There is a solution for you if you love the look of plants indoors but don't have the time or a green thumb to take care of them. A terrarium is a self-contained plant habitat. Once you have set-up the terrarium and closed the lid (on the jar or other container you have chosen) the plants inside create their own eco-system – all you have to do is enjoy it.
The choices for terrarium containers are only limited by your imagination. Traditionally a smaller aquarium is used with a lid but a glass jar or other container will work nicely too. Plastic will work as well, just make sure that it is a clear plastic or you won't be able to admire your handiwork once it is completed. Whatever size or material you choose for your terrarium the most important factor is that it does not leak. You need the water and moisture to stay inside for it to work and you don't want a mess inside your house.
The plants that you choose should all thrive in similar conditions and grow well in a humid environment. Popular plants to put into a terrarium are carnivorous (Venus Fly Trap, sundew, or pitch plant) or rain forest plants (chamaedorea palms, small ferns or fittonia).
Terrariums are a low-maintenance indoor garden. They need indirect sunlight (not too bright) and no water is needed after the initial water is added. The heat from inside the terrarium evaporates the water and then it condenses on the lid falling back down to the plants. This process will continue keeping your plants alive. If there is too much water present, you may need to vent the terrarium (with a vented lid or opening the top a small amount) just be sure to keep an eye on the soil's
Friday, January 08, 2010
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Growing Your Own Fruits And Vegetables
Having your own vegetable patch or fruit garden was once commonplace, but fell out of favor as the food industry become more commercial and supermarkets began to take over. In recent years however, more and more people have started explore growing their own produce again. Here we give 5 reasons why you might consider starting your own kitchen garden.
- Freshness
Fruit and vegetables taste better and are healthier if eaten as soon as possible after picking. Most fruit you buy from supermarkets and the like is picked well before it is properly ripe, to extend shelf life, and this usually has an impact on flavor. Growing your own lets you taste the freshest possible produce as it's meant to taste.
- Quality
Commercially grown crops are often selected for their high yields, uniform appearance and long shelf lives rather than for quality and taste. When you grow your own, you can concentrate on the quality rather than the economics.
- Price
Much supermarket fresh produce is hugely overpriced, despite their advertising claims. Growing your own from seed is about as inexpensive as you can get, and even growing from small plants you buy is likely to provide you better food at a lower cost. With many plants, you can use the seed from one growing season to provide plants for the next - a self sustaining cycle that will cost you only time and effort to keep going.
- Provenance
More and more people have concerns about how our food is produced, with chemical pesticides and GM food a particular worry. With your own vegetable patch, you know exactly where your food is from and how it was grown.
- Variety
There are literally thousands of different varieties of fruit and vegetables, but supermarkets tend to concentrate on only the most profitable and easy to sell. This means that our choice is often limited to a few select varieties of apple, for example, rather than the hundreds of traditional kinds that exist. Growing your own lets you pick the varieties you like the most, and experiment to find new ones you'll rarely see on sale.
There is of course a downside to all this - it takes time and effort. In these increasingly busy times, we might not think we have the time to spare, but starting small with a few herb plants on your windowsill, or even the odd tomato plant, will give you a taste of growing your own and might even be enough to hook you into it for life!
- Freshness
Fruit and vegetables taste better and are healthier if eaten as soon as possible after picking. Most fruit you buy from supermarkets and the like is picked well before it is properly ripe, to extend shelf life, and this usually has an impact on flavor. Growing your own lets you taste the freshest possible produce as it's meant to taste.
- Quality
Commercially grown crops are often selected for their high yields, uniform appearance and long shelf lives rather than for quality and taste. When you grow your own, you can concentrate on the quality rather than the economics.
- Price
Much supermarket fresh produce is hugely overpriced, despite their advertising claims. Growing your own from seed is about as inexpensive as you can get, and even growing from small plants you buy is likely to provide you better food at a lower cost. With many plants, you can use the seed from one growing season to provide plants for the next - a self sustaining cycle that will cost you only time and effort to keep going.
- Provenance
More and more people have concerns about how our food is produced, with chemical pesticides and GM food a particular worry. With your own vegetable patch, you know exactly where your food is from and how it was grown.
- Variety
There are literally thousands of different varieties of fruit and vegetables, but supermarkets tend to concentrate on only the most profitable and easy to sell. This means that our choice is often limited to a few select varieties of apple, for example, rather than the hundreds of traditional kinds that exist. Growing your own lets you pick the varieties you like the most, and experiment to find new ones you'll rarely see on sale.
There is of course a downside to all this - it takes time and effort. In these increasingly busy times, we might not think we have the time to spare, but starting small with a few herb plants on your windowsill, or even the odd tomato plant, will give you a taste of growing your own and might even be enough to hook you into it for life!
Sunday, January 03, 2010
Garden Compost - Worm Bins
One of the best ways to improve your garden is to stop throwing out your garbage. That's right, your used coffee grinds and banana peels can help your tomato and cucumber plants grow larger and stronger. When that same garbage is eaten and digested by a worm it becomes a powerful plant supplement known as worm castings. Starting a worm compost bin is a great way to create a steady supply of worm castings for your flower and vegetable gardens.
First thing you'll need is a bin. You can buy a commercially made worm bin but where's the fun in that. Those plastic or rubber storage bins make great worm bins. Drill a few holes in the bin so your worms get plenty of air. Just be sure to cover those holes with small pieces of window screen or something else that will keep the fruit flies out. And if you have any plumbing experience, why not add a hose spigot near the bottom of the bin to take advantage of worm tea. Worm tea is even better than compost tea for your plants. All you have to do is add a cup or two to a large watering can and fill the rest with water. Then water as normal.
Next you'll need some worm bedding. Most commonly used worm bedding for home bins is shredded newspapers. The bedding must stay moist but not water logged. Use a spray bottle to keep the bedding just right for your worms. When your order worms in the mail they will usually ship in a container filled with peat moss. Some people have stopped using peat moss as a political statement. You see peat is not a replenishable resource. Peat takes centuries to develop in swampy regions and it's just being used up too quickly. Other's argue that Peat is now created in a safe quick way and what's all the fuss about anyway. The two sides contradict each other so it's up to you to decide if you want to use it. Newspapers are readily available and you probably have a stack of them in your house already. So why not avoid the whole controversy and go with what's on hand.
And don't forget to put some dirt in the bin too. Worms don't have teeth, so they need some grit to help grind up their food. You can also use rock dust or powdered limestone instead of dirt if you like, but regular dirt from your yard will work fine.
And of course, let's not forget the worms. Digging up some worms from your yard will not work in a worm bin. Worms that come from the soil, like to live in the soil. For worm bins, you'll need red wigglers. They'll love the environment that you've created in your worm bin. How many should you buy, that depends on the size of your bin. Let's assume that you've created your worm bin for the worm castings and not to have tons of worms for your weekends fishing. That means that you're going to leave the worms in the bin until they've turned most of the bedding and food waste into vermicompost. The worm to garbage ratio is usually 2:1. That means that if you're going to put a half pound of garbage into the bin on a daily basis, then you should start with a pound of worms.
Check your bin everyday to ensure that you get off to a good start. Keep the bedding moist and the bin should stay in a spot that's about 60 to 70 degrees. Leaving the bin outside in the summer sun is a good way to cook all of your worms. And remember if the worm bin starts to smell, then you probably need more bedding.
Starting a worm bin is a fun project for everyone in the family. Get your kids involved, they'll love watching those little worms wiggle around your bin. And if you're lucky, you may see one of the kids chase your mother in law around the house with a handful of worms. Like I said, worm bins are good times for the whole family and great for your garden too.
First thing you'll need is a bin. You can buy a commercially made worm bin but where's the fun in that. Those plastic or rubber storage bins make great worm bins. Drill a few holes in the bin so your worms get plenty of air. Just be sure to cover those holes with small pieces of window screen or something else that will keep the fruit flies out. And if you have any plumbing experience, why not add a hose spigot near the bottom of the bin to take advantage of worm tea. Worm tea is even better than compost tea for your plants. All you have to do is add a cup or two to a large watering can and fill the rest with water. Then water as normal.
Next you'll need some worm bedding. Most commonly used worm bedding for home bins is shredded newspapers. The bedding must stay moist but not water logged. Use a spray bottle to keep the bedding just right for your worms. When your order worms in the mail they will usually ship in a container filled with peat moss. Some people have stopped using peat moss as a political statement. You see peat is not a replenishable resource. Peat takes centuries to develop in swampy regions and it's just being used up too quickly. Other's argue that Peat is now created in a safe quick way and what's all the fuss about anyway. The two sides contradict each other so it's up to you to decide if you want to use it. Newspapers are readily available and you probably have a stack of them in your house already. So why not avoid the whole controversy and go with what's on hand.
And don't forget to put some dirt in the bin too. Worms don't have teeth, so they need some grit to help grind up their food. You can also use rock dust or powdered limestone instead of dirt if you like, but regular dirt from your yard will work fine.
