Wildlife Gardening - Green Gardening Guide » Vegetable Garden

Organic growing for perfect veg

Alan — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:34:20 +0000

If you’re buying organic produce in the supermarket, it can be difficult to know exactly how organic the farming methods have been. However, if you have your own garden at home, you can easily control everything that goes into the soil and consequently into your produce – and that includes pesticides.

Organic food still needs protection from pests and disease, but how can the green gardener achieve this without pumping their precious home-made vegetables full of damaging chemicals? Even so-called “organic” pesticides that can be bought in supermarkets and garden centres actually contain some questionable ingredients, if you examine the labelling.

This means there is only one answer if you are determined to be 100% organic and that is to create your own organic pesticide. It’s actually a lot easier than it sounds; no qualifications in chemistry or household laboratory are needed in order to protect your produce from insects. Most of the ingredients can be found in the average kitchen and take just a few minutes to prepare.

The first method is to make a kind of soap which can be sprayed onto the plants, driving bugs away without damaging the produce itself. Once you’ve made a batch it will keep in the shed for several weeks, allowing you to top up when necessary.

The first step is to mix two spoonfuls of dish detergent and a couple of drops of olive oil into a gallon of warm water. Insects such as earwigs, aphids, mites and caterpillars can’t stand the soap in the spray, and the olive oil keeps the whole mixture a bit sticky, so it doesn’t just drip off the leaves and onto the floor. Once you’ve poured the mixture into a spray bottle, give your garden a good soaking and keep it handy in case you spot any more unwanted visitors.

An alternative organic pesticide is to make your own garlic spray. As you can imagine, many of the common pests in British gardens are put off by the strong smell of garlic, but as a natural ingredient it won’t harm your plants. This takes a little more preparation than the soap, the first step being to cut and crush several garlic bulbs. Add them to a container with a couple of spoonfuls of mineral oil and leave the whole mixture to soak for 24 hours before adding tap water and fish emulsion.

Again, the finished product can be added to plastic spray bottles and used liberally, all over your organic and environmentally friendly garden.

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Planting a vegetable garden

Alan — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:47:59 +0000

There are a great many good reasons for having one’s own vegetable garden, not least the immense pleasure of biting into a sun-ripened tomato just plucked from the vine. People plant gardens because they are concerned about harmful additives in mass-produced vegetables and fruits, or the cost of store-bought herbs and other produce, or just because they get great satisfaction from the whole gardening experience – or all of the above.

You don’t need a great deal of space to plant a garden, but you will have to take it into account when deciding what and how much to plant. Some plants need more room than others; get some basic information about the specific vegetable or herb you’re fond of and make sure you have enough space for it to thrive. Be aware of insect and other pests, and fend them off with organic sprays or physical barriers as appropriate.

Food plants also need at least six hours of direct sunlight every day. Check your layout to insure that walls, trees or hedges don’t block the sun for those crucial hours. Your plants need plenty of fresh air circulating through them, but not a strong wind. If you live in a windy region you can find a variety of windbreak fencing and it’s a good investment. Good drainage is also important; soil that stays soggy most of the time will rot your vegetables in the ground.

Your garden requires maintenance, which includes watering if nature doesn’t provide at least an inch per week. Any soil will benefit from enrichment with organic fertilisers, so if you are composting you’re ahead of the game already. If the soil in your particular area is nutrient-poor you can improve it dramatically with help from your own compost or a large variety of ready-made products on the market.

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Bringing the kids into the vegetable patch

Alan — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:38:26 +0000

Growing your own vegetables and fruit is a good way to spend more time in the great outdoors. This can also be a great way for children to have an interest in gardening which can be an educational and fun experience for them. In this article we are going to look at key ways to get into growing your own food.

Even if you don’t have a garden it is possible to grow some food. There are pots and beds that can be used indoors and you can grow a surprising range of food in them. Once you have found a place to grow your food it is important to look at a calendar and decide when it is best to plant the different vegetables.

This information is often available on the seed packets but if you can’t find it then there are plenty of resources online. If you don’t want to spend money on buying seeds it is also possible to use the seeds from foods that you have eaten.

It’s important to remember that once you have planted up your garden that you will have to continually take care of it. In winter less maintenance is generally needed as there is regular rain but in the summer it is often too dry so make sure your plants get enough water so that they can thrive.

Children generally prefer growing fruit or vegetables because afterwards they can be made into a meal. Once your greens have been growing it can be a good idea to encourage your child to cook them with you as cooking is another very beneficial hobby. To give children an idea of how recycling works it can be also be very useful to recycle the waste that you have produced from cooking the meal as compost.

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Organic gardening is simple but effective

Alan — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 09:00:43 +0000

Organic gardening is a way of making your food look and taste very different. It is also a way of growing fruits and vegetables that does not involve herbicides or pesticides. Growing your own organic vegetables can be a rewarding experience and you will enjoy the great taste and also the satisfaction that comes from growing without artificial chemicals.

