Eudora DeWynter asked:




Have you ever wanted to know what it would be like to walk right outside your door and pick a nice fresh tomato? Have you ever wanted to grow your own vegetables but simply don’t have the space? Can container vegetable gardening be the answer? Container gardening is fast becoming more and more popular since many vegetables will grow just as well in a confined area.

Depending upon what you plan to plant your containers should be large enough to allow for root spreading and growth. Oversized wooden tubs and half barrels are the most popular because they make excellent garden containers. Planters made of plastic, metal or clay should always be checked for proper drainage holes.

Before setting your containers in place and filling them, make sure that what you are planting will be getting enough sunlight. Seed packets and plant stakes will usually tell you how much sunlight the plant will need. Once this is done you are ready to plant. Soil mixture for your containers should be filled with what’s called a soil-less mixture. It can be purchased a your local garden center or nursery, simply tell them its for a container garden, Plant your vegetables according to package directions or follow the plant labels. To encourage healthy plant growth do not over crowd your plants in the container.

Watering will be extremely important because pots won’t hold water like garden soil does. A fan type sprayer connected to the water hose or a old fashioned watering can are good for watering. Keep your vegetable plants weeded, watered and fed making sure that you check for signs of diseases or insect infestation.

Remember as with any garden proper nutrients will control the rate at which your plants will grow and produce. Not only is container gardening a perfect alternative to full gardening because of a lack of space or immobility, but it can also be a variation to your backyard.

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Tracy Ballisager asked:




One of the greatest pastimes that leads to the most satisfaction for a person who has a yard is spring vegetable gardening. Vegetable gardening is quite possibly one of the world’s most wholesome pastimes. Whether you’d love to grow your own salad, or just plant a few herbs to spice up your pasta, spring vegetable gardening is the hobby for you.

The first step to taking up gardening as a hobby is finding out whether or not you have a yard or flower bed you can plant vegetables in. If you do, you are ready to decide what you would like to plant. Deciding what you want to plant is simply getting an idea of what type of vegetables grow well in your climate and region, and then plotting out how much space would be required.

Once you know what you would like to plant, the next step towards successful vegetable gardening is plotting out the area you would like to turn into a garden. This should account for the different growing patterns of each vegetable you intend on planting. Then decide on the spot you want to turn into a garden, go to your local garden supply and buy a pick, a trowel, and a rake. Also, look for seeds for the particular plants you have in mind. It is also a good time to buy peat moss or potters soil if your dirt isn’t particularly rich. Also, look for a bit of general fertilizer, something that is balanced should suffice for beginners.

Now that you have the supplies you will need, start picking! The key is to turn and loosen up the soil so that it will have plenty of air incorporated so the seedlings can root themselves in easier. After you pick the soil and it looks relatively soft and fluffy to a depth of at least 6 inches, you should incorporate the potter’s soil with the rake to make the area raised just a bit above the surrounding soil. Do not be afraid to sweat. When spring gardening comes around, it is time to get that valuable exercise your heart and body has been begging for all winter.

When the soil is ready, you can begin plotting the seed spots and plant the seeds. Plant the seeds in groups of 3 per hole. When you plant them, you allow them to grow into seedlings and then leave the strongest one after a couple of weeks. This insures you will have a stronger, hardier crop. After you plant the seeds, it is time for patience and careful weeding. Everyday, you should carefully pull up any weeds that are beginning to pop up. If you are careful, you will be able to stay ahead of weeds.

It is a good idea to water seedlings everyday until they sprout. Depending on your climate and soil type, you can cut back on watering once the seedlings take hold.

Spring vegetable gardening is a great way to spend your mornings and evenings before and after work. It will help you relieve stress and will give you a sense of tranquility and accomplishment that is offered by few other past times. If you begin spring vegetable gardening this year, I can guarantee it will become one of your most memorable and fulfilling habit

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Mohammad Samsulanam asked:




Indoor vegetable gardening can be very challenging for us, but there are numerous things to think about before starting.

First: Preparing enough light.

Plants which are grown indoor require amount of light enough to grow strongly and to produce a crop. It does not matter so much for general house plants if we want the plant to survive only, but if we aim to grow a plant for its vegetable crop, it will need more light.

For smaller plants, a large sunny window ledge is good. A room or a conservatory where its windows reach the floor seems better because we can use the floor space for plants.