And of course, let's not forget the worms. Digging up some worms from your yard will not work in a worm bin. Worms that come from the soil, like to live in the soil. For worm bins, you'll need red wigglers. They'll love the environment that you've created in your worm bin. How many should you buy, that depends on the size of your bin. Let's assume that you've created your worm bin for the worm castings and not to have tons of worms for your weekends fishing. That means that you're going to leave the worms in the bin until they've turned most of the bedding and food waste into vermicompost. The worm to garbage ratio is usually 2:1. That means that if you're going to put a half pound of garbage into the bin on a daily basis, then you should start with a pound of worms.
Check your bin everyday to ensure that you get off to a good start. Keep the bedding moist and the bin should stay in a spot that's about 60 to 70 degrees. Leaving the bin outside in the summer sun is a good way to cook all of your worms. And remember if the worm bin starts to smell, then you probably need more bedding.
Starting a worm bin is a fun project for everyone in the family. Get your kids involved, they'll love watching those little worms wiggle around your bin. And if you're lucky, you may see one of the kids chase your mother in law around the house with a handful of worms. Like I said, worm bins are good times for the whole family and great for your garden too.
Saturday, January 02, 2010
Caring For Plants
The most basic part of any garden preparation is caring for plants. Here are six ways we can care for our plants when we plant our gardens.
Many people worry a lot when it comes to caring for their plants. When talking about house plants, there is no need to worry. There are just a few things you need to consider.
1. Watering
A watering can is a must-have in every garden. It is recommended that you purchase the one with a narrow spout to ensure adequate watering. But that does not always apply, so the finger test may come in handy. Insert your index finger up to the first joint into the soil. If you feel that the soil is damp, don't water it. Otherwise, do.
2. Feeding
With foliage plants, they always need to be high in nitrogen. For flowering plants, on the other hand, K2O is needed. Fertilizers such as the slow release ones can be mixed with the compost. However, some plants like cacti and orchids need special feeds. Feed plants on the height of their active growth.
3. Lighting
Plants like Sanseveria and Aspidistra require no shade. They can be placed away from a window. Spider plants need semi-shade. You can put plants like these near a window that does or does not get sunlight. Others need sun or no sun at all like cheeseplants.
4. Temperature
With houseplants, they can survive in temperatures a little bit higher than 15 - 250 C or 55 - 750 F. But drastic fluctuations of temperature may not be good for them.
5. Humidity
Some houseplants require a humid environment. One tip to maximize humidity is to put the pot inside a larger pot and fill in the gaps with stones or compost to keep in the moisture. The compost will not dry out. Plants are capable of creating their own climate if grouped together. This tip can also be used for keeping the soil moist. If you want, you can spray them with water once or twice a day depending on the day's temperature.
6. Repotting
Other plants require repotting for optimum growth but some plants may not be suitable for this idea. They would not want their roots to be disturbed or other plants' root system is small. One way to check if your plant needs repotting is to turn it upside down. Tap the pot to release the plant and check its roots. If roots are all you see, then repot.
You just need to have a little care for your plants and in turn, you'll reap its benefits. You don't only have a garden that can add to your house's beauty you can also learn how to respect and nurture life in its varied forms.
Many people worry a lot when it comes to caring for their plants. When talking about house plants, there is no need to worry. There are just a few things you need to consider.
1. Watering
A watering can is a must-have in every garden. It is recommended that you purchase the one with a narrow spout to ensure adequate watering. But that does not always apply, so the finger test may come in handy. Insert your index finger up to the first joint into the soil. If you feel that the soil is damp, don't water it. Otherwise, do.
2. Feeding
With foliage plants, they always need to be high in nitrogen. For flowering plants, on the other hand, K2O is needed. Fertilizers such as the slow release ones can be mixed with the compost. However, some plants like cacti and orchids need special feeds. Feed plants on the height of their active growth.
3. Lighting
Plants like Sanseveria and Aspidistra require no shade. They can be placed away from a window. Spider plants need semi-shade. You can put plants like these near a window that does or does not get sunlight. Others need sun or no sun at all like cheeseplants.
4. Temperature
With houseplants, they can survive in temperatures a little bit higher than 15 - 250 C or 55 - 750 F. But drastic fluctuations of temperature may not be good for them.
5. Humidity
Some houseplants require a humid environment. One tip to maximize humidity is to put the pot inside a larger pot and fill in the gaps with stones or compost to keep in the moisture. The compost will not dry out. Plants are capable of creating their own climate if grouped together. This tip can also be used for keeping the soil moist. If you want, you can spray them with water once or twice a day depending on the day's temperature.
6. Repotting
Other plants require repotting for optimum growth but some plants may not be suitable for this idea. They would not want their roots to be disturbed or other plants' root system is small. One way to check if your plant needs repotting is to turn it upside down. Tap the pot to release the plant and check its roots. If roots are all you see, then repot.
You just need to have a little care for your plants and in turn, you'll reap its benefits. You don't only have a garden that can add to your house's beauty you can also learn how to respect and nurture life in its varied forms.
Adding a Garden Fountain
A great way to improve the looks of a well made garden is to add a fountain. This can
add both a calming feel and be esthetically appealing. There is nothing more restful than taking a seat on a garden bench and listening to the sparkling sounds of a fountain while reading a book or meditating.
Installing a garden fountain is easy and relatively cheap. It will also adds to the joy of being in the garden. Commonly, people set up garden fountains mostly for its natural ambiance. Being around a beautiful scene of water feeds positive energy. It is also great for the those who practice Tai Chi or any sort of yoga or meditation. The steady drone of the water is precisely what most folks need to focus on while they're mediating. Even if without mediation, just enjoying
a garden with a fountain can have a peaceful demeanor.
Here is one person's point of view and insight into installing a garden fountaain:
As you first determine to put in a fountain, you want to put a lot of care
into choosing one that will fit with the balance of your garden. Whenever
you have any other ornamentation, you would like to consider if it goes good with
your motif. Does the garden fountain you are thinking of stand out in your garden
like a painful thumb? Or does it appear like it was meant to be there? If You are like me, you can not naturally tell whether the fountain will be a fine add-on to your garden by merely by looking at it. And so my answer was to bring my mother (a born natural at fashion design and that sort of things) along with a image of my garden to the garden shop. I was able to get her skilled judgment, in addition to that i can see for myself what it would appear like. By doing this I was able to pick a fine-looking stone fountain that goes terrifically with the balance of my garden.
Nevertheless, I still had a slim problem with providing my fountain with electricity. You see, my garden Is not near to my home. I believed it would look pretty nasty to run an extension cord over my back yard, and so I had to think up another answer for my problem. I talked over my problem with a professional, and he rapidly found me the precise solution I wanted: an extension cord intended for to being buried! Altogether it took was a a couple of hours of digging out a small ditch across my backyard, and I had electricity to my fountain without an ugly cord coming across my yard. After I got over this
Small hitch, my garden fountain plan went great.
So if you are seeking a way to form your garden into a more fashionable and
beautiful place to be, I hope you think of installing a garden fountain. The Whole thing is astonishingly cheap, and I believe that you'll be very pleased with the results.
add both a calming feel and be esthetically appealing. There is nothing more restful than taking a seat on a garden bench and listening to the sparkling sounds of a fountain while reading a book or meditating.
Installing a garden fountain is easy and relatively cheap. It will also adds to the joy of being in the garden. Commonly, people set up garden fountains mostly for its natural ambiance. Being around a beautiful scene of water feeds positive energy. It is also great for the those who practice Tai Chi or any sort of yoga or meditation. The steady drone of the water is precisely what most folks need to focus on while they're mediating. Even if without mediation, just enjoying
a garden with a fountain can have a peaceful demeanor.
Here is one person's point of view and insight into installing a garden fountaain:
As you first determine to put in a fountain, you want to put a lot of care
into choosing one that will fit with the balance of your garden. Whenever
you have any other ornamentation, you would like to consider if it goes good with
your motif. Does the garden fountain you are thinking of stand out in your garden
like a painful thumb? Or does it appear like it was meant to be there? If You are like me, you can not naturally tell whether the fountain will be a fine add-on to your garden by merely by looking at it. And so my answer was to bring my mother (a born natural at fashion design and that sort of things) along with a image of my garden to the garden shop. I was able to get her skilled judgment, in addition to that i can see for myself what it would appear like. By doing this I was able to pick a fine-looking stone fountain that goes terrifically with the balance of my garden.
Nevertheless, I still had a slim problem with providing my fountain with electricity. You see, my garden Is not near to my home. I believed it would look pretty nasty to run an extension cord over my back yard, and so I had to think up another answer for my problem. I talked over my problem with a professional, and he rapidly found me the precise solution I wanted: an extension cord intended for to being buried! Altogether it took was a a couple of hours of digging out a small ditch across my backyard, and I had electricity to my fountain without an ugly cord coming across my yard. After I got over this
Small hitch, my garden fountain plan went great.
So if you are seeking a way to form your garden into a more fashionable and
beautiful place to be, I hope you think of installing a garden fountain. The Whole thing is astonishingly cheap, and I believe that you'll be very pleased with the results.
Gardening For Children
As we move more towards outdoor activities this year, it's important to get children involved. Gardning is an excellent way to help teach life lessons to children. Below are a few examples of how to get children involved in and the benefits.
1. Science
In planting, children are indirectly taught the wonders of science like the plants life cycle and how humans intervention can break or make the environment. They can have a first hand experience on the miracle of life through a seed. This would definitely be a new and enjoyable experience for the kids.