A great way to have an effective organic garden is to do something called companion planting. This is where many different types of vegetables are grown in the same plot as together they can have a beneficial effect on each other. If you plant them together in the right way you will find that the plants are able to deter certain pests and even improve the quality of the soil.

You can see why planting crops together in the same location is a good idea, as it happens in nature. If you go to any location where nature has been left to take its course then you will find that there are many types of plants growing together. They are not separated in the way they are when crops are farmed – by separating crops you increase the need for chemical fertilizers.

Having wildlife present in your garden is important if you are gardening organically because the animals will help to keep insects such as caterpillars from eating your plants. As well as having a practical element, sitting in a garden full of wildlife such as birds, is a real pleasure.

Just because you are gardening organically doesn’t mean that you have to give your garden over to nature and allow overgrowth to make it look ‘natural.’ You can still take good care of your garden and keep it looking neat and tidy. Organic gardening is great, but if it meant we had to have wild gardens many people would be rather off put by it.

One problem that people think of when they consider organic gardening is the problem of slugs. The pellets that kill them off are not organic and many people fear that if they stop using them all their greenery is going to be eaten by the pests. There are alternatives to slug pellets though; if you take a jam jar that has been partly filled with beer and sink it into the soil it will be a great attraction to slugs instead of your plants.

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Quick Guide to Cottage Gardening

admin — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 09:49:14 +0000

The humble cottage is the quintessential aspect of the great British countryside, often set in rolling green fields and sporting breath-taking views. It’s no wonder why so many people flock from the hustle and bustle of the city to the peaceful serenity of the quiet countryside.

If you’re lucky enough to own a cottage, you are in the perfect position to let it out to guest, perhaps using a company such as Rent My Cottage and Property to manage the financial aspects.

However, often cottages need a good amount of maintenance, from interior décor to tending the garden. It’s the latter that will create the first impression your guests see when they look at the property, so arguably it’s the most important part.

Creating a great cottage garden isn’t like maintaining a suburban lawn. There is an old-fashioned grandeur that the traditional cottage garden boasts and it’s important that you use this aesthetic to your advantage.

The first, and most important point is, to not clutter the garden with anything and everything you can find in the garden centre. Select a few features and run with them.

If you want a garden that’s brimming with life, then you should use wildflowers. You can create a herbaceous border, consisting of biennial or perennials. You could also create a chalk bank where a range of delicate wildflowers can grow, which will not only look lovely, but the habitat is really easy to reproduce.

Really the flowers you think of when you think ‘traditional cottages’ are roses, so plant a range of wild roses for some amazing colour through all seasons.

Rockeries are great additions to any cottage garden and you can plant flowers that have adapted to these dry habitats.

If you really want to get the wildlife coming to your garden, a pond is an excellent addition and there are some amazing wild flowers that grow in ponds.

Finish off your garden with climbers, hanging baskets and patio tubs before stepping back to admire your beautiful garden. It may be hard work, but it’s well worth it in the end.

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Gardeners are becoming greener

Alan — Sun, 15 May 2011 06:22:16 +0000

More and more gardeners are becoming concerned with gardening practices that not only will help beautify the area also in way to help make it more environmentally friendly. If though certain habits are hard to break a concerted effort put forth to not garden with any chemicals is one of the best things a gardener can do to go green. There are also a few other ways to you can be eco-friendly in your garden.

A great deal of harm that gardeners are causing the environment is by overusing or misusing herbicides and pesticides. There are alternatives so instead of looking to use chemicals there are many more eco friendly options to eliminate weeds and pests.

For example if you do hand weeding before they get too big than you can try and maintain control and not have to use chemicals to kill them. By laying out a thick amount of mulch you can also eliminate the number of weeds and their seeds from germinating again.

One alternative to chemical sprays is using vinegar. But you need the vinegar that is at least 20% ascetic acid since regular household vinegar is only 5% not making it strong enough to do what you need. There are also organic herbicides there are now on the market that work quite well.

Pests are difficult creatures to get rid of and not fun when they are around. A number of them do not harm the garden but the ones that do, need to be eradicated. The Japanese beetle for example comes to mind and need to be eliminated since they can do a lot of harm quickly.

If you are able to hand pick them out and put them into soapy water that helps a lot if the infestation is not too big. Traps are also helpful but you need to have a great deal of space in order to place the traps away from the garden otherwise it is like an open invitation to the beetle. There are sprays like Rotenone and pyrethrum that are now made of natural ingredients and will help with beetles and other pests.

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London Mayor calls for more rooftop gardens

Alan — Fri, 06 May 2011 02:40:58 +0000

They are not using bricks and mortar, but grass, plants and sun loungers Canny homeowners are not just expanding into but are building on top of their roofs as well. The latest in vogue is living or green roofs.

Boris Johnson, London Mayor, is calling for more living roofs in the city and there are even local authorities around the country that are offering grants even though we are still at recessionary levels. The local authorities want to encourage retrofitting of the roofs. The majority of them are slanted roofs that have lawns laid down on top of them.

