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Many a hobby gardener is wooed by the cornucopia of colors and scents that tropical flowers and even shrubs give off. They are deliciously different, and so it is not surprise that many vie for an opportunity to include specimen of this …
Source: Jennifer
February is the toughest month in the garden. Gardeners in warm climates don't know what to expect from the weather. Those in cold climates would give anything to…
Source: unknown
Hi everyone
Thought this article was interesting, plus I love chillis, so hope you find it interesting and helpful too! It also discusses other "exotic" type vegetables like pumpkins, aubergines and squashes. Hmm!
Climate change may eventually mean we [in current temperate climates] can sow and grow more exotic vegetables outside. It is now possible, at least in some more southern areas of the UK, for example, to already do this. Vegetables such as peppers and aubergines, and even tomatoes, still need a little assistance by being sown under cover. For those without a greenhouse, a heated propagator should provide the alchemy for germination; failing that, a sunny windowsill will do.
Sweet peppers and chilli peppers both need temperatures of at least 20 degrees C and lots of light to do well. They will grow outside in sunny, sheltered spots in mild areas, but their yield is far better when raised under glass - you must wait until October for your first outdoor grown pepper. The hotter the chilli, the longer the growing season, although "Ring of Fire" is an early variety that should blow the roof off your mouth. "Pinocchio's Nose" is an excellent variety for making hot sauces; "Marconi Rosso" is a good sweet variety.
Aubergines are very susceptible to frost and appreciate lots of light. In the south of England for example, yo can grow them outside, in a pot or in the ground, but don't expect a large harvest. Otherwise, keep them under glass. They like high humidity so put a bucket of water beside them, or mist regularly.
Get going on the sowing, in a gentle heat of 20C, as they have a long growing season - and plant outside when all danger of frost has passed. "Moneymaker" has good purple skin and a high yield.
Melons need plenty of space. The best varieties to grow in a temperate climate are the cantaloupes, with greyish skin and pale green or orange flesh. They can be grown outside in warm areas, where temperatures average between 25-30C, but are best in an unheated greenhouse or a cold frame. When planting out, warm the soil first with a cloche or fleece, then protect young plants from slugs. Plants can either scramble across the ground or can be trained up shoots, in which case large maturing fruits should be supported in a net to stop them dropping off.
Sow in late April-May and plant out in June on a slight mound, which will help to prevent the plant from rotting. Good varieties are "Ogen", Hales Best Jumbo" and "Sivan".
As well as traditional sweet corn, you can also grow "supersweet" (which have more sugar) and coloured varieties that, with their luscious growth, look good planted among your flowers and borders. The supersweet "Sweet Nugget" is delicious and "Red Strawberry" is excellent for popcorn.
Plant in blocks rather than lines, as this give maximum exposure for wind pollination. Don't plant different varieties near each other, as they will cross pollinate and be less successful. Earth up the stems (i.e. mould the soil around the plant with a rake or hoe) as the plants grow tall to consolidate the roots and prevent wind rock.
Pumpkins and squashes are wonderfully decorative in the late summer garden. They like a fertile , moist soil - you can even grow them on the compost heap.
Summer squashes can be eaten small, whereas pumpkins and winter squashes store well and are useful vegetables over the winter. The sun hardens the skin, which helps them to store well. Like melons, they can be trained up supports or left to grow across the ground.
So about a month before the last of the frosts is usually due in your area, if under cover - usually April or May, otherwise, directly into the soil in early summer if you live in a warmer area after all danger of frost has passed.
Best varieties are "Custard White", a summer squash, "Turk's Turban, a lovely green and orange striped winter squash with pale yellow flesh and "Baby Bear", a small sweet pumpkin.
I hope you enjoyed this article which was reproduced from The Sunday Times (London)
The Gardener
I want to start with a note for viewers from the "cold " climates that I realize our cold weather would be a mild spring day for some people. The past few winters here have been mild and lots of…
Source: junglejim@scenicnursery.com
Cabbage and kale are among the hardiest and most nutritious vegetables a home gardener can grow. They are also very easy to grow, especially for home vegetable gardeners in cooler climates. Beautiful, in shades of pale yellow to …
Source: unknown
Here are some tips for herb gardening indoors that will simulate the conditions in an outside garden. For Herb gardening indoors the growing climates need to be pretty much the same as the conditions outside. …
Source: exhanbatik
Hi everyone
Welcome to this edition of your Gardening Weekly, today's edition is entitled:
"Bonsai", the art of growing and designing miniature trees.