2. Life
Watching a seed grow into a tree is just as wondrous as the conception to birth and growth of a child. In time, kids will learn to love their plants and appreciate the life in them. Gardening could actually help simulate how life should be treated -- it should be with care. The necessities to live will be emphasized to kids with the help of gardening - water, sunlight, air, soil. Those necessities could easily be corresponded to human necessities, i.e., water, shelter, air, food. By simply weeding out, one could educate how bad influences should be avoided to be able to live life smoothly.
3. Relaxation
Studies show that gardening can reduce stress because of its calming effect. This is applicable to any age group. More so, it stimulates all the five senses. Believe it or not, gardening may be used as therapy to children who have been abused or those who are members of broken homes. It helps build one's self-esteem.
4. Quality Time with the Family
You can forget about your stressful work life for a while be soothed by the lovely ambience in the garden. You can play and spend quality time with your children. You can talk while watering the plants or you can work quietly beside each other. The bottom line is, always do what you have to do, together with your kids. You might discover a lot of new things about your child while mingling with them in your garden.
Let kids become aware of their environment's needs. And one way to jump start that environmental education may be through gardening. It's hitting two birds with one stone -- teach them to respect life while you bond with them.
1. Science
In planting, children are indirectly taught the wonders of science like the plants life cycle and how humans intervention can break or make the environment. They can have a first hand experience on the miracle of life through a seed. This would definitely be a new and enjoyable experience for the kids.
2. Life
Watching a seed grow into a tree is just as wondrous as the conception to birth and growth of a child. In time, kids will learn to love their plants and appreciate the life in them. Gardening could actually help simulate how life should be treated -- it should be with care. The necessities to live will be emphasized to kids with the help of gardening - water, sunlight, air, soil. Those necessities could easily be corresponded to human necessities, i.e., water, shelter, air, food. By simply weeding out, one could educate how bad influences should be avoided to be able to live life smoothly.
3. Relaxation
Studies show that gardening can reduce stress because of its calming effect. This is applicable to any age group. More so, it stimulates all the five senses. Believe it or not, gardening may be used as therapy to children who have been abused or those who are members of broken homes. It helps build one's self-esteem.
4. Quality Time with the Family
You can forget about your stressful work life for a while be soothed by the lovely ambience in the garden. You can play and spend quality time with your children. You can talk while watering the plants or you can work quietly beside each other. The bottom line is, always do what you have to do, together with your kids. You might discover a lot of new things about your child while mingling with them in your garden.
Let kids become aware of their environment's needs. And one way to jump start that environmental education may be through gardening. It's hitting two birds with one stone -- teach them to respect life while you bond with them.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Gardening For Emotional Stability and Happiness
Here is an interesting article that touches on gardening and our emotions and gives good advice as we move into a new decade.
If we fill our time taking care of plants we can get rid of stress, it is a scientifically proven fact. Taking care of our plants, we will discover new hidden sides of our personality that we never knew before, and can better get to know how to love and care for others, mainly because a plant that is not cared for suffers.
Gardening and accepting a plant makeus us assume a new responsibility, we are adopting a breathing being. This way, we learn just what it means to pay attention to those around us.
We have to concentrate over needs that are exterior to our ego. We become aware of the needs of another being: we know how much water the plant needs, how much light it gets, the intervals it needs to receive water again, and slowly we will transfer these cares and abilities in our social relations. We become more and more aware of others. Visual contact with a beautiful plant makes us realize our own beauty.
Studies show more and more that taking care of plants can be the most efficient method to improve our physical and emotional general condition. They have a serene effect, they can reduce stress and relax muscles and therefore improve the mood people taking care of them are in.
Different studies have demonstrated that the existence of plants reduce mental exhaustion. When we are overwhelmed with work, we just have to look up for a couple of minutes to a plant and we’ll instantly feel more relaxed. In conclusion, plants fascinate and attract people, they break boredom and monotony generated by forced attention. The oxygen generated by plants creates a feeling of mental agility.
Some big plants placed in the right spot will help us insolate ourselves from annoying surrounding noises. The technique is the same as the one of hanging paintings in an empty room to minimize the echo effects. The thick leaves will absorb a part of the noises, including the sound of the phone, printer, coffee maker or any other noise, making these sounds a little bit friendlier.
If we fill our time taking care of plants we can get rid of stress, it is a scientifically proven fact. Taking care of our plants, we will discover new hidden sides of our personality that we never knew before, and can better get to know how to love and care for others, mainly because a plant that is not cared for suffers.
Gardening and accepting a plant makeus us assume a new responsibility, we are adopting a breathing being. This way, we learn just what it means to pay attention to those around us.
We have to concentrate over needs that are exterior to our ego. We become aware of the needs of another being: we know how much water the plant needs, how much light it gets, the intervals it needs to receive water again, and slowly we will transfer these cares and abilities in our social relations. We become more and more aware of others. Visual contact with a beautiful plant makes us realize our own beauty.
Studies show more and more that taking care of plants can be the most efficient method to improve our physical and emotional general condition. They have a serene effect, they can reduce stress and relax muscles and therefore improve the mood people taking care of them are in.
Different studies have demonstrated that the existence of plants reduce mental exhaustion. When we are overwhelmed with work, we just have to look up for a couple of minutes to a plant and we’ll instantly feel more relaxed. In conclusion, plants fascinate and attract people, they break boredom and monotony generated by forced attention. The oxygen generated by plants creates a feeling of mental agility.
Some big plants placed in the right spot will help us insolate ourselves from annoying surrounding noises. The technique is the same as the one of hanging paintings in an empty room to minimize the echo effects. The thick leaves will absorb a part of the noises, including the sound of the phone, printer, coffee maker or any other noise, making these sounds a little bit friendlier.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Planting Zucchini, The Italian Squash
Zucchini is perhaps the best known of the summer squashes. It is interesting to learn how to grow it, companion planting, and its uses in the kitchen.
Dating back to 7000 B. C., zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) is native to Central and South America. Sometimes called by the nickname “Italian Squash,” zucchini was brought to North America by its southern neighbours. Early European explorers introduced zucchini to Italy and other countries in Europe. Italians initially grew zucchini for their sweet, edible blossoms, later the hearty fruits were experimented with producing the delectable dishes that resulted in zucchini being dubbed Italian squash. Up until the 20th Century, most Americans considered zucchini a treat reserved for eating on special occasions and were store-bought instead of grown in gardens.
Part of the summer squash family, zucchini is an excellent source of manganese and vitamin C, a very good source of magnesium, vitamin A, potassium, calcium, iron, folate, copper, riboflavin, niacin, and phosphorous. Many of the nutrients have been shown to be helpful for the prevention of atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease. Summer squash’s magnesium has been shown to be helpful for reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Together with the potassium in summer squash, magnesium is also helpful for reducing high blood pressure. All summer squash are perfect diet foods - low in calories, sodium, fat-free, and provide a source of fiber. All parts of the zucchini are edible.
How To Grow
Zucchini is probably the best known of the summer squashes. It is a type of narrow squash that resembles a cucumber in size and shape. It has smooth, thin skin that is either yellow or green in colour and can be striped or speckled. Its tender flesh is creamy white in colour and features numerous seeds. Its edible flowers are often used in French and Italian cooking.
Zucchini can be planted by direct seeding or by transplanting young plants that have been started indoors. Seed directly into the ground as soon as the soil reaches temperatures of 60°F/16°C. for vines. Fill the holes with compost and mound slightly. Plant seeds 1in/2.5cm deep.
Zucchini is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family that includes cucumbers, melons, gourds, and squash, all particularly sensitive to frost. Select a sheltered spot, and prepare holes about 12in/30cm in diameter and 12in/30cm deep. Measuring from the centre, space the holes 36in/90cm apart for bush types, 6ft/1.8m apart for vines. To conserve space, squash can be trained over a sturdy trellis, in which case 2ft/60cm between plants is enough.
Zucchini grows best when exposed to 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day. Regular watering is essential for summer squash. Feed the plants with a high-potassium organic liquid feed to produce a higher yield. Thick mulch added after planting will preserve moisture and keep the fruits from touching the ground where they will become soiled and be exposed to insects and diseases.
Harvesting
The flavor of zucchini is best when it is less than six inches long. They should be firm, but not hard. Zucchini are prolific producers and regular harvesting will promote continued yield throughout the growing season. Harvest by cutting the stems from the plants gently with a paring knife. As they are composed mainly of water, summer squashes dehydrate rapidly. Harvest just before cooking and keep in the refrigerator in a perforated plastic bag until cooking. Don’t forget that squash blossoms are delicious to eat.
Small summer squashes are used skin and all. Larger squash need their skin and seeds removed: slice lengthwise and scoop out the seeds with a spoon. Wash summer squash under cool running water and then cut off both ends. You can then proceed to cut it into the desired size and shape for the particular recipe.
In the kitchen, zucchini can be steamed, sautéed, boiled, baked, fried, grilled, and stuffed. Some ideas include: serve raw as an appetiser with a vegetable dip or salad dressing, grate and sauté with thinly sliced garlic, add to breads, muffins, cakes, stews, casseroles, soups, sprinkle grated zucchini or other summer squash on salads or sandwiches. It can be preserved by canning, freezing, and drying.
