Grow Your Own Basic Organic Home Garden Of Herbs
October 13th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
No matter where you live in the world most cultures like to use herbs in their cooking to provide the flavours and aroma that we have all come to love. With the enormous spread in popularity of Gourmet Cooking shows on television we are encouraged to expand our culinary tastes to include dishes from all over the world . As most professional chefs prefer to use fresh herbs in their cooking why not follow in their steps and grow our own basic herb garden at home.
It is quite easy to put in a basic organic home garden of herbs and grow the ones most commonly used ones. Most of the common herbs used as spices in cooking can be successfully grown in average soil but some do request rich soil, such as oregano.
Additionally, some herbs in a basic organic home garden of herbs such as parsley are biennial in nature. This means the first year they are grown they will not be useful for seasoning. It is during the second year that the crop can be used. Ideally, with parsley, plant a new crop of seeds one year after planting your first parsley plants so that in a couple of years they will overlap, providing usable seasoning every year.
Most of the herbs grown in a basic organic home garden of herbs such as, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, oregano and basil are tolerant of direct sun, but will require a minimum amount of water to survive. You can harvest leaves, sprigs and twigs from any of your herbs as they are growing giving fresh organic herbs for your kitchen.
However, some plants like thyme is a very forgiving plant and if it dries out will likely come back when an appropriate amount of water is given. Since some have different soil requirements and can grow under slightly different conditions, having them separated by variety can help get them started and keep them growing throughout their life.
Whenever Possible, Plant Herbs Close To Where They Will Be Used
In most cases it is easier on the grower to plant the basic organic home garden of herbs close to the kitchen for easy harvesting of the fresh crop. Remember, the entire growth does not have to be cut and used at once. With the right care, the spices will continue to grow and be usable during the entire season. Drying or freezing the extra cuttings at the end of the season can possibly supply the spice throughout the winter, often lasting until the next crop produces the following year.
If you are little short on space why not consider companion growing? When planting a basic organic home garden of herbs that would take more room than available, certain herbs can be planted among other plants, especially tomatoes. Parsley can play well with other plants specifically tomatoes, asparagus and among roses. Broccoli and cauliflower also welcome rosemary in their midst. Basil also likes to grow alongside tomatoes too.
The only problem with planting herbs among other plants is that they can be mistaken and trampled on inadvertently when weeding, pruning and maintaining the other plants in your mixed garden bed.
A basic organic home garden of herbs is a valuable addition to your kitchen supplies and really wont take too much of your valuable time to look after.
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Flowering Bulbs Indoors
October 9th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
Bring Your Natural Home Garden Inside
If you start in the fall, you can have lovely spring flowers by the middle of winter. Growing bulbs inside takes up little space, and it’s easy and fun.
The trick is to simulate a short winter. By placing the potted bulbs placed in the refrigerator, in a cool closet, or in a foam cooler on a patio or balcony, they will be fooled into thinking it’s winter. That causes them to grow sturdy roots and start sprouting in preparation for spring.
Organic Garden Soil
Any commercial organic potting mix is fine for bulbs, or you can make your own. It’s pretty simple, using 1 part sterilized potting soil (organic garden soil), one part perlite, and 2 parts peat moss. Mix these three components well. That gives you a clean, porous, moisture retaining, nutrient filled potting soil.
It’s better not to use unsterilized soil from your outside garden because it may contain bacterial or fungal pathogens that could infect the plant roots.
Finding A Pot To Plant In
Once you have your soil prepared, choose the pot you want to use. Almost anything will work as long as there are holes for drainage, or you place a layer of gravel in the bottom to give excess water a place to go. Use your imagination and try something a little different, like an old teapot for example. Or find an old bucket or pot and punch holes in the bottom for drainage, and use that.
Whatever you decide to use, place a few pieces of broken pots or shells or rocks over the drainage holes. The idea is to cover the hole enough to keep soil from falling out of the hole during planting, but still allow water to drain out from the hole. This will also keep the hole from clogging up later.
Bulbs In The Pot!
Fill the pot half-full of soil mix, then place the bulbs in the container with pointed ends up. They should be planted as close together as possible, without actually letting the bulbs touch. Add enough soil mix to fill the pot, and water the bulbs thoroughly from the top or immerse in a tub of water - this will settle the soil around the bulbs.
