How To Grow A Vegetable Garden

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Judul : How To Grow A Vegetable Garden
link : How To Grow A Vegetable Garden

beginner's guide

Today’s article is all about how to prepare a garden for growing vegetables. If you are currently planning to start a garden this article will help you immensely. Also if you are currently a gardener but not satisfied with the result you may want to follow article to know if there is any step which you have missed.

There are five basic steps to prepare the soil for your garden to grow vegetables. These are:

1. Spot selection and marking the boundaries: First step towards this process is to select a proper spot for your garden. Most of the vegetables require minimum six hours of full sun to grow and fruit properly. Though artificial light would also help, we strongly recommend you choose a spot where you get natural sun light. It is both a purpose of organic gardening to use the natural resources and it also will reduce you total cost. After selecting the spot mark its boundaries with some pebbles or you can also use proper fencing to separate the area from the rest.
   
   
2. Cleaning and removing weeds the site: The next step is to remove any rock, pebbles, old plant and other debris from the site. With the help of a spade or tiller remove any weed which is present in this place. This process of removing weeds is very crucial to the overall success of your Gardening efforts. You can check our earlier article Weed controlling in organic way for more information this subject.
   
   
3. Sampling and Testing of Soil: This step is mostly ignored by gardeners. But this is perhaps one of the step which will give you immense benefit for years to come. Before planting any seed or applying any fertilizers you need to know what is the current level of nutrients in your soil. Soil nutrients differ according to its geography. So it is strongly recommended you do a soil sampling and testing. The testing result will be accurate if you collect the soil properly. Using a spade or a trowel collect handful of soil from at least 10 places (avoid places like where ashes or very dampish area) through out your garden. Put all the soil sample in a plastic bag (do not use any metal container) and mix it thoroughly. The next step is to sent the soil sample to your nearest agricultural office for testing. Some of the basic test like pH level, level of phosphorus and potassium needs to be performed. You can also use the DIY kit to test the soil. 
   
   
4. Apply the Recommendation: Once you get the soil testing report you can now follow the recommendation prescribed along with it. For instance if your soil is too acidic and you need to bring it down to a more suitable level you need to add lime to your soil.
   
   
5. Choose the right condition: While applying the recommendation make sure your soil is not very wet. The measurement can be faulty and also it will create problem in later stages. Use the soil when it is dry and then apply water after mixing the ingredients properly.

If you follow these simple but crucial steps the chances of success increases exponentially.

Share the Knowledge with other gardeners and help them improve their practise.

Today’s article is all about how to prepare a garden for growing vegetables. If you are currently planning to start a garden this article will help you immensely. Also if you are currently a gardener but not satisfied with the result you may want to follow article to know if there is any step which you have missed.

There are five basic steps to prepare the soil for your garden to grow vegetables. These are:

1. Spot selection and marking the boundaries: First step towards this process is to select a proper spot for your garden. Most of the vegetables require minimum six hours of full sun to grow and fruit properly. Though artificial light would also help, we strongly recommend you choose a spot where you get natural sun light. It is both a purpose of organic gardening to use the natural resources and it also will reduce you total cost. After selecting the spot mark its boundaries with some pebbles or you can also use proper fencing to separate the area from the rest.
   
   
2. Cleaning and removing weeds the site: The next step is to remove any rock, pebbles, old plant and other debris from the site. With the help of a spade or tiller remove any weed which is present in this place. This process of removing weeds is very crucial to the overall success of your Gardening efforts. You can check our earlier article Weed controlling in organic way for more information this subject.
   
   
3. Sampling and Testing of Soil: This step is mostly ignored by gardeners. But this is perhaps one of the step which will give you immense benefit for years to come. Before planting any seed or applying any fertilizers you need to know what is the current level of nutrients in your soil. Soil nutrients differ according to its geography. So it is strongly recommended you do a soil sampling and testing. The testing result will be accurate if you collect the soil properly. Using a spade or a trowel collect handful of soil from at least 10 places (avoid places like where ashes or very dampish area) through out your garden. Put all the soil sample in a plastic bag (do not use any metal container) and mix it thoroughly. The next step is to sent the soil sample to your nearest agricultural office for testing. Some of the basic test like pH level, level of phosphorus and potassium needs to be performed. You can also use the DIY kit to test the soil. 
   
   
4. Apply the Recommendation: Once you get the soil testing report you can now follow the recommendation prescribed along with it. For instance if your soil is too acidic and you need to bring it down to a more suitable level you need to add lime to your soil.
   
   
5. Choose the right condition: While applying the recommendation make sure your soil is not very wet. The measurement can be faulty and also it will create problem in later stages. Use the soil when it is dry and then apply water after mixing the ingredients properly.

If you follow these simple but crucial steps the chances of success increases exponentially.

Share the Knowledge with other gardeners and help them improve their practise.

How to Plant Potatoes: Growing Potatoes made Easy

beginner's guide - Looking for Aquaponics And Hydroponics Systems Today i will give you some info about beginner's guide, i was write this article for sharing Article beginner's guide, Article growing foods, Article potato, Article vegetables, I hope this article very helpfull for you

Judul : How to Plant Potatoes: Growing Potatoes made Easy
link : How to Plant Potatoes: Growing Potatoes made Easy

beginner's guide

It is very hard to find a person these days who don’t like potatoes. This is probably one of the favourite vegetables of all time. Knowing how to grow potatoes will definitely increase the liking towards this vegetable.

"My Idea Of Heaven Is  Great Big Baked Potato And Someone To Share It With." -Oprah Winfrey

This short and simple article will teach you about

Ideal Soil For Growing Potatoes

How to Plant Potatoes

How To Water A Potato Plant

When and How to Harvest Potatoes  

How To Store Potatoes

This will  definitely increase your confidence in growing potatoes.