In the garden, some gardeners let the squashes ramble through the corn patch, where their sandpapery leaves deter raccoons. Good companion plants for zucchini are: corn, marjoram, and nasturtium. Don’t grow zucchini and Irish potatoes together as they are incompatible.
Dating back to 7000 B. C., zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) is native to Central and South America. Sometimes called by the nickname “Italian Squash,” zucchini was brought to North America by its southern neighbours. Early European explorers introduced zucchini to Italy and other countries in Europe. Italians initially grew zucchini for their sweet, edible blossoms, later the hearty fruits were experimented with producing the delectable dishes that resulted in zucchini being dubbed Italian squash. Up until the 20th Century, most Americans considered zucchini a treat reserved for eating on special occasions and were store-bought instead of grown in gardens.
Part of the summer squash family, zucchini is an excellent source of manganese and vitamin C, a very good source of magnesium, vitamin A, potassium, calcium, iron, folate, copper, riboflavin, niacin, and phosphorous. Many of the nutrients have been shown to be helpful for the prevention of atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease. Summer squash’s magnesium has been shown to be helpful for reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Together with the potassium in summer squash, magnesium is also helpful for reducing high blood pressure. All summer squash are perfect diet foods - low in calories, sodium, fat-free, and provide a source of fiber. All parts of the zucchini are edible.
How To Grow
Zucchini is probably the best known of the summer squashes. It is a type of narrow squash that resembles a cucumber in size and shape. It has smooth, thin skin that is either yellow or green in colour and can be striped or speckled. Its tender flesh is creamy white in colour and features numerous seeds. Its edible flowers are often used in French and Italian cooking.
Zucchini can be planted by direct seeding or by transplanting young plants that have been started indoors. Seed directly into the ground as soon as the soil reaches temperatures of 60°F/16°C. for vines. Fill the holes with compost and mound slightly. Plant seeds 1in/2.5cm deep.
Zucchini is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family that includes cucumbers, melons, gourds, and squash, all particularly sensitive to frost. Select a sheltered spot, and prepare holes about 12in/30cm in diameter and 12in/30cm deep. Measuring from the centre, space the holes 36in/90cm apart for bush types, 6ft/1.8m apart for vines. To conserve space, squash can be trained over a sturdy trellis, in which case 2ft/60cm between plants is enough.
Zucchini grows best when exposed to 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day. Regular watering is essential for summer squash. Feed the plants with a high-potassium organic liquid feed to produce a higher yield. Thick mulch added after planting will preserve moisture and keep the fruits from touching the ground where they will become soiled and be exposed to insects and diseases.
Harvesting
The flavor of zucchini is best when it is less than six inches long. They should be firm, but not hard. Zucchini are prolific producers and regular harvesting will promote continued yield throughout the growing season. Harvest by cutting the stems from the plants gently with a paring knife. As they are composed mainly of water, summer squashes dehydrate rapidly. Harvest just before cooking and keep in the refrigerator in a perforated plastic bag until cooking. Don’t forget that squash blossoms are delicious to eat.
Small summer squashes are used skin and all. Larger squash need their skin and seeds removed: slice lengthwise and scoop out the seeds with a spoon. Wash summer squash under cool running water and then cut off both ends. You can then proceed to cut it into the desired size and shape for the particular recipe.
In the kitchen, zucchini can be steamed, sautéed, boiled, baked, fried, grilled, and stuffed. Some ideas include: serve raw as an appetiser with a vegetable dip or salad dressing, grate and sauté with thinly sliced garlic, add to breads, muffins, cakes, stews, casseroles, soups, sprinkle grated zucchini or other summer squash on salads or sandwiches. It can be preserved by canning, freezing, and drying.
In the garden, some gardeners let the squashes ramble through the corn patch, where their sandpapery leaves deter raccoons. Good companion plants for zucchini are: corn, marjoram, and nasturtium. Don’t grow zucchini and Irish potatoes together as they are incompatible.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Winter Plant Survival
With the onset of winter in North America, gardeners wonder: Which plants are best for the season? The answer are perennial plants. The explanation follows.
One reason why the perennial plant is sought after is because of its remarkable ability to survive year round through most weather conditions. Not unlike your local mail delivery person, perennials lives on through rain, sleet, or snow - perfect for the year round gardener. What is it about perennials that enables it's winter survival abilities, whereas other plants will shrivel up and die as soon as the going get tough? Why can't scientists engineer annuals or biennials to last as long the perennial plant?
As with most things in the natural world, not all plants are created equal, however some biologists have succeeded in re-engineering annual and biennial plants to last longer. To do so, they must examine the perennial plant and find out what allows it to survive in the same environment that causes other to perish. Although stretching the life of a non-perennial would certainly make the plant and floral businesses flourish, marketing isn't the only reason scientists and many others have this question. If we had vast amounts of plants that have medicinal and life saving properties, we could study their curing capabilities at an exponential rate. The longevity of the perennial plant is definitely an exciting curiosity for many people.
Interestingly enough, the perennial plant is able to thrive year after year due to a few survival tricks it has up it's sleeve. Take trees and shrubs for example. These drop their leaves and protect their next year's growth with waxy scales. Examine the bud of a perennial plant and you'll see that it covered with a sticky looking waterproof wax.. When the bud begins to bloom, it scars as its scales fall off and the distance between its scars are an indicator of how many times a year that perennial plant grows.
The perennial plant gears up for the winter by draining its own food supply from its leaves down inside its trunk, branches, and twigs. As the weather gets colder, the tissues of the perennial plant will slowly change and become cold resistant in a process called "hardening." During these changes, the chlorophyll of a perennial plant will decompose and lose its propensity to project a green hue - leaving the tree with its trademark red, yellow, orange, and brown autumn leaves.
One reason why the perennial plant is sought after is because of its remarkable ability to survive year round through most weather conditions. Not unlike your local mail delivery person, perennials lives on through rain, sleet, or snow - perfect for the year round gardener. What is it about perennials that enables it's winter survival abilities, whereas other plants will shrivel up and die as soon as the going get tough? Why can't scientists engineer annuals or biennials to last as long the perennial plant?
As with most things in the natural world, not all plants are created equal, however some biologists have succeeded in re-engineering annual and biennial plants to last longer. To do so, they must examine the perennial plant and find out what allows it to survive in the same environment that causes other to perish. Although stretching the life of a non-perennial would certainly make the plant and floral businesses flourish, marketing isn't the only reason scientists and many others have this question. If we had vast amounts of plants that have medicinal and life saving properties, we could study their curing capabilities at an exponential rate. The longevity of the perennial plant is definitely an exciting curiosity for many people.
Interestingly enough, the perennial plant is able to thrive year after year due to a few survival tricks it has up it's sleeve. Take trees and shrubs for example. These drop their leaves and protect their next year's growth with waxy scales. Examine the bud of a perennial plant and you'll see that it covered with a sticky looking waterproof wax.. When the bud begins to bloom, it scars as its scales fall off and the distance between its scars are an indicator of how many times a year that perennial plant grows.
The perennial plant gears up for the winter by draining its own food supply from its leaves down inside its trunk, branches, and twigs. As the weather gets colder, the tissues of the perennial plant will slowly change and become cold resistant in a process called "hardening." During these changes, the chlorophyll of a perennial plant will decompose and lose its propensity to project a green hue - leaving the tree with its trademark red, yellow, orange, and brown autumn leaves.
Accessories and Procedure For Gardening
If you enjoy gardening, you are not alone. Each year, millions of Americans grow a garden. If you are interested in becoming one of those individuals, you may need to purchase some supplies. These gardening accessories may not only make gardening easier, but they may also help to produce better results.
When it comes to gardening accessories, there are a number of different items that are included. To start a garden and maintain it, it is likely that you will need gardening supplies. To grow plants or food, you will need to have seeds. To help your seeds flourish, you may want to have plant food and other feeding supplies. The gardening tools and supplies that you need will all depend on what type of garden you are interested in developing. Despite the difference in supplies, there are many common accessories that you may wish to have.
The first step in starting a garden is to pick a space. Since your plants, flowers, or food will need sunlight, you will want to select an area that receives an adequate amount of it. This area can either be large or small, depending on the size of your garden. You may also want to make sure that this area is not in the way of your other activities. Developing your garden in a fairly secluded area will help to reduce the risk of destruction.
To get started, you will need to have a number of important gardening tools. These tools should be used to dig a hole for your seeds and to create a smooth ground surface. Popular gardening tools include, but should not be limited to, weeding forks, surface rakes, shovels, and hoes. If you do not already have these tools, you will need to purchase them. Most of these garden tools, along with other gardening accessories, can be purchased online or from most department stores or home improvement stores.
Once you have created a safe gardening area, you will then need to start planting your seeds. Your seeds will all depend on which type of garden you plan on having. Many gardeners choose to have a flower garden, plant garden, or a vegetable garden. It addition to having one or the other, you may also want to incorporate plants, vegetables and flowers all into one. You can easily obtain seeds by visiting your local home improvement store, garden store, or department store. For hard to find seeds, you may need to resort to online shopping.
