Tomato Plants Care and Feeding

Posted on 03 September 2010 by Admin

The tomato plant is one of the easiest plants to grow in the garden and is a great source of food for the family, they are both delicious to eat and promote good health. Learn how to care for tomato plants and you will be able to produce a lot of fruit throughout the growing season.

There are a few basics to get right concerning both the tomato plant care and feeding so that you can ensure lots of juicy fresh fruit straight from the garden.

The first bit of advice for tomato plant care is to ensure that before planting tomatoes make sure that the last frost of the year is over with, neither the plant or the fruit have any tolerance to freezing, so all your preparation could come to nothing if the plants are exposed to a frost.

Next, prepare the soil, it is a good idea to dig a trench about 18″ deep, fill the bottom with a mulch, many people use newspaper to line the bottom of the trench, then add in a mix of high in nitrogen compost and soil to fill the trench.

The compost will provide the basic feed for the plants but can be supplemented with a tomato feed once or twice a week once the fruit starts to appear, this is important for tomato care as the fruit needs a lot of nitrogen to flourish.

Another important aspect of a tomato plants care is to ensure that the trusses are properly supported, this can be done as simply as pushing a stake in the ground and then tying off each truss, as it develops, to the stake with a soft garden string. Prune the tomato plant to remove lower shoots to prevent contact with the ground and to control the number of trusses, a good number is 4 to 6 trusses.

You will also need a regular watering program, ideally 2 to 3 times a day to keep the soil moist but not saturated. Add to this occasional treatment with a pesticide on an as required basis and you will have dealt with all the basic needs for tomato plant care.

Tomatoes are best eaten fresh, so eat them as soon as they are ready picking from the early, lower trusses, this will also encourage further fruit to grow.

Visit Good Tomato Growing for more tips and advice on tomato growing, the best types of tomato plants and to get access to expert advice that could double or triple the size of your crop of tomatoes.

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The tomato plant is one of the easiest plants to grow in the
garden and is a great source of food for the family, they
are both delicious to eat and promote good health. Learn how
to care for tomato plants and you will be able to produce a
lot of fruit throughout the growing season.



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Organic Gardening – Using a Hardness Zone Map to Start Your Planting Season

Posted on 03 September 2010 by Admin

Knowing the hardness zone your are in is very important when wanting to start your garden. Planting to early can do more harm than good with most of the crops you grow in your home garden. Cool temperatures can set your crops back if not kill them.

The best time to plant varies from region to region. Whenever you look through a seed catalog you will notice what is known as a hardness zone for every type of plant. These zones are a guide to better help you what plant will grow where due to the climate in that region, certain plants can only handle a specific climate.

These zones are a part of climatic studies done in all regions and mapped by the United States Department Of Agriculture. This data that is mapped will give you the zone that you are planting in. It based on the average coldest temperature in your region. In North America there are 11 hardness zones, 1 being the coldest and 11 being the warmest. Other government agencies also have there own maps for there specific region like, Canada.

Using a hardness zone map is a safe way to judge the time you should be able to start the crops you want to plant safely. Not all crops have the same starting time in the garden. Along with using the information of the climate maps you will need to know the starting time for each specific crop you are planting. There are crops that can be started weeks before the last expected frost in your area is predicted for. Take advantage of these cool temperatures for the crops that like those conditions.

A environment friendly and healthy way of gardening. Organic Gardening is away of gardening in harmony with nature. Growing a healthy and productive crop in a way that is healthier for both you and the environment. http://www.organicheirloomgardening.com/gardentoolsandsupplies.html

John Yazo

http://www.organicheirloomgardening.com

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A hardness zone map is a safe way to judge the times you
should be planting your crops. There are eleven zones in
North America, one being the coldest and eleven being the
warmest.



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Small Garden Design – The Important Factors

Posted on 02 September 2010 by Admin

It is not always possible to have acres of land where you can plan your big gardens. The people who stays in flats and have less availability of space can also create a small garden of there choice. Though gardening in a small space may have some limits but there is no dearth of ideas which can be incorporated in order to make the best utilization of the space. A small outdoor space can also be turned into an attractive garden with the help of small garden design. One can use their imagination in order to make the small space look bigger. The creation of atmosphere and the placements of plants and other elements plays a major role.

While designing your small garden first of all draw a rough sketch of the available space and mark the intended location of various elements. Several different design copies can be made so that you can get a wide variety selection.

A small garden design must include circles and curves as it visually expands the available space. Instead of having a pathway which follow a straight line you can create a curved one which will help you to have planted area which are spilled in the central space.

