Extra reinforcement is not needed for block retaining walls less than 18 inches (45cm) high. As the wood decays, mycelium from the wood-feeding fungi also infiltrate adjoining soil.
Cool-season Cover Crops Parts of the garden that won't be planted until late spring are prime spots for growing cool-season cover crops , also known as green manures because they are grown to benefit the soil.
Tomatoes, for example, need a minimum temperature of 10°C (50°F) to fully develop. Please share them in the comments section below. Repeat, cutting out a semicircle around the plant.
A regular liquid feed will result in better quality fruits for longer 4. How do you keep your pickings coming? Continue watering a suitable organic liquid fertilizer on to hungry fruiting vegetables like tomatoes, peppers and eggplant.
Also try trap-cropping using a pest's favorite food to make your crops less appealing to them. What's your favorite earth-friendly way to protect your garden from pests? If you're regularly affected by a particular pest, it can be worth looking for early...
You can use a string line to insure nice, straight rows. After they've germinated, thin to leave just one seedling per cell. In very cold regions, growing cabbages in a greenhouse or cold frame is a great way to guarantee a winter-safe crop.
LED lighting is low cost, versatile and doesn't use much electricity. As well as the usual patio set of table and chairs, consider installing a bench in a part of the garden from where you can enjoy a good vantage point over your labors – for instance,...
Warm soil temperatures promote fast germination, so the seeds will be up and growing in a matter of days. There are many ways to enjoy the “little ginseng” of the vegetable world.
Simmer until thick (this should take anywhere from one to three hours) then decant into sterilized jars. There are, of course, many other ways to preserve some of the growing season's generosity (a kinder word than ‘glut', which sounds a little ungrateful!).
Harvesting and Storing Rutabagas Rutabagas make rapid growth once they become established, producing a profusion of leaves that show the plants' crossed genetic heritage. Midsummer is the best time to plant rutabagas, which need 10 to 12 weeks of growing...
Some biennial crops, such as onions, shallots, leeks, carrots, beets and chard are also worth saving, though you'll need to overwinter a few plants from one season to flower and set seed the next.
Once that's done, step back again and look over your tree. It's harder for the trees to resist the disease in winter, so again summer pruning is the safer option. They look like they've been used for shotgun target practice, giving the disease its alternative...
Even thorough scrubbing fails to remove all traces of chilli pepper's spicy capsaicin; as you might imagine, a careless rub of the eye during a momentary lapse of concentration can be painful.
You can speed things along by adding a splosh of water to the top of the pot before it's left to soak. Now lay the mulch so it's at least an inch (2cm) thick around your plants. The moisture in the drill will drain through, encouraging the seedling's...
Second, you'll need to consider the risk of frosts later on in the growing cycle and take the necessary precautions to avoid damage to your plants. If time allows you to grow your spuds in the ground, pick a warm, sunny spot to ensure the quickest growth...
Why Thin Fruits? Apples generally produce clusters of between two to six fruits. Thinning Other Fruit Trees Pears need less thinning than apples but will still benefit from having young fruits thinned out to give consistent harvests.
The first frost will put paid to their plans for crop-wide domination but, be warned, in mild areas or in warm greenhouses they can happily remain active throughout the winter. And if that's not enough, honeydew can attract diseases such as black sooty...
Harvesting Harvest in early summer when the tops begin to fail, and the bulbs have divided into several plump bulblets. They will root during the winter, and multiply into a cluster in late spring or early summer.
You can also coat the fingertips of a yellow rubber glove with petroleum jelly to make it easier to collect any beetles clustered in blossoms. Delaying spring planting by two weeks can often help with cucumber beetles management.
Feeding Not generally needed. The foliage can be gathered and composted. Harvesting Cut back borage plants by half their size in midsummer to encourage reblooming. Borage attracts large buzzing insects that dominate their air space.
Frequently the plant will break off as you pull it from the ground. Dig and move perennial onions every fall. At the end of each season, be sure to pull all onions from the garden.
Plants die back to the ground in winter and re-emerge in spring. Notes Valerian produces extremely fragrant flowers in early summer. Valerian can stand 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall when it is in full bloom.
Locate it where leaves can be conveniently picked, crushed and sniffed. You also can start seeds in late winter, and set out the seedlings in spring. Companions Squash, Tomato and Beans.
Planting tulips behind daylilies or other summer-blooming perennials hides the fading foliage from view. Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
Ageratum cannot tolerate cold temperatures. Space dwarf varieties 8 inches (20cm) apart in all directions; allow 12 inches (30cm) between very tall varieties. Dwarf types make good edging plants for beds and containers.
Feeding Not required. Frost tolerant Yes. Spacing Single Plants: 7" (20cm) each way (minimum) Rows: 7" (20cm) with 11" (30cm) row gap (minimum) Sow and Plant Sow direct into soil, and cover the seeded bed or furrow with a board to keep it moist.
