If you have children and can introduce them to gardening, and in particular the growing vegetables side, you may well be lucky enough to engender a lifetime interest.  The vegetable-averse youngster is likely to suddenly become interested in eating his/her own produce.  A benefit all round – no more nagging at mealtimes and their health will improve.

The author’s lifetime interest comes from a small patch of garden, allocated at school to first year pupils, leading to her taking over her parent’s garden with amazing results; eventually on to running a small-holding.  Who was it that said – great oaks from little acorns grow?

Children will need to be introduced to quick growing, spectacular plants, and the marrow family is one of the best for this purpose.  Children will need to give their marrow/courgette plants plenty of water.  When you cook the marrow, stuff it with something tasty such as sausage meat.

Another favourite with children is runner beans.  These are again spectacular – Jack-in-the-Beanstalk effect and taste delicious when small and eaten direct from the plant.  Tomatoes are also a favourite.  Pumpkins are another spectacular plant that is also bound to appeal.

Gardening is not the No.1 British past-time, but certainly way up towards the top of the list and comes with many side benefits.

Doubtless we inherited the need to work with the soil from our very early ancestors when it was necessary to produce food to sustain the family and supplement the game, etc., that they were able to catch or trap.

Along the centuries this occupation has evolved.  The Victorians were past masters at gardening.  They invented many of the items that are still in use today, cloches, rhubarb forcers, magnificent glass-houses, cold frames etc. and they probably initiated hot dung clamps where items such as marrows, pumpkins and melons etc., were grown.

Today, more than ever and mainly from necessity people are returning to growing food.  People have re-discovered the pleasure of eating freshly grown vegetables and fruit that has not been raised with the use of a mass of chemicals and has not travelled many hundreds of miles before reaching their plates.  Therefore, fresher and tastier.

This keenness is bolstered by the fact that gardening can only be done ‘out-of-doors’ and away from the television and game consoles, all very definite advantages.  The exception being the armchair gardener in bad winter weather studying seed catalogues for the coming spring planting season.

A lot of this new found interest has been kindled by the TV chefs who now almost nightly appear in our living rooms. Vegetable gardening has three over-riding advantages – the food is fresh, is very cheap and is tasty.

In towns, many people are so very keen to grow their own veg that they will even put their window boxes to good use for gardening.com/r/hydroponicgarden” style=”" target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow” onmouseover=”self.status=’http://www.veryeasygardening.com/r/hydroponicgarden’;return true;” onmouseout=”self.status=””>growing herbs and a few salad vegetables. Large pots on their balconies in order to increase their growing area.  Those who are able rent out local council allotments and in many borough there is a waiting list for these.  Unfortunately, some councils have succumbed to the lure of big money and sold old allotment sites to developers for additional housing.

If you are lucky enough to rent an allotment, there will doubtless be some old-timers already established on their plots, who have been growing vegetables since the year dot, who will normally be very pleased to give advice and the know how of their expertise and experience.  Then there is the additional advantage of swapping surplus crops.  Many group allotments become their own community centres, with everyone helping each other in all manner of ways.  Some are even so well organised that they purchase tools, fertilizers, seeds etc., and pass them on to their members at minimal costs.  What better than to be out in the fresh-air with your family and a good group of friends?

The demand for allotments is now increasing and if you cannot find an allotment to rent, don’t despair.  Do you have any neighbours who are perhaps not as agile as they used to be, but own a large garden?  Why not offer to cultivate part of their garden to grow vegetables offering them 50% of your crop free in return for use of their space?  This way you will make new friends who will be very grateful to you for your work and kindness and you will have your freshly grown vegetables.  A good way of bartering which will have other spin-offs.

This is another way of giving an unintended lesson in life to your children.  Let them see that as well as growing vegetables for your own family you can also help others at the same time.

Another aspect of gardening to be considered is the money-saving side and so very important these days.  So save money- eat well, keep fit.  Three for the price of one.

Traderdog
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/how-to-give-children-another-interest-and-make-them-love-eating-vegetables-751083.html

If you have children and can introduce them to gardening, and in particular the growing vegetables side, you may well be lucky enough to engender a lifetime interest.  The vegetable-averse youngster is likely to suddenly become interested in eating his/her own produce.  A benefit all round – no more nagging at mealtimes and their health will improve.