Scientific name of Potatoes is Solanum tuberosum

Growing potatoes is not that difficult; and probably everybody should give it a try. It grows in full sun. So the first step to a healthy plant and good yield would be to select a spot where you will receive direct sunlight for at least 6 to 8 hours a day.

Ideal Soil For Growing Potatoes:

soil quality is not a hindrance in growing potatoes. You can plant potatoes in almost any type of soil. But the best ones recommended by experts are loose sandy loamy soil with a pH range of 5.5 to 6.5 (slightly acidic soil). Make sure that your soil is not very hard. Hard soil can result in misshapen tubers.

To resolve the problem of hard soil mix coco coir and compost with the soil. It will also increase the water retaining capacity of the soil. 

How to Plant Potatoes?

Unlike most of the other vegetables discussed earlier (which are mostly grown from the seed), potatoes are grown from the tuber itself. To prepare a seedling, cut a whole potato with into small pieces keeping in mind that each piece should contain at least two eyes.

If you have very small size potatoes, instead of cutting, use them as whole. You can now use them in place of seeds to grow potatoes.

After making those suitable cuts leave these pieces in direct sun light for a day. This will help the exposed area of the potato to dry up and will prevent rotting once you plant them.

For getting good quality tubers you need to make the soil loose. So it is generally a practice to loosen the soil before planting potatoes. Use a tiller to do the job. once the soil is loosen up plant these potato-cuttings keeping the eye side upwards. Keep 1 feet space between two plants. Cover the potato seeds with 3-4 inches of soil. It is best to grow potatoes in rows. Keep each row at a gap of 3 feet.



Once the plants reaches 8 inches tall you need to draw up soil around the plant. If the tuber is exposed to the sunlight it will make them bitter. 

How To Water Your Potato Plants

Potatoes require moderate watering. 2-3 inches of water weekly is enough for the plant. Make sure the soil has proper drainage. Water logged condition is not ideal for the tubers. It causes them to rot.

The requirement of water is most when the plant starts flowering. You need to continue watering the plants till the foliage turns yellowish. This is the most important time of potato growing because during this period the tubers are formed. So lack of water can hamper the yield.

Harvesting and Storing Of Potatoes:

Once the vine starts to die, you can harvest your potatoes.  As the soil is loose, it will not be much of a problem to dig. You can use your bare hands to dig the soil or you can use a shovel. Just be careful otherwise you could damage some of the tubers.

After taking out the tubers, lay them above the soil for 2 to 3 days if the weather is dry and no water is expected. It will help the outer jacket of the potato to become thick and will help in storage.  In case the weather is wet please keep them in dry area.

After that you can brush off the soil from the tubers and store them in a cool and dry place. For more details on how to store vegetables read our article titled Storing Your Vegetables: You Must Know the Basics.

Don't forget to read:
Most Common Diseases of Potatoes
FAQs About Tomato Growing

Sounds simple? Why don’t you try this in your own garden? Let us know your experience.

It is very hard to find a person these days who don’t like potatoes. This is probably one of the favourite vegetables of all time. Knowing how to grow potatoes will definitely increase the liking towards this vegetable.

"My Idea Of Heaven Is  Great Big Baked Potato And Someone To Share It With." -Oprah Winfrey

This short and simple article will teach you about

Ideal Soil For Growing Potatoes

How to Plant Potatoes

How To Water A Potato Plant

When and How to Harvest Potatoes  

How To Store Potatoes

This will  definitely increase your confidence in growing potatoes.

Scientific name of Potatoes is Solanum tuberosum

Growing potatoes is not that difficult; and probably everybody should give it a try. It grows in full sun. So the first step to a healthy plant and good yield would be to select a spot where you will receive direct sunlight for at least 6 to 8 hours a day.

Ideal Soil For Growing Potatoes:

soil quality is not a hindrance in growing potatoes. You can plant potatoes in almost any type of soil. But the best ones recommended by experts are loose sandy loamy soil with a pH range of 5.5 to 6.5 (slightly acidic soil). Make sure that your soil is not very hard. Hard soil can result in misshapen tubers.

To resolve the problem of hard soil mix coco coir and compost with the soil. It will also increase the water retaining capacity of the soil. 

How to Plant Potatoes?

Unlike most of the other vegetables discussed earlier (which are mostly grown from the seed), potatoes are grown from the tuber itself. To prepare a seedling, cut a whole potato with into small pieces keeping in mind that each piece should contain at least two eyes.

If you have very small size potatoes, instead of cutting, use them as whole. You can now use them in place of seeds to grow potatoes.

After making those suitable cuts leave these pieces in direct sun light for a day. This will help the exposed area of the potato to dry up and will prevent rotting once you plant them.

For getting good quality tubers you need to make the soil loose. So it is generally a practice to loosen the soil before planting potatoes. Use a tiller to do the job. once the soil is loosen up plant these potato-cuttings keeping the eye side upwards. Keep 1 feet space between two plants. Cover the potato seeds with 3-4 inches of soil. It is best to grow potatoes in rows. Keep each row at a gap of 3 feet.



Once the plants reaches 8 inches tall you need to draw up soil around the plant. If the tuber is exposed to the sunlight it will make them bitter. 

How To Water Your Potato Plants

Potatoes require moderate watering. 2-3 inches of water weekly is enough for the plant. Make sure the soil has proper drainage. Water logged condition is not ideal for the tubers. It causes them to rot.

The requirement of water is most when the plant starts flowering. You need to continue watering the plants till the foliage turns yellowish. This is the most important time of potato growing because during this period the tubers are formed. So lack of water can hamper the yield.