Second: Choosing the plants

For indoor vegetable gardening project, choosing the plants is the most important thing.

One of plants which can grow well indoors is tomatoes, because they grow upward to get a lot of sun and they do not need much space. It will be better put them right in the window. And for it we can prepare a trellis to stand in container to support them.

Besides tomatoes, herbs also make good indoor plants. They like well drained soil so too much water can cause fungal growth. Do not forget give them enough supply of fresh air because they like it too. Most herbs will grow well in pots on a sunny windowsill. Some of them, such as rosemary, mint and thyme parsley, can handle less sunlight.

In most cases, root vegetables do not grow well indoors because they need a bigger
depth of soil and it is not easy to provide them in a home. But, it does not matter for someone who has a conservatory with large containers in it.

Third: Gardening caring

Another thing we must do for indoor gardening is treating pests. If we grow plants from seed maybe we do not have a major pest problem but it will be different if we buy grown plants. If so, we must be aware of the pests that target different plants, such as red spider mite for tomatoes, and check that they have not infested any plant in the store where you will buy plants. But, it is not enough to check the plant you plan to buy because there could be eggs on it.

We must check house plants for pests too before starting. It will be useless buying the perfect vegetable plants but putting it right next to something that has an aphid infestation in house plants. Use spray indoor plants to eliminate it or plant garlic with tomatoes to deter red spider mite.

If we want to have an intensive growing method that allows us to fully control the water, nutrients and light for our plant, hydroponics is an excellent solution for indoor vegetable gardening. Hydroponic equipment does not have to be very expensive. For lighting we can use grow lights or augment natural light and simple starter kits are also available for indoor vegetable gardening beginners.

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asked:




Successful vegetable gardening involves far more than just popping a few seeds into the ground and waiting for a tomato to appear. I’ll briefly cover the basics of vegetable garden design, but you might also want to get some gardening books.

Planning your garden is one of the most important parts of vegetable gardening, and it’s quite simple. Whether it’s a vegetable garden, a flowerbed, indoor houseplants, or some combination, successful gardening requires planning, patience, and a little detective work. Whatever you do, do not choose garden soil, no matter how rich it might be, for indoor vegetable gardening! No matter what gardening zone your garden is located in there are catalogues with myriad variety of vegetables. Use these vegetable gardening tips to prepare your garden and keep your home full of fresh vegetables. Preparing your garden soil for planting is the most physically demanding part of vegetable gardening and may also be the most important part.

The patios and balconies of apartment buildings and condominiums often have good exposure for container vegetable gardening. Container gardening makes it possible to position the vegetables in areas where they can receive the best possible growing conditions. Container gardening can provide you with fresh vegetables as well as recreation and exercise. Although vegetable production will be limited by the number and the size of the containers, this form of gardening can be rewarding. Soilless mixes such as a peat-lite mix are generally too light for container vegetable gardening, since they usually will not support plant roots sufficiently. MEDIA A fairly lightweight potting mix is needed for container vegetable gardening. Soil Conditions The right type of soil for the right type of plant is key to successful vegetable gardening. Clay and sandy soils must be modified for successful vegetable gardening. Proper fertilization is another important key to successful vegetable gardening.

Buy seeds, seed starting kits and gardening supplies for vegetable gardens. If you are new to gardening, starting vegetables from seed may be too huge an undertaking, instead purchase plants. Practice crop rotation in your vegetable gardening by planting tomatoes and other vegetables in a different spot every year. Mulches can be used effectively in all types of gardening situations from vegetable gardens to flower gardens and even around trees and shrubs. I know an eyebrow or two might be raised at the suggestion of indoor vegetable gardening, but it can be done, within limits.

Added to the pleasure of gardening will be satisfaction derived from relishing vegetables freshly picked from your very own plot. Learning is a process, vegetable gardening needs time. As in so many other pursuits, so it is in the art of vegetable gardening: practice does make perfect.

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Carlos Montenegro asked:




Organic farming is the trend these days because it is cheap and it is environment friendly. Before you get started, you need to get some organic vegetable gardening supplies from your local store.

These supplies consist of different things. Soil is perhaps the most important given that this is where you will plant your vegetables. Before you prepare the land or put in the seeds, you have to check its condition.

Since you are not sure about its pH level, you should get some compost first and put it there as it neutralizes it if this is too high as well as provide a range of nutrients to prepare the soil for cultivation.

