similar sizes and have similar late spring – early summer bloom times. From ‘Longfield Gardens‘.
Twinkling Stars – This giant pink variety has 5-6 inch blooms and 3 1/2 – 4 foot stems, making it perfect for the back of the border. Blooms in May – June. From ‘Breck’s Bulbs‘.
Pink Jewel – A later blooming allium, starting in June into July. This light pink selection grows to 24 inches high, and has 3 inch blooms. From ‘White Flower Farm‘.
Drumstick Allium – Our last selection is the drumstick allium, an oval shaped reddish bloom that grows to 24 inches high. This allium can actually be grown down to zone 2! Blooms early spring to early summer. Another variety great for naturalizing. From ‘American Meadows‘. So which is your favorite?
Photo below by ‘Fine Gardening‘. Allium “Jeannine”.
How To Grow Alliums
Buy allium bulbs from a good nursery or online resource. You want healthy bulbs with no cuts or soft spots. Research varieties to include several varieties of different bloom times to keep the show going!
Most varieties are hardy zones 3-9.
Like most bulbs, these look best planted in groups.
Plant the bulbs in the fall, before the ground freezes. Plant them to a depth of 3 times their diameter in a sunny or mostly sunny position. Generally, 6-8 inches.
Fertilize at planting and yearly in spring with bone meal or a bulb food.
Water well, then leave till they burst out in flower in spring and summer! After flowering, allium foliage will wither, brown, and go dormant.
Plant them under, behind, and around other perennial plants whose growing foliage will cover the allium foliage later in the summer when it browns.
Do not cut back the browning allium leaves until fall, that is how they store energy for flowers the next season. (This is why planting foliage plants around them is important.)
Photo below by ‘Gardener’s Supply‘.
Our Favorite Allium Varieties
Gladiator – A giant variety. 3-4 feet tall, this showstopper blooms with 6 inch flowers in May-June. It prefers sun but will tolerate partial shade, and has a sweet scent. From ‘Eden Brothers‘. If you are looking to make a statement in your garden, this is it.
Globe Master – This one is the biggest giant we know of, with blooms topping out at a foot across! 36-40 inches high, it’s a gorgeous pick for any spring to early summer garden. Blooms are slightly more blue than Gladiator. From ‘American Meadows‘.
Allium obliquum – This unusual shade of yellow in a small flowered allium is a perfect selection for a naturalized planting. Growing to just 24 inches high, it’s fragrant and blooms late spring to early summer. From ‘Dutch Bulbs‘.
Mount Everest / Purple Sensation – Long the standard for garden alliums , “Purple Sensation” has 4-5 inch globes and grows to 24-30 inches high. It’s white partner here is “Mount Everest”, perfect in combination because they grow to similar sizes and have similar late spring – early summer bloom times. From ‘Longfield Gardens‘.
Twinkling Stars – This giant pink variety has 5-6 inch blooms and 3 1/2 – 4 foot stems, making it perfect for the back of the border. Blooms in May – June. From ‘Breck’s Bulbs‘.
Pink Jewel – A later blooming allium, starting in June into July. This light pink selection grows to 24 inches high, and has 3 inch blooms. From ‘White Flower Farm‘.
Drumstick Allium – Our last selection is the drumstick allium, an oval shaped reddish bloom that grows to 24 inches high. This allium can actually be grown down to zone 2! Blooms early spring to early summer. Another variety great for naturalizing. From ‘American Meadows‘. So which is your favorite?
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Abigal
2017年02月22日
No matter what time of year it is, there are times when we want to bring the beauty and gifts from the #garden indoors. Whether it’s to keep your “green thumb” warm during the winter months, because you live in a space with no outdoor gardening spot, or just because you love to have #plants indoors as well as out, here are some easy indoor gardening projects to keep you busy when you aren’t outdoors!
From ‘The Kitchn’, learn how to plant succulents in eggshells! Our feature project, above and below – This is a really organic project great for a kitchen, and especially for someone who loves to cook. Could you do the same thing with sprouts?
‘Holiday Sparkle’ shows us how to grow green onions indoors. These are great because the more you cut them, the more they grow!
Heres a project for more onions for a bigger household… make this vertical onion planter from a pop bottle! From ‘Auntie Dogmas Garden Spot‘…
From ‘Remove and Replace’, learn how to regrow romaine lettuce from that salad stump… Grow it once, never again!