Efficient use of vertical space is also an important factor for your small garden design. Instead of using the plants that spread outwards, you can use the ones that grow upwards. A wall can also be created using the teepee stakes and trellises so that plants can be grown on them. Building pergolas are also a good option for hanging planters and climbing vines.

If you are planning to have a flower garden then select the color carefully. Use variety of shades within three colors and place the like colors together so as to avoid the messed up and haphazard look.

You can also make the architectural arrangement of the plants interesting to give a unique look to your garden. This can be done by placing the tall plants at the back and then the low plants along the walkway. Grouping of plants can also be done and the different groups can be placed with some space in between which can be filled with the walkway material.

You can find more info, tips and photos of small garden ideas and small garden designs on by following the links

Article Directory: EzineArticles


Though gardening in a small space may have some limits but
there is no dearth of ideas which can be incorporated in
order to make the best utilization of the space. A small
outdoor space can also be turned into an attractive garden
with the help of small garden design. One can use their
imagination in order to make the small space look bigger.
The creation of atmosphere and the placements of plants and
other elements plays a major role.



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September is Time to Plant Fall and Winter Flower and Vegetable Gardens

Posted on 02 September 2010 by Admin

While most gardeners around the country are winding down their gardens for the year, Southern California gardeners can plant a fresh crop of vegetables and blooms in September and October for enjoyment during fall and winter.

Prepare Your Soil For Fall Flowers: Remove annuals. Break up and till the soil and generously add compost or organic planting mix. You may want to wait a week or two before adding fresh plants. This will give weeds enough time to germinate. Remove the weeds while they are small so they will be less of a headache later on.

Plant Your Winter Flower Garden: Begin planting your fall and winter flower garden towards the end of September. While blasts of hot, Santa Ana winds will blow from September through November, September nights are generally cool and days pleasantly warm–perfect growing conditions. Your fall garden can include calendula, delphiniums, larkspur, Iceland poppy, pansies, snapdragon and stock. In shady areas, plant primrose, daisies and cineraria.

Trim Perennials: Perennials are beginning to lose their summer luster. Trim excess plant growth and remove sagging summer flowers.

Plant Wildflowers: Instead of scattering wildflower seeds on the surface of the soil and hope they will grow, for best results, rake the soil gently, spread the seeds and cover lightly with soil. The seeds will begin to germinate once wet weather arrives.

Plant Spring Bulbs: Spring bulbs will soon be available at local nurseries. Now is the time to plant bulbs for such plants as tulips, daffodils and hyacinth.

Plant Your Vegetables: When summer vegetable plants stop producing a robust crop (late September or October), remove the plants and replace them with vegetable plants that will produce through winter. Cool weather vegetables include cabbage, peas, broccoli, lettuce and green onions.

Prepare for the Santa Ana Winds: Santa Ana winds can wreck havoc on newly planted trees, shrubs and gardens. New, shallow root systems can’t replace water as fast as water is drawn from leaves by the winds. The winds can devastate a garden in a matter of days if water is not provided. When winds kick up, be prepared to quickly get out the garden hose and give your plants the moisture they need.

Bill Camarillo is CEO of Agromin, an Oxnard, California-based manufacturer of premium soil products for the agriculture and horticulture trades and for consumer use. Each month, Agromin receives and processes hundreds of thousands of tons of urban wood and green waste. Agromin then uses a safe, organic and scientific system to formulate its soil products from the processed recycled green materials. http://www.agromin.com

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While most gardeners around the country are winding down
their gardens for the year, Southern California gardeners
can plant a fresh crop of vegetables and blooms in September
and October for enjoyment during fall and winter. Prepare
Your Soil For Fall Flowers: Remove annuals. Break up and
till the soil and generously add compost or organic planting
mix. You may want to wait a week or two before adding fresh
plants. This will give weeds enough time to germinate.
Remove the weeds while they are small so they will be less
of a headache later on.



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Indoor Herb Gardening – Selecting the Right Container

Posted on 02 September 2010 by Admin

When you enter the front door, a tall purple pot housing a rosemary bush can look quite stunning, although there are some practical considerations to keep in mind when one starts indoor herb gardening, since the appropriate container will set up the environment for the herbs to grow in. Most indoor plants favor containers of five gallon capacity. Herbs however, which have shallow roots, will happily grow in smaller pots of about six to eight inches deep.