Some people don’t buy compost but make it themselves. For that, you can use weeds, dead leaves, vegetable and meat waste products and manure. This is because they are biodegradable and at the same time, cuts down the amount of garbage that is dumped in landfills.

When the soil is ready, you will then get the seeds. Before you throw them in, make sure that they will be able to survive your existing environment. For that, you should do some research online or talk to the sales clerk at the store before you buy them.

If you don’t want to buy seeds, you can also buy vegetables that are already growing. When you select them, be sure to check the leaves so you avoid getting those that are already discolored or wilted.

Pests are the biggest threats among farmers and gardeners. For that, you can use other insects, birds, ladybugs, praying mantis’ and the toad. Another is the use of horticultural oils that break down quickly and pose little toxicity to humans or pets.

Weeds are another problem. For that, you will have to put on your gardening gloves, get on your knees and start pulling them from the ground. It is also possible to spray the area with horticultural vinegar or corn meal gluten granules that prevents weeds from germinating and releases nitrogen into the soil.

Keep in mind that this should be applied during early spring or fall when most weeds come out.Another non-toxic chemical you can use to combat weeds are fish or seaweed based liquid based fertilizers. These also release nitrogen, phosphate and potash that is good for your crops.

For people who don’t have a backyard, you can still do organic farming by buying pots. Ideally, you should use those made out of clay, plastic or wood. You just have to water them often since they need more water being in here than out in the garden.

Having all the organic gardening supplies ready will make it easy for you to plant your crops and harvest them so you are ready to rotate this with another variant. If there is more than 1 gardening store where you live, perhaps you should compare their prices first before buying them.

Should there be some items that are not available, try looking for them online because you can probably get a few good deals here as well as some tips and advice.

There is truly no other way to garden other than organic vegetable gardening that saves you both money and makes sure what you eat is chemical free. So go ahead and experience the difference.

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Kum Martin asked:




Vegetables that are available at commercial stores are not good for health. Due to unrestrained use of pesticides, these harmful chemicals get accumulated in these vegetables and can pose significant health risks in humans over a period of time. Apart from this, most vegetables are priced too high and are ridiculously expensive. An effective solution for these problems is to create your own vegetable garden. Anybody can create a vegetable garden within the house using the available resources and space.

Below are certain tips that one can follow during the initial period of developing a vegetable garden.

1. A vegetable garden would be better utilized if it is situated near the kitchen. Sunlight should be available to plants for at least 6 hours a day.

2. One can start the garden from the stage of seeds. You need to know the requirement of each plant before starting to grow them. It is very important to soak the seeds in water overnight before keeping them in pots to germinate. However, seeds of broccoli, cabbage and arugula germinate even if they are not pre-soaked.

3. Soil-less mixture or organic manure can be used in pots at the time of sowing seeds. Organic manure soaks water and retains moisture in a better way. Rather than sowing seeds, you can also start from the stage of planting seedlings that have been purchased from a registered nursery or garden center. While selecting seedlings at a nursery, you should look for those that are grown in large pots, have a strong root system and are with healthy leaves. Vegetables like cucumbers, pumpkin and ornamental gourds work better if planted from the seedling stage.

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Tom B Johnson asked:




The first step to starting a new vegetable garden is to map out your garden. Simply draw up an approximate plan of where you’d like everything to go, keeping as close to scale as possible. Make sure you take into account paths and such.

Next, you need to decide which vegetables you wish to grow. Make a list of everything you’d like to grow, and then narrow the list down to those that you can easily get locally. For example, exotic lettuces may be expensive and hard to find, and tomatoes from grocery stores usually taste terrible.

Don’t go to the trouble of drawing a plan and then ignoring it – follow it! Once you’ve roughed out your beds, it’s time to work out where your various plants go so that you keep any problems to a minimum as your crop matures. This is the reason a map is so important.

Put a lot of thought into your vegetable plants requirements. You need to know you’re planting your chosen vegetables in the best position for maximum growth. For example, learn which ones tolerate shade and which ones require full sun.

If space is a problem, here’s one simple way to fully utilize the area you’re able to use. This method is widely used in France. As an example, if you have carrots and spinach on your list you simply mix together a packet of each.

Then you’d make a 1/2 inch deep furrow in a row and sow the mixture of the two seeds into that furrow and cover. The spinach will grow quickly and open up the soil so the carrot seeds can germinate better.