Depending on the type of flowers, plants, or vegetables you planted, you should begin to see results in a few weeks. Plant food and special soil may help to increase the appearance of your garden. While most gardeners prefer to use plant food, it is optional. In some cases, you may find that your plants, flowers, or vegetables will grow just as well on their own. Plant food and premixed food soils can be purchased for an affordable price at most retail stores.
Gardening is a backyard activity that many enjoy themselves. If you are a parent, you may also want to include your child. Depending on their age, age appropriate gardening tools can be purchased. These tools are similar to most traditional tools, but they tend to be safer. In fact, most play gardening tools are made of plastic and have dull edges. To purchase these gardening supplies for your child, you will want to visit your local retail store or shop online.
When it comes to gardening accessories, there are a number of different items that are included. To start a garden and maintain it, it is likely that you will need gardening supplies. To grow plants or food, you will need to have seeds. To help your seeds flourish, you may want to have plant food and other feeding supplies. The gardening tools and supplies that you need will all depend on what type of garden you are interested in developing. Despite the difference in supplies, there are many common accessories that you may wish to have.
The first step in starting a garden is to pick a space. Since your plants, flowers, or food will need sunlight, you will want to select an area that receives an adequate amount of it. This area can either be large or small, depending on the size of your garden. You may also want to make sure that this area is not in the way of your other activities. Developing your garden in a fairly secluded area will help to reduce the risk of destruction.
To get started, you will need to have a number of important gardening tools. These tools should be used to dig a hole for your seeds and to create a smooth ground surface. Popular gardening tools include, but should not be limited to, weeding forks, surface rakes, shovels, and hoes. If you do not already have these tools, you will need to purchase them. Most of these garden tools, along with other gardening accessories, can be purchased online or from most department stores or home improvement stores.
Once you have created a safe gardening area, you will then need to start planting your seeds. Your seeds will all depend on which type of garden you plan on having. Many gardeners choose to have a flower garden, plant garden, or a vegetable garden. It addition to having one or the other, you may also want to incorporate plants, vegetables and flowers all into one. You can easily obtain seeds by visiting your local home improvement store, garden store, or department store. For hard to find seeds, you may need to resort to online shopping.
Depending on the type of flowers, plants, or vegetables you planted, you should begin to see results in a few weeks. Plant food and special soil may help to increase the appearance of your garden. While most gardeners prefer to use plant food, it is optional. In some cases, you may find that your plants, flowers, or vegetables will grow just as well on their own. Plant food and premixed food soils can be purchased for an affordable price at most retail stores.
Gardening is a backyard activity that many enjoy themselves. If you are a parent, you may also want to include your child. Depending on their age, age appropriate gardening tools can be purchased. These tools are similar to most traditional tools, but they tend to be safer. In fact, most play gardening tools are made of plastic and have dull edges. To purchase these gardening supplies for your child, you will want to visit your local retail store or shop online.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Make Your Own Garden
In the new year, it's important to improve our gardening skills. For beginners this can be a challenge. Let's have a look at making our garden from the ground up.
A look at Plants and the colorful flowers on it at the garden or backyard calls for creativity. The plants to live for a long time require beautiful planter boxes with concrete structure or wooden structure. Planter boxes are available in different styles and shapes and colors. Planter box is a functional exterior décor that adores the patio. Planter boxes are portable. Different kinds of materials are used to make Planter boxes such as terracotta, plastic, teak or cedar wood and concrete blocks. Planter boxes can be filled with beautiful flowers according to the choice of individual. Planter boxes help to make the patio as paradise.
Even people who do not have much space for a vast garden can create small flower garden or vegetable garden in the balcony area or roof top with the help of planter boxes. Small trees can also be raised in planter boxes to keep them indoor. Recycled plastic is also used to make planter boxes.
So, if you live in the city and think that it is impossible to bring a little green into your outdoor space that is made of concrete, think again. All you have to do is purchase some lovely planter boxes. An ideal option for planting almost anything, they are exactly what you have been looking for and would be a wonderful addition to any outdoor area. Remember, that includes that twelfth story balcony.
When choosing the planter boxes, the principal of feng shui i.e., simplicity must be kept in mind. Planter boxes made up of natural materials like terracotta or wood is better than plastic material. These add good appearance to the garden or patio.
The boring front porch area can be converted into a beautiful place by placing planter boxes with bunch of flowers. Planter boxes made up of redwood or cedar will please anybody in the porch area. These planter boxes are very strong and durable Planter boxes are available in rectangle, hexagon and square shapes also. Planter Boxes provide safety, beauty and security to the street or entrance and can also serve as safety barriers. There is also drainage facility inside the planter box. Road side lawns, parks, corporate lawns also use planter boxes. Planter boxes are also used indoor and outdoor for waste water management.
In many countries separate programs are charted for beautifying the cities by using planter boxes filled with beautiful plants and small trees around the cities. Planter boxes are the best way to display the beautiful flowers and plants and create interest among who visit the garden.
Planter boxes made up of teak or cedar wood is an ideal investment for a long time. Wooden planter boxes is perfect fit to all weather and act as insulators and also protects the plants from winter and summer. Wooden planter boxes painted or varnished with natural colors appears fantastic. Wooden Planter boxes definitely makes the porch area very decorative and attracts those who walk through the area.
A look at Plants and the colorful flowers on it at the garden or backyard calls for creativity. The plants to live for a long time require beautiful planter boxes with concrete structure or wooden structure. Planter boxes are available in different styles and shapes and colors. Planter box is a functional exterior décor that adores the patio. Planter boxes are portable. Different kinds of materials are used to make Planter boxes such as terracotta, plastic, teak or cedar wood and concrete blocks. Planter boxes can be filled with beautiful flowers according to the choice of individual. Planter boxes help to make the patio as paradise.
Even people who do not have much space for a vast garden can create small flower garden or vegetable garden in the balcony area or roof top with the help of planter boxes. Small trees can also be raised in planter boxes to keep them indoor. Recycled plastic is also used to make planter boxes.
So, if you live in the city and think that it is impossible to bring a little green into your outdoor space that is made of concrete, think again. All you have to do is purchase some lovely planter boxes. An ideal option for planting almost anything, they are exactly what you have been looking for and would be a wonderful addition to any outdoor area. Remember, that includes that twelfth story balcony.
When choosing the planter boxes, the principal of feng shui i.e., simplicity must be kept in mind. Planter boxes made up of natural materials like terracotta or wood is better than plastic material. These add good appearance to the garden or patio.
The boring front porch area can be converted into a beautiful place by placing planter boxes with bunch of flowers. Planter boxes made up of redwood or cedar will please anybody in the porch area. These planter boxes are very strong and durable Planter boxes are available in rectangle, hexagon and square shapes also. Planter Boxes provide safety, beauty and security to the street or entrance and can also serve as safety barriers. There is also drainage facility inside the planter box. Road side lawns, parks, corporate lawns also use planter boxes. Planter boxes are also used indoor and outdoor for waste water management.
In many countries separate programs are charted for beautifying the cities by using planter boxes filled with beautiful plants and small trees around the cities. Planter boxes are the best way to display the beautiful flowers and plants and create interest among who visit the garden.
Planter boxes made up of teak or cedar wood is an ideal investment for a long time. Wooden planter boxes is perfect fit to all weather and act as insulators and also protects the plants from winter and summer. Wooden planter boxes painted or varnished with natural colors appears fantastic. Wooden Planter boxes definitely makes the porch area very decorative and attracts those who walk through the area.
Gardening Insight: Chinese Tea and Its Production
As an added insight into Gardening, we would like to explore the Chinese culture and their production of tea.
Chinese has been drinking tea for approximately 4,000 years. Along with firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, and vinegar, the Chinese considered tea as one of the seven necessities to begin a day.
Types of Tea
The Chinese tea may be classified into five types according to the different methods by which it is processed. Here are the classifications:
• Green Tea – is the variety which keeps the original color of the tea leaves without fermentation during processing.
• Black Tea – This is known as “red Chinese tea”, the type which is fermented before baking. Note also that black tea is a later variety developed on the basis of the green tea.
• Wulong Tea – Also known as Oolong Chinese tea, this category represents a variety half way between the green and the black teas. This is being made after partial fermentation.
• Compressed Tea – is the kind of Chinese tea which is compressed and hardened into a certain shape. Many people considered this as good for transport and storage and are mainly supplied to the ethnic minorities living in the border areas of the country.
• Scented Tea – This kind of Chinese tea is known as “scented” because it is made by mixing fragrant flowers in the tea leaves in the course of processing. The flowers that are commonly used for this purpose include the jasmine and magnolia, among others.
The Tea Production
Chinese has maintained that a new tea plant must grow for five years before its leaves can be picked. The trunk of the old plant must then be cut off to force new stems to grow out of the roots in the following year. This sort of rehabilitation must be repeated as this allows the tea plant to serve for about a hundred years.
The season of tea picking generally depends on the local climate and it varies from area to area. As you all know, China is the homeland of tea. It has tea shrubs as early as five to six thousand years ago, and human cultivation of these plants dates back two thousand years. Today, it was reported that tea is produced in vast areas of China from Hainan Island down in the extreme south to Shandong Province in the north, from Tibet in the southwest to Taiwan across the Straits. To sum up, the Chinese tea grows at more than 20 provinces.