Warm spicy herbs require more heat in order to grow well and, as a rule of thumb, are planted in dark colored containers that easily absorb the light thus transferring extra heat to the soil. On the contrary cool herbs which belong to the lemon species call for containers that are pale in color and consequently do not absorb too much light.

For indoor herb gardening it is better to get several small pots rather than a large one, this way you can easily shift them in and out of the sunlight as well as monitor their growth rate. Herbs take some time to regrow after they have been cut them back. For instance, basil has about a three month regeneration period, therefore it is a good tip to sow it in three individual pots at one month interval and you will always have at least one pot of basil at its maximum growth while the other two are developing. Other herbs such as lemon grass and mint will are ideal for indoor herb gardening because they both grow to fill whatever space they are in, for this reason it is better to restrain their sprawling habit by keeping them in pots.

When you buy seeds for indoor herb gardening, look for words like bush, dwarf and compact. Some shops sell seeds that are hybrids and grow efficiently in small spaces: these are created by keeping the concept of container gardening in mind.

The material of your containers is also important and this is not only an aesthetic matter but also a practical one so that the herbs get the best chance to grow. You may like the look of some pretty plastic pots, but they do not allow the herbs to breath and cannot mimic the natural conditions that are found when herbs grow outdoors. A clay or terracotta pot works best since it is slightly porous and as a result will transport air and water to all levels of the soil. The ochre terracotta pot also has a very classic look and if you like it can be jazzed up by a stripe of color or a pattern around the upper rim.

In the end, choosing the right containers for your indoor herb gardening is about what is best for the plant and what will complement your home. As long as your herbs are thriving you have chosen a perfect container.

Lisa Summerfield is an herb garden lover and author and is caring for her home garden. For more information on indoor herb gardening check out her site http://herbgardensolutions.com

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Containers for indoor herb gardening can be made of
different materials. According to their shape and size they
create a unique environment for the herbs to grow in.



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Organic Gardening – Types of Composting Methods

Posted on 02 September 2010 by Admin

Composting is a very simple and basic method of turning organic household and yard waste into a very valuable rich humus material that will greatly benefit your organic garden. The key to having a successful composting operation is to choose a system or technique that best fits your needs.

There are a number of factors that can give you the reason for the type of system you want to use for your composting operation. The space you have to work, the amount of compost you want to produce, what you want to use the compost for, types of material you are composting, the time you want or have to spend working on composting and last the appearance, how neat you want your composting operation to look. Personal preference is going to be a major part in the choice you make.

The different types of systems can be from homemade to commercially bought kitchen composter, tumblers and different style bins, along with the methods of vermi or worm composting, pile, trench and sheet composting.

All these systems have there own unique method of turning organic household and yard waste into a priceless rich humus matter that will greatly benefit your crops and other plants when applied to your organic gardening practices.

Composting is a basic process that has been involved in gardening practices for centuries. It is the same system that is used by nature to supply the plants that grow naturally all over the world. It is not only a method of turning organic matter into valuable humus, it is a valuable renewable resource that will greatly benefit the soil structure in your garden and let your plants live a happy and healthy life.

A environment friendly and healthy way of gardening. Organic Gardening is away of gardening in harmony with nature. Growing a healthy and productive crop in a way that is healthier for both you and the environment.

John Yazo

http://www.organicheirloomgardening.com

Article Directory: EzineArticles


Compost systems that can fix everyone’s needs. Tips on
choosing the right method of composting that will benefit
you the best.



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Keeping Cats Out of Your Flowerbed

Posted on 01 September 2010 by Admin

If you have one or more cats who are constantly using your flower garden as their personal litter box, then you know how annoying it is when you are digging in that flower garden to find the little treasures that the cats have left behind. Not only is it disgusting to be digging around in (even if the only thing they are doing is urinating in your flower garden) but the cat urine, with its high ammonia concentration, can be destructive to plants and their roots.

The basics behind keeping a cat out of your flower garden involves creating an atmosphere that is unpleasant for the cat. This usually involves one of three senses: site, smell, or touch.

Placing objects that distracts a cat, scares the cat, or basically keeps it from feeling comfortable, is alleged to have worked. However, this seems to be the least effective way to stop cats from using your flower garden.

For smell, one can take either mothballs, or citrus rinds, and sprinkle them throughout the flower garden. The strong odor will cause the cat to go find a less offensive place to use for their toilet. Cats have a sensitive sense of smell and will avoid sites where the odor is too powerful. (As an added benefit, the mothballs or citrus rinds will keep away other pests as well!)