In about four weeks, you can start to harvest some spinach to thin it, making room for the slower growing carrots. By the time the carrots start to reach maturity, the spinach will be completely used up, and the carrots will have plenty of room to grow.

This method can successfully be used for many different types of vegetables. Radishes can be planted well with lettuce or parsley, for example. The French will often sow early radish varieties with lettuce and turnips all at the same time.

The radishes are harvested first and are finished by the time your lettuce are ready. In a similar manner, the turnips will only be starting to mature as the last of the lettuce are harvested. All your taller growing vegetables should be planted on the north side of your vegetable garden if your rows are in a east-west direction.You do this so that your shorter plants aren’t in the shade from the shadows of the taller ones.

In the average home vegetable garden, the tallest plant is usually corn. Make sure you plant this so that it doesn’t overshadow your shorter plants and cause them to lack sufficient sunshine.

Of course the reverse of this can be useful if you’re wanting to grow vegetables that prefer dappled sunlight or shade. You can be imaginative and make use of larger plants to shade these smaller ones. A case in point would be to grow a tall row of peas or beans to provide shade for a cool climate vegetable like spinach.

This could help you grow shade-loving vegetables in your garden, even if you don’t have any shady spots available. By being creative with placement, you might be able to grow vegetables you never thought you’d be able to grow in your location!

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Moses Wright asked:




Having a vegetable garden also means that you will need to be on top of the situation – when it comes to checking and ensuring that your vegetables are disease free. It is an ongoing process to keep the fruits of your labor free from potential threats. Here are a few tips you can use.

With any type of gardening, it all begins with good soil preparation and choosing the right seeds. Also try to select the healthiest looking plants when transplanting. Immediate removal of diseased plants will protect your other vegetables as well.

Proper watering practices will help as well. You should give the plants moisture early to allow them time to dry before the sun sets. It would be helpful to your vegetables to water them with care. If a plant is diseased, and water splashes from it to another plant, it could spread that disease. Think about how a cold is spread from a sneezing person to someone else. Ensuring that there is proper distance between vegetables can help with this.

Diseases are transferable between plants. Some are spread by insects, so controlling them will aid you in disease control. Other animals, as well as humans can spread harmful diseases among your plants as well. Tobacco mosaic virus is an example and it is transmitted through animals that venture through your vegetable plot or even from contact with your garden gloves.

Keeping weeds under control will also reduce the risk of disease. It makes your garden look nicer while keeping it healthy. Different types of microbes can be transferred from the weeds to your vegetable plot. They are also transferable via other medium such as air, water and living organisms like bugs.

Knowing which diseases to look for on certain plants will give you a head start.

When you notice that there is a damp, rotting spot at the base of the lettuce where it meets the ground, that is lettuce mold. The white mold is called Sclerotinia, and the gray is Botrytis. Remove the affected areas, or if it’s too bad, take out the entire plant.

Lettuce is also susceptible to the spinach mosaic virus. They begin by showing blotchy leaves that yellow over time. The plant will begin to take on a wilted appearance. Some varieties are more resistant to this disease than others, so keep that in mind.

Wilting or rotting of asparagus may be caused by something called Fusarium. The shoots start to yellow and the spears that appear look think and weak. Discolored and rotted roots may also show up. Remove the affected plants as necessary. The Puccinia fungus will cause another problem with asparagus called rust. This problem will result in reddish spots appearing on the shoots and spears. Excess watering is sometimes the cause of this.

Tomatoes are commonly susceptible to blight and leaf spots, as well as others. Especially in cool summers, these diseases will usually show up by mid August. Tomatoes are affected by soil fungi. The roots of walnut trees sometimes carry a toxin that is potentially dangerous to nearby tomatoes. Making sure the leaves are dry before nightfall will help reduce this.

Being aware of the signs and symptoms and methods to steer clear of such troubles can allow you to produce beautiful vegetables come harvest time.

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Dave Truman asked:




Everyone knows there are many benefits from having your own garden. Feeling a sense of pride as you watch the fruits (or vegetables, as the case may be) of your labor begin to flourish is just one of them. And your garden doesn’t ever have to be boring or the same year after year. Discover five vegetable garden ideas that will give you something creative to try for your next planting.