Harvesting and Storing Of Potatoes:

Once the vine starts to die, you can harvest your potatoes.  As the soil is loose, it will not be much of a problem to dig. You can use your bare hands to dig the soil or you can use a shovel. Just be careful otherwise you could damage some of the tubers.

After taking out the tubers, lay them above the soil for 2 to 3 days if the weather is dry and no water is expected. It will help the outer jacket of the potato to become thick and will help in storage.  In case the weather is wet please keep them in dry area.

After that you can brush off the soil from the tubers and store them in a cool and dry place. For more details on how to store vegetables read our article titled Storing Your Vegetables: You Must Know the Basics.

Don't forget to read:
Most Common Diseases of Potatoes
FAQs About Tomato Growing

Sounds simple? Why don’t you try this in your own garden? Let us know your experience.

Various Minerals and Their Roles in Plants Life

beginner's guide - Looking for Aquaponics And Hydroponics Systems Today i will give you some info about beginner's guide, i was write this article for sharing Article beginner's guide, Article minerals, I hope this article very helpfull for you

Judul : Various Minerals and Their Roles in Plants Life
link : Various Minerals and Their Roles in Plants Life

beginner's guide

Today’s article is about various minerals which we keep mentioning in plant growth. These minerals some times required in huge quantity while some times they need only in small quantity by the plants. But never the less lack of these minerals can cause disaster as far as your gardening is concerned.

Depending upon their required amount, all the elements can be classified in two groups:

1.    Macro-nutrients:

Nitrogen (N):

Generally nitrogen is available in the soil in the form of ammonium or nitrate salts. Nitrogen plays an important role in formation of the chlorophyll in plants. It is an essential part of protein formation as all the protein which the plants synthesis will not be possible without the availability of nitrogen. Nitrogen also promotes rapid growth. You can easily trace the deficiency of nitrogen if the plant shows light green leaves, short and woody stalk and start to die.

Phosphorous (P):

Phosphorous are present in the soil in the form of phosphate salts. Phosphorous is very important for the growth of the roots in the early stages of a plant’s life. In the later stages it helps in flowering and forming seeds. Deficiency of phosphorous leads to dark pigmented leaves. If the deficiency is in the later stages of a plants life it slows down fruiting process.

Potassium (K):

Potassium is abundant in the soil in the form of different potassium salts. Like the above two this is also a very important element in plant growth. It increases the strength of the stalk and improves the quality of grain. Potassium also improves resistance capacity of the plants in hostile conditions. Lack of potassium causes dried leaves (especially at the borders), slender stalk, and leads to lesser grains in maturity.

These 3 molecules are required in large quantity compared to the other molecules and lack of these three is the major cause for inappropriate growth in most of the plant. These are generally referred to as NPK and they are also called the PRIMARY MACRO-NUTRIENTS.

Here we have not included Carbon (C), Oxygen (O2) and Hydrogen (H2) which required by the plants in large quantity but they get these from the air and water. We have focused on all the elements which the plants get from the soil.

Calcium (Ca):

Though not as highly recommended as NPK, calcium is also plays an important role in plant growth. It improves root formation in plants and plays a major role in cell division. Many diseases in plants occur in seedling stages due to lack of calcium.  Many places normally have calcium reach soil. Incase your place is not among them you can add lime to increase the calcium content of the soil. Apart from lime you can also add egg shells to increase calcium content of the soil.  

Magnesium (Mg):

Magnesium helps in chlorophyll formation of the plant. It also increases the intake of other elements from the soil and particularly helps in phosphate absorption. Lack of magnesium severely affects chlorophyll formation and results in Chlorosis. Adding dolomite can solve the Problem of magnesium deficiency.

Sulfur (S):

Sulfur plays an important role in amino acid formation. Different vitamin requires sulfur for their absorption. Sulfur can be found in the soil in the form of sulfate (So4) ions. Deficiency can cause pale green leaves and lesser growth in plants. In most of the cases, sulfur is deposited in the soil with rain water (SO2 in the air get mixed with rain).

Ca, Mg, and S though required by the plants in large quantity though the amounts are not as large as NPK. These elements are called SECONDARY MACRO-NUTRIENTS.

2.    Micro-nutrients / Trace Elements:

The following elements are required by the plants but in very small quantity. These are called micro-nutrients or trace elements. Though their required quantity is very small, deficiency of these can cause various problems and hinder proper development in plants.

Zinc (Zn): 

It plays an important role in activation of Auxin (major growth hormone) hormone and various enzymes.

Chlorine (Cl2):  

Have some role in phosphorous intake.

Boron (B): 

Plays an important role in cell division process. It also helps in transportation of carbohydrates in plants.

Molybdenum (Mo): 

It helps in nitrogen fixation for the plants.

Iron (Fe): 

Plays important role in chlorophyll formation.

Manganese (Mn): 

Plays an important role in germination of seeds and helps in activating different enzymes.

We will discuss every element in detail later. But I hope this has given you a basic idea on all the elements which we generally discuss in plants nutrition.

Today’s article is about various minerals which we keep mentioning in plant growth. These minerals some times required in huge quantity while some times they need only in small quantity by the plants. But never the less lack of these minerals can cause disaster as far as your gardening is concerned.

Depending upon their required amount, all the elements can be classified in two groups:

1.    Macro-nutrients:

Nitrogen (N):

Generally nitrogen is available in the soil in the form of ammonium or nitrate salts. Nitrogen plays an important role in formation of the chlorophyll in plants. It is an essential part of protein formation as all the protein which the plants synthesis will not be possible without the availability of nitrogen. Nitrogen also promotes rapid growth. You can easily trace the deficiency of nitrogen if the plant shows light green leaves, short and woody stalk and start to die.

