A terraced vegetable garden stabilized by raw wood follows similar processes, only from the side. Over time, the lowest tiers of a sloped site gain organic matter as it trickles down from the higher beds, so adding organic matter to the higher beds benefits...
Summer Compost for Fall Veggies My new seedlings of broccoli, cabbage, kale, kohlrabi and other widely spaced plants get a huge helping of fresh summer compost, buried by the spadeful at the bottoms of their planting holes, with a little organic fertilizer...
Continue Feeding Plants Don't scrimp on feeding your crops. Feeding plants costs money but does mean more fruits of better quality, so the investment is well worth it. And if you're heading away from home for more than a week, encourage your neighbors...
Pests can sometimes infiltrate your garden among the leaves or in the potting soil of shop-bought plants, so if you buy (or are given) young plants always check them carefully for signs of pests before introducing them to the garden.
So here's how to do it! Types of Cabbage There's a fantastic range of cabbage varieties to choose from, offering different shapes, colors and textures. Savoy cabbages have a long harvest period stretching from autumn all the way through winter to early...
But a few carefully placed lights, turned on when outside, can transform a daytime garden into a nighttime wonderland. Well-considered seating is the answer. As well as the usual patio set of table and chairs, consider installing a bench in a part of...
Some people rate the leaves as edible, but I'd rather hold out for the large, red-skinned roots, which pop up out of the ground when they're ready. I used lightly blanched watermelon radish sticks to mimic tuna in vegetarian sushi.
Preserving techniques help to spread out sudden gluts so that summer's bounty can be enjoyed later on in the year when fresh pickings are thin on the ground. Simmer until thick (this should take anywhere from one to three hours) then decant into sterilized...
Should insects become an issue, you can always cover the plants with a barrier of tulle or another lightweight row cover. By any name, they are a top storage crop to grow in the fall garden.
You can get a lot of seeds from just a few plants, which makes saving these seeds very worthwhile indeed. Once they've turned a straw color, simply rub the seed heads between your fingers to release the seeds.
Photo by Jerzy Opiola In summer the leaves of infected plums take on a silvery sheen (although the leaves themselves are not infectious), then once the wood dies the bracket-shaped fungi appear, ready to produce more spores.
Dried chilies are just as versatile as fresh chilies. Lay them out onto your trays and set them to dry. Begin by tying a knot into one end of the line. Drying is an excellent way of preserving chilies.
Don't be a slave to the watering can; here are our tips to help you deal with drought conditions in your garden, so you can continue to enjoy good harvests this summer! EMBED VIDEO HERE Wise Watering Prioritize Watering When water's precious it pays to...
Keep them on a cool, bright windowsill. Set the seeds onto a layer of compost or potting soil about 10cm (4in) deep, or deeper if your container is particularly tall. At this stage cut the foliage off and put it on the compost heap.
Apples and other trees are already full of young fruits, which will grow on to give a delicious crop towards the end of the growing season. Aim to leave one fruit every couple of inches (5-8cm), or if it's easier, one pair of plums every six inches (15cm).
Yes, it's all very unpleasant stuff. A few pots of choice favourites placed inside will almost certainly seal the deal. Gross as it is, Encarsia formosa are formidable at controlling whitefly within a greenhouse.
Frost tolerant Yes. Notes Used in place of onions for concentrated flavor. They will root during the winter, and multiply into a cluster in late spring or early summer. Planting and Harvesting Calendar < Back to All Plants Pests which Affect Shallots...
Females lay eggs near the base of plants, and the larvae feed on the plants' roots. On cool mornings, place a piece of cardboard beneath plants to catch beetles you knock to the ground.
Frost tolerant Seedlings will survive light frosts, but older plants are easily damaged. A fresh crop of plants can be planted in late summer for bloom in the fall. A good companion for any crop that needs strong defense from insects.
Frost tolerant Extremely cold hardy, even in harsh winter climates. Harvesting Dig roots in fall or early spring and dry outdoors, because they release an unpleasant smell as they dry.
Feeding Not generally required. Notes Lemon balm is very easy to grow. You also can start seeds in late winter, and set out the seedlings in spring. Planting and Harvesting Calendar < Back to All Plants Pests which Affect Lemon Balm Aphids (General) Slug...
Frost tolerant Excellent. Cover the bulbs to four times their depth with loose soil. In less than full sun, tulip blossoms will twist toward the strongest directional light. Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant...
Frost tolerant None. Notes Blue ageratum provides excellent contrast when combined with flowers with orange blossoms. Harvesting Snip off spent blossoms to keep plants looking neat, and to prolong flowering.
Frost tolerant Yes. Position Sun or partial shade. Feeding Not required. Harvesting Use a digging fork to loosen soil along outside of the planting before pulling roots. Companions Onion, Onions and Radish.