Plant a pizza garden
Vegetable gardening with a theme can be great fun for all ages. A theme garden is the perfect way to get the kids outside enjoying nature. Involving them will provide a sense of responsibility as well as accomplishment as harvest time draws near. Plus, it’s a great way to get them to eat more veggies! For a pizza garden, plant foods such as tomatoes, green peppers, jalapenos, onions and a host of herbs and seasonings like basil, oregano and thyme. Other theme ideas to try are stir-fry or salsa gardens.

Ornamental vegetable gardening
Many people use vibrant flowers and shrubs to brighten and beautify their outdoor spaces. By using vegetables for this same purpose, you’ll not only have the curb appeal, you’ll reap the rewards of having your own supply of produce! Using a variety of delicious veggies, you can achieve colorful patterns and designs, line walkways and driveways and plant them just as you would flowers.

Rainbow garden
Vegetable gardening is also ideal for artistically expressing yourself in a unique way. If you have a favorite, signature color or perhaps even three or four, consider planting based on these colors. This is an easy way to try new things while creating an appealing garden retreat. Mix hues that you might never use when decorating indoors and experiment with an array of color combinations. Why grow ordinary green peppers when you can choose from crimsons, oranges, yellows or even violet? You may be surprised at the assortment of colors produced by some of the most common vegetables. Eggplant, tomatoes, beans, even beets all can be wonderful additions to your rainbow garden since they all can be grown in several shades and hues. Planting purple beans and white carrots surrounded by pink tomatoes create a lovely display that’s as pleasing to the eye as it is the palate.

Organic gardening can be healthier as well as cheaper
Avoiding the use of chemicals and commercially produced fertilizers and pesticides are a way to achieve better tasting vegetables. Without these unsavory additions, you’ll notice the freshness and enjoy food the way nature intended. Organic gardening isn’t as difficult as some may think. In fact, it’s relatively simple to grow a healthy, bountiful crop. There are several reasonably priced products available today as well as a plethora of homemade concoctions to try without spending a fortune.

A garden of green
Perhaps colors and themes are of no interest to you, maybe it’s profiting from your garden that’s more important. In that case, decide on what would thrive best based on the amount of space, soil, lighting and drainage conditions of your garden. You could offer the usual fare of vegetables or you could specialize in certain types, ones that may be harder to find in the grocery stores.

The size or type of your crop doesn’t matter quite as much as the care and dedication it needs to make it plentiful. So, decide on a plan and use one of these ideas to liven up your outdoor space and make it truly your own.

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Milos Pesic asked:




Gardens are not only planted to beautify a place. They are also made to provide people with food. Such is the purpose of a vegetable garden.

Many people plant vegetable gardens because vegetables are easy to grow. In fact, 6 out of 10 gardeners grow vegetables. However, to maximize the production of the crops, a gardener needs to do proper vegetable garden landscaping.

Good vegetable garden landscaping starts with placing the garden in an area where the plants could get 6 to 10 hours of sunshine in a day.

Next, check the soil to make sure it is in good condition. But this cannot be done just by looking at the soil. Instead, a sample should be sent to an agricultural extension agent in the area for testing. Soil tests are cheap around $4 to $6. The results will help the gardener determine what should be added to the soil to grow healthy crops.

If the soil is of average quality, a gardener can enrich it by adding compost. Compost materials are decayed leftovers from leaves, vegetables and other organic compounds.

Leveling the soil is also essential in vegetable garden landscaping. Leveling will prevent the soil from forming low areas where water would pool.

The garden is now ready for planting. Plant arrangement is important here. Perennial vegetables, like asparagus, should be planted separately from annual ones. When planting annual vegetables, a trench should be made in the soil. Once done, the vegetables should be watered gently.

Basically, the vegetable garden is complete. Soon, however, insects will come to prey on the young plants. To protect them from these insects, a wall of cardboard must be placed around the plants. Although this destroys the aesthetic beauty of the garden, it is nonetheless essential for protection. When the plants are mature enough, the cardboard wall could be removed.

Effective vegetable garden landscaping allows crops to grow healthy. However, the garden still needs to be tended once in a while. Aside from watering the plants regularly, a layer of straw mulch should be sprinkled over the soil. Straw mulch evens out the soil temperature and reduces moisture loss. It also reduces the presence of weeds and lessens the need for the gardener to water the plants often.

The success of a vegetable garden starts with the basics. With these simple things in mind, the gardener can be sure of a good harvest.

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