Ideas For Garden Of Blooms Inside
Some of the following bulbs work well for indoor flowering:
- Daffodils: Plant 4 bulbs in an 8-inch pot. Place in a cooler or the refrigerator for 8 to 12 weeks, then move to a lighted area. After about 4 weeks, they should start to bloom.
- Hyacinth: Put 3 bulbs in an 8-inch pot and place in a cooler or closet for 7 weeks. Move to partial sunlight for a week, then into full sun for blooming.
- Tulips: Try 3 bulbs in a 6-inch pot. They should be kept in a cooler or refrigerator for 12 weeks, then moved to a dark closet for one week. After that, place the pot in the light and in about five weeks there should be blooms.
There are many places that carry good quality bulbs. One good place to get really high quality bulbs is Brecks. You can click here for Daffodils from Breck’s, plus all kinds of other beautiful bulbs.
Other bulbs like snowdrop and crocus take about 12 weeks. Longer cold storage will result in taller flowers, while a shorter storage time will result in smaller plants and sometimes flowers that start to bloom, then die.
Organic Garden Tips For Lovely Blooms
Label each pot with the name of the cultivars, date of planting and date to bring out of cold storage. This will give you some idea when to be checking the pots to see if the bulbs are sprouting, and what you have growing in each pot.
The best way to be sure is to check the pots now and then. When you see the shoots 2 to 3 inches above the soil and fine white roots emerging from the drainage holes, it’s time to bring the pots out of cold storage.
At this stage of development all bulbs should be placed in indirect lighting for a while before moving them to direct sunlight. Do not be allow the soil to dry out.
It also works better to first move bulbs to a fairly cool location if possible, such as an unheated entryway or closed off back bedroom, where the temperatures are in the ’50s, before moving them on to the heated areas of the house, and into more direct sunlight.
From Inside To Outside
If you wish to reuse the bulbs, after the bulbs quite blooming cut the flower stems off. Make sure the remaining foliage has plenty of sunlight to continue to grow, as this is how the bulb gathers nutrients for next year’s blooms.
After the foliage withers, don’t pull the leaves off. Just leave them on the plant. Store the bulbs in the pots in a cool, dry place until they can be planted outside. Don’t try to make the same bulbs bloom inside again, as the bulb is weakened from being forced to bloom. Even if the bulb blooms again, it would be small.
Placing the bulbs back in the garden setting allows them to return to a natural schedule, and after a year or two, they will again produce a beautiful display of flowers.
Indoor blooms are a great way to cheer up the home!
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How to Care for an Indoor Bonsai
October 6th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
Indoor Organic Gardening With Bonsai
Keeping bonsai plants is an age old practice for beautiful indoor plants. Bonsai trees are very striking in appearance, so there are many who enjoy having them in the home. Since they’re not exposed outdoor weather or to full, natural sunlight. they need special care. Despite the fact that they look pretty tough, bonsai trees can be rather picky with their light and water requirements.
Keeping Your Indoor Bonsai Watered
Keeping a bonsai tree indoors will require sufficient lighting to replace the natural sunlight that it would have been receiving outdoors. Good ventilation is also important. The type of bonsai you have will dictate how often you need to water it, as will the state of the soil it is planted in. There are some bonsai trees that require well watered soil, but others are able to survive with almost no moisture.
High humidity will help a bonsai tree thrive. This is best achieved by regular misting. Humidity trays can be useful, but don’t let the pot sit right in the water; it should be sitting on a stand or some stones.
Cutting And Pruning
Regular pruning is necessary to keep an indoor bonsai tree maintained with a good appearance. Even though the bonsai tree might appear to be frozen in time, that doesn’t mean it isn’t growing. A bonsai tree needs to be repotted somewhere between one to three years, depending on the type, whether it’s an outdoor or indoor plant. Good organic soil is a plus. In addition, the branches must receive proper care so they keep their shape.
In the wintertime, you’ll likely have to reduce fertilization, depending on the type of bonsai you have. This is because some tree species hibernate during the season and do not need as much nutrients as in warmer months. It’s harder for an indoor bonsai to truly experience the seasonal cycles due to its simulated surroundings.
It’s important to check your indoor bonsai for pests and any other abnormalities that might show up. Since they’re indoors, they will likely attract mites and spiders from the outside. Use a natural method to remove pests, such as a soft, damp cloth or brush to carefully clean the branches and leaves of an indoor bonsai.
Bonsai can be a beautiful addition to the indoor organic garden.
