Concrete blocks are less costly, though heavy to handle. Rebar stakes are the best way to reinforce wood-framed beds on a slope The frames or low walls used to stabilize a terraced vegetable garden can be made from many different materials, including...
Kale seedlings ready to transplant atop buried caches of summer compost 2. Most of the seeds succumb to winter, but there is always an assortment of volunteer seedlings that appear around my deadhead pile when the weather warms in spring.
This odorless, tasteless gas is the vital catalyst that turns under-ripe green fruit to red, yellow and many a color in between. Secure it at the sides with rocks or bricks. By removing ready-to-eat fruits, you'll divert all of the plant's energies into...
Using row covers can keep the chill at bay and extend your harvests into fall 6. Consider cutting back overhanging foliage and act promptly to remove spent crops so that those remaining enjoy plenty of sunshine and good air circulation.
It's important to follow the instructions on the label very carefully. Hold your nerve, and if your predatory platoon of frogs, hoverflies, ladybugs and so on is in place, you can achieve, if not an outright conquest, then at least peaceable relations...
Wire mesh will protect seedlings against pigeons, but to stop butterflies from laying their eggs on the leaves it's best to use netting during the summer months. In a traditional crop rotation cabbages follow on from peas or beans, which naturally lock...
Sowing, planting, weeding, watering, harvesting, deadheading, composting, pest control… and the rest! But as summer moves swiftly along it's absolutely essential to stop, sit down and drink it all in.
Asian radishes grow slower than little salad radishes, so they are best planted about eight weeks before your first frost date. Asian radishes including daikons, Chinese radishes, and watermelon radishes are great fun to grow as summer turns to fall,...
Dehydrators are a joy. No matter how meticulous you are with planning crop timings, there's always going to be a hardcore of homegrown hooligans that arrive en masse, intimidating gardeners with more fresh produce than can be coped with! Common culprits...
The root word, rotabagge , is Swedish for thick root, which hints at the density of rutabaga roots when compared to turnips. The same pests that bother other brassicas can affect rutabagas, but they usually don't.
Shell the pods to reveal the beans or peas inside, then discard any very small, misshapen or damaged seeds. Wait until sweet peppers and chillies show their mature color, then simply scrape away the seeds from the pith.
Soft shoots can be pinched out with your thumb and forefinger. Make sure to choose upward-pointing shoots to counteract this. Don't leave a stub of branch sticking out – it will only die back and could introduce disease.
Push the needle through the green cap of each chili, rather than the flesh of the fruit, which could serve as an entry point for mold. Keep them whole or halved for dropping into spicy homemade curries, or pulverise them first – in the food processor...
Mulches may not be very high-tech, but they are incredibly effective in a hot summer. This means you can water carefully and precisely, enjoying the convenience of a hose – without wasting a drop! Water from the Bottom Watering pots from the bottom,...
If you thought growing potatoes was hugely satisfying, second-crop potatoes will prove even more so! Give your holiday season dinners a home-grown boost and try them for yourself. Just imagine serving up your own tender new potatoes with the festive meal...
Aim to leave one fruit every couple of inches (5-8cm), or if it's easier, one pair of plums every six inches (15cm). I'm using a sharp pair of pruners for the job, but if the fruits are really close to each other you may find it easier to use scissors...
Whitefly love the color yellow and will flock to the cards, only to get stuck and meet their end. The trouble with homemade sprays is that their effectiveness varies dramatically, and they aren't always as harmless as they seem, potentially knocking back...
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area. Remove infested plants. Frost tolerant Yes. Crop Rotation Group Allium (Onion family) ● Soil Fertile, well drained soil with compost dug in.
Managing Outbreaks: Striped cucumber beetles are difficult to hand pick because they are small and prone to flying away. You can also try growing varieties like ‘Little Leaf' and slicing cucumbers, which lack the bitter gene and are less attractive...
Position A sunny spot where bumblebees and other large pollinators are desired. The foliage can be gathered and composted. Planting and Harvesting Calendar < Back to All Plants Pests which Affect Borage Aphids (General) Slug Snail
At the end of each season, be sure to pull all onions from the garden. Managing Outbreaks: Remove badly damaged plants, as the maggots can move from one plant to another. Dig and move perennial onions every fall.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area. Store in airtight container. Frost tolerant Extremely cold hardy, even in harsh winter climates.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area. Troubleshooting Control lemon balm's spread by cutting back flowering stems in late summer.
In less than full sun, tulip blossoms will twist toward the strongest directional light. Fertilize established clumps with a balanced organic fertilizer in the fall. Hot pepper sprays help to deter these nibblers.
Most gardeners buy ageratum seedlings, but only dwarf varieties are widely available as bedding plants. Some varieties produce white or pink blossoms. Frost tolerant None. Tall varieties often are grown as cut flowers.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area. Troubleshooting Watch for leaf-eating tomato hornworms, and pick them off. Position Full sun.
Germination often takes up to 2 weeks. Harvesting Use a digging fork to loosen soil along outside of the planting before pulling roots. Position Sun or partial shade. Notes Thin seedlings to proper spacing when they are 4 inches tall.