The author’s lifetime interest comes from a small patch of garden, allocated at school to first year pupils, leading to her taking over her parent’s garden with amazing results; eventually on to running a small-holding.  Who was it that said – great oaks from little acorns grow?

Children will need to be introduced to quick growing, spectacular plants, and the marrow family is one of the best for this purpose.  Children will need to give their marrow/courgette plants plenty of water.  When you cook the marrow, stuff it with something tasty such as sausage meat.

Another favourite with children is runner beans.  These are again spectacular – Jack-in-the-Beanstalk effect and taste delicious when small and eaten direct from the plant.  Tomatoes are also a favourite.  Pumpkins are another spectacular plant that is also bound to appeal.

Gardening is not the No.1 British past-time, but certainly way up towards the top of the list and comes with many side benefits.

Doubtless we inherited the need to work with the soil from our very early ancestors when it was necessary to produce food to sustain the family and supplement the game, etc., that they were able to catch or trap.

Along the centuries this occupation has evolved.  The Victorians were past masters at gardening.  They invented many of the items that are still in use today, cloches, rhubarb forcers, magnificent glass-houses, cold frames etc. and they probably initiated hot dung clamps where items such as marrows, pumpkins and melons etc., were grown.

Today, more than ever and mainly from necessity people are returning to growing food.  People have re-discovered the pleasure of eating freshly grown vegetables and fruit that has not been raised with the use of a mass of chemicals and has not travelled many hundreds of miles before reaching their plates.  Therefore, fresher and tastier.

This keenness is bolstered by the fact that gardening can only be done ‘out-of-doors’ and away from the television and game consoles, all very definite advantages.  The exception being the armchair gardener in bad winter weather studying seed catalogues for the coming spring planting season.

A lot of this new found interest has been kindled by the TV chefs who now almost nightly appear in our living rooms. Vegetable gardening has three over-riding advantages – the food is fresh, is very cheap and is tasty.

In towns, many people are so very keen to grow their own veg that they will even put their window boxes to good use for growing herbs and a few salad vegetables. Large pots on their balconies in order to increase their growing area.  Those who are able rent out local council allotments and in many borough there is a waiting list for these.  Unfortunately, some councils have succumbed to the lure of big money and sold old allotment sites to developers for additional housing.

If you are lucky enough to rent an allotment, there will doubtless be some old-timers already established on their plots, who have been growing vegetables since the year dot, who will normally be very pleased to give advice and the know how of their expertise and experience.  Then there is the additional advantage of swapping surplus crops.  Many group allotments become their own community centres, with everyone helping each other in all manner of ways.  Some are even so well organised that they purchase tools, fertilizers, seeds etc., and pass them on to their members at minimal costs.  What better than to be out in the fresh-air with your family and a good group of friends?

The demand for allotments is now increasing and if you cannot find an allotment to rent, don’t despair.  Do you have any neighbours who are perhaps not as agile as they used to be, but own a large garden?  Why not offer to cultivate part of their garden to grow vegetables offering them 50% of your crop free in return for use of their space?  This way you will make new friends who will be very grateful to you for your work and kindness and you will have your freshly grown vegetables.  A good way of bartering which will have other spin-offs.

This is another way of giving an unintended lesson in life to your children.  Let them see that as well as growing vegetables for your own family you can also help others at the same time.

Another aspect of gardening to be considered is the money-saving side and so very important these days.  So save money- eat well, keep fit.  Three for the price of one.

Traderdog
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/how-to-give-children-another-interest-and-make-them-love-eating-vegetables-751083.html

Give the same plants to several people, you will see several arrangements. Each one distinct and different, yet, using the same plants.
This is the ultimate reward of gardening- a means to express, to create with the help and inspiration from the gifts of Nature. Gardening is not just physically and aesthetically rewarding.It enriches the spirit. It awakens ones creativity that lies dormant from neglect, or lack of motivation, or a popular excuse, not enough time.

Gardening is fast becoming a popular hobby of the times. From the tropics , to the frigid climes, gardening centers are offering more choices to tantalize even the most conservative taste.

Each year, gardeners look forward with excitement to their gardening; a hobby they take passionately. What new plants are being introduced? What variety of surprises awaits them? The ornamental gardener will be glorious with the new plants or hybrids for the present growing season. The vegetable/herb gardener looks forward with anticipation at harvest time.

