19Dec/110
Greenhouse Watering Tips
Watering is likely the most time consuming, but yet important task of maintaining a greenhouse. Watering too much or too little could cause you to lose the very thing you have worked so hard to grow, your crops.
What's The Best Time to Water?
Like your grass, it is always best to water in the evening or early morning. Watering during the hot daytime hours will cause burning.
Over watering your plants is also dangerous and will eventually kill your them. You must find the proper balance between too much and not enough water. As you become more experienced, you will learn the best watering cycles for your plants.
When growing plants in soil-less composites, they will dry more quickly and require more water than other plants.
The larger and older a plant is, the more water it will require when compared to a younger, immature plant. When plants begin to droop, that is a tell tale sign they are thirsty. During the dormant seasons of January and February, your plants will require less watering.
Watering By hand
Determining how much moisture is in a plant pot can be difficult, particularly if the compost is peat based. A common way to determine the moisture content is to gently press you fingers into the soil mixture. Another common method is to use a moisture indicator. Placing these devices in just a few plants will serve as a general indicator as to the over all moisture content.
Hand watering is beneficial to larger, more mature plants. It is recommended to further break the force of water from a can by wrapping a cloth around the end.
Smaller plants and seedlings must be watered with a very gentle spray. You may want to try a spray bottle for watering these types of plants.
In a personal or a small commercial greenhouse, watering by hand is still the most prevalent method used to water plants. However, more and more crops losses due to improper watering methods may force growers to change their methods.
Overhead Spraying
Watering by hand is time consuming so many growers prefer to use an automated overhead spraying system. There are many tubing designs available that make perfect overhead systems when suspended from the roof. There are one and two sided sprayers, you will need to determine which best fits your needs.
Watering Alternatives
If you can not or do not want to spend money on specially designed watering systems with reservoirs, there is an alternative.
Go to your local hardware or garden supply store and buy a lengthy piece of plastic guttering. You will also need a capillary mat. Capillary mats allow the plants to be watered from the base of the pot. Using the gutter as a reservoir, insert one end of a capillary mat. Just place you plants on the mat and make sure the gutter is always filled with water.
If you prefer, low cost drip system kits can be purchased. These kits typically come with six to eight drip valves which can be easily synchronized. A few even have adjustment capabilities.
If you can afford to, it is best to have an automated watering system. If you are a part time hobbyist, or an owner that is often pulled away for short periods of time, these systems are invaluable. Timers and sensors can be adjusted to meet your individual needs to keep your plants healthy.
By: Mike Conley
30Nov/110
Tips For Growing An Indoor Herb Garden
Growing an indoor herb garden is very easy, and it is a great way to enjoy fresh herbs whenever you need them. Herbs are great for flavoring many foods, and therefore eliminate the need for processed flavorings, which are often laden with preservatives and other food additives.
Unlike a vegetable garden, an indoor herb garden does not have to take up lot of space. Extra room on a counter that receives adequate light is a great place for the herbs to grow and flourish. Windowsills, or a basic shelf will work well for an indoor herb garden. Any window that can provide between 5 to 8 hours of sunlight each day is a great place for fresh herbs. If you do not have a window that can provide this amount of light, then you can resort to using fluorescent indoor growing lights.
Most herbs generally do not grow very tall, and therefore they do not need a whole lot of room for the roots to expand. As a result, small pots, or several herbs in a large pot work really well, which in turn helps you to save on space.
Another thing to keep in mind when it comes to pots, is to make sure that they have at least one hole from which excess fluids can drain efficiently. If the roots end up in wet soil, the herbs will not do so well. To help ensure that the roots will have a proper moisture level, you can add a small layer of gravel to the bottom of the pot, before adding the soil.
When it comes to the soil, do not use outdoor soil, as it will not work in pots. The soil needs to be light and fluffy so that it can drain easy. If the pot does not already have a saucer at the bottom, you can use an old dish, pie plate or any other saucer to help catch the excess fluids. It is important to maintain a healthy amount of moisture within the soil for optimum growth of the herbs.
Herbs will also need to be nourished on a regular basis. You can do that with compost that you can compost yourself from produce scraps. You can do that indoors or outdoors, in a moderate size container. Or, you can also purchase organic fertilizers at your local garden center for convenience.
