When the best place you have to grow veggies and herbs is a sloping hillside, you can terrace your way to a garden that's beautiful, productive, and reasonably easy to maintain. Very steep slopes that require steps to navigate need beds that sit atop...
I have plenty of compost this time of year, but it likely includes plenty of weed seeds, which doesn't matter when it's sequestered more than 2 inches (5cm) below the soil's surface.
There are some reliable methods to ripen green tomatoes at the end of the season. Another complication is wind, which here in the British Isles becomes increasingly present as the growing season draws to a conclusion.
A regular liquid feed will result in better quality fruits for longer 4. You can let us know by dropping us a comment below. And if you're heading away from home for more than a week, encourage your neighbors to harvest them – they'll get free food...
Also try trap-cropping using a pest's favorite food to make your crops less appealing to them. Share it with us by leaving a comment below. No food gardener's armory is complete without a length of fine mesh netting.
Left in the ground when the crop is cleared, these roots will help to feed the cabbages that follow. Netting protects cabbages from pests such as cabbage white butterflies Caring for Cabbage Cabbages are prone to attack from pigeons and caterpillars of...
Consider the look and feel of the bench, which will become a feature in its own right. A water feature of any size can add interest and soothing background noise Add Interest with Sound and Movement Stimulate the senses with sound, color and movement.
Then wash the radishes, pat them dry, and store them in plastic bags in the refrigerator. The crisp radishes are mild enough to eat raw or cooked, they make a great refrigerator pickles, and sound specimens will keep in the refrigerator for months.
To freeze, slice vegetables then blanch (boil) them for one to five minutes. Herbs can be chopped up and frozen into ice cubes that can be dropped whole into recipes. Chop the produce up into small cubes about 1cm (0.5in) square.
I like to sidestep hot summer sun by starting the seedlings indoors and setting them out when it's cloudy, but the seeds are such willing germinators that they also can be direct-sown into a prepared row and thinned to proper spacing.
Best Vegetables for Seed Saving Some vegetables are easier to save seed from than others. Saving Lettuce Seeds Lettuces produce literally thousands of seeds on each seed head. If you save seeds we'd love to hear your top tips for doing so – don't be...
Cutting them out sooner rather than later means you can make smaller cuts that are less likely to become infected. It's harder for the trees to resist the disease in winter, so again summer pruning is the safer option.
Keep them whole or halved for dropping into spicy homemade curries, or pulverise them first – in the food processor or with the end of a weighty rolling pin (somewhat noisy but strangely satisfying!).
Fruit trees, canes and bushes can be mulched with chunkier materials such as bark chippings, or fibrous materials like straw. Here are a few ideas to help. Fill up a suitable-sized reservoir, adding any liquid feed you'd like to apply at the recommended...
Now prepare to unearth your spuds – a joyous moment indeed! Container-grown spuds can be upturned and the compost torn apart to reveal the tubers. Second, you'll need to consider the risk of frosts later on in the growing cycle and take the necessary...
Start by cutting away any misshapen, damaged or scarred fruits. Early summer offers us a tempting taste of what's to come in the fruit garden. Plants Related to this Article Apple (Dwarf) Grow Guide Pear (Dwarf) Grow Guide Plum (Dwarf) Grow Guide < All...
Severely affected plants can eventually turn yellow and wilt, producing lacklustre growth at best. Bugs, Beneficial Insects and Plant Diseases Greenhouse Whitefly Guide < All Guides
If storing shallots, cure in a dry place for 10 days after pulling the plants. Spacing Single Plants: 5" (15cm) each way (minimum) Rows: 3" (10cm) with 5" (15cm) row gap (minimum) Sow and Plant Set individual cloves in prepared ground in the fall.
A small vacuum is a good way to collect cucumber beetles. Floating row covers are the most dependable way to protect plants. Striped cucumber beetle [Credit: CamPixie ] Striped cucumber beetle [Credit: CamPixie ] Host Plants: On Crops: Cucumbers, melons,...
Companions Tomato, Squash, Strawberry and Pepper. Borage attracts large buzzing insects that dominate their air space. A good companion for any crop that needs strong defense from insects.
Position Full sun to partial afternoon shade. Planting and Harvesting Calendar < Back to All Plants Pests which Affect Valerian Aphids (General) Slug Snail After two years, valerian will grow into a 18" (45 cm) wide clump.
Harvesting Gather sprigs as needed in the kitchen. Lemon balm can be transplanted from early spring to early summer. Crop Rotation Group Miscellaneous ● Soil Rich well-drained soil.
Frost tolerant Excellent. Cover the bulbs to four times their depth with loose soil. Hot pepper sprays help to deter these nibblers. Troubleshooting Tulips are often eaten by deer and squirrels.
Position Full sun to partial shade. Planting and Harvesting Calendar < Back to All Plants Pests which Affect Ageratum Aphids (General) Slug Snail Spacing Single Plants: 7" (20cm) each way (minimum) Rows: 7" (20cm) with 11" (30cm) row gap (minimum) Sow...
Crop Rotation Group Solanaceae (Potato and tomato family) ● Soil Rich soil with plenty of compost mixed in before planting. Planting and Harvesting Calendar < Back to All Plants Pests which Affect Tomato (Large) Aphids (General) Colorado Potato Beetle...
Crop Rotation Group Umbelliferae (Carrot and root family) ● Soil Deeply worked soil that has not had compost or manure added withing 6 months. Planting and Harvesting Calendar < Back to All Plants Pests which Affect Parsnip Aphids (General) Carrot Rust...