‘Parents.com’ shows us how to plant an odds and ends garden, this with leftover celery. Kids love this kind of thing, fun family project.
Last, learn to grow a lemon tree indoors! From ‘The Kitchn’, this is a good tutorial on how to grow lemons indoors, and also some information on where, and what type, to buy! Find even more information on growing lemons from ‘Jim Hofman‘.
So no matter what your reason for keeping it indoors, here are a couple of projects to bring the garden to the window sill!
From ‘The Kitchn’, learn how to plant succulents in eggshells! Our feature project, above and below – This is a really organic project great for a kitchen, and especially for someone who loves to cook. Could you do the same thing with sprouts?
‘Holiday Sparkle’ shows us how to grow green onions indoors. These are great because the more you cut them, the more they grow!
Heres a project for more onions for a bigger household… make this vertical onion planter from a pop bottle! From ‘Auntie Dogmas Garden Spot‘…
From ‘Remove and Replace’, learn how to regrow romaine lettuce from that salad stump… Grow it once, never again!
‘Parents.com’ shows us how to plant an odds and ends garden, this with leftover celery. Kids love this kind of thing, fun family project.
Last, learn to grow a lemon tree indoors! From ‘The Kitchn’, this is a good tutorial on how to grow lemons indoors, and also some information on where, and what type, to buy! Find even more information on growing lemons from ‘Jim Hofman‘.
So no matter what your reason for keeping it indoors, here are a couple of projects to bring the garden to the window sill!
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Lisa
2017年02月20日
#Lawn care in winter is required for lush green lawn in spring. Learn how to care for it in this educative guide.
Lawn preparation for winter is one of the most important gardening task that must be done in time and correctly. Adequate fertilization, mowing and removing weeds and debris provide the lawn healthy appearance but there are a few other things you should do, which are given below.
Lawn Preparation for Winter
1. Scarification
Scarification is done to remove thatch or undergrowth from the lawn. This removes way moss, weeds and dead organic debris which impede the flow of water, air and nutrients to the roots. You can scarify your lawn in late spring when all the dangers of frost are passed or in the fall. Before scarifying your lawn, mow it. Scarify only to remove the top layer of thatch, don’t penetrate the blades too deeply.
2. Aeration
Aeration improves the airflow in the soil and reduce its compactness so that water, fertilizer and oxygen are easily absorbed by the roots. This treatment improves the condition of the roots and helps in quick regeneration of grass after the winter. Aeration should be done in fall in late September or October. However, according to a research conducted by Purdue University, aeration done too late even until the November might be helpful.
3. Liming
Generally grasses grow well in neutral pH and if your soil is acidic, do liming. Best time to lime your lawn is fall, after the aeration. The cycle of freezing and thawing in winter assists the penetration of lime into the soil.
4. Overseeding
After the aeration, if you see holes and patches apply the seeds at a rate of 0.8 Oz (25 g)/m2. Colder months are perfect time for seeding scraggly patches of lawn. It is done when soil is not frozen but cold enough to stop germination until next spring. To learn more on how to do it, read this.
5. Top Dressing
Top dressing is the process of application of thin layer of soil, sand or compost over the turf. Top dressing is done after the aeration and overseeding. It helps in leveling the surface of lawn, protect it from extreme temperatures, controls thatch, improves drainage and resistance to drought. Plus, there are many more other advantages. However, it is skipped in home gardens and lawns. To learn more about top dressing, checkout this educative article.
6. Fertilization
By proper fertilizing the lawn before winter you can increase the turf resistance to freezing temperatures. The application should be done 2-3 weeks prior to first frost date using so called “winterizer fertilizer” such as 24-2-14 NPK. But beware that winterizer should not be applied to warm season grasses as it will encourage them to grow. The high level of potassium in winterizer makes grasses more tolerant to cold and stress, helping them to survive in winter.
7. Mowing
Grass must not be cut too short or too high. Optimum height for last mowing job is leaving 2/3 of grass blades. Last mowing is best done anytime in between late October to mid November, depending more on the prevailing weather conditions. If you mow the lawn too early before winter and warm weather has made the grass to grow again, mowing must be repeated. During winters, mowing is not required. Once temperature falls below 40 F (4 C) grass starts to grow slowly.