With so much variety to choose from, what factors determine which plants to buy? After considering the soil, weather, sun/shade location factors, the choice is all about self- expression.

No two gardens are alike, given the same set of plants. Colors are as revealing as the plants. A conservative gardener will opt for traditional plants. At times, you see the same plants, the same arrangements year after year. Aha!! Perhaps the gardener does not adapt to change too quickly. It may be lack of time, or change of physical health.

Vibrant colors in the garden reflect a vibrant gardener. A garden bursting with colors is very attractive and pleasing to look at. It is inviting.

What about passion? They say red is a color of passion, of energy and courage. Add white to the reds, and the garden beckons the passer-by to take a look. Someone said this combination looks like a candy cane.

My gardening.com/r/freeorganicgarden” style=”" target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow” onmouseover=”self.status=’http://www.veryeasygardening.com/r/freeorganicgarden’;return true;” onmouseout=”self.status=””>garden is overcome by burst of yellows and orange, not really by choice. Somehow, it gives out a golden glow as the blooms bask in the sun. It reflects my enthusiasm for life. Many of my plants are gifts from friends, treasures for my garden. Yellow flowers remind me of my mother.

Purples and blues in the garden are colors of reflection, of peace and calm. Add white flowers to this and it invites a meditative mood.

After colors, the arrangements of the plants reveal something of the person. I have a friend whose flowerbeds are symmetrical, weedless, picture- perfect, right out of a magazine. Indeed, this expresses her organized way of thinking and living.

A gardener who loves to re-arrange the plants and loves to add new plants and ornaments shows an enthusiastic and energetic spirit, ready to welcome change, eager to experiment.

What about an overgrown garden? Perhaps it reflects someone with scattered energies, at times, a full plate, or one who does not have the time or energy to tend the garden. It may well show one who starts with a burst of enthusiasm that wanes quickly after the planting is done.

No matter how you plan your garden, it is a creative tool that allows you to express yourself. Gardening is therapeutic,physically, mentally and spiritually.

Happy gardening. Don’t forget to talk to your plants.

John Pawlett
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/gardeningan-expression-92880.html

Give the same plants to several people, you will see several arrangements. Each one distinct and different, yet, using the same plants.
This is the ultimate reward of gardening- a means to express, to create with the help and inspiration from the gifts of Nature. Gardening is not just physically and aesthetically rewarding.It enriches the spirit. It awakens ones creativity that lies dormant from neglect, or lack of motivation, or a popular excuse, not enough time.

Gardening is fast becoming a popular hobby of the times. From the tropics , to the frigid climes, gardening centers are offering more choices to tantalize even the most conservative taste.

Each year, gardeners look forward with excitement to their gardening; a hobby they take passionately. What new plants are being introduced? What variety of surprises awaits them? The ornamental gardener will be glorious with the new plants or hybrids for the present growing season. The vegetable/herb gardener looks forward with anticipation at harvest time.

With so much variety to choose from, what factors determine which plants to buy? After considering the soil, weather, sun/shade location factors, the choice is all about self- expression.

No two gardens are alike, given the same set of plants. Colors are as revealing as the plants. A conservative gardener will opt for traditional plants. At times, you see the same plants, the same arrangements year after year. Aha!! Perhaps the gardener does not adapt to change too quickly. It may be lack of time, or change of physical health.

Vibrant colors in the garden reflect a vibrant gardener. A garden bursting with colors is very attractive and pleasing to look at. It is inviting.

What about passion? They say red is a color of passion, of energy and courage. Add white to the reds, and the garden beckons the passer-by to take a look. Someone said this combination looks like a candy cane.

My garden is overcome by burst of yellows and orange, not really by choice. Somehow, it gives out a golden glow as the blooms bask in the sun. It reflects my enthusiasm for life. Many of my plants are gifts from friends, treasures for my garden. Yellow flowers remind me of my mother.

Purples and blues in the garden are colors of reflection, of peace and calm. Add white flowers to this and it invites a meditative mood.

After colors, the arrangements of the plants reveal something of the person. I have a friend whose flowerbeds are symmetrical, weedless, picture- perfect, right out of a magazine. Indeed, this expresses her organized way of thinking and living.

A gardener who loves to re-arrange the plants and loves to add new plants and ornaments shows an enthusiastic and energetic spirit, ready to welcome change, eager to experiment.

