Home & Garden

Summer is almost here and so is time for starting to plant gardens and flower beds.

Some people are born with green thumbs, but some of us need extra help when picking plants and planting and designing gardens.

Many of my friends are avid gardeners and I always rely on their help and expertise when it comes to gardening.

Over the years they gave me many tips and ideas how to make sure that my garden is full of beautiful flowers.

If you are buying all of your plants and shrubs from a nursery there are few steps you need to follow to make sure that you come home with the best of the best.

There are 5 things you must remember when visiting nursery:

#1. Always buy at least 4 containers of each variety.

#2. Always pick plants that have flowers in a full bloom.

#3. Make sure you buy plants that look full and colorful even after they lose all the flowers.

#4. Do not buy plants that are marked down due to being dry or sitting at the nursery for a long time. You might save money, but you might have to replace then few weeks later.

#5. Do not buy flowers or plants with small roots.

After you bring your plants home there are steps you should remember to get the most out of your plants and make sure that your garden is the envy of the neighborhood.

3 things to remember after bringing your plants home:

#1. Make sure you replant your flowers when you get home or make sure they are well watered (evening or early morning is the best time). Try to plant them within 24 hours.

#2. Place your planters or plant your flowers and plants according to their labels. Plants that need partial shade won’t do well in sunny spots and vice versa.

#3. Chose a color scheme. If you have few areas you can have few different color schemes that compliment each other.

Remember these 8 gardening steps and you will have the nicest garden around.

Don’t forget to water, water, water.

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Tomatoes like lots of light and warmth to grow properly and produce delicious fruit. But that does not mean that they can only be grown in warm climates and during warm seasons of the year. Many a gardener enjoy the fruit of their labors even during the coldest weather by growing winter tomatoes.

One method of growing tomatoes indoors in winter is to have a greenhouse in which to do so. Greenhouses can provide controlled, warm environments even in the coldest climates. Some types of seeds have been developed specifically for use in greenhouses. But whatever kind of tomato seed you start with, they will need a warm environment that gets plenty of light. Depending on your location, this can be difficult to come by in winter months. Light and heat are the two main issues that keep tomatoes from being grown in winter.

But both of those challenges can be overcome in a greenhouse setting. Grow lights can supplement or replace natural light during winter. If focused on the plant for 16 to 18 hours a day, they can provide enough light for the tomatoes to grow even in naturally dark months.

Temperature is the other big concern. In winter, the temperature should be kept between 60?F (15.5?C) and 90?F (32?C). Any higher or lower and the plants could die. Especially in the winter, maintaining these temperatures may require a heater.

There are a few different types of heaters you may want to consider. Paraffin heaters are the most expensive, but are ideal for small greenhouses. Gas heaters are cheap, but can only be used in a well-ventilated greenhouse, as they emit smoke and fumes. Finally, electric heaters are the middle ground. They are affordable and do not emit any smoke or fumes. All that is needed is some sort of power source for the heater.

But you do not need to have a greenhouse in order to grow tomatoes in winter. The plants can be grown indoors just as successfully, using the same sorts of principles. Just as with a greenhouse, a grow lamp will be necessary. Ensure your home is warm and that the tomatoes will not be disturbed as they grow.

Even with these preparations, it is best to grow the tomatoes in the sunniest, warmest part of the house, even in winter. Tomatoes can be planted deep in the soil, as roots will sprout from a buried stem. But they will need support when they get large enough to bear fruit, as they can become very heavy and large at this point. Pruning is also important. Removing extraneous suckers and leaves can help the plant grow by eliminating unnecessary growths that suck energy away from the main plant.

A major advantage to growing tomatoes in winter is having flavorful fruit at a time of the year when the fruit that is commercially available may not be as flavorful. Tomatoes grown in the home in winter will also be preservative free, since they will not need to be canned and shipped, and fresh. And they can be used for a variety of meals. Tomatoes can be eaten raw, baked, broiled, stuffed or made into paste, to name just a few methods.

So while it may take some careful monitoring and attentive care, tomatoes can be a rewarding winter crop that can be grown right in the home.

Gardening is a good hobby that has attracted a lot of people, not just because it is a relaxing activity, but also because it gives one the satisfaction of nurturing something and seeing it grow. People who are fond of gardening usually enjoy the quiet moments they spend tending to their flowers or plants. It also gives them the extra produce which makes gardening a rewarding activity.