On the shores of West Lake in Hangzhou, where the famous green tea Longjing comes from, it was reported that the picking starts from the end of March and lasts through October. A skilled woman picker can only gather 600 grams of these green tea leaves in a day.
After the harvest, the new leaves must be parched in tea cauldrons. Accordingly, this work has now been largely mechanized, although the top grade Longjing tea still has to be stir-parched by hand, doing only 250 grams every half hour. Then, the tea cauldrons are heated electrically to a temperature of about 25 degree centigrade or 74 degree Fahrenheit. It then takes four pounds of fresh Chinese tea leaves to produce one pound of parched Chinese tea.
For the processes of grinding, parching, rolling, shaping and drying, different kinds of machines have been developed and built. This work turned out about 100 kilograms of finished Chinese tea an hour, relieving the workers from much of their drudgery.
Chinese has been drinking tea for approximately 4,000 years. Along with firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, and vinegar, the Chinese considered tea as one of the seven necessities to begin a day.
Types of Tea
The Chinese tea may be classified into five types according to the different methods by which it is processed. Here are the classifications:
• Green Tea – is the variety which keeps the original color of the tea leaves without fermentation during processing.
• Black Tea – This is known as “red Chinese tea”, the type which is fermented before baking. Note also that black tea is a later variety developed on the basis of the green tea.
• Wulong Tea – Also known as Oolong Chinese tea, this category represents a variety half way between the green and the black teas. This is being made after partial fermentation.
• Compressed Tea – is the kind of Chinese tea which is compressed and hardened into a certain shape. Many people considered this as good for transport and storage and are mainly supplied to the ethnic minorities living in the border areas of the country.
• Scented Tea – This kind of Chinese tea is known as “scented” because it is made by mixing fragrant flowers in the tea leaves in the course of processing. The flowers that are commonly used for this purpose include the jasmine and magnolia, among others.
The Tea Production
Chinese has maintained that a new tea plant must grow for five years before its leaves can be picked. The trunk of the old plant must then be cut off to force new stems to grow out of the roots in the following year. This sort of rehabilitation must be repeated as this allows the tea plant to serve for about a hundred years.
The season of tea picking generally depends on the local climate and it varies from area to area. As you all know, China is the homeland of tea. It has tea shrubs as early as five to six thousand years ago, and human cultivation of these plants dates back two thousand years. Today, it was reported that tea is produced in vast areas of China from Hainan Island down in the extreme south to Shandong Province in the north, from Tibet in the southwest to Taiwan across the Straits. To sum up, the Chinese tea grows at more than 20 provinces.
On the shores of West Lake in Hangzhou, where the famous green tea Longjing comes from, it was reported that the picking starts from the end of March and lasts through October. A skilled woman picker can only gather 600 grams of these green tea leaves in a day.
After the harvest, the new leaves must be parched in tea cauldrons. Accordingly, this work has now been largely mechanized, although the top grade Longjing tea still has to be stir-parched by hand, doing only 250 grams every half hour. Then, the tea cauldrons are heated electrically to a temperature of about 25 degree centigrade or 74 degree Fahrenheit. It then takes four pounds of fresh Chinese tea leaves to produce one pound of parched Chinese tea.
For the processes of grinding, parching, rolling, shaping and drying, different kinds of machines have been developed and built. This work turned out about 100 kilograms of finished Chinese tea an hour, relieving the workers from much of their drudgery.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Gardening in The New Year
With 2010 approaching, it is important that we understand the new trends we have in gardening.
Spring will soon be here and another exciting season of gardening will be upon us! Gardening has made a huge resurgence in recent years, as the hobby of choice for thousands of homeowners across this great country of ours. Our task, in this article, is to document some of the hottest trends in yard and garden décor for 2010.
One thing we have noted over the years is the increasing use of yard space as an extension of one's home. With each passing season, more and more homeowners are treating their patios and decks as yet another room.
With the ever decreasing amount of land available for housing development, it would appear that the pleasure of having an extensive backyard space is becoming a thing of the past. So what is a homeowner to do? You have to make the best of the space you have available.
The whole notion of creating a backyard that is but an extension of one's home can be challenging to comprehend. In essence, this is a way to create a livable space that is both comfortable and low-maintenance. One of this year's biggest trends is to move towards these low-maintenance, attractive spaces. The best place to start, if you are considering this sort of backyard transformation, is to give some thought to "hardscaping".
Hardscaping (or hard landscaping) can be defined as creating the skeleton of your yard through the use of physical elements such as pathways, patios, and decks. To give yourself some idea of what the end result might look like, consider spending some time producing some sketches.
After the fixed elements are in place, it is simply a matter of accessorizing your new "room". You can approach this the same way you would approach interior decorating. Wicker and rattan furniture continues to be extremely popular, as it is both versatile and stands up well to the elements of nature. For an extremely fair price, you can find quality wicker or rattan furniture to meet your every need.
On the gardening side of things, the use of planters and pots has reached fever pitch. The wonderful thing about using planters and pots is that you can move them whenever the need arises. Another recent trend we have spotted this year is the creation of vertical gardens, employing the use of lattice and other materials. These garden types are especially useful when you have limited space to work with. Happy Gardening!
Spring will soon be here and another exciting season of gardening will be upon us! Gardening has made a huge resurgence in recent years, as the hobby of choice for thousands of homeowners across this great country of ours. Our task, in this article, is to document some of the hottest trends in yard and garden décor for 2010.
One thing we have noted over the years is the increasing use of yard space as an extension of one's home. With each passing season, more and more homeowners are treating their patios and decks as yet another room.
With the ever decreasing amount of land available for housing development, it would appear that the pleasure of having an extensive backyard space is becoming a thing of the past. So what is a homeowner to do? You have to make the best of the space you have available.
The whole notion of creating a backyard that is but an extension of one's home can be challenging to comprehend. In essence, this is a way to create a livable space that is both comfortable and low-maintenance. One of this year's biggest trends is to move towards these low-maintenance, attractive spaces. The best place to start, if you are considering this sort of backyard transformation, is to give some thought to "hardscaping".
Hardscaping (or hard landscaping) can be defined as creating the skeleton of your yard through the use of physical elements such as pathways, patios, and decks. To give yourself some idea of what the end result might look like, consider spending some time producing some sketches.
After the fixed elements are in place, it is simply a matter of accessorizing your new "room". You can approach this the same way you would approach interior decorating. Wicker and rattan furniture continues to be extremely popular, as it is both versatile and stands up well to the elements of nature. For an extremely fair price, you can find quality wicker or rattan furniture to meet your every need.
On the gardening side of things, the use of planters and pots has reached fever pitch. The wonderful thing about using planters and pots is that you can move them whenever the need arises. Another recent trend we have spotted this year is the creation of vertical gardens, employing the use of lattice and other materials. These garden types are especially useful when you have limited space to work with. Happy Gardening!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Garden Invasion - Prevention
I never really thought of weeds as being evil, but occasionally a plant finds its way into your garden and refuses to leave. It turns into a stubborn house guest, spreading its roots through every available patch of dirt, and paying no heed to existing plants in their quest for dominance. You'll spend an entire season pulling and possibly even spraying, but eventually you'll see them rearing their ugly heads, almost in defiance.
Ridding your garden of these invasive plants is not just a personal peeve; these pests can smother native plants that provide food and habitats for birds and insects. There are approximately 50,000 non-indigenous species in the United States that have created damage and losses totaling about $137 billion per year. This has become a genuine concern in the State of Oregon, so much so that The Oregon Zoo and the Three Rivers Land Conservancy are publicly campaigning to remove certain invasive plants.
The Oregon Zoo has pledged to remove 20 percent of six of the invasive plants on their property, with a goal of removing 90 percent within 10 years. The culprits they are focusing on include English Ivy, Himalayan blackberry, butterfly bush, traveler's clematis, Japanese knotweed and drooping sedge.
The Three Rivers Land Conservancy in conjunction with the West Willamette Restoration Partnership, local businesses, government organizations and 15 neighborhood associations is working to create a Backyard Habitat Certification Program. Their intention is to educate and provide incentives to homeowners to rid their yards of ivy, blackberry, knotweed and traveler's clematis, along with garlic mustard and periwinkle.
Part of their program will involve home visits, handouts, workshops and a three-part certification program that provides signs, gift certificates and event tickets. Incentives are increased based on the percentage of invasive plants removed by homeowners, and the amount of re-planting of native plants. Their goal is to remove ivy from trees in 300 acres and 90 percent of the six plants in 50 acres.
Although a labor intensive solution, the best fight against invasive plants is to pull them out, and keep on pulling until they stop coming up. They need sunlight to survive, the less they get, the harder it is to perpetuate.
Ridding your garden of these invasive plants is not just a personal peeve; these pests can smother native plants that provide food and habitats for birds and insects. There are approximately 50,000 non-indigenous species in the United States that have created damage and losses totaling about $137 billion per year. This has become a genuine concern in the State of Oregon, so much so that The Oregon Zoo and the Three Rivers Land Conservancy are publicly campaigning to remove certain invasive plants.
The Oregon Zoo has pledged to remove 20 percent of six of the invasive plants on their property, with a goal of removing 90 percent within 10 years. The culprits they are focusing on include English Ivy, Himalayan blackberry, butterfly bush, traveler's clematis, Japanese knotweed and drooping sedge.