Lawn Care in Winter
1. Weeding
To find a perfect lawn in the spring, continue weeding, even in winter. Thus, the uncontrolled growth of weeds do not choke your lawn. But rest assured, it is paradoxically easier in winter. At this time, weeds grow faster than grass. This makes them much easier to spot on – except of course, when snow covers the garden.
2. Watering
Watering the lawn in winter is almost never necessary. Nature takes care itself with the frequent rains of this period. However, if there is no rain and the grass suffers, then you can water the lawn. Choose a frost free day when temperature is above 40 F (4 C), water half an inch in the morning.
3. Cleaning
Another important step is to regularly clean the fallen leaves and debris. Fallen leaves if remain on the turf reduce its durability. Damp leaves “pressed” under a layer of snow cut off the supply of oxygen and cause rotting of the lawn. You can use this organic litter to make compost or to mulch other plants.
Lawn preparation for winter is one of the most important gardening task that must be done in time and correctly. Adequate fertilization, mowing and removing weeds and debris provide the lawn healthy appearance but there are a few other things you should do, which are given below.
Lawn Preparation for Winter
1. Scarification
Scarification is done to remove thatch or undergrowth from the lawn. This removes way moss, weeds and dead organic debris which impede the flow of water, air and nutrients to the roots. You can scarify your lawn in late spring when all the dangers of frost are passed or in the fall. Before scarifying your lawn, mow it. Scarify only to remove the top layer of thatch, don’t penetrate the blades too deeply.
2. Aeration
Aeration improves the airflow in the soil and reduce its compactness so that water, fertilizer and oxygen are easily absorbed by the roots. This treatment improves the condition of the roots and helps in quick regeneration of grass after the winter. Aeration should be done in fall in late September or October. However, according to a research conducted by Purdue University, aeration done too late even until the November might be helpful.
3. Liming
Generally grasses grow well in neutral pH and if your soil is acidic, do liming. Best time to lime your lawn is fall, after the aeration. The cycle of freezing and thawing in winter assists the penetration of lime into the soil.
4. Overseeding
After the aeration, if you see holes and patches apply the seeds at a rate of 0.8 Oz (25 g)/m2. Colder months are perfect time for seeding scraggly patches of lawn. It is done when soil is not frozen but cold enough to stop germination until next spring. To learn more on how to do it, read this.
5. Top Dressing
Top dressing is the process of application of thin layer of soil, sand or compost over the turf. Top dressing is done after the aeration and overseeding. It helps in leveling the surface of lawn, protect it from extreme temperatures, controls thatch, improves drainage and resistance to drought. Plus, there are many more other advantages. However, it is skipped in home gardens and lawns. To learn more about top dressing, checkout this educative article.
6. Fertilization
By proper fertilizing the lawn before winter you can increase the turf resistance to freezing temperatures. The application should be done 2-3 weeks prior to first frost date using so called “winterizer fertilizer” such as 24-2-14 NPK. But beware that winterizer should not be applied to warm season grasses as it will encourage them to grow. The high level of potassium in winterizer makes grasses more tolerant to cold and stress, helping them to survive in winter.
7. Mowing
Grass must not be cut too short or too high. Optimum height for last mowing job is leaving 2/3 of grass blades. Last mowing is best done anytime in between late October to mid November, depending more on the prevailing weather conditions. If you mow the lawn too early before winter and warm weather has made the grass to grow again, mowing must be repeated. During winters, mowing is not required. Once temperature falls below 40 F (4 C) grass starts to grow slowly.
Lawn Care in Winter
1. Weeding
To find a perfect lawn in the spring, continue weeding, even in winter. Thus, the uncontrolled growth of weeds do not choke your lawn. But rest assured, it is paradoxically easier in winter. At this time, weeds grow faster than grass. This makes them much easier to spot on – except of course, when snow covers the garden.
2. Watering
Watering the lawn in winter is almost never necessary. Nature takes care itself with the frequent rains of this period. However, if there is no rain and the grass suffers, then you can water the lawn. Choose a frost free day when temperature is above 40 F (4 C), water half an inch in the morning.
3. Cleaning
Another important step is to regularly clean the fallen leaves and debris. Fallen leaves if remain on the turf reduce its durability. Damp leaves “pressed” under a layer of snow cut off the supply of oxygen and cause rotting of the lawn. You can use this organic litter to make compost or to mulch other plants.
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