Lastly, there are devices which are sold to be unpleasant for the cat’s paws. Some folks use ground eggshell to create a scratchy feeling on the cat’s paws, which is believed to keep cats away. For smaller beds, there are commercially-manufactured products which are essentially mats with prickly spines on them. You place them around your plants, and lightly cover them with mulch, leaving the thin, but nearly invisible, spikes sticking up. They do not injure the cat, but the cats do not like walking on them, and leave those areas of your flower bed alone.

Cat owners who provide the right environment for their pets will find that they are well-loved in return. For example, providing the cat with a clean litter box, or a bed with a cat heating pad (see http://catheatingpad.net) to keep it snug, will keep the cat relaxed, and make it a more enjoyable companion.

George is a regular contributor to several syndicated blogs. He covers a wide range of pet care topics.

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If you have one or more cats who are constantly using your
flower garden as their personal litter box, then you know
how annoying it is when you are digging in that flower
garden to find the little treasures that the cats have left
behind. Not only is it disgusting to be digging around in
(even if the only thing they are doing is urinating in your
flower garden) but the cat urine, with its high ammonia
concentration, can be destructive to plants and their roots.



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Home Vegetable Gardening – Growing Garden Cress

Posted on 31 August 2010 by Admin

Herb gardening has swept the country. According the National Gardening Association over fifteen million people grow herbs.

An easy fast growing herb to add to your repertoire is garden cress. It is a peppery tangy flavored herb that is easy to add to anyone’s home garden.

Here are some steps that you can follow to ensure the success of the garden cress that you grow at home.

A lot of herbs are grown by themselves in a “herb garden”. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Garden Cress makes a great companion plant to bush beans, beets, carrots, lettuce and spinach to name a few. So keep that in mind when planting. The seeds of garden cress are small, so when you plant them a light covering of dirt is all they will need. Garden Cress seeds will germinate in as soon as 2 days and as far out as 6, so as you can see they grow quickly.

Garden cress likes the soil’s neutral pH to be as close to neutral (7.0) as possible. Test your soil with a home testing kit, available from any garden or home center for just a couple of dollars. Follow the instructions that come with the kit to raise or lower your soil’s pH level as needed.

It likes full sun so pick a spot that receives the most sunlight and if you have an indoor herb garden, make sure you pick a window sill that receives sunlight first thing in the morning. As for watering, garden cress does not need much. Just keep the soil moist with moderate watering and you will be ok.

Your plants are ready to be harvested when they reach two to three inches in height. Simply cut them at the soil line with garden scissors. If you follow the steps above you should have no problem harvesting your garden cress in as little as two weeks. Do not let them grow to long as they could develop a bitter taste.

As you can see you should be able to add this wonderful tasting herb to your garden in no time and with very little effort.

About the Author
Mike is the author of the book Vegetable Gardening for the Average Person: A Guide to Vegetable Gardening for the Rest of Us, available where gardening books are sold. Sign up for Mike’s vegetable gardening newsletter at his website: AveragePersonGardening.com and he will send you a free pack of vegetable seeds to get your garden started.

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Garden Cress is a green broadleaf plant with a peppery
taste. A close cousin to mustard and water cress, garden
cress is easy to grow and adds great flavor to a lot of
dishes. Here is how you can add garden cress to your home
vegetable garden.



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How Landscaping Your Garden with Rocks Could Help You

Posted on 31 August 2010 by Admin

When it comes to our gardens we do not always really allow them to reach their full potential. Work and family commitments often get in the way and we simply just do not have time to look after the garden as much as we should do. However, if you do want to make your garden as nice as it can be, somehow you do have to find the time to do it and as hard as that is, it will be worth it once you have finished.

Landscaping the Garden

One way to really make the most of your garden is to completely landscape it. By doing this you will be creating a space where you can come and relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery your garden will have.

The ways in which you can add to the gardens designs include adding rock features, garden furniture, water features and various plants. Basically you can let your imagination go wild and a great way to get ideas is to look at other people’s gardens or look in magazines. A good looking garden will not only be more visually appealing, but it will also add a lot of value onto your home if you ever want to sell.

One of the easiest ways to landscape your garden is to use rocks. Rocks are uncomplicated; they do not need looking after like plants do and surprisingly they can actually look really good too. You can use them to place around plants which will save you money on expensive planters, and you can even create miniature walls. Walls help to separate various sections of the garden and it can make the garden look unique and beautiful too. You could have a flower garden in one section, a place to relax and sit down in another as well as a water feature of some kind in another. Each section would be separate by a miniature rock formation and it really would look unique.