The Three Rivers Land Conservancy in conjunction with the West Willamette Restoration Partnership, local businesses, government organizations and 15 neighborhood associations is working to create a Backyard Habitat Certification Program. Their intention is to educate and provide incentives to homeowners to rid their yards of ivy, blackberry, knotweed and traveler's clematis, along with garlic mustard and periwinkle.
Part of their program will involve home visits, handouts, workshops and a three-part certification program that provides signs, gift certificates and event tickets. Incentives are increased based on the percentage of invasive plants removed by homeowners, and the amount of re-planting of native plants. Their goal is to remove ivy from trees in 300 acres and 90 percent of the six plants in 50 acres.
Although a labor intensive solution, the best fight against invasive plants is to pull them out, and keep on pulling until they stop coming up. They need sunlight to survive, the less they get, the harder it is to perpetuate.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Leading By Example - First Family Vegetable Garden
In an effort to promote healthier living. The First Lady, Michelle Obama, will plant an organic vegetable garden at the white house. The garden will not only provide food for the First family, but will also serve as an educational example for children around the country to learn about the health benefits of growing their own fruit and vegetables. This comes at a time when obesity, diabetes, and a poor nutrition is a national concern.
Organic vegetable gardens are becoming extremely popular in the gardening world. Organic gardening is gardening in harmony with nature, without using artificial chemicals such as pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Organic gardeners instead emphasise the importance of "feeding the soil, not the plant".
Read More Here
Organic Vegetable Garden
Organic vegetable gardens are becoming extremely popular in the gardening world. Organic gardening is gardening in harmony with nature, without using artificial chemicals such as pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Organic gardeners instead emphasise the importance of "feeding the soil, not the plant".
Read More Here
Organic Vegetable Garden
Monday, May 26, 2008
Backyard Japanese Garden
When constructing a Japanese themed garden for your backyard, it's essential that you reflect the correct ideology of a true Japanese garden.
Typical Japanese gardens portray calmness and serenity of the environment. Japanese gardens reflect man's efforts to harmonize with the beauty and force of nature.
Moon Bridge and Pond in a Japanese Garden, Seattle, Washington, USA
Photographic Print
Buy at AllPosters.com
The characteristics used to obtain this effect are a body of water, perhaps thin streams, short bridges or artificial hills made of gravel and rocks. The Japanese gardens become resonant with the mellow notes of spirituality and tranquility.
Backyard Japanese Garden
So to create your backyard japanese garden you could probably have:
Bonsai - These are small trees are characteristics of japanese gardens.
Koi Pond - A small lake with perhaps some goldfish to expound the theme of being in Japan, and creating a tranquil feel.
Decorations - Perhpas a makeshift bridge, or some japanese styled benches.
Stones - Japanese legend say that stones are actual beings with spirits that need to be treated with reverence. Stones are used to construct the garden's paths, bridges, and walkways. Stones also represent mountains where actual mountains are not viewable or present. They are always placed in odd numbers and a majority of the groupings reflect triangular shapes.
For more Japanese gardening ideas ideas you can check out Backyard Japanese Garden at Garden Tip Info
Backyard Japanese Garden Books
Typical Japanese gardens portray calmness and serenity of the environment. Japanese gardens reflect man's efforts to harmonize with the beauty and force of nature.
Moon Bridge and Pond in a Japanese Garden, Seattle, Washington, USA
Photographic Print
Buy at AllPosters.com
The characteristics used to obtain this effect are a body of water, perhaps thin streams, short bridges or artificial hills made of gravel and rocks. The Japanese gardens become resonant with the mellow notes of spirituality and tranquility.
Backyard Japanese Garden
So to create your backyard japanese garden you could probably have:
Bonsai - These are small trees are characteristics of japanese gardens.
Koi Pond - A small lake with perhaps some goldfish to expound the theme of being in Japan, and creating a tranquil feel.
Decorations - Perhpas a makeshift bridge, or some japanese styled benches.
Stones - Japanese legend say that stones are actual beings with spirits that need to be treated with reverence. Stones are used to construct the garden's paths, bridges, and walkways. Stones also represent mountains where actual mountains are not viewable or present. They are always placed in odd numbers and a majority of the groupings reflect triangular shapes.
For more Japanese gardening ideas ideas you can check out Backyard Japanese Garden at Garden Tip Info
Backyard Japanese Garden Books
Monday, May 19, 2008
Protecting Yourself When Gardening
Here are some quick and easy tips to protect yourself when working in your garden.
When going out to do work in your garden or yard, it's good to protect yourself in different ways. The key areas to protect are your hands, your feet, your face, and your skin/body.
Wear gloves to protect your hands from any dirt, waste, or insects that might be in the soil. Use bigger gloves if your hands are sensitive, and use waterproof gloves (ex. rubber) if the soil is too wet.
Wear boots, or good shoes to protect your feet from any rocks, waste, or mud that might be in the yard.
Wear protective goggles and/or masks to prevent allergens, or dust particles from going in your eyes, nose or on your face. This is especially true for doing lawn work with a lawn mower when particles are flying all over the place.
Wear insect repellent and/or sunblock to help prevent damage to your skin while working outdoors. During the warmer months, mosquitoes and other flying, biting insects are prominent.
By taking these protective measures into consideration, you can work more comfortably in your yard/garden, and get more work done.
When going out to do work in your garden or yard, it's good to protect yourself in different ways. The key areas to protect are your hands, your feet, your face, and your skin/body.
Wear gloves to protect your hands from any dirt, waste, or insects that might be in the soil. Use bigger gloves if your hands are sensitive, and use waterproof gloves (ex. rubber) if the soil is too wet.
Wear boots, or good shoes to protect your feet from any rocks, waste, or mud that might be in the yard.
Wear protective goggles and/or masks to prevent allergens, or dust particles from going in your eyes, nose or on your face. This is especially true for doing lawn work with a lawn mower when particles are flying all over the place.
Wear insect repellent and/or sunblock to help prevent damage to your skin while working outdoors. During the warmer months, mosquitoes and other flying, biting insects are prominent.
By taking these protective measures into consideration, you can work more comfortably in your yard/garden, and get more work done.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Moles, Voles, and Grubs
With Spring coming up, it's important to start preventetive measures for those pesky critters in your yard. Here are some ways to help get rid of Moles, Voles, and Grubs.
-------------------
Don't Let Moles, Voles and Grubs Ruin Your Yard
(ARA) – As surely as spring will soon arrive, so will the critters that drive you crazy -- moles and voles. Make this the year you send them packing before they can cause damage in your yard.
First, an attack plan for dealing with voles. They are herbivores that if left unchecked will attack flower bulbs and eat the roots from underneath garden plants. Stopping voles can be accomplished simply by placing a six-inch deep perimeter of sharp rocks around your garden or other plantings. They don’t have the clawing power to burrow through rocks, so if a barrier exists, voles will go elsewhere.
Dealing with moles, on the other hand, will take a lot more effort. Through the years, homeowners have tried everything from throwing balls of pre-chewed gum into mole tunnels to thrusting sharp pronged pitchforks into mole tunnels, to no avail.
Want to get rid of them once and for all? Try a two-pronged approach. First apply non-toxic Holy Moley, a granular product from St. Gabriel Organics, to your lawn with a fertilizer spreader to drive the moles away.
Since you don’t want to leave anything to chance, destroy their favorite food source too. Moles snack on earthworms, and other underground insects like beetle grubs, but they are attracted to grubs more then anything else.
A survey of mole problems by the University of Missouri found that moles consume up to 80 percent of their body weight each day. In the stomach of one mole, researchers found the remains of 187 grubs.
To eliminate the grubs in your yard, apply Milky Spore, also from St. Gabriel Laborato-ries, to your lawn. It is guaranteed to eliminate grubs quickly and efficiently, and once applied, will remain viable in the soil for ten years. The spores in the product will not kill beneficial insects such as earthworms and one application keeps working for many seasons, unaffected by freezing or pesticides.
Both Holy Moley and Milky Spore are pet approved by veterinarians and neither will af-fect wells, ponds or streams. For more information on Holy Moley and Milky Spore or to purchase, call St. Gabriel Organics at (800) 801-0061 or visit www.MilkySpore.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
-------------------
Don't Let Moles, Voles and Grubs Ruin Your Yard
(ARA) – As surely as spring will soon arrive, so will the critters that drive you crazy -- moles and voles. Make this the year you send them packing before they can cause damage in your yard.
First, an attack plan for dealing with voles. They are herbivores that if left unchecked will attack flower bulbs and eat the roots from underneath garden plants. Stopping voles can be accomplished simply by placing a six-inch deep perimeter of sharp rocks around your garden or other plantings. They don’t have the clawing power to burrow through rocks, so if a barrier exists, voles will go elsewhere.
Dealing with moles, on the other hand, will take a lot more effort. Through the years, homeowners have tried everything from throwing balls of pre-chewed gum into mole tunnels to thrusting sharp pronged pitchforks into mole tunnels, to no avail.
Want to get rid of them once and for all? Try a two-pronged approach. First apply non-toxic Holy Moley, a granular product from St. Gabriel Organics, to your lawn with a fertilizer spreader to drive the moles away.