When planting the indoor herb garden, always follow the instructions on the packet, as each type will have slightly different requirements. Most packets will also give general instructions on how to maintain the herb for best growing results.
By: Helena Reimer
26Nov/110
Indoor Herb Garden Kits Are Ideal For Learning How to Start Your Indoor Herb Garden
Growing herbs using indoor herb garden kits has many benefits especially for the beginner. Firstly it is easy to use the herbs when they are right there on your windowsill. You will have no need to visit the garden just to put that extra zing into your cooking. Also it is easy to harvest your herbs and preserve them for use at another time.
With the regulated growing conditions that you are able to give indoors, you do not have to worry that your herbs will not survive in the winter. You will be able to give your plants a fairly constant temperature and plenty of light. If you cannot put the kit on a south facing windowsill and there is not enough sunshine you could suspend a "grow light" over them.
While all indoor herb garden kits are different they mostly all are fairly small; will not take up too much space and usually fit nicely onto a windowsill or even on a radiator. Kits are ideal for apartments and any house without sufficient garden area. With a little care following the instructions your herb kit will be successful every time.
By growing herbs indoors with a complete instructional guide, you are able to take the guess work out of this hobby. Once you see your herbs growing and learn more about them you are on your way to being an expert.
All herb kits will provide some seeds and usually some sort of growing medium. This growing medium should be an organic soil less compost and usually has a mix of sand or grit in it. This provides the ideal easy draining home for your herb roots as they must not ever become waterlogged.
Some kits will contain a dome with which to cover your indoor garden; this helps to keep a constant level of humidity. If there is no dome (which is dictated by price of course) you can make a cover out of transparent plastic suspended over a wire frame- old wire coat hangers! There should also be some form of instructions in a leaflet or booklet that will provide at least a basic guide on how to get your kit started.
Some of the culinary herb kits will even provide some information on what use you can make of each different herb in the kit. As I said earlier, all kits are different and the level of content and value provided will be in direct proportion to the price. The best advice for a beginner is: decide what type of herbs, culinary of medicinal, you would like to grow, set yourself a reasonable price limit and visit a reputable garden store or garden centre. There should be trained staff there to give advice.
By: John Beaver
22Nov/110
Vegetable Garden Layout
Starting a home vegetable garden isn't as simple as picking up your tools, digging and planting some seeds. If you want to have a good harvest at the end of the season, it's important to do some careful planning before actually growing your vegetables. A vital component in your planning should be the layout for your vegetable garden.
Your vegetable garden layout should comprise garden location, plant selection and a planting plan.
Firstly, for your garden location, find the sunniest and brightest spot in the whole yard. Try to avoid areas that are under the shade, as most vegetables need at least 5 hours of direct sunlight a day. If you have limited space or do not have a bright, sunny spot in the yard, then you can grow some vegetables in containers on a sunny patio or deck.
The other thing to prepare in your garden is the soil. Be sure to add generous amounts of organic humus to your soil. Compost, peat moss, well rotted manure or processed manure are all good forms of organic humus. Try to avoid using fresh manure in the summer as some tend to burn and the gases of a few can actually stunt the growth of vegetables. Mix the organic humus thoroughly with your existing soil. This also applies to any topsoil you buy to add to your existing soil; be certain to add organic humus to it too.
Secondly, look into plant selection. If you are growing vegetables for your family, it is obvious that you would choose those which your family likes to eat. In selecting the vegetables, you should consider space limitations, climate and other factors that may inhibit the growth of the vegetables you want to include in your garden. Also, consider the individual needs of the vegetables. For instance, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, onions and peas can only be grown in temperatures ranging from 10 to 20 degrees Celsius. Cabbage, carrots, celery, lettuce and radish on the other hand can only survive if they are grown between 15 to 25 degrees Celsius. Anything higher or lower than that will damage the harvest.