If you are just starting to engage in gardening and quite unsure how to get your hobby started, try these few gardening tips:

Try Tomatoes

There are about 25,000 different varieties of tomatoes and they are the most common planted vegetables because they are quite easy to take care of. Make sure to buy partially grown tomato plants, if you are just now starting your tomato garden.

Choose the variety that you know will grow well in your area and select the ideal place for your tomato plants, where they will get plenty of sun. Check if you have enough soil to cover the plants. Now dig holes for your plants and transfer the tomato plants which you bought into your garden. You would just have to water them regularly, more so when the days are hotter, just to make sure they are properly hydrated.

You Can Also Plant Flower Bulbs

As a newbie gardener, you would want to plant those that are easy to manage and fast to grow. Flower bulbs are not that difficult to plant and take care of.

Choose a good location in your garden, with enough soil. Prepare the planting bed by using a little fertilizer, dig holes and then plant the flower bulbs in them. It’s easy, yes, but the real challenge is making your flower bed grow through regular care.

Gardening can be quite an interesting hobby, and one that will allow you some time to think or meditate. It may even be therapeutic for some people who are going through pain or trauma. Young children will also benefit from gardening, because it is one way of learning the process of growth and learning how to appreciate and take care of living things.
Not sure if you have a green thumb? Check the many gardening tips online to find out more information and ask for some tips from fellow gardeners who have seen success in their vegetable or flower plants.

Gardening is as much art as it is science, and just like the painter is nothing without his/her brushes, the gardener is nothing without his/her tools. There is a wide variety of garden tools available to the gardener, many of which are rather unnecessary. However, some tools are so crucial to the gardener that it would be virtually impossible to garden without them. Here are 10 essential tools that no gardener should be without:

1. Rake

The rake is one of the most basic garden tools, and is essential for keeping your piles in order. Think of the rake as your all-purpose organization tool

2. Watering Can

Just about every plant you deal with as a gardener is going to require water, and having a watering can nearby is always a good idea. A watering can is the gardener’s best friend.

3. Plastic Bags

Plastic bags are crucial for the gardener, as half the job is cleanup. Always be sure you have at least three garbage bags at your disposal before getting ready to work in your garden.

4. Gloves

Without strong gardening gloves, your hands will be in rough shape after just a single day of work. Choose gloves that are made of material heavy enough to withstand thorns and other hazards.

5. Hose

When it comes time to water plants that seem a bit too large for just the watering can, you’re going to want a hose at your disposal. Using a hose to water plants is a fast, effective technique.

6. Shears

Having a pair of gardening shears on hand is necessary for the gardener, as it is not uncommon to have to cut through branches and thick plant stems. Make sure your shears are durable, as cheap ones can break easily.

7. Wheelbarrow

Having a wheelbarrow is essential for moving heavy objects and large amounts of mulch. Choose one that is both light in weight and made of durable materials.

8. Garden Fork

Without a garden fork, it can be a real pain trying to create a nice bed for your flowers, amongst other tasks. Make sure you always have one of these with you in the garden; in fact, keep an extra one around.

9. Trowel

Trowels are short-bladed scoops that are great tools for planting bulbs. Keep two around.

10. Pruner

Pruners are ideal for trimming shrubs; always keep one handy.

Tomatoes are thought to be as one of the major ingredients in cooking. They are one of the most ordinary vegetables that you can see in every home kitchen and refrigerator. They are also considered as one of the most common plants that you can find growing bountiful in the garden of every gardener. Usually, tomatoes are planted in the ground. However, did you know that there is another mean or way of planting tomatoes aside from the usual ground planting we do? Yes, absolutely there is! This way of planting tomatoes is upside down. Sounds foolish, right? But, how can you let tomatoes grow upside down? In aiding you towards a clearer perspective, here is how you can let your tomatoes grow upside down.

Firstly, look for a container where you can grow your tomato plants. Once you already have it, make an opening in the bottom of the bucket. To be a quite precise, the tomato plant should be first planted in a plastic cup. The opening that you will be making right on the bottom of the container should be half or smaller than the actual size of the plastic cup mouth. If already made a hole on the bucket, flip it over and cover the opening using a paper. The next procedure that you should do now is to put enough garden soil in the bucket. When putting the bucket with soil, make sure that it leaves a distance of about 2 to 3 inches in the top of the container. Once the container is already filled with garden soil, cover it and turn it once again upside down.