Since you don’t want to leave anything to chance, destroy their favorite food source too. Moles snack on earthworms, and other underground insects like beetle grubs, but they are attracted to grubs more then anything else.
A survey of mole problems by the University of Missouri found that moles consume up to 80 percent of their body weight each day. In the stomach of one mole, researchers found the remains of 187 grubs.
To eliminate the grubs in your yard, apply Milky Spore, also from St. Gabriel Laborato-ries, to your lawn. It is guaranteed to eliminate grubs quickly and efficiently, and once applied, will remain viable in the soil for ten years. The spores in the product will not kill beneficial insects such as earthworms and one application keeps working for many seasons, unaffected by freezing or pesticides.
Both Holy Moley and Milky Spore are pet approved by veterinarians and neither will af-fect wells, ponds or streams. For more information on Holy Moley and Milky Spore or to purchase, call St. Gabriel Organics at (800) 801-0061 or visit www.MilkySpore.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Decorative Garden Wall Plaques
Garden Gateway
Buy at AllPosters.com
decorative garden wall plaques
are the perfect touch for any garden. Whether existing or custom-made, they can add a beautiful extra dimension to any garden decor.garden wall plaques can be used as garden accents or emblems for family crests. Some people have the first letter of their family name engraved in a wall plaque for displaying on either side of the gates or strategic points in the garden. But the most common outside garden wall plaques are actually address plaques that usually bear the resident's name and address. Some homeowners even use decorative stepping stones in the garden as wall plaques. This is a great idea especially if the stepping stones are made of quality materials. Such plaques can tie in the whole look of the garden space.
outside garden wall plaques
are also popular as historical signage. They can tell about when a building was constructed, or when a business was established. Many companies also use decorative garden wall plaques to display their company name and address.When choosing what’s right for your garden, consider whether your choice fits in with the theme of your garden and home. Make sure your wall or structure will support the weight, and consider the kind of picture are you trying to create. Also make sure the decorative garden plaque can it's effect over time and seasons. Once all is taken into consideration, have fun adding real style to your walls and fences.
for more decorative garden wall plaques and other gardening tips go here.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Oxygen: A New Gardening Breakthrough?
In grade school we learn that Carbon Dioxide is essential for plants. Plants in turn give off oxygen we need to help breathe and clean the air. Now, information is coming forth where Oxygen itself can be beneficial to plants as well.
------------------
A New Breakthrough in Gardening
New Research Proves Oxygen is Key to Increased Plant Flowering
(ARA) – Whether you have an extensive greenhouse or a small container garden in your home, you want your plants to do well. Common knowledge tells us that plants need water, sun and nutrients to flourish. But according to recent studies, surprisingly, there is another crucial element for successful gardening: oxygen.
Oxygen in a plant’s root system can significantly affect the overall health of the plant. Getting oxygen into the soil and to the roots not only helps improve the strength and size of a plant’s root system, but also it’s ability to absorb water and nutrients.
It’s one of those things most people have noticed, but not necessarily understood:
Golf course managers aerate turf grass sod and greens. Farmers cultivate a field to break up the crust that follows a heavy rain storm. All to allow root systems to flourish. Grass even looks greener after a thunderstorm because oxygen laden rain water stimulates root growth, bringing water and nutrients to above ground plant parts to aid in photosynthesis … and, it’s all related to oxygen as a necessary part of a successful gardening equation.
Now there’s a simple and innovative new way to put this knowledge to work in your house and garden. The Enki watering system. It’s a revolutionary new way to water your plants with extra oxygen that can produce vibrant results. This watering pitcher creates the extra oxygen a plant root system craves by super-oxygenating tap water. The pitcher plugs in and within seconds begins the oxygenation process that can be observed by the tiny air bubbles being produced in the water. In about five minutes the oxygen level of the water reaches up to 150 percent, far surpassing the oxygen levels in tap water or even that of rain water.
Tests conducted by a professor at the University of Minnesota’s Department of Horticulture reveal the system’s substantial benefits. Super oxygenated water helps to achieve earlier flowering with more vibrant colors, and increased numbers of flowers and vegetables. Measured results were produced in both vegetable and flower tests. The oxygenized water produced 28 percent more petunia flowers and 58 percent more peppers on average. Geraniums had 76 percent more flower weight on average and tomato plants yielded 22 percent more tomatoes. If you want to improve your gardening success and are looking for a way to ensure that your plants, indoor or out, will thrive, super-oxygenated water is a whole new solution you should try.
The Enki idea of super-oxygenating water just may be an idea whose time has really come. The product is eco-friendly. It only adds oxygen to the water during the short 5 minutes it takes for the water reach a level of 150 percent oxygen. With today’s consumer movement toward environmentally friendly, or “green” products, Enki would appear to be a product on the cutting edge of improved and responsible gardening ideas.
Duane Hastad can vouch for the value of oxygenized water. He is owner of three nurseries, including Heather Nursery in Montevideo, Minn. After working with plants for 31 years, he has developed a vast knowledge of horticulture. At a horticulture expo earlier this year, he began talking with the founders of Ovation Science, the makers of Enki, and it got him thinking.
“I thought what are they doing?” comments Hastad as he noticed them at the expo. “It was a neat idea, and after talking with them for a while, I knew it could work, but I wondered what results I could see.”
Hastad utilized the oxygenation watering system in his greenhouse and almost immediately got results. “We started tomato plants from seeds and they germinated in six days, twice as fast as seedlings watered with city water, and they also came up straighter and had better root systems.”
Hastad says that he now has better plant products to sell. He also began to carry the Enki watering pitcher in his store and has had very positive feedback from his customers who use it. “If it doesn’t work, I am going to hear about it,” adds Hastad. “And, people are seeing the benefits.”
For more information about how to get incredible results with your plants and the Enki plant-watering system, visit www.myenki.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
------------------
A New Breakthrough in Gardening
New Research Proves Oxygen is Key to Increased Plant Flowering
(ARA) – Whether you have an extensive greenhouse or a small container garden in your home, you want your plants to do well. Common knowledge tells us that plants need water, sun and nutrients to flourish. But according to recent studies, surprisingly, there is another crucial element for successful gardening: oxygen.
Oxygen in a plant’s root system can significantly affect the overall health of the plant. Getting oxygen into the soil and to the roots not only helps improve the strength and size of a plant’s root system, but also it’s ability to absorb water and nutrients.
It’s one of those things most people have noticed, but not necessarily understood:
Golf course managers aerate turf grass sod and greens. Farmers cultivate a field to break up the crust that follows a heavy rain storm. All to allow root systems to flourish. Grass even looks greener after a thunderstorm because oxygen laden rain water stimulates root growth, bringing water and nutrients to above ground plant parts to aid in photosynthesis … and, it’s all related to oxygen as a necessary part of a successful gardening equation.
Now there’s a simple and innovative new way to put this knowledge to work in your house and garden. The Enki watering system. It’s a revolutionary new way to water your plants with extra oxygen that can produce vibrant results. This watering pitcher creates the extra oxygen a plant root system craves by super-oxygenating tap water. The pitcher plugs in and within seconds begins the oxygenation process that can be observed by the tiny air bubbles being produced in the water. In about five minutes the oxygen level of the water reaches up to 150 percent, far surpassing the oxygen levels in tap water or even that of rain water.
Tests conducted by a professor at the University of Minnesota’s Department of Horticulture reveal the system’s substantial benefits. Super oxygenated water helps to achieve earlier flowering with more vibrant colors, and increased numbers of flowers and vegetables. Measured results were produced in both vegetable and flower tests. The oxygenized water produced 28 percent more petunia flowers and 58 percent more peppers on average. Geraniums had 76 percent more flower weight on average and tomato plants yielded 22 percent more tomatoes. If you want to improve your gardening success and are looking for a way to ensure that your plants, indoor or out, will thrive, super-oxygenated water is a whole new solution you should try.
The Enki idea of super-oxygenating water just may be an idea whose time has really come. The product is eco-friendly. It only adds oxygen to the water during the short 5 minutes it takes for the water reach a level of 150 percent oxygen. With today’s consumer movement toward environmentally friendly, or “green” products, Enki would appear to be a product on the cutting edge of improved and responsible gardening ideas.
Duane Hastad can vouch for the value of oxygenized water. He is owner of three nurseries, including Heather Nursery in Montevideo, Minn. After working with plants for 31 years, he has developed a vast knowledge of horticulture. At a horticulture expo earlier this year, he began talking with the founders of Ovation Science, the makers of Enki, and it got him thinking.
“I thought what are they doing?” comments Hastad as he noticed them at the expo. “It was a neat idea, and after talking with them for a while, I knew it could work, but I wondered what results I could see.”
Hastad utilized the oxygenation watering system in his greenhouse and almost immediately got results. “We started tomato plants from seeds and they germinated in six days, twice as fast as seedlings watered with city water, and they also came up straighter and had better root systems.”
Hastad says that he now has better plant products to sell. He also began to carry the Enki watering pitcher in his store and has had very positive feedback from his customers who use it. “If it doesn’t work, I am going to hear about it,” adds Hastad. “And, people are seeing the benefits.”
For more information about how to get incredible results with your plants and the Enki plant-watering system, visit www.myenki.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)