If you are wondering how many vegetables to grow for the average family of four, here is a general outline of a few of the most popular ones:
Asparagus : 30 to 40 plants
Beans : a row 15 to 25 feet long
Beets : a row 10 to 15 feet long
Broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cabbage : 10 to 15 plants each
Carrots : a row 20 to 30 feet long
Corn : a row 20 to30 feet long
Lettuce : a row 10 to 15 feet long
Peas : a row 30 to 40 feet long
Pumpkins or Squash : 1 to 3 plants Radishes a row 4 feet long
Rhubarb : 1 to 3 plants
Spinach : a row 10 to 20 feet long
Tomatoes : 10 to 15 plants
The last step in vegetable garden layout is the planting plan. This step requires you to make a diagram containing the kinds of vegetables to be planted, the distance between plots and the time of planting. You can also put in the dates to remind you of the necessary tasks.
For the Northern hemisphere, tall crops such as peas, beans and corn, should be planted on the north side of the vegetable garden so that they will not shade the rest of the vegetable crops. In the center of the vegetable garden area, plant the medium sized crops such as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, tomatoes, squash, pumpkins and other mediums sized crops. Then at the very southern end of the garden is where the low growing crops like radishes, carrots, beets, lettuce, onions and other low growing ones are planted.
If you are in the Southern hemisphere, everything will be reversed.
Whenever possible, the rows in the vegetable garden should run north to south (for the Northern hemisphere) for best sun exposure and air circulation. If the rows run east and west the first row tends to shade the second row, the second row the third and so forth. That's why north to south is better.
Proper planning in your vegetable garden layout helps to ensure a better harvest every time.
By: Francis King
20Nov/110
Indoor Herb Growing Kits
Growing herbs indoors means you will have an all-year-round supply of fresh herbs.
So no matter what the weather is like outside, frost, snow, torrential rain, your indoor herb garden will continuously and happily provide you with fresh herbs ready for when you want them.
And the easiest way to start your indoor herb garden is with readily available herb growing kits.
Herb growing kits are an easy and inexpensive way to start your indoor herb garden.
There are many different types of growing kits available from a simple plastic pot with a packet of herb seeds to over the top kits with self watering, heating and misting functions which also include compost and several different packets of seeds.
But the most common type come with about three ceramic pots, enough compost and three different types of seed. Many come with a stand for the pots and all will have basic instructions.
These are the best type of herb growing kits for getting started.
They are real easy to use and will reliably produce good edible herbs for use in your cooking and food flavouring.
Once you have sown your seeds and they have germinated, usually within around seven days or so, there is very little you need to do.
Just keep them somewhere with good light, a windowsill that receives plenty of sun is ideal, and keep them well watered and give them a fortnightly feed with a soluble plant fertilizer and they will grow away happily just waiting for you to harvest them.
There's lots of herbs you can easily grow indoors,
Thyme
Dill
Tarragon
Basil
Rosemary
Chives
Mint
Parsley
Marjoram
Oreganobr
Sage
Fennel
Borrage
All of these will grow well indoors and they are all ideal for flavouring your food and adding to your cooking.
By: Chris Cangialosi
19Nov/110
Finishing Touches of the Indoor Bulb Garden
Moss or colored stones can be added over the surface of the growing medium at the time of planting or once the bulbs have started to shoot, to give the bowl that final finishing touch. Ordinary lawn mosses makes a soft, green topping, but, if you want a more vibrant color, choose some dyed reindeer moss, which is obtainable from florists. Gravel or horticultural grit give a natural finish, but for a more colorful display that perhaps tones in with your indoor decorations use colored stones, such as those sold for fish tanks, as a more exciting alternatives.
A thin layer scattered on the surface of the compost soil mix will make a neat addition, especially while you wait for the bulbs to flower. To give bulbs that are being brought into flower for Christmas or the New Year festivities a seasonal look, you might like to add nuts or fir cones or even decorate pots with silver painted walnuts or glittery fleece.
Starry wire decoration, glass droplets and gift wrappings tape are all possible extras. Look around your cupboards, there is sure to be something you can use. Another possible decorative addition is candles, which will add atmosphere to any dark winter's night and can even make the container pretty long before all the flowers open.
Fit them into a simple candle holder with a plastic spike on the end as these are readily available from florists and gently push them into the compost. Never leave lit candles unattended. An alternative approach is to use crushed horticultural grit with some of your favorite shells arranged on top. Plain beech twigs provide useful supports for floppy freesia foliage. Put them round the edge of the pot.