You next step in growing your tomatoes upside down is to take away the paper that you use to cover the opening that you made at first. Excavate in the hole as deep as you can. The reason for giving the distance allowance of 2 to 3 inches (when you put soil in the bucket) is for you to provide way to dig deep in the base of the bucket. Get the tomato plant from the plastic cup and plant it directly to the bucket. Be sure that you plant it firmly. Take away all leaves that are near the soil. Then hang the bucket upside down. After it, just to take good care of your upside down grown tomatoes. Regularly water the tomatoes as it tends to dry quicker as compared with tomatoes growing ground.

There you go! These are your easy guide on how to grow upside down tomatoes in your own. There may be other ways or means on how to grow tomatoes upside down. But those that were stated above will already help you do the job.

The increasing popularity of container herb gardens is showing just how people love to have fresh herbs handy to flavor their cooking, drinks and use for aromatherapy. It really is very convenient to have a fresh selection of your most popular herbs within a few steps from the back door.

What to Plant.

As my forte is growing herbs for culinary purposes I will be writing about that, but it is merely a matter of changing the range of herbs that is the difference.

In choosing the herbs to grow I would look at what types of dishes I like to cook and choose my herbs from there. In watching TV cooking shows the ones that seem to be used the most are:

· Flat leafed parsley
· Thyme
· Oregano
· Rosemary
· Basil
· Chives
· Sage

All these herbs will grow well together in a large container 24 inches across the top. I would plant the rosemary in the middle because it is a taller plant and quite hardy, then around the outside I would plant the other herbs. Of all the others herbs basil is also quite tall and this could be put beside the rosemary in the centre. Personally I pick a lot of basil so it does not get a chance to grow extra tall. All the other herbs grow to about 10 inches, and some will even spill out over the side of the container.

Other herbs to grow in containers.

Mint is also a very popular herb but it does tend to take over a pot so I would plant that in a pot on its own.

The beauty of the bay laurel. It grows beautifully with its dark green shiny leaves as a container shrub and can even be shaped for topiary. Bay laurel is a delicious herb to use and is a must in your kitchen. If you can grow a container bay laurel, that is great. They grow very well, are quite hardy and can be kept at a manageable height as a patio plant.

Variety in containers.

I don’t know if you have come across them yet, but quite a number of herbs actually come with variegated or colored leaves and these make quite a picture in a container of herbs. There are the variegated basils and sage and other herbs have leaves that display purple veins. These all make for planting an attractive container of herbs. You will be able to tell your friends that not only do you have a very attractive container of herbs but you also have an “edible garden.”

In hydroponic gardens, soil is not a necessity. In fact, it is an anomaly since the plants derive their nutrients from an enriched water source.

Around Since Ancient Times

Both China’s floating gardens and Babylon’s Hanging Gardens used hydroponics. There are many different kinds, including flow, ebb and drip systems.

However, hydroponics has some complexity, so you should have a good understanding before jumping in.

Basics About Hydroponics

For clarity, let’s define hydroponics. “Hydro” is a Greek word meaning “water,” and “ponics” is another Greek word meaning “labor.” So water labor is an apt name, because it is the water that works to supply the plants with their life force – nutrition – instead of the soil.

A garden that uses hydroponics can either have all-natural or chemical ingredients to nurturing. The form of this nutrition directly determines plant health.

Containers and pots of all types are an integral part of hydroponics. You can find just about any size, color or design in gardening stores.

Keep in mind that the plant roots still need an anchor; for this reason, containers made of shale, Hydroton or Rockwool tend to work very well. In fact, Rockwool is something you can use in any type of hydroponics system, but shale is more effective for flow and ebb systems.

Three Systems: Flow, Ebb and Drip

With the flow and ebb systems, your containers automatically flood with water to give your plants their nutrients, and afterward it drains back out. Drip systems use a constant drip to accomplish the same goal – nutrition.

Many people have noticed that hydroponics creates a superior yield with vegetables and fruits, which helps to explain its bourgeoning popularity. The effectiveness is not time-of-year dependent. Rather, how well your crop produces depends solely on your skill at designing your hydroponic garden.

