Deep mulch that reduces repeated freezing and thawing of the soil is a good way to enhance the cold tolerance of parsley, celery, other biennial vegetables with fibrous roots. To reduce moisture loss, trim off all leaves.
Keep compost heaps and potting mixes covered to prevent blown-in seeds from settling. They're easier to control but spread quickly by seed. So here's how you can win the war on weeds! Know Your Enemy: Annual and Perennial Weeds There are two enemies at...
It can take two years or even longer for leaves to rot down enough to be considered leafmold. When laid on the soil surface 5-10cm (2-4in) thick it does a great job of suppressing annual weeds.
Extra reinforcement is not needed for block retaining walls less than 18 inches (45cm) high. An ideal design is comprised of beds sized to fit the hillside in ways that make them easy to plant and maintain.
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.
Simply lay these soft-skinned beauties, stem-side down and not touching, between two layers of breathable linen. This matters, because many fruits, including peppers and tomatoes, emit ethylene to promote ripening.
Don't leave a stub of branch sticking out – it will only die back and could introduce disease. They look like they've been used for shotgun target practice, giving the disease its alternative name of ‘shothole' (careful how you say it!).
If necessary, wipe the fruits with a dry cloth to remove any traces of dirt. How to Make a Chili Pepper Ristra A ristra is simply an arrangement of drying chili peppers. Again, a pair of gloves will come in handy for this.
The moisture in the drill will drain through, encouraging the seedling's roots to follow. Now sink your pots into the water and simply walk away, leaving them to soak up the liquid for an hour or more.
Position the seed potatoes 30cm (12in) apart along the bottom of trenches spaced at least 60cm (24in) apart. If you're thinking you could simply replant some of your summer-harvested potatoes, I'm afraid this will only meet with disappointment.
Plums are notorious for over-producing – with often-disastrous results. Their smaller fruitlets may be thinned using just your thumb and finger to detach the surplus. We need to thin them to just one or two fruits per cluster.
Then, when the eggs hatch, the young Encarsia feed on the larvae from the inside out. The whitefly larvae are still alive at this point and it's only when the parasite is almost ready to hatch out as an adult that it then sets to work on its host's vital...
Check plants every couple of days and remove fruits and pods before they get too large or overripe. Leave those zucchinis to swell into marrows and you'll inadvertently slow the initiation of new flowers and fruits.
Protect Your Crops As most growers of cabbages, broccoli or other brassicas will know, defense is the best form of attack. That may sound like a solution, but the problem is it also wipes out the beneficial insects – your own private army – at the...
Netting protects cabbages from pests such as cabbage white butterflies Caring for Cabbage Cabbages are prone to attack from pigeons and caterpillars of the cabbage white butterfly , also known as cabbageworms.
Climbers, particularly scented climbers like jasmine, honeysuckle or rambling roses are also perfect for this purpose and may be trained up an arch positioned over the seating to offer both scent and dappled shade.
There is some truth here, in that a review of studies from around the world concluded that compounds in daikon radishes may help prevent diabetes, cancer and disorders of the digestive system.
Chutneys are simply magnificent, capable of storing in the cupboard for many months. Tougher vegetables, such as carrots, need four. Chop the produce up into small cubes about 1cm (0.5in) square.
Too much nitrogen can lead to poor bulb formation, so it is best to use only half as much as the product's label suggests when preparing the bed, with the other half applied a few weeks later, after the plants have been thinned and weeded.
If you save seeds we'd love to hear your top tips for doing so – don't be shy, please drop us a comment below! < All Guides But how can you take your vegetable growing one step further?
Because the bean embryo is attached just under the hilum, it is best to nick the seed opposite this point to avoid causing damage.After nicking, it is a good idea to soak the seeds for a few hours or overnight.
Enlarged seeds, and cracks on the seed coat, also indicate sprouting.You cannot dry and store seeds that are in different stages of germination. Wash the good ones in a dish with hydrogen peroxide.
Alternatively, move the plant to a location where that family group had not been growing for some years.Another consideration is total invasion. If they land in a favorable location, all that is left is to wait for the warm season and they germinate and...
Honey in 2 cups boiling water. It can be greatly increased by the aid of a. You can make your ownCut a few new shoots from a willow and slice them into 1 inch (3 cm) pieces.Steep the willow pieces in water for a few days to create a willow tea.Dip your...
They are durable enough for short term production, and can be planted directly into the ground.Once in the ground roots are able to grow through the walls. There are pros and cons with each pot; read this guide to help select the type of plantable pot...
Unopened bags are sterile, but once opened, the mix comes in contact with pathogens easily. To discourage fungus and speed drying, you can cover the seeds with a very thin layer of sand or chicken grit instead of soil., keep in mind that saved seeds are...
This allows you to create a number of fresh new plants where you formerly only had bare stems, and will make perfect copies of your favorite plant varieties.What is plant layering?