What about an overgrown garden? Perhaps it reflects someone with scattered energies, at times, a full plate, or one who does not have the time or energy to tend the garden. It may well show one who starts with a burst of enthusiasm that wanes quickly after the planting is done.

No matter how you plan your garden, it is a creative tool that allows you to express yourself. Gardening is therapeutic,physically, mentally and spiritually.

Happy gardening. Don’t forget to talk to your plants.

John Pawlett
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/gardeningan-expression-92880.html

These days with large sites hard to come by and allotments much in demand, old gardeners or gardening junkies are no longer the sole exponents of GIY. No, many new entrants are young professionals, nature enthusiasts, people who are genuinely interested in getting closer to nature or reducing their dependency on mass market produce. Whilst others are experimenting by growing their own vegetables, almost like self sufficent micro farmers or even environmentalists, taking positive steps to reduce carbon footprint or better still growing for their own organic consumption and self satisfaction. Not surprising therefore to read in Press reports that the sale of vegetable seed has overtaken the sale of flower seed.

So if you are a potential GIYer and do intend starting a programme or project of growing your own vegetables, you might be interested in the following advice . So whether your motivation is to reduce air miles or taste organic food, there are some important points to consider when planning to start a vegetable garden.

Does size matter? No – not really, whether you have a pot, an old kitchen sink, a window sill or a sprawling site, growing your own vegetables is not only easy and exciting, it is also very rewarding.

Location – unless of course you enjoy longer walks through your garden, for practical reasons, the vegetable plot or kitchen garden should ideally be positioned nearer the house.
More importantly best to choose a position which permits the vegetable plot to enjoy a sunny aspect for much of the day. Although some vegetable produce will tolerate some shade (for example lettuce, runner beans etc), most won’t, so pick the site very carefully, pick a sunny and a sheltered position, avoid exposed windy sites. Other site aspects worth considering include picking a site where the prevailing ground conditions are level and free draining. Finally do bear in mind that good soil conditions will also be required, whether you prepare the ground by digging or mix in new soil or soil conditioners, most vegetables will require a growing depth of at least 300mm.

What to grow? Some might have favourites, some might stick with old reliable:
• Potatoes are good, and probably one of the easiest to grow, they are also great at breaking down heavy soils. But do remember to give them plenty of water.
• Leeks – easy to grow from seed and young leek tastes wonderful
• Broad beans – very tasty when young but are very easy to grow
• Sweetcorn – harvest when tassels are brown and boil in salted water
• Radishes – many different varieties to choose from, but an ideal and fast growing crop from which to teach the children GIY
• Runner Beans – quick growing, plentiful and pick and with lots of pick’n’grow fun

Deciding on the Layout – is important especially where space might be limited. For example you can grow some varieties at ground level whilst others such as French and Runner Beans can be trained to grow very effectively up trellising or bamboo canes. In larger sites, plan a series of long narrow beds which are easily accessible from both sides, but do remember to leave plenty of space between the growing beds, for example you should be able to move along pathways between beds with a wheelbarrow or more importantly if you like to get down on your hand and knees and get dirty, you’ll need at least 900mm – 1200mm spacing between the beds. Growing beds can be ground level on larger sites or raised on smaller sites or where soil conditions are poor. Raised beds can be developed using soil from other sites and mixing with compost, manures, soil conditioners etc. Also because they are raised you can ensure that drainage is good. As stated earlier, most vegetables prefer to grow in sunny areas, therefore it make sense to orientate beds on a north south axis, this ensures that all vegetable get sun each day. Be generous on spacing between beds, and consider a surface material so that all weather access is possible.

Ground Preparation – the better the soil, the better the performance, it is not impossible to provide good growing conditions. Vegetables require nutrients, water and oxygen. Soil plays a vital role in providing nutrients to plants. So it is important to prepare ground by digging to improve plants take up of nutrients. Alternatively if ground conditions are poor, you can use raised beds to provide better growing conditions for plants. In contrast to the ‘dig system’ the concept of using Raised Beds is sometimes referred to as the ‘No dig system’. Raised beds can be constructed from a variety of boards/timbers, recycled pallet boards, railway sleepers, pressure treated new sleepers, builder’s scaffolding boards all being popular choices.