Before You Start

Tools and knowledge will help you become well-prepared for the task of creating a hydroponic garden. In fact, think of knowledge as your most important tool. As with anything, you want to make this process as easy as possible, freeing the bulk of your time for the actually gardening tasks that await you.

Once built, choosing what to grow depends largely where you live and the type of hydroponic garden you’ve designed.

If you decide to try hydroponics, though there are some complexities, it’s still really not that hard. But it does require taking your time to put it together properly so your garden realizes the great results you’re expecting.

Less muss, less fuss!

Have you ever put a sweet potato or avocado or ivy in a glass of water, supported by toothpicks, and the roots just took off? If you have, then you have already experienced hydroponics indoor gardening. But, can plants survive and flourish is just a glass of water? Rarely, plants need nutrients and some support for their growth. Since hydroponics is a soil-less means of gardening, the plants are supported by use of inert media in their grow systems.

There are a variety of grow mediums available to choose from depending on the needs of the plant. This means, you wouldn’t want to use a heavy media for supporting delicate or fragile budding plants because media, when moved around, could damage the budding leaves. One should experiment with different grow mediums in your grow systems as you will find a particular one you like best for your specific needs. Hydroponics inert growing medium should have a good moisture ratio. The media needs to ensure both oxygen and moisture is available to the plant in quantities for the plant’s needs. The ideal media will also have the capacity to hold some water.

Let’s get down to it. Here are some of the grow media on the market today:

Perlite: has the capacity to promote robust root development. It originates from volcanic rock and is a sterile medium due to the heating procedures that is used during its manufacturing process. Perlite maintains an ideal balance of oxygen and water. Each particle of perlite consists of tiny air cells and the shape of the perlite forms large air gaps between the particles. This facilitates a good amount of oxygen being provided to the root system. Perlite is very cost effective to use.

Coco Coir: is compressed fiber from the coconut husks and looks very much like peat. It has an ability to protect the plant’s root system when in hot climates. Coco coir also has the capacity to promote robust root development. It is unique in that it can feed the plants based on its needs. (It will hold or release nutrient elements as needed.) Plant growth is very consistent in coco coir. It is a very forgiving media as it is tolerant of over or under watering.

Rockwool: is a spun glass wool which is made of volcanic rock. It comes in all shapes and sizes and has the appearance and feel of steel wool. Rockwool gives good support to plants and retains the air and moisture extremely well. Shredded coconut coir can be placed on top of rockwool in your indoor gardening system to lock in extra moisture.

Expanded Clay: is porous which allows the ideal amount of moisture and oxygen around the plant’s root system. Expanded clay won’t react to nutrient solutions and are easy to reuse. They come in different sizes to support the needs of the various sizes in plant and fragility.

There is still a lot to learn concerning which grow media is ideal in relation to the type of grow systems being utilized; the actual plant’s needs and the nutrients/pH levels reaction to the mediums. But, please don’t fret. This will be addresses in our next article. It’s not all that complicated. It’s all about finding a happy medium!

Gardening organic vegetables isn’t as hard as you may think. Anyone with about two hours of time can have their own garden today. The best part about it is after the initial setup, you only have to work on your garden for about an hour each week. Getting started is really easy too. It doesn’t matter whether you are an experienced gardener or this is your first time, anyone can do this with ease. If you can follow some simple instructions, you too can be enjoying the best quality, best tasting, most nutrient rich vegetables in just a very short time. My children helped me with mine.

It doesn’t matter whether you have a huge backyard or not, you too can have your own organic garden. I grow mine in a 6×8 box on my deck. I live in the city so I don’t have a backyard to grow mine in. I used to live in the country, and that was great. When I had a life changing experience a few years ago ( divorce ), I was forced to move closer to work. Now I use my deck for my garden. I have a friend that lives in a highrise and he grows his on the roof of his building.

When I moved to the city, I really missed my garden. I did some research and found this wonderful book that explained in detail how I could have my own garden where I live. The steps were really simple. I first went out and bought some supplies to build my box. I had a friend come over and help me put it together. Once that was done I was ready to start planting. I got a scoop of soil from a local farmer, you can get dirt just about anywhere. I bought my seeds and got them planted. The rest is pretty much history. That was 3 years ago and I still have it to today. One of the nice things about gardening organic vegetables is that they grow all year round.

I just wrote this article to let you know that anyone, anywhere, can have a garden if they really want one.