Phosphorous (P):

Phosphorous are present in the soil in the form of phosphate salts. Phosphorous is very important for the growth of the roots in the early stages of a plant’s life. In the later stages it helps in flowering and forming seeds. Deficiency of phosphorous leads to dark pigmented leaves. If the deficiency is in the later stages of a plants life it slows down fruiting process.

Potassium (K):

Potassium is abundant in the soil in the form of different potassium salts. Like the above two this is also a very important element in plant growth. It increases the strength of the stalk and improves the quality of grain. Potassium also improves resistance capacity of the plants in hostile conditions. Lack of potassium causes dried leaves (especially at the borders), slender stalk, and leads to lesser grains in maturity.

These 3 molecules are required in large quantity compared to the other molecules and lack of these three is the major cause for inappropriate growth in most of the plant. These are generally referred to as NPK and they are also called the PRIMARY MACRO-NUTRIENTS.

Here we have not included Carbon (C), Oxygen (O2) and Hydrogen (H2) which required by the plants in large quantity but they get these from the air and water. We have focused on all the elements which the plants get from the soil.

Calcium (Ca):

Though not as highly recommended as NPK, calcium is also plays an important role in plant growth. It improves root formation in plants and plays a major role in cell division. Many diseases in plants occur in seedling stages due to lack of calcium.  Many places normally have calcium reach soil. Incase your place is not among them you can add lime to increase the calcium content of the soil. Apart from lime you can also add egg shells to increase calcium content of the soil.  

Magnesium (Mg):

Magnesium helps in chlorophyll formation of the plant. It also increases the intake of other elements from the soil and particularly helps in phosphate absorption. Lack of magnesium severely affects chlorophyll formation and results in Chlorosis. Adding dolomite can solve the Problem of magnesium deficiency.

Sulfur (S):

Sulfur plays an important role in amino acid formation. Different vitamin requires sulfur for their absorption. Sulfur can be found in the soil in the form of sulfate (So4) ions. Deficiency can cause pale green leaves and lesser growth in plants. In most of the cases, sulfur is deposited in the soil with rain water (SO2 in the air get mixed with rain).

Ca, Mg, and S though required by the plants in large quantity though the amounts are not as large as NPK. These elements are called SECONDARY MACRO-NUTRIENTS.

2.    Micro-nutrients / Trace Elements:

The following elements are required by the plants but in very small quantity. These are called micro-nutrients or trace elements. Though their required quantity is very small, deficiency of these can cause various problems and hinder proper development in plants.

Zinc (Zn): 

It plays an important role in activation of Auxin (major growth hormone) hormone and various enzymes.

Chlorine (Cl2):  

Have some role in phosphorous intake.

Boron (B): 

Plays an important role in cell division process. It also helps in transportation of carbohydrates in plants.

Molybdenum (Mo): 

It helps in nitrogen fixation for the plants.

Iron (Fe): 

Plays important role in chlorophyll formation.

Manganese (Mn): 

Plays an important role in germination of seeds and helps in activating different enzymes.

We will discuss every element in detail later. But I hope this has given you a basic idea on all the elements which we generally discuss in plants nutrition.

Raised Garden Beds: How To Build A Bed in 4 Simple Steps

beginner's guide - Looking for Aquaponics And Hydroponics Systems Today i will give you some info about beginner's guide, i was write this article for sharing Article beginner's guide, Article garden beds, Article soil, I hope this article very helpfull for you

Judul : Raised Garden Beds: How To Build A Bed in 4 Simple Steps
link : Raised Garden Beds: How To Build A Bed in 4 Simple Steps

beginner's guide

Raised garden beds are always a good option for Gardening. Though it might sound pretty troublesome to prepare garden bed it is not that tough. This article will put some light on Garden bed preparation.

The first thing you need to do to make a raised garden bed is to kill the weeds in the area you have planned your bed. The best way to do this is to first till the area with a tiller or plough it (in case the area is larger).

Next add a thick layer of compost and till again. You can also add layers of newspaper or cardboard to cover the area before tilling the soil.

It will kill most of the weeds in the first place. Weeds which have deep roots or runners can be killed easily by this process.

After covering the area with compost add some water to the soil and till it a bit. This will make the weed seed (which are present in the soil) to germinate. Once they germinate, till it once more.

This total process of watering and tilling you need to follow quite a few times. After making sure that there are no more weed seeds present in the soil, you can use your vegetable or other plants. Try not to use seeds at first and go for transplanting in the first year. After that you can use seeds as per your likings.

Another way to get instant garden bed is to cover the whole area with the topsoil bags which are readily available in any garden store. Try not to use cheap quality product but go for the company which is known for their product quality.

Cut one or two areas of each bag and plant your seedling or seeds there. After covering the whole area with topsoil bags, cover the exposed plastic area of the

bag with thick layer of Mulch. Now you have it, your own garden bed.

This type of permanent raised bed gardening is always helpful and it also makes the surrounding soil much more fertile and healthier. Raised beds warm up faster than normal soil. The best part about garden beds is you can make it any size you want. Keep enough space for walking, beside the garden beds and never walk on the beds.

Keep adding composts at regular intervals. It will keep the beds fertile. First year it is recommended to add 4 to 6 inches of compost. In the subsequent years ½ inch of compost will be enough to provide the required nutrition to the plants.


Have you prepared you garden beds yet? Share your experiences with us.

Raised garden beds are always a good option for Gardening. Though it might sound pretty troublesome to prepare garden bed it is not that tough. This article will put some light on Garden bed preparation.