Using crop rotation wisely – rotating the planting and growing of vegetables yields many benefits in terms of efficiency, bounty and disease/pest control. For example, Broccoli grows well in soils containing good levels of nitrogen, on the other hand, beans put nitrogen into the soil. Potatoes with the large canopy of foliage are very effective at suppressing weeds, whereas onions grow particularly very well in weed free soils. So from a crop rotational perspective, one would plant beans before of broccoli and potatoes before of onions.

Starting a rotation cycle – you should plan for at least three years, meaning the same vegetable will grow in the same spot every third year. However if you wish to also grow potatoes, better to use a four year rotation. The RHS has a very simple way to remember where each vegetable comes within the cycle: British Rail Late, where:

B = brassicas (cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, kale, turnips etc) was
R = roots (beetroot, parsnips, carrots)
L = legumes (peas, Broad bean, French bean, Runner bean, onions, garlic, chives)

How it works in practice is in area 1, you plant brassicas first year, roots in second year and legumes in third year. In area 2, you plant roots first year, legumes second year and brassicas third year. In area 3, you gardening.com/r/myorganicfoodgarden” style=”" target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow” onmouseover=”self.status=’http://www.veryeasygardening.com/r/myorganicfoodgarden’;return true;” onmouseout=”self.status=””>plant legumes first followed by brassicas and roots.

Maintenance – providing you have done good ground preparation, maintenance of the area shouldn’t be much more than adding a good fertiliser (Fish Bone & Blood) before planting or manure in Autumn. Watering is important especially during the early vulnerable stage, again bets done early in morning or late in evening and always check to make sure water is getting down to plant roots. Weed regularly to avoid unwanted competition for nutrients and water.

If at first you don’t succeed – try again. Sometimes it is only as a result of trial and error that you will discover what grows best for you in your area and conditions. Don’t be afraid to ask other local gardeners for tips or advice with particular problems, most of all, have fun in growing your own vegetables and join the burgeoning legion of GIY enthusiasts..

For more information, visit: http://www.owenchubblandscapers.com/news/entry/grow-it-yourself-where-to-start/

Owen Chubb
http://www.articlesbase.com/self-help-articles/planning-on-growing-your-own-vegetables-where-to-start-646310.html

These days with large sites hard to come by and allotments much in demand, old gardeners or gardening junkies are no longer the sole exponents of GIY. No, many new entrants are young professionals, nature enthusiasts, people who are genuinely interested in getting closer to nature or reducing their dependency on mass market produce. Whilst others are experimenting by growing their own vegetables, almost like self sufficent micro farmers or even environmentalists, taking positive steps to reduce carbon footprint or better still growing for their own organic consumption and self satisfaction. Not surprising therefore to read in Press reports that the sale of vegetable seed has overtaken the sale of flower seed.

So if you are a potential GIYer and do intend starting a programme or project of growing your own vegetables, you might be interested in the following advice . So whether your motivation is to reduce air miles or taste organic food, there are some important points to consider when planning to start a vegetable garden.

Does size matter? No – not really, whether you have a pot, an old kitchen sink, a window sill or a sprawling site, growing your own vegetables is not only easy and exciting, it is also very rewarding.

Location – unless of course you enjoy longer walks through your garden, for practical reasons, the vegetable plot or kitchen garden should ideally be positioned nearer the house.
More importantly best to choose a position which permits the vegetable plot to enjoy a sunny aspect for much of the day. Although some vegetable produce will tolerate some shade (for example lettuce, runner beans etc), most won’t, so pick the site very carefully, pick a sunny and a sheltered position, avoid exposed windy sites. Other site aspects worth considering include picking a site where the prevailing ground conditions are level and free draining. Finally do bear in mind that good soil conditions will also be required, whether you prepare the ground by digging or mix in new soil or soil conditioners, most vegetables will require a growing depth of at least 300mm.