Optigreen’s Daniel McSweeney says they are working together with homeowners to help install green roofs, also with commercial property owners, private developers and housing associations. The London-based living roof supplier says there goal is a lawn of grass on the roof that requires the minimalist amount of maintenance.

The cost of an average size green roof costs anywhere between £2,000 and £8,000 and three points should be considered when deciding on your green roof. Make sure first that the angel is correct and the strength will support the waterproof membrane, soil and any plants you decide to put on the green roof.

Second ensure there is sufficient drainage on roof so that there will not be a build up of water. Thirdly put a frame around the edge so that nothing can slip off. And remember do not overdue it, the neighbors have to look at it as well.

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Selecting a plot for vegetable growing

Alan — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 21:56:29 +0000

Before making your final selection of a new plot it is important to take time to carefully consider several important issues. The plot’s characteristics as well as the relation to the other plots nearby in order for your plants to receive the best opportunity to grow successfully are both vitally important.

Those plots that are only maintained on a part-time basis should be steered clear of because a plot nearby that is not well maintained can easily creep into your plot and before you know it the weeds they had are now yours and the perennial weeds are the hardest to get rid of so try and guard against them.

The wind speed and direction is of great importance as well. If there is going to be a lot of winds then fragile vegetable, flowers or fruits cannot be planted around the edges of the plot or even at the plot at all. There are some plants that do better with strong winds since strong winds also will stop certain insects from coming around and causing harm to the plants.

Some crops that do well in wind are both potatoes and carrots. Also make sure that water is close by and plentiful since it is probably the most essential element to make your plot a successful one with lots of fruits and vegetables.

Shady plots have much more negatives than positives so if you can stay away from a shady one, all the better. Plants need all the sunshine they can get in order to be healthy and produce an abundant about of crop. So, stay away from tall buildings, large trees, high hedges and shrubs.

Taking a look at the soil quality is another important aspect of choosing your plot. You need to know if it is rocky, hard, dry or been left abandoned and over grown with nutrient sucking weeds. Soggy soil is not good either since it will be a condition that will hinder the planting of the plants and choosing a soggy one means you may have to put in a drainage system.

The level of security is also important. Is there a lockable gate where you plot is located and a strong fence. Since it would be very hard for you and your family to have all your hard work lost to vandalism so checking the security is an important key.

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The Vegetable Trading Co launches to encourage more people to get growing

Alan — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 05:25:56 +0000

The Vegetable Trading Co. Was designed with the idea to get the UK to grow vegetables, whether it be on a giant allotment of on a city centre apartment. You can select, on their website, if you have a garden, balcony or apartment and with your selection you receive a list of vegetables and herbs that you can grow and a step by step guide on how to grow them.
The site, along with very simple guides for growing the vegetables, also provides information on ideas for meals, facts about vegetables and how to save versus buying directly from the supermarket. There are seed bundles for sale as well as over 40 herbs and vegetables. There is even a Christmas Dinner bundle that, with the exception of the turkey, gives you everything you need to grow for the meal. To get children involved there is a children’s bundle to get them growing and eating their greens.

The website has been created by 26 year-old Chris Mole from Farnham, Surrey. Chris has been a big fan of growing vegetables for years now, and recently dug over half of his garden to dedicate to testing all of the varieties the site sells.

Chris Mole, founder of The Vegetable Trading Co. said:

“Our website is a great starting point for anyone that wants to start growing their own herbs or veg, but have no idea where to begin. We have over 15 varieties that can be grown pretty much year round indoors, and even more if you have a balcony or patio.

Not only can you save money by growing your own, but it means you always have a fresh supply, and you know there have been no chemicals or pesticides used”

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Planning a garden for good food

Alan — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 06:42:49 +0000

Before you touch the soil to begin your garden, try sketching it out with pencil and paper first. The plan will save you so much time that you would otherwise spending correcting your errors. Of course it is work, but it lightens your burden once you get outside. You will maximize the efficiency of your space and your crops will turn out healthier and larger.

Remember to only grow what you’ll actually eat. If you and your loved ones hate spinach then do not waste your time growing spinach. As for your standard vegetables, do not be embarrassed to grow things as mundane as onions, lettuce, and tomatoes. Do not forget to grow something you all go bananas over. It will make your labor that much easier when it feels like drudgery.

If you plant too much of anything you will find it rotting on your shelves. So remember to preserve what you will eat later.

What your garden looks like will be influenced by how much room is available and natural boundaries, such as trees. Different types of beds are for different kinds of spaces, so you may want to consult an expert book to fill in what you lack in knowledge in that area.

Flat beds and raised beds are the most typical types of garden beds. The former are located directly in the ground, while the latter are raised above ground when the hardness or space are limitations.

Regardless of the type of bed you must use, you should plant with a path every 1 meter of garden. That together with the plan will help you succeed in your green thumb plans.

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