The first thing you need to do to make a raised garden bed is to kill the weeds in the area you have planned your bed. The best way to do this is to first till the area with a tiller or plough it (in case the area is larger).

Next add a thick layer of compost and till again. You can also add layers of newspaper or cardboard to cover the area before tilling the soil.

It will kill most of the weeds in the first place. Weeds which have deep roots or runners can be killed easily by this process.

After covering the area with compost add some water to the soil and till it a bit. This will make the weed seed (which are present in the soil) to germinate. Once they germinate, till it once more.

This total process of watering and tilling you need to follow quite a few times. After making sure that there are no more weed seeds present in the soil, you can use your vegetable or other plants. Try not to use seeds at first and go for transplanting in the first year. After that you can use seeds as per your likings.

Another way to get instant garden bed is to cover the whole area with the topsoil bags which are readily available in any garden store. Try not to use cheap quality product but go for the company which is known for their product quality.

Cut one or two areas of each bag and plant your seedling or seeds there. After covering the whole area with topsoil bags, cover the exposed plastic area of the

bag with thick layer of Mulch. Now you have it, your own garden bed.

This type of permanent raised bed gardening is always helpful and it also makes the surrounding soil much more fertile and healthier. Raised beds warm up faster than normal soil. The best part about garden beds is you can make it any size you want. Keep enough space for walking, beside the garden beds and never walk on the beds.

Keep adding composts at regular intervals. It will keep the beds fertile. First year it is recommended to add 4 to 6 inches of compost. In the subsequent years ½ inch of compost will be enough to provide the required nutrition to the plants.


Have you prepared you garden beds yet? Share your experiences with us.

Mulch: A Basic Idea for The Beginners

beginner's guide - Looking for Aquaponics And Hydroponics Systems Today i will give you some info about beginner's guide, i was write this article for sharing Article beginner's guide, Article jargons, Article Mulch, I hope this article very helpfull for you

Judul : Mulch: A Basic Idea for The Beginners
link : Mulch: A Basic Idea for The Beginners

beginner's guide

In my past blogs I kept mentioning about Mulches. I know many of the gardeners are  totally aware of this term, but I can feel the confusion a beginner will face while others keep mentioning about mulching. So I have decided to demystify the whole term and make the word much more easy to understand and most importantly easy to apply.

Technically mulch refers to a layer of organic or inorganic material which is applied to the surface of any soil. The word mulch is very catchy and we can see a variety of things like straw, grass crippling, leaves are being used. Sometimes recycled rubbers or plastic sheets are also been used as mulch. Though there are variety of materials used in mulching the basic purpose more or less remains the same. 

1. Applying mulch can help the soil to retain its moisture. This are particularly helpful in dry climate like a summer season.
2. A considerable amount of mulch make a thick layer on the soil and make the air almost impossible to reach the soil layer. This principle is used in controlling weeds. Weeds die with the lack of oxygen.
3. In case you are using organic matters for mulching this in later stages decomposes and mixes with the soil thus helps in increasing the nutrient content of the soil. If applied properly it can increase the soil productivity many folds.
4. It also keeps the soil temperature fixed and not fluctuate according to the climate temperature. Thus leaving lesser stress on the plant to adopt to the outer climate.

There are two ways you can apply mulch. You can add the mulch directly to the soil or you can apply mulch around the existing plant. As per the content mulch can be of two types: Organic Mulch and Inorganic Mulch.

Organic Mulch:

When you use material such as leaves, straw, grass crippling, wood chips etc the mulch is called organic mulch. The best part of using organic mulch is that it decomposes slowly and release nutrient into the soil. It encourages earthworm activities and keep the weed seeds from germinating. Just remember two basic formula. Lay down the mulch where there are weeds already. And secondly make sure the layer is thick enough to prevent new weeds from coming up. A general recommendation is to apply a layer of 4-6 inches of mulch in the most weeded areas and 2-3 inches in case the area is shady and not much of weed is present. One word of caution is that organic mulch is generally acidic in nature. So add little bit of lime with the mulch to neutralize its acidic impact, in case the plant is more comfortable in neutral of slightly alkaline soil.

Inorganic Mulch:

Inorganic mulching product can include plastic sheets, rubber chips etc. I personally do not recommend any inorganic substance to use in mulch due to its negative impact on the environment. But in some cases you can use it if you are not that much comfortable using organic mulches. Applying a plastic sheet as a mulch can prevent the water for entering to soil from outside also. So in case you are having drip watering system which is embedded before applying the plastic sheets it can be used.

The best way to use the mulch is to keep the base of the plant mulch-free. It will help the plant to breath freely. If you are using cedar chips and other aesthetically superior products just stay away from coloring. Normal colors contains chemicals which can dampen the whole purpose of doing organic gardening.

Just keep one thing in mind whatever is your material and whatever is your reason, try to apply mulch. It is easy and it will make your garden look very beautiful and professional.

Did you liked the article. Please feel free to share with your fellow gardeners.

In my past blogs I kept mentioning about Mulches. I know many of the gardeners are  totally aware of this term, but I can feel the confusion a beginner will face while others keep mentioning about mulching. So I have decided to demystify the whole term and make the word much more easy to understand and most importantly easy to apply.

Technically mulch refers to a layer of organic or inorganic material which is applied to the surface of any soil. The word mulch is very catchy and we can see a variety of things like straw, grass crippling, leaves are being used. Sometimes recycled rubbers or plastic sheets are also been used as mulch. Though there are variety of materials used in mulching the basic purpose more or less remains the same. 

