The weedy strip is ground that hasn't been mulched, while the clear ground either side beautifully demonstrates how a thick layer of mulch keeps weeds away and the ground nice and clean.
Sawdust should be used with care, as if used fresh it can mat together and make it hard for water to permeate. Vary the kind of mulch you use depending on the time of year and what's available in the garden Free and Easy Leaves and Leafmold The aforementioned...
You can now play with various bed designs and materials, using your drawing as a planning tool. All can be reinforced with iron rebar stakes, which are far superior to wood stakes because they never rot.
The remains of reseeding flowers and herbs can be given their own space in the garden 4. 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...
Remove the cover during the day or leave it in place if it is forecast to remain cold. Ripening Tree Fruits Indoors Most tree fruits will naturally ripen up on the tree. Ripening Green Tomatoes on the Plant Towards the end of the season the race is on...
Silver leaf disease is spread by spores from a bracket fungus. Don't use a wound paint or wrap to try and seal the wound. Oozing bark, though alarming, isn't necessarily a sign of the disease.
Fellow GrowVeg blogger Barbara also has a truly scrumptious recipe for chili paste – it comes tried, tested and thoroughly approved! Of course, if you've got other ideas for storing and using dried chili peppers then don't hesitate to let me know –...
Allow plants to soak up the water they need to avoid wastage Use a Timer An automatic irrigation system, connected to a timer, will take the strain out of watering. Set it to come on very early in the morning, before things heat up.
This creates more ‘room' for the developing spuds to grow into (container potatoes are topped up as they grow for the same reason). A small pot just 30cm (one foot) tall and wide can hold one potato plant, while larger containers up to the size of a...
Aim to leave one fruit every couple of inches (5-8cm), or if it's easier, one pair of plums every six inches (15cm). This usually includes the odd-shaped ‘king' fruit at the center of the cluster.
They will attack plants growing outdoors as well as in the greenhouse. Each adult lays hundreds of eggs which hatch out into larvae with an insatiable appetite for whatever plant they're sat on.
A regular liquid feed will result in better quality fruits for longer 4. Check plants every couple of days and remove fruits and pods before they get too large or overripe. Consider cutting back overhanging foliage and act promptly to remove spent crops...
That may sound like a solution, but the problem is it also wipes out the beneficial insects – your own private army – at the same time. Also try trap-cropping using a pest's favorite food to make your crops less appealing to them.
How to Sow Cabbage Cabbages may be started off in an outdoor seedbed to transplant once they're bigger, or under cover into modules or pots, which also enables an earlier start to the season.
A couple of lights directed up into the branchwork of a tree looks stunning. Here are a few ideas to help you make the most of your garden while the weather's still clement – or ways to improve it for next summer! Make an area for relaxing in the garden...
There are many ways to enjoy the “little ginseng” of the vegetable world. Asian radishes including daikons, Chinese radishes, and watermelon radishes are great fun to grow as summer turns to fall, but you'll need to get busy.
Some gardeners even dry produce in the oven, setting it at its lowest temperature and propping the door fractionally open to further moderate the temperate, though I imagine this method can waste quite a lot of energy.
The leaves are big and wavy, like turnips, but have a smooth surface with bluish bloom like cabbage. Napobrassica ) include swedes, winter turnips, yellow turnips, Swedish turnips, Russian turnips, Canadian turnips, and neeps.
Wait until sweet peppers and chillies show their mature color, then simply scrape away the seeds from the pith. These plants readily cross-pollinate with other members of the same family, so you're unlikely to get what you hoped for.
They attract pollinating insects and add statuesque color to a perennial flower garden. Their movement and grace are perfect complements to coneflower's bright beauty and there are numerous varieties from which to choose that often produce fascinating...
Large or hard seeds like those ofoften require scarification for optimal germination. The hilum is easy to find on beans and peas. This technique is also known as scarification.Which seeds need to be nicked?
Cover them with more paper and gently press to remove excess moisture.If the seeds are hard and mature, you can safely dry them and store them for future use. Wash them well and store when dry.Wet seeds taken out of the seed pods should be washed to remove...
If this happens, it's important to know how to handle the situation.Now that you know what types of plants to allow to set seed and self-sow, you need to know how to manage self-seeders to prevent having them get out of hand, or in the case of veggies,...
The very easiest method for rooting plants organically uses only one ingredient that you're guaranteed to have at home: spit. You can smear some honey directly on your cutting or, if you want, mix up a tea of 1 tbsp.
When selecting a plantable pot, it is important to consider how much time your plants need to start vs. There are pros and cons with each pot; read this guide to help select the type of plantable pot that is best for you.
Many gardeners prefer to water from the bottom, which keeps the surface of the soil drier. 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...
Roots will form along the part of the stem that's underground.freestar.queue.push(function() { googletag.display("div-gpt-ad-300x250-ATF-1"); });– Tip layering works by pushing the very tip or point of a stem underground and holding it in place with...