One of the most popular ways in which rocks are used around the garden tends to be as stepping stones. Keep in mind that you should only use flat rocks as stepping stones; otherwise it could be potentially dangerous. You do need to keep safety in mind and if you do build rock formations you need to ensure that you build them as sturdy as possible as you really don’t want them to fall down!

Overall using rocks as part of your landscaping is an excellent idea and it can make it look unique and scenic. You just have to remember to be careful and follow safety guidelines before beginning the landscaping.

Andrew Caxton is the owner and journalist of many information websites, who has written more articles and newsletters on gardening design and lawn care. A website with tips on landscaping, amongst many related topics.

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Using rocks as part of your landscaping can really help to
make the garden look natural and serene. They do not require
any looking after and they are not complicated to use in any
way either.



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Perennial Herb Garden – Varieties of Flavours, Scents and Fragrances

Posted on 31 August 2010 by Admin

Perennial herbs live for more than two years. They hibernate during the colder parts of the year which means their upper parts above the soil die down, but their roots live on. The herbs lie dormant and don’t grow actively throughout the winter, but in spring they “spring” back producing new branches, leaves and flowers.

Depending on their life span, herbs are classified as annuals, biennials or perennials. My herb garden is a mixture of all three types or at least two of them. When you are planning your herb garden, decide whether you want to spend more time planting or pruning. If you are thinking of starting a perennial herb garden, be prepared to spend more time pruning.

A little bit of extra work is required if you decide to create a perennial herb garden. Be mindful when pruning perennial herbs before the winter. Leave enough branches and leaves so they can prepare themselves for the colder months. It also helps to apply a thick layer of mulch to protect roots from the frost.

Perennial herbs have established themselves in our everyday lives in many ways. We use them to enhance flavors in our cooking. Their scents and fragrances are widely used in aromatherapy. Some of them produce beautiful flowers which add ornamental value to your garden. Let’s not forget their value as companion plants. Some perennial herbs have medicinal properties too.

There are many varieties of perennial herbs and it is rather difficult to mention all of them. We all have our favorites. If you don’t have much space in your garden, the decision on which ones to grow could be based on what you are intending to use them for.

Rosemary is an herb which I enjoy very much for its perpetual green color, scent and small flowers. This bushy herb can be a ground cover or it can be trained to climb the fence. The more you trim it, the denser it becomes.

Mint comes in several varieties – peppermint, spearmint, lemon balm. Mint is an invasive herb and can easily overtake your garden. You can control it if you bury the pot with the mint in the ground. The tea made out of fresh mint leaves is very refreshing and helps digestion.

Chamomile is an herb which spreads easily. It has valuable medicinal properties and drinking chamomile tea could boost your immune system. Also, chamomile tea can calm an upset stomach.

Sage is lovely shrub with long, pale green leaves. Apart from being well used in the kitchen, sage has found its place as an alternative medicine as well as in aroma therapy. It was recommended to me to chew on a sage leave when I had a gum infection. I’ve noticed the change and improvement very quickly. I am sure you will find this perennial herb very useful.

Thyme is another shrubby looking perennial herb. It produces purple and white flowers and it can grow up to 25cm in height. Similar to sage, essential oils from thyme are widely used in aromatherapy. Thyme can be used to treat mouth infections, dandruff, arthritis and rheumatism. It can also help to boost the immune system. I don’t think I need to mention its value as a culinary herb.

Lavender is a bushy perennial herb with small, pointy looking leaves. Flowers bloom for a long time. They are pretty, violet-blue in color, shaped long and thin and have a lovely sweet smell. Lavender has been used as a muscle relaxant, pain reliever, antiseptic and an antidepressant. It can also help maintain a healthy blood pressure.

Herb gardening, whether perennial, annual or biennial is a joy. Enjoy every moment you spend in the garden tending to your precious herbs and the experience will be a very rewarding one indeed!

Jamie Wade is a passionate and dedicated herb gardening enthusiast whose burning desire is to encourage each and every one to experience the joys and rewards of starting their own herb gardens. For more great information and tips on perennial herb garden, visit http://www.beginnersherbgardening.com.

Article Directory: EzineArticles


Perennial herbs live for more than two years. They hibernate
during the colder parts of the year which means their upper
parts above the soil die down, but their roots live on. The
herbs lie dormant and don’t grow actively throughout the
winter, but in spring they “spring” back producing new
branches, leaves and flowers.



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