1. Applying mulch can help the soil to retain its moisture. This are particularly helpful in dry climate like a summer season.
2. A considerable amount of mulch make a thick layer on the soil and make the air almost impossible to reach the soil layer. This principle is used in controlling weeds. Weeds die with the lack of oxygen.
3. In case you are using organic matters for mulching this in later stages decomposes and mixes with the soil thus helps in increasing the nutrient content of the soil. If applied properly it can increase the soil productivity many folds.
4. It also keeps the soil temperature fixed and not fluctuate according to the climate temperature. Thus leaving lesser stress on the plant to adopt to the outer climate.

There are two ways you can apply mulch. You can add the mulch directly to the soil or you can apply mulch around the existing plant. As per the content mulch can be of two types: Organic Mulch and Inorganic Mulch.

Organic Mulch:

When you use material such as leaves, straw, grass crippling, wood chips etc the mulch is called organic mulch. The best part of using organic mulch is that it decomposes slowly and release nutrient into the soil. It encourages earthworm activities and keep the weed seeds from germinating. Just remember two basic formula. Lay down the mulch where there are weeds already. And secondly make sure the layer is thick enough to prevent new weeds from coming up. A general recommendation is to apply a layer of 4-6 inches of mulch in the most weeded areas and 2-3 inches in case the area is shady and not much of weed is present. One word of caution is that organic mulch is generally acidic in nature. So add little bit of lime with the mulch to neutralize its acidic impact, in case the plant is more comfortable in neutral of slightly alkaline soil.

Inorganic Mulch:

Inorganic mulching product can include plastic sheets, rubber chips etc. I personally do not recommend any inorganic substance to use in mulch due to its negative impact on the environment. But in some cases you can use it if you are not that much comfortable using organic mulches. Applying a plastic sheet as a mulch can prevent the water for entering to soil from outside also. So in case you are having drip watering system which is embedded before applying the plastic sheets it can be used.

The best way to use the mulch is to keep the base of the plant mulch-free. It will help the plant to breath freely. If you are using cedar chips and other aesthetically superior products just stay away from coloring. Normal colors contains chemicals which can dampen the whole purpose of doing organic gardening.

Just keep one thing in mind whatever is your material and whatever is your reason, try to apply mulch. It is easy and it will make your garden look very beautiful and professional.

Did you liked the article. Please feel free to share with your fellow gardeners.

Easiest Vegetables to Grow for the Beginners

beginner's guide - Looking for Aquaponics And Hydroponics Systems Today i will give you some info about beginner's guide, i was write this article for sharing Article beginner's guide, Article vegetables, I hope this article very helpfull for you

Judul : Easiest Vegetables to Grow for the Beginners
link : Easiest Vegetables to Grow for the Beginners

beginner's guide

As a beginner, most of us are worried about the success of our gardening endeavor. Will we get our desired results? Or will our effort will turn out to be a fruitless labor? As I always emphasis on the point to start small and gradually increase the level of difficulty as you gain experience with gardening. In this article I have mentioned few of the plants which are easy to start. Though these are not totally full-proof, you can definitely try your luck with these plants than to attempt the plants which need much more sophisticated approach, particularly at the beginning.

Tomato:

When we talk about starting your own kitchen garden, may be 80% of us first think about fresh, homegrown tomatoes into our garden. Growing tomatoes are not difficult either. With fertile soil, Little bit of watering from time to time(see watering guide) and lot of sun light, your tomato plant will grow and give you fruits all year long(depending on the variety). Just look out for blight signs and little caterpillars which can hamper the growth of your tomato plant.

Tomatoes are packed with plenty of iron, magnesium, potassium, vitamin A, B6, and C and last but not the least Lycopene(antioxidant) which prevents cancer. you can check tomato growing tips for more in detail.

Pea:

The tender sweetness of pea just plucked from you kitchen garden, is so much better when you compare it with the pea from the store. Most of the varieties can be grown very easily from the seeds. You can grow peas in the containers that is at about 10’’ deep. Peas are easy to care and much fun for kids to harvest them. Just try not to harvest peas in the hot environment(ideal range 40-85 degrees Fahrenheit).

Peas are high in fiber, iron and various vitamins.

Radish:

Radish is another vegetable which is ideal for the starters. The seeds can be sown outdoors, indoors or in the containers. In case you have fertile soil extra feeding are rarely necessary. They can mature withing 25-50days (depending on the variety). They can add a peppery addition to our favorite salads. Want to know more about growing radish? Check out this article.

Carrots:

They are the sweetest, crunchiest and in best condition when taken out from your own garden. Carrots are easy to grow. They need only water,sunlight and careful weeding. Carrots are the tastiest when harvested small. If you leave them in the ground for too long it can result in overly large and woody carrots. Make sure to keep the soil moist. Dry soil can result in bitter and more fibrous carrots. Make sure that the soil is free from rocks and deep enough to handle root growth. Presence of rocks can result in crooked carrots which though are taste wise perfect but aesthetically not soothing. Want to know more about growing carrots. Check out this article.

Spinach:

Leafy green plants such as spinach can be grown very easily from seeds. Cool and moist weather are better for spinach. It is better to sow the seeds 4-5 weeks before the winter. In fertile soil, it can grow very rapidly. It takes one and a half month to mature. Once the the leaves are of reasonable size you can pick them to encourage new growth.

Spinach is high in iron and can be a wonderful addition to salads and soups. want to know more about growing spinach? check out this article.

Cucumber:

Cucumber can be sown in containers, garden, hills almost anywhere. Warm weather, regular sunlight and watering is enough to yield high quality cucumber. You need to provide the plants with ample space to stretch their roots as the plants sprawl. Avoid planting cucumber at the time of frost.