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5 Tips For Tomatoes In Pots
October 2nd, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
Organic Garden Tips - Tomatoes In Pots
Growing tomatoes in pots can work quite well. It’s a great way to grow tomatoes close to the house, or grow them when you don’t have a garden space and don’t want to dig holes in your yard.
Growing tomatoes in pots will allow for a succession of healthy and tasty tomatoes all season. There isn’t any difference in taste. However, tomatoes in pots may not grow as big or produce quite as many tomatoes as those in the ground, but there’s still plenty for good eating!
Here’s some tips on getting the best results from container grown tomatoes.
Organic Garden Tip #1 - Make sure you put tomato plants in a really big pot.
The root systems need to have plenty of room so they won’t become pot bound. Your tomatoes need a big pot of at least 10 inches in diameter to have enough room for the roots. Standard clay terracotta pots work well, but any wide and deep container will work fine.
Organic Garden Tip #2 - Use good organic garden soil in the pot.
The tomatoes are going to be feeding off the soil in the pot, so be sure to give them all the nutrition they need with some good organic garden soil. If the soil available is poor, add some amendments like compost. It’s important to use the best soil possible so your tomatoes will have food to grown on.
Organic Garden Tip #3 - Water your tomatoes even if it rains.
Even if there is lots of rain, you need to check pot grown plants more regularly. Since there is a limited amount of organic soil in the pots, it can only hold so much water, plus the thick leaves of the tomato plant prevent some of the rain water from reaching the soil in the first place. The tomatoes will wilt quickly if not kept well-watered, especially on hot summer days. Make it a habit to check your plants every day, or even every morning and evening.
Organic Garden Tip #4 - Be ruthless with pinching out side shoots on the tomato plants.
You can get by with allowing more suckers on tomato plants in a garden space, but when growing them in a pot, it’s important to channel the growing energy into a smaller number of stems and tomatoes. Check the tomato plants in pots at least once a week and remove side shoots to be sure that the fruits will be big and juicy.
Organic Garden Tip #5 - Remove excess foliage once you have the tomato fruits.
The idea is to take away excess leaves to allow the sun to ripen the fruits better. You can ripen your tomatoes indoors but they taste better when left on the plant as long as possible to get ripe. Removing some of the leaves that are covering up tomatoes also gives you slightly bigger tomatoes.
Be Ready For Growing Tomatoes Next Year
For most of us, the tomato season is over for this year. That just means it’s a good time to start planning ahead for your tomato growing in 2009. When the new seed catalogs start pouring into your mailbox, you can dream and plot what to put in the pots!
Cause pots and containers are excellent for growing tomatoes! You’ll love having your own fresh home-grown tomatoes, so give it a try!
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Let Groundcovers Do The Work For A Natural Yard Slope
September 29th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
Organic Gardening on a Slope – Part III
You’ve thought about the terraces. You’ve thought about the rock gardens. For whatever reason – economics, physical work, whatever – they don’t appeal to you right now. Well, there’s still another option to take care of a sloped area, and that’s to use groundcovers for a natural yard. It’s not as expensive, and it’s less work than both terraces and rock gardens.
Time To Get Some Plants
If you can find someone with a lot of ground cover that would be willing to let use get some starts from their plants, then you can do it for free.
Otherwise, you will obviously have some expense if you have buy plants. You can usually get a better per plant price, however, when you’re buying a big bunch of plants. DirectGardening.com (offers quality plants at great prices!), for instance, has price breaks when buying larger numbers of plants.
Deciding What Plants To Use
There are many plants to use for a natural yard that are adapted to a wide range of environmental conditions such as the available light and moisture. You should also take into account the growth rate. If you’re looking for a quick cover, buy something that grows fast. Also keep in mind, some ground covers are aggressive, and you may want to keep them in bounds by mowing around the area.
You can check in any garden catalog for ground cover plants. Some of the more popular ground covers are:
- Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster spp.)
- Creeping Heath (Erica Carnea Hybrids)
- English ivy (Hedera helix)
- Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis)
- Lamium (Lamium maculatum)
- Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon)
- Pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis)
- Partridge berry (Gaultheria procumbens)
- Periwinkle (Vinca minor)
- Potentilla (Potentilla spp.)
- Veronica (Veronica prostrata ‘Goldwell’)
- Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei)
Once they’re established, the slope will look great and need little care.
A Nautral Yard With A Better Slope
Planting ground covers on a slope will help prevent erosion of the soil, make the slope look better, and eradicate the need for mowing or other weed control. It’s a great solution to improve the looks of your natural yard!
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