By: Farah N
15Nov/110
Tips For Growing Herbs Both Outdoors And In An Indoor Herb Garden
Growing herbs in your garden can be a great way to get fresh herbs for cooking or medicinal purposes. In many cases you can grow them right in with your other flowers, or keep them in containers so that you can bring them inside in the winter months for a bountiful indoor herb garden.
Herbs can be perennials or biennials so you need to plant them with this in mind. You wouldn't want to put your biennials in the back row knowing that you might have to trample over some perennials to get to them and replant. Since herbs can be decorative as well as useful, pay particular attention to how tall they are and what they look like when they flower so that you can incorporate them into your garden accordingly.
One thing to keep in mind when growing herbs is that they like a sandy, well drained soil that has a neutral PH. An interesting thing to note is that a very fertile soil is not recommended for herbs since this will encourage excess leaf growth which will reduce the flavor of the plant. Organic matter is great for herbs so consider adding some compost or peat moss to your soil.
One interesting thing about herb plants is that most pests tend to avoid them and they are not highly susceptible to diseases either, so a herb garden can be rather easy to maintain.
Harvesting herbs at the right time will insure that you get them when they are their most flavorful and potent. For most herbs this is shortly before the flowers are to bloom (except for mints which are most flavorful when in full bloom). You want to pick the third sunny day in a row and be sure to harvest in the morning right after the dew has evaporated.
While growing herbs outdoors will yield you the most productive plants, you can still have a great indoor herb garden as long as you have a window with plenty of sunlight and good well drained soil. You should put them in a southerly facing window and you might consider supplementing the light with a grow light in the winter months. Be sure your pots allow for plenty of drainage and never leave your herb plants to sit in a saucer of water. When summer comes, consider placing your herbs outdoors so they can flourish.
Whether you are growing herbs outdoors or want an indoor herb garden on your kitchen windowsill, trying your hand at herb gardening can be a fun way to get great plants, enjoy a relaxing hobby and add some spice to your cooking!
By: Lee Dobbins
9Sep/110
Planning Your Garden For Next Year
In order to have your garden ready for next year, sometimes it is wise to plan it out after you have completed the clean-up and removal of all the debris from this year's garden. Once you have removed all the dead seasonal vegetables and flowers, now is the time to take notes and draw diagrams.
Early planning of your garden will help in the overall planting for next year and with a diagram you can prevent damage to plants that are still dormant before you begin preparing the soil in the spring. It is a good idea to make a few notes as to what was where and what did best in certain areas of the garden. This will help you to determine whether or not you should change the location of some of your garden flowers and vegetables.
Any plants that did not fare well can be placed somewhere else when you start planting. Write reminders to yourself as to which vegetables did not do well and over the winter months you will have the opportunity to bone up on your reading and see what can be done to improve your gardening skills as well as your crop.
Adding organic composts such as manure and soil amendments such as dried blood and bone meal to your garden soil now, will give the soil time to absorb all their healthy ingredients and have it rich with nutrients when you begin to plant next spring. Topping off the soil with mulch or compost and allowing it to over-winter will also aid in next year's garden planning.
If you plant spring bulbs, now is the time, plan out an array of colors, sizes and varieties of daffodils, tulips, crocus and other early blooming flowers for a garden of beautiful color when spring comes.
Spring and summer gardening plans are easy when you have all winter to sit and imagine how you want your garden to look.
By: Eudora DeWynter
12Aug/110
How to Build Your Commercial Greenhouse
The success and productivity of running a greenhouse depend mainly on the kind of growing materials used. Since there are a number of designs to choose from, it is important that you familiarize yourself with the pros and cons of these designs. You should also choose plants suitable for the design of your greenhouse.
Kinds of Greenhouses
A detached or free-standing greenhouse is generally an independent structure a few meters away from your house. However, it can be joined by building walkways. The advantage is that you can build it as large or as small as you want.
The most common detached greenhouse for commercial use is the Quonset. This greenhouse is built using arched rafters that usually have solid end walls for additional support. Quonset greenhouses are suitable for the production of most crops but due to their limited head room and storage area, plant growth may be restricted, hence diminishing productivity and efficiency.
Ridge greenhouses are usually attached through a shared gutter. The absence of an inside wall below the gutter is an advantage as it increases efficiency. Gabled greenhouses are perfect for heavy coverings such as glass or fiberglass. Curved arch greenhouses are usually covered with much lighter substances such as polyethylene or polycarbonates. Connected ridge greenhouses are often referred to as range.