It is a must addition to our salads. For details on  how to grow cucumber click here

Beans:

Almost any type of beans are easy to grow from seed. Plant directly into the soil or the container when the soil is warm. It requires plenty of water, ample sunlight and some cage to provide the support for the vines to grow.

Beans are the powerhouse in terms of nutritional value. They are high in iron, fiber, protein, manganese and phosphorous.

I hope you got some idea about what to plant as a beginner. There might be plenty of other such plants which you have experience as easy to grow and maintain. I will be really happy if you can share some more.

As a beginner, most of us are worried about the success of our gardening endeavor. Will we get our desired results? Or will our effort will turn out to be a fruitless labor? As I always emphasis on the point to start small and gradually increase the level of difficulty as you gain experience with gardening. In this article I have mentioned few of the plants which are easy to start. Though these are not totally full-proof, you can definitely try your luck with these plants than to attempt the plants which need much more sophisticated approach, particularly at the beginning.

Tomato:

When we talk about starting your own kitchen garden, may be 80% of us first think about fresh, homegrown tomatoes into our garden. Growing tomatoes are not difficult either. With fertile soil, Little bit of watering from time to time(see watering guide) and lot of sun light, your tomato plant will grow and give you fruits all year long(depending on the variety). Just look out for blight signs and little caterpillars which can hamper the growth of your tomato plant.

Tomatoes are packed with plenty of iron, magnesium, potassium, vitamin A, B6, and C and last but not the least Lycopene(antioxidant) which prevents cancer. you can check tomato growing tips for more in detail.

Pea:

The tender sweetness of pea just plucked from you kitchen garden, is so much better when you compare it with the pea from the store. Most of the varieties can be grown very easily from the seeds. You can grow peas in the containers that is at about 10’’ deep. Peas are easy to care and much fun for kids to harvest them. Just try not to harvest peas in the hot environment(ideal range 40-85 degrees Fahrenheit).

Peas are high in fiber, iron and various vitamins.

Radish:

Radish is another vegetable which is ideal for the starters. The seeds can be sown outdoors, indoors or in the containers. In case you have fertile soil extra feeding are rarely necessary. They can mature withing 25-50days (depending on the variety). They can add a peppery addition to our favorite salads. Want to know more about growing radish? Check out this article.

Carrots:

They are the sweetest, crunchiest and in best condition when taken out from your own garden. Carrots are easy to grow. They need only water,sunlight and careful weeding. Carrots are the tastiest when harvested small. If you leave them in the ground for too long it can result in overly large and woody carrots. Make sure to keep the soil moist. Dry soil can result in bitter and more fibrous carrots. Make sure that the soil is free from rocks and deep enough to handle root growth. Presence of rocks can result in crooked carrots which though are taste wise perfect but aesthetically not soothing. Want to know more about growing carrots. Check out this article.

Spinach:

Leafy green plants such as spinach can be grown very easily from seeds. Cool and moist weather are better for spinach. It is better to sow the seeds 4-5 weeks before the winter. In fertile soil, it can grow very rapidly. It takes one and a half month to mature. Once the the leaves are of reasonable size you can pick them to encourage new growth.

Spinach is high in iron and can be a wonderful addition to salads and soups. want to know more about growing spinach? check out this article.

Cucumber:

Cucumber can be sown in containers, garden, hills almost anywhere. Warm weather, regular sunlight and watering is enough to yield high quality cucumber. You need to provide the plants with ample space to stretch their roots as the plants sprawl. Avoid planting cucumber at the time of frost.

It is a must addition to our salads. For details on  how to grow cucumber click here

Beans:

Almost any type of beans are easy to grow from seed. Plant directly into the soil or the container when the soil is warm. It requires plenty of water, ample sunlight and some cage to provide the support for the vines to grow.

Beans are the powerhouse in terms of nutritional value. They are high in iron, fiber, protein, manganese and phosphorous.

I hope you got some idea about what to plant as a beginner. There might be plenty of other such plants which you have experience as easy to grow and maintain. I will be really happy if you can share some more.

Container Gardening: A great Motivator

beginner's guide - Looking for Aquaponics And Hydroponics Systems Today i will give you some info about beginner's guide, i was write this article for sharing Article beginner's guide, Article container gardening, Article current trends in gardening, Article Know How, I hope this article very helpfull for you

Judul : Container Gardening: A great Motivator
link : Container Gardening: A great Motivator

beginner's guide

As the name suggests, Container Gardening refers to growing plants in different containers rather than planting them directly into the ground. In today's world when the limitation of time and space has been felt like never before, container gardening seems to make more and more sense. It allows you to grow any plant in anywhere in the world which earlier was never thought of. Poor soil, lack of space are no longer an excuse for abandoning the excellent hobby of Gardening.

As I am writing this article, the popularity of container gardening has exploded through out the world. Plants in different pots and containers can be seen from lawns of bungalows to the rooftops of urban apartments in every country. Those have given an entire different color and texture to the landscaping.

But before going any further let me first give you some reasons for starting your own container gardening:

Container Gardening can be the best gardening option for the beginners. Even a rookie can start gardening in very little time.

It can be very economical. No need to waste much more time and money with starting with normal garden. Where most of the initial costs involved preparation of soil bed, weeding, fertilizing, suitable area for gardening etc. you can start with a single pot, little bit of soil or soil-lessmix, and some seeds or just one or two sidling.

You don’t need big space to do container gardening. You can use your terrace, stoop etc. Just make sure you are getting ample sunlight there. When you are having space constrains the container gardening is the best available solution to your problem.

Container gardening can liberate you from the geographical problem you faced while gardening in your traditional garden. It is said that “you can grow Cactus in Alaska” by using container gardening method.