What to grow? Some might have favourites, some might stick with old reliable:
• Potatoes are good, and probably one of the easiest to grow, they are also great at breaking down heavy soils. But do remember to give them plenty of water.
• Leeks – easy to grow from seed and young leek tastes wonderful
• Broad beans – very tasty when young but are very easy to grow
• Sweetcorn – harvest when tassels are brown and boil in salted water
• Radishes – many different varieties to choose from, but an ideal and fast growing crop from which to teach the children GIY
• Runner Beans – quick growing, plentiful and pick and with lots of pick’n’grow fun

Deciding on the Layout – is important especially where space might be limited. For example you can grow some varieties at ground level whilst others such as French and Runner Beans can be trained to grow very effectively up trellising or bamboo canes. In larger sites, plan a series of long narrow beds which are easily accessible from both sides, but do remember to leave plenty of space between the growing beds, for example you should be able to move along pathways between beds with a wheelbarrow or more importantly if you like to get down on your hand and knees and get dirty, you’ll need at least 900mm – 1200mm spacing between the beds. Growing beds can be ground level on larger sites or raised on smaller sites or where soil conditions are poor. Raised beds can be developed using soil from other sites and mixing with compost, manures, soil conditioners etc. Also because they are raised you can ensure that drainage is good. As stated earlier, most vegetables prefer to grow in sunny areas, therefore it make sense to orientate beds on a north south axis, this ensures that all vegetable get sun each day. Be generous on spacing between beds, and consider a surface material so that all weather access is possible.

Ground Preparation – the better the soil, the better the performance, it is not impossible to provide good growing conditions. Vegetables require nutrients, water and oxygen. Soil plays a vital role in providing nutrients to plants. So it is important to prepare ground by digging to improve plants take up of nutrients. Alternatively if ground conditions are poor, you can use raised beds to provide better growing conditions for plants. In contrast to the ‘dig system’ the concept of using Raised Beds is sometimes referred to as the ‘No dig system’. Raised beds can be constructed from a variety of boards/timbers, recycled pallet boards, railway sleepers, pressure treated new sleepers, builder’s scaffolding boards all being popular choices.

Using crop rotation wisely – rotating the planting and growing of vegetables yields many benefits in terms of efficiency, bounty and disease/pest control. For example, Broccoli grows well in soils containing good levels of nitrogen, on the other hand, beans put nitrogen into the soil. Potatoes with the large canopy of foliage are very effective at suppressing weeds, whereas onions grow particularly very well in weed free soils. So from a crop rotational perspective, one would plant beans before of broccoli and potatoes before of onions.

Starting a rotation cycle – you should plan for at least three years, meaning the same vegetable will grow in the same spot every third year. However if you wish to also grow potatoes, better to use a four year rotation. The RHS has a very simple way to remember where each vegetable comes within the cycle: British Rail Late, where:

B = brassicas (cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, kale, turnips etc) was
R = roots (beetroot, parsnips, carrots)
L = legumes (peas, Broad bean, French bean, Runner bean, onions, garlic, chives)

How it works in practice is in area 1, you plant brassicas first year, roots in second year and legumes in third year. In area 2, you plant roots first year, legumes second year and brassicas third year. In area 3, you plant legumes first followed by brassicas and roots.

Maintenance – providing you have done good ground preparation, maintenance of the area shouldn’t be much more than adding a good fertiliser (Fish Bone & Blood) before planting or manure in Autumn. Watering is important especially during the early vulnerable stage, again bets done early in morning or late in evening and always check to make sure water is getting down to plant roots. Weed regularly to avoid unwanted competition for nutrients and water.

If at first you don’t succeed – try again. Sometimes it is only as a result of trial and error that you will discover what grows best for you in your area and conditions. Don’t be afraid to ask other local gardeners for tips or advice with particular problems, most of all, have fun in growing your own vegetables and join the burgeoning legion of GIY enthusiasts..

For more information, visit: http://www.owenchubblandscapers.com/news/entry/grow-it-yourself-where-to-start/

Owen Chubb
http://www.articlesbase.com/self-help-articles/planning-on-growing-your-own-vegetables-where-to-start-646310.html

Do you have clay or layer of hard subsoil problems in your
garden? Then gypsum may be the answer to help loosen the soil
structure. It is not considered a miracle substance and you will
find that it doesn’t work right away, but a 3 year program of
applications should help improve the poor soil conditions. It is
not expensive and is easy to spread where needed.

Gypsum also has a job of repairing the soil that has been
damaged through compaction from heavy stock, machinery, in the
recovery of sub-soils exposed by earth movement and in soils
affected by salinity.

A gardener faces one of the biggest problems in a new or
established garden if they have a clay or layer of hard subsoil
type of soil. This type of soil creates poor drainage, soggy
soil and soil compaction.