Planning
To ensure that your commercial greenhouse will be profitable, some of the factors to consider are proper area selection in relation to markets, utilities, labor, as well as future plans for expansion. You should plan the following:
Type of crops you will be growing (herbs, flowers, perennials, orchids, vegetables, potted plants, and others)
o Growing period of the crops (are they seasonal or year-round?)
o Plants that will be grown (to allocate the space and prepare the soil or pots)
o Growing medium (soil, no soil, mix, nutrient solution, compost, fertilizer)
o Growing methods (flooring, beds and flood, growing bags)
o Annual productivity
o Marketing strategy (wholesale, retail, or both)
o Capital or investment
Here are other things to consider when building a commercial greenhouse:
1. Space. The area needed mainly depends on the type of business you are planning to get into, whether retail, wholesale, or both. Two acres is the suggested minimum space for a commercial greenhouse. Make way for parking space for your customers and employees, delivery, storage area, and future expansion plans.
2. Zoning. It is advisable to consult your zoning officer about your plans to set up a commercial greenhouse. There are certain cities that require a permit for building a greenhouse to ensure safety and the welfare of the community.
3. Highway access. For retail businesses, a location near or along a high-traffic road or near a residential site can greatly increase business. Wholesale business needs access to some interstate highway to deal with heavy road traffic.
4. Environment. Select a clean location, one that is away from industrial pollution like factories
5. Climate. Avoid areas with extreme temperatures. Some plants may be sensitive to extreme sunlight or extreme cold weather.
6. Slope. Aim for a ground slope to provide water drainage that is vital for your greenhouse. Greenhouses must be situated on gravel base, 6 to 12 inches above grade.
7. Water. Plants need sufficient humidity for optimal development and the highest production of flowers and crops. Test water that comes from natural resources. They are known to have impurities that may be harmful for your crops.
8. Electricity. Ensure that your commercial greenhouse will have enough supply of electricity. As early as in the designing stage of the greenhouse, call on your area's electricity provider regarding power availability. Also call on your electrician to help design the electrical layout.
9. Expansion. All throughout the development and planning stage, factors must be considered for later expansion plans.
Note that before setting up your greenhouse business, careful research should be made. You will be learning new things as you go along with this business venture.
By: Thea Tan
22Jul/110
Potted Herb Garden – Tips For Indoor Herb Gardening
The potted herb garden is essentially the only way to do indoor herb gardening. There are a few essential elements needed for any garden, but for an indoor garden it is especially important to make sure these three key needs for the plants are met. The key for healthy plants is to have a rich healthy soil and adequate amounts of water and sunlight.
Generally speaking, there are three soil types. Soil that doesn't hold water, but it drains away, which is considered a sandy soil, clay like soil, which retains water and is very slow to drain away, and some combination of these two. Since you'll be creating your own soil mixture for a potted herb garden, you will want to create a balance between sandy and clay soils. You want just enough water retention, but also good drainage.
One of the best ways to make this kind of soil is to mix a peat type soil with vermiculite and compost. The peat is for water retention, the vermiculite is for drainage, and the compost adds nutrients. A basic rule of thumb is to mix equal parts of each together.
Once you have your plants established in their new potted home with good soil, keeping them watered is important. With a little research, you should know how much water each herb you are growing requires. Some take more water and others less. You will want to watch your plants and adjust the amount of water you use up or down based on herb type, over all plant appearance, and by feeling the soil. One tendency for new gardeners is to want to over water. The more you know about your plant choices and the more observant you are, the better your results will be.
The last main consideration is sunlight. You will want to utilize south facing windows to gain the most sun exposure year round. If you can't provide your plants with enough sunlight, you will want to supplement with the use of florescent lights. To do this, you will need to use daylight bulbs, keeping in mind to look for 6500k on the label. You will want to have a minimum of 100 watt output as well.
The size and shape of the bulbs will be determined by the location, size and layout of your potted herb garden, but if you make sure to get equal to 100 watt or more and have 6500k daylight, you should be okay. You may find that once you have success, if you have the room to keep more plants, you might venture into growing fruits and vegetables too.
By: Sandi Baine