Portability is another big advantage of doing container gardening. While teaching your child Botany, you can definitely give some live example by bringing your container to the study room, make your child associate with the plants without leaving the study room.

You don’t need to worry about critters which may have destroyed your garden earlier.

Here are some nice looking containers available on Amazon

There is almost no plant that you cannot grow in a container. Vegetables, herbs, flowers plants, even trees can be grown through container gardening. You just need the container of appropriate size.

So if you found yourself  interested in pursuing container gardening, I request you to please read on. Container gardening process is very similar to that of  traditional gardening with little fine tuning.

The first thing you need to start a container garden is to find an suitable Container. You can use almost anything in the world as a container as long as it is big enough to sustain the root growth of the fully mature plant and it has proper drainage. As they say in case of container gardening “size does matter”.  Try not to use a container smaller than 12’’. Even a five gallon plastic bag can be used as a container to start gardening.

Drainage is very essential in container gardening. Make sure your container has sufficient drainage facility like some holes at the bottom.

Try to use quality potting soil or make your own by using different soil-less media which I have discussed earlier. You can use your garden soil also but make sure that drainage of the soil is maintained. Using your garden soil also restricts your vegetables or other plants choices as per you local geographic.

As the source of nutrition is limited inside the container, you need to add fertilizers from time to time. Try to use organic fertilizers(like compost), as it will benefit you in the longer run.

You can start from seeds or by transplanting seedlings. Both of them have their advantages and disadvantages. Choose the option that better suits you.

If you are growing vegetables it is almost necessary to put your container where there is ample sunlight. Plants which are only cultivated for leaves or stems can grow without direct sunlight. You can check the effect of sunlight on the growth of different plants in my earlier article Sun or no Sun.

Unlike traditional gardening you need to take proper care in case of watering plant. As there are no source of water which the roots can reach you need to put water at regular interval. The details of watering techniques can be found here.

As I am a strong believer of “slow but steady” style of growth I will always suggest you to start with small and then achieve the bigger goal with continuous growth. Try to start your container gardening with plants which are easy to grow such as tomato, pea, eggplants  etc than move up to the higher difficulty level such as squash or melons.

Thanks for reading. Like to receive your feedback on this.

As the name suggests, Container Gardening refers to growing plants in different containers rather than planting them directly into the ground. In today's world when the limitation of time and space has been felt like never before, container gardening seems to make more and more sense. It allows you to grow any plant in anywhere in the world which earlier was never thought of. Poor soil, lack of space are no longer an excuse for abandoning the excellent hobby of Gardening.

As I am writing this article, the popularity of container gardening has exploded through out the world. Plants in different pots and containers can be seen from lawns of bungalows to the rooftops of urban apartments in every country. Those have given an entire different color and texture to the landscaping.

But before going any further let me first give you some reasons for starting your own container gardening:

Container Gardening can be the best gardening option for the beginners. Even a rookie can start gardening in very little time.

It can be very economical. No need to waste much more time and money with starting with normal garden. Where most of the initial costs involved preparation of soil bed, weeding, fertilizing, suitable area for gardening etc. you can start with a single pot, little bit of soil or soil-lessmix, and some seeds or just one or two sidling.

You don’t need big space to do container gardening. You can use your terrace, stoop etc. Just make sure you are getting ample sunlight there. When you are having space constrains the container gardening is the best available solution to your problem.

Container gardening can liberate you from the geographical problem you faced while gardening in your traditional garden. It is said that “you can grow Cactus in Alaska” by using container gardening method.

Portability is another big advantage of doing container gardening. While teaching your child Botany, you can definitely give some live example by bringing your container to the study room, make your child associate with the plants without leaving the study room.

You don’t need to worry about critters which may have destroyed your garden earlier.

Here are some nice looking containers available on Amazon

There is almost no plant that you cannot grow in a container. Vegetables, herbs, flowers plants, even trees can be grown through container gardening. You just need the container of appropriate size.

So if you found yourself  interested in pursuing container gardening, I request you to please read on. Container gardening process is very similar to that of  traditional gardening with little fine tuning.

The first thing you need to start a container garden is to find an suitable Container. You can use almost anything in the world as a container as long as it is big enough to sustain the root growth of the fully mature plant and it has proper drainage. As they say in case of container gardening “size does matter”.  Try not to use a container smaller than 12’’. Even a five gallon plastic bag can be used as a container to start gardening.

Drainage is very essential in container gardening. Make sure your container has sufficient drainage facility like some holes at the bottom.

Try to use quality potting soil or make your own by using different soil-less media which I have discussed earlier. You can use your garden soil also but make sure that drainage of the soil is maintained. Using your garden soil also restricts your vegetables or other plants choices as per you local geographic.

As the source of nutrition is limited inside the container, you need to add fertilizers from time to time. Try to use organic fertilizers(like compost), as it will benefit you in the longer run.

You can start from seeds or by transplanting seedlings. Both of them have their advantages and disadvantages. Choose the option that better suits you.

If you are growing vegetables it is almost necessary to put your container where there is ample sunlight. Plants which are only cultivated for leaves or stems can grow without direct sunlight. You can check the effect of sunlight on the growth of different plants in my earlier article Sun or no Sun.

Unlike traditional gardening you need to take proper care in case of watering plant. As there are no source of water which the roots can reach you need to put water at regular interval. The details of watering techniques can be found here.

As I am a strong believer of “slow but steady” style of growth I will always suggest you to start with small and then achieve the bigger goal with continuous growth. Try to start your container gardening with plants which are easy to grow such as tomato, pea, eggplants  etc than move up to the higher difficulty level such as squash or melons.

Thanks for reading. Like to receive your feedback on this.