When you have a new garden you can work organic humus, which
should be done anyway, to loosen the poor soil. Manure, compost,
peat moss and soil mulches and conditioners are normally used
for this purpose.

You might ask, what do you do in an established garden? A lot of
work and time to recondition soil would be required. Gypsum may
be just the answer for reconditioning the soil, because it can
be spread on the surface of the soil like in the vegetable
gardening.com/r/freeorganicgarden” style=”" target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow” onmouseover=”self.status=’http://www.veryeasygardening.com/r/freeorganicgarden’;return true;” onmouseout=”self.status=””>garden, flowerbeds or on the lawn. What this means is it does
not have to be worked into the soil, it can just simply be
spread on the surface.

What does Gypsum do? It’s main purpose is to penetrate the many
clay particles in heavy or the layer of hard subsoil type soils
and loosen the soil structure. Then this creates air and
moisture slots that will loosen and break-up the soil structure.

Be aware that gypsum does not contain any major plant nutrients,
so continue a regular fertilizing program even though it
contains calcium and sulfur which is needed for plant growth. In
addition, continue to put out organic humus as you plant.

Gypsum is easy to apply! Just spread it on the lawn, using the
granular type, with a lawn spreader at the rate of 40 pounds per
thousand square feet. Gypsum fertilizer can be spread any time
of the year and only one application per year is needed. To get
it started working, water immediately after applying. If applied
properly it does not affect the pH of the soil, not harmful to
humans and your animals and will not burn. And because Gypsum is
neutral and will not change the soil pH, you can use it in
places where plants like Azaleas, Camellias, Rhododendrons and
other acid loving plants grow, they need a little calcium too.
Of course, gypsum should be applied per directions.

What is gypsum? Hydrous calcium sulfate Calcium Sulfate – CaSO4
Another Name: Gypsite

James Ellison
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/here-is-why-you-should-use-gypsum-in-gardening-1490.html

Tomatoes are in my opinion the best fruit vegetable there is. Cherry tomatoes with their sweet and tangy taste can be eaten whole. As they are small in size you can just pop them in your mouth. Tomatoes give salads a dash of red color. Pasta and pizza are made even tastier with fresh tomato sauce poured over them. And these are just some of the benefits you will get from tomato gardening.

While tomatoes come in many different shapes, sizes and colors there are actually only two varieties of tomatoes. One is the Determinates and the other is the Indeterminates. Determinate tomatoes grow on vines that stop growing at a certain point. These tomato plants are small and compact vines that produce fruits early in the growing season. Determinates tomatoes plants can be grown in containers or even in small spaces.

The best way to grow Determinates is to space them out about 1 to 2 feet apart. The tomato rows need to have a distance of 4 feet between them. With determinate tomato gardening if you wish to plant any other vegetables near the tomatoes, then you will need to keep some additional space around those tomato rows.

Indeterminates tomatoes on the other hand continue growing. They need support in the form of cages or trellises. The distance that you should keep between the cages is about 3 feet. Once the Indeterminate tomatoes have caught on to the trellis or their cage, you will need to train them to climb the supporting frame. Sometimes it will be necessary to tie the vines to the frame stakes so that the whole tomato plant does not fall over due to its own weight.

You can start your tomato gardening with seeds or starter plants brought from nurseries. The best new tomato gardening.com/r/myorganicfoodgarden’;return true;” onmouseout=”self.status=””>plants are those without any yellow speckling on their leaves. The other thing to check is to make sure that your plant roots are not coming out of the containers bottom. The root’s growth can tell if your plant will grow successfully or if it will be stressed out and produce a poor harvest. For the best growth to be made, a good vegetable gardening tip is to see that your soil is a rich, sandy loam type of soil.

The best time to start tomato gardening is when all of the other trees in your garden are fully in leaf. By this time the season will be warm and your acclimatized tomato plants will receive about 8 hours or more of life giving sunlight. The roots of the tomatoes should be fully embedded within their soil bed. This lets the tomato receive all the nutrients that it can from the soil.

With tomato gardening you need to keep an eye on the weather. Hot sunny days might be great for you, but they mean that your tomato plants will need regular watering at least once a week. Other than this you can sit back and relax. Once your tomatoes are fully ripe, just pluck them off the vines and enjoy your fresh tomatoes.

