Level places from which to work are invaluable when gardening on a slope, because gravity pulls people downhill, too. Some sites may need only a low stone wall to transform them into good gardening space, while others will require compact beds stacked...
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.
To do this, plunge a spade into the ground about 25cm (10in) away from the central stem. Delicate fruits such as peaches or nectarines need very careful handing to avoid bruising. The bag will trap any ethylene gas produced by the fruit, encouraging it...
Here, then, are some top tips to keep those pickings coming... Using row covers can keep the chill at bay and extend your harvests into fall 6. Continue Feeding Plants Don't scrimp on feeding your crops.
A bug spray massacres pests. It's important to follow the instructions on the label very carefully. 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...
After they've germinated, thin to leave just one seedling per cell. Plants Related to this Article Cabbage (Summer) Grow Guide Cabbage (Fall Red) Grow Guide Cabbage (Fall) Grow Guide Bugs, Beneficial Insects and Plant Diseases Flea Beetle Guide Aphids...
Easy DIY Drinks Cooler On hot summer days don't forget to quench your thirst with all manner of smoothies, cordials and lemonades made from garden-grown fruits and herbs. Here are a few ideas to help you make the most of your garden while the weather's...
You also can cook daikon radishes into a soft and savory vegetable as is done in Chinese turnip cake ( law bok gow ), which is really made with radishes. Unharvested daikons make a good winter cover crop because the big roots drill deep holes into the...
Frozen produce will keep for a year and beyond, turning seasonal treats into year-round staples. 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.
Rutabaga growth slows as the days become short, and the oldest leaves often shrivel and may be cut away. Napobrassica ) include swedes, winter turnips, yellow turnips, Swedish turnips, Russian turnips, Canadian turnips, and neeps.
These plants cross-pollinate, so you'll need to overwinter more than one plant of the same variety to flower the following season. Once the plant displays its fluffy seed heads, pull it out of the ground and hang it upside down indoors to dry.
There are also two serious diseases to be aware of. Branches infected with silver leaf will have a tell-tale dark stain at the centre. It's harder for the trees to resist the disease in winter, so again summer pruning is the safer option.
A spiral ristra not only looks prettier, it improves airflow around the fruits, which will help them to dry out quicker. Gloves will shield your hands from the fiery fruits, so once you're done harvesting you can whip them off and continue safely about...
Fill up a suitable-sized reservoir, adding any liquid feed you'd like to apply at the recommended rate. Two watering cans are better than one! Don't Blast Your Plants A strong spray from a hose can knock plants about or blast potting soil out of containers.
Planting Second Crop Potatoes Second-crop potatoes take about three months to reach maturity. Seed potatoes for second cropping are sold by garden suppliers and potato merchants anytime from mid to late summer.
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. For larger cooking apples you're looking for around 6-9 inches (15-23cm) between fruits.
Yes, really! In a bad outbreak a handheld vacuum can be very effective at sucking up clouds of whitefly from disturbed leaves. Each adult lays hundreds of eggs which hatch out into larvae with an insatiable appetite for whatever plant they're sat on.
Harvesting Harvest in early summer when the tops begin to fail, and the bulbs have divided into several plump bulblets. Frost tolerant Yes. Feeding Not normally required. Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and...
You can also coat the fingertips of a yellow rubber glove with petroleum jelly to make it easier to collect any beetles clustered in blossoms. Females lay eggs near the base of plants, and the larvae feed on the plants' roots.
The foliage can be gathered and composted. Troubleshooting Beware of sleepy bees when pruning or otherwise working with mature borage plants. Large plants produce edible, starry blue flowers that attract bees in droves.
Managing Outbreaks: Remove badly damaged plants, as the maggots can move from one plant to another. Dig and move perennial onions every fall. Frequently the plant will break off as you pull it from the ground.
Plants die back to the ground in winter and re-emerge in spring. Companions Echinacea, Catnip, Agastache and Dill. Troubleshooting Control valerian's spread by cutting back flowering stems before they can shed seeds in your garden.
Locate it where leaves can be conveniently picked, crushed and sniffed. Feeding Not generally required. Companions Squash, Tomato and Beans. Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
Cover the bulbs to four times their depth with loose soil. Frost tolerant Excellent. As the flowers fade in the garden, trim them off with scissors or pruning shears. Spacing Single Plants: 5" (15cm) each way (minimum) Rows: 3" (10cm) with 5" (15cm) row...
Ageratum cannot tolerate cold temperatures. In midsummer, drench plants with a liquid plant food to stimulate new growth. Troubleshooting White ageratum blossoms go brown as they age, which is not as noticeable in varieties that bloom blue.
Harvesting Pick regularly as soon as the fruits turn color but are still firm. Companions Marigold, Broccoli, Chives, Mint, Borage, Parsley, Basil, Pepper, Asparagus, Monarda, Lettuce, Garlic, Dill and Calendula.
Notes Thin seedlings to proper spacing when they are 4 inches tall. Feeding Not required. Spacing Single Plants: 7" (20cm) each way (minimum) Rows: 7" (20cm) with 11" (30cm) row gap (minimum) Sow and Plant Sow direct into soil, and cover the seeded bed...