Bonsai is something that requires quite a lot of patience on your behalf as well as a little bit of knowledge. It actually not as difficult as you might think. In this week's Gardening Weekly we are going to have a look at 4 things you should know that will get you well on your way.
Bonsai Are Not Houseplants.
The majority of bonsai are actually outdoor plants and should remain outdoors all year long. Of course, just because they should be outside for the most part does not mean that they cannot be brought indoors briefly so they can be enjoyed there too. Bonsai are temperate climate plants that actually require a period of dormancy. Why? Well it is actually a survival strategy that temperate climate species have evolved to stay alive during the winter months. They cleverly have an internal clock that tells them when they should slow down their growth activity. They can therefore survive pretty extreme and cold temperatures. The home bonsai artist will therefore need a place your bonsai outside.
You Must "Train" Your Bonsai.
Bonsai don't just end up in those wonderful shapes by themselves, they have to be "trained" through a number of different techniques. This can be accomplished through manipulating the trunk and branches through pruning and wiring. This is where the heart of the bonsai artistry resides. To make mistakes in this area of training could lead to catostrophic results. Don't be disheartened though, because with some correct, simple training and time anyone can learn how to correctly train their bonsai.
Bonsai Must be Watered And Fed.
Bonsai are no different to any other plant life, they require three things to survive: sun, food and water. Assuming your bonsai resides primarily outside, as the bonsai artist, your primary concern is to feed and water your trees. Feeding your bonsai with the proper nutrients and trace elements is crucial to promote the proper and healthy growth. Like most plants, there is a right and a wrong way to water and this is probably the most common mistake made by beginners. Again, with the proper teaching resource, whether that is a Master Bonsai artist or a reputable how to book, anyone can easily learn how to properly care for their bonsai.
Be Patient, Bonsai Require Time.
You must remember that growing bonsai is truly an art form. For many first time bonsai artists think that "owning' a bonsai is what it is all about. Don't be fooled, this is not what bonsai is all about. It is about the enjoyment of caring for the bonsai and ultimately their creation. This takes time. As an aspiring bonsai artist you will need time to learn how to properly care for and train your tree, but you must also have the time to see it come to fruition. Bonsai are not created over night. A typical bonsai may not even be placed into a bonsai pot until after a few years of training. Don't rush the process, enjoy it! It's more about the journey than the destination.
For a great way to learn more about the truly wonderful world bonsai, take a look at our page at Bonsai Gardening Secrets.
Watch Out For Your Next Gardening Weekly Entitled:
Growing Orchids In The Home
Bye for now!
The My Gardening Home Blog Team
I spent my childhood in climates where the flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) flourished, and I loved its elegant simplicity. When we moved here, I was dismayed but not surprised when my new neighbor… [[ This is a content summary only …
Source: Kathy Purdy
hedwig wrote at 28 Mar 2007 10:28 PM GMT: I've borrowed a book "gardening when it counts", by Steve Soloman. I think it's quite interesting, however I am not shure if what he writes does apply to realy warm subtropical climates like SE …
Hi everyone
Welcome to this edition of your Gardening Weekly, today's edition is entitled:
Themes in Your Garden
QUOTE: Who would have thought it possible that a tiny little flower could preoccupy a person so completely that there simply wasn't room for any other thought….
- Sophie Scholl
It is good to have a theme that you can follow throughout your garden and work on a plan and a selection of plants that will go along with that theme.
By having a theme to follow this will dictate, not only the types of plants that you will be buying, but also anything else that you put in the garden. This will include everything from sculptures and garden furniture, to the colors of the pots that you will choose.
While some people might think this is restricting their freedom of creation, it does in fact allow you to create a garden that has more freedom of flow rather than being disjointed with a variety of different themes that never quite gel together.
Website Of Interest. Check out the following:
http://blog.mygardeninghome.com/gardencenter.html
Sometimes the theme of your garden will be determined by the style of the house that you have on the property, and other times it will be determined by the geographical location that you are living in.
If for instance you are living near a beach, you will probably want the theme to tie in with the beach setting. By doing this you are likely to get plants for your garden that are more appropriate and will endure the conditions that they will be growing in.
Plants that are suitable for growing in coastal areas will be able to withstand the winds and the salt of the sea air that could quickly damage other plants that aren't suitable for those conditions.
Likewise it wouldn't look quite as appropriate to have a tropical garden with palms where a cottage garden would compliment the style of the house.
And tropical plants are not going to flourish as well in cold harsh climates so there are many factors that need to be taken into account when deciding on your garden theme.
Website Of Interest. Check out the following:
http://blog.mygardeninghome.com/gardencenter.html
Thanks,
Annie
http://blog.mygardeninghome.com