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Not everybody is blessed with a house and garden plot or lives in the country with access to farming land, so the option for a garden leave alone a kitchen garden, is a fairly remote one. But, if you put on your thinking cap, you can have a fresh and economical option of growing your own veggies in the privacy of your home – by using cost-effective gardening containers for growing vegetables from seeds and seedlings bought from the local nursery or even ordered from a mail-order or online catalogue.

For those that live in flats and hostels, the need to grow their own vegetables may be limited due to space constraints, but the readily available gardening containers in many different sizes and materials make having a kitchen garden less of a dream and more of a possibility for people with the smallest budget. There are also a variety of indoor gardening plants and vegetables you can bring for your home cooking needs, which only require a few hours of sunlight that they can have access to while hung in the balcony or even in your window-sill planter box. These include herbs, peppers, bush beans, salad greens, bush and cherry tomatoes and baby carrots.

Of course, depending on the vegetable variety you do purchase and the size they grow to, you will need to purchase a planter pot that is ready for holding the full-sized plant, so choose with care. For example, tomatoes are grown one per pot while a big size pot can hold 3-4 pepper plants besides basil herb around it in small quantity. This is typical of 5 gallon pots.

Other containers you can use for your gardening needs include tubs, buckets and barrels cut in half (distillery ones) ranging from 5 to 15 liters. However, you need to keep in mind that if you are also intending to plant herbs in addition to the vegetables in the pots, you need to ascertain that the ones you buy are at least 10 inches in diameter so spring onions, for example, planted in the pot, also hold space for rosemary or thyme.

You need to also invest in a drainage tray (even plastic ones will do) that will allow for proper leaching from time to time so the pots get enough water, sunlight and there is a measure for extra water to leak out too. Do remember to line the bottom of the pot with some pieces of rocks or broken crockery besides a few layers of newspaper before putting in potting soil to prevent the fine soil from seeping out from the drainage holes.

Use well-rotted compost, adequate potting soil till an inch or two below the rim, water plants regularly and also give plant food twice as often as outdoor plants would need as dehydration occurs more rapidly for indoor plants.

Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/gardening-containers-grow-vegetables-at-home-economically-753688.html

Defective tools have many disadvantages. Apart from damaging your plants, they can lead to bad back or blisters. This can be avoided by selecting the best gardening equipment suited for your kind of gardening. It should have the right quantity of power in order to be highly energy efficient and to do the required job causing you a minimal amount of strain.

The gardening experts gave a review of the following gardening equipments:

Garden Shredders

The model JCB SS2400 got a full 5 star rating from recommendedbuys.co.uk’s gardening equipment reviewers. The main features include a motor of power capacity 2400 watts and a noiseless gear crushing system. JCB SS2400 is definitely one of the most promising tools for improving and hastening your shredding.

Ryobi ESR-2240 Electric Shredder is a garden shredder that is very easy to assemble and can be used for pruning up to 40mm.The additional features include plunger and built-in wheels for increasing the portability.

Hedge Trimmer

Recommendedbuys.co.uk gave a 5 star rating to trimming equipment, Bosch AHS42-16. This trimmer has an output power capacity of 420 watts.

Cultivator

Mantis Tiller Cultivator is providing with patented lines to help in easily cutting through hard and compacted soil. This tool is ideal for preparing vegetable plots and gardening.com/r/greenhousemoney” style=”" target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow” onmouseover=”self.status=’http://www.veryeasygardening.com/r/greenhousemoney’;return true;” onmouseout=”self.status=””>flower beds, to name a few. It can also be used for cleaning moss, aerating and thatching. A border edger is provided along with this tool for free.

Lawnmowers

Brill 78370 Luxus Reel Mower received a commendable 4.5 stars from reviewers at Tools-hills.com. It is provided with a big cover at the top that protects overhanging flowers and shrubs.

American Lawnmower Deluxe Light Reel Mower 1815-16 also got a 4.5 star rating from customers of Epinions.com. Being a pushmower, it hardly causes any pollution but cannot be used for tall grass.

Leaf Sweepers

Agri-fab 26 Push Leaf Sweeper is used for small lawns and is provided with a collector of 200 liters capacity, along with the feature of infinite height adjustment.

Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/modern-tools-for-gardening-an-overview-of-4-of-them-753728.html