It can seem daunting to begin with an organic vegetable or herbal garden for the first time, but there are few better ways to be good to the planet while also being good to yourself and enjoying yourself.
photo credit: themissiah

As you may know organic herbs and vegetables are a better alternative than industrially grown ones, but they can be quite expensive.

By setting up your own organic garden you will be able to have a fresh supply for a fraction of the price!

Te first thing that you should do, as it will take a little while for this to be ready, is to separate your kitchen waste from the rest and build a compost heap. This can also be done indoors. Compost will prove a great boon as it is the best natural fertilizer for an organic garden and its vegetables and herbs.

Besides eliminating the need for fertilizer, compost retains moisture and therefore allows you to use less water on your organic garden. You can put all kind of kitchen refuse and garden cuttings on your compost heap, just make sure to avoid big quantities of meat or fish, and don’t add human or pet dung! These are too acidic and also the wrong kind of bacteria.

You’ll also need to source organic seeds or sprouts for your organic vegetable and herbal gardening project. In most cases, commercial seeds are not organic so you will have to make doubly sure to get the right starters.

There probably are specialized shops that sell organic seeds for gardening in your area, but you can also buy them through an online shop and have them mailed to you. Online is probably better for most users, as you get the convenience of choosing from home from a bigger catalogue, and as for all mailed products you can return organic gardening supplies if they are not up to your expectation.

To begin seeding, don’t start your organic garden outdoors right away! Use a glasshouse or put your seeds inside the house, where it’s warm. Let them sprout on a piece of damp cotton or paper and then transfer them to small pots and let them grow a bit.
photo credit: Aka Hige

Once there are two little leaflets on your seedlings, put them into bigger containers. The best are pots made of plant material, as you can plant these straight into soil and let them biodegrade. If you are planting organic herbs, you can put them outside or in window pots next to your kitchen.

Vigorous, organic soil is fundamental for organic vegetable and herbal gardening. Like compost, good organic soil will not only grow healthier plants that taste better, but will also act as a natural pest controller. If you’ve had a non-organic garden before, it may take some time to clean the chemical laden soil, or you can dig it all out and start anew with organic soil.

Once you have some good compost, spread it over your soil. The layer should be about two inches thick. If done correctly, the compost alone will contribute all the necessary nutrients and minerals that your organic vegetable and herbal garden needs to grow and flourish.

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potting shed.

photo credit: Nadya Peek

Here are a few ideas for gardening tips and tools that I have not seen before and they look like ideas I should use in my gardening.

I also don’t have a potting shed but after seeing this shed I think it’s a must add to my backyard and garden area.

I don’t think it will be quite as neat and tidy though!

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photo credit: chidorian

Nature usually keeps insects in line with birds and other predators but sometimes certain creatures get out of control. Weather, over-population, and disease can cause unbalance in nature.

You also need to make sure there is not place for insects to hide and no diseases decaying matter for bugs to hide in. I you notice you have an insect problems and you plants are suffering, you can hand pick the insects of any plant and destroy them. You can also dislodge them with a strong spray of water.

But if you have an all out attack on your garden plants there is an insect spray you can make that will handle the problem quickly.

And yes, it sounds a bit strange.

Bug Juice Insect Spray

Collect a trowel of the damage-causing pests, and liquefy them in a blender with 1-cup (8 fl oz/250 ml) water. (I keep an old blender on hand to use for such purposes) Strain and dilute the mixture with 1-gallon (4 l) water, and pour the juice into a spray bottle.

Select plants that are infected with insects and spray. This mixture will not harm the plants. This is effective on nearly all pests, including beetles, squash and stink bugs, cutworms, army worms and even slugs

NOTE: Do not use bug juice on fleas, mosquitoes, or other blood-sucking insects that transmit disease.

Provide habitats for predators.

A single toad, frog, bird or bat consumes hundreds of insects a day. Toads and frogs are fun to watch in the garden areas and are harmless.
photo credit: Stryker W@SP

I had a toad that lived in my garden near the cumber patch for years. He either hid under the cucumber leaves or used the clay terra cotta planter I placed in the garden in a shady area. I also had a saucer of water sitting nearby for him. I enjoyed watching him in my garden areas.

Bats and birds are also helpful in keeping insects under control so provide houses for them to encourage them to stay in you backyard. The bat houses I place down by my creek. I am not fond of bats but they love mosquitoes and I don’t.
photo credit: Wagner Machado Carlos Lemes

Overall the best way to control insects is to notice the problems as soon as possible and take immediate action.

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Orchids are one of the most beautiful plants in the world and it is upsetting if they are not flourishing in your care.
photo credit: travlinman43

Below are three important areas of care for your orchid. Following these will not guarantee you perfect blooms, but it will keep your plant healthy so you can work on getting the flowers next.

1. Orchids And Water - It is very easy to over water an orchid, and your orchid will soon show that it is unhappy. An orchid does not need watering daily, once every five days will probably be sufficient, and they can survive for up to two weeks without water. Different orchids will however have different requirements, so make sure you know as much as possible about your plant.

When the days are shorter and darker your orchid will probably not need as much water, so expect to change your orchid care with the seasons.

2. The Sun Can Harm Your Orchid – Orchids need sun, but it’s easy for them to get too much direct sunlight. Direct sunlight may cause dark spots to appear on the leaves of the plant or it is possible that the leaf will still look healthy, but the deep green tone will start to fade.

Think bright sunlight rather than direct sunlight, the difference may seem slight to you, but to an orchid we are talking life or death.

3. Orchids And Infestations - Seeing your beautiful orchid covered in small insects is upsetting. Although they may seem to have appeared overnight the reality is that they have been around for some time. By taking good daily care of your orchid you should be able to avoid pests.

Dead leaves can be a cause of pests. The pests will breed in the leaves as they start to go damp on the soil. Maintenance of the environment of your orchid is important.
photo credit: FlowersByMeredith

Overall, if you can provide the correct environment for your orchid you will be able to help it to grow and flourish.

An orchid is like a child, once you have the right surroundings you will then be able to bring out the best in it.

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Rainfall every other day creates the perfect setup for foliar fungal diseases on vegetables.

Many fungal diseases thrive and spread in a humid climate where plants stay wet for long periods of time.

Other fungi prefer cooler wet weather.

Whichever situation you are facing in your area, these conditions will create plant disease unless extra steps are taken to help.

Good air circulation will help plants stay healthy. Remove any sickly leaves and keep weeds down.  You may also decide to plant disease resistant vegetable varieties as a precaution for humid or wet weather conditions.

Fungicides such as Daconil can be used to help combat these diseases. Always make sure you diagnosis the plants problem before spraying a fungicide.

Many fungal diseases appear first as leaf spots. Common plant diseases in the garden are early blight and late blight on tomatoes and Irish potatoes, rust on snap and pole beans, and powdery mildew on squash, cucumbers and watermelons.

Another weather condition that affects the vegetable garden is fluctuations in day and night temperatures.

Stunted growth and dieback may occur and about the only way to correct this is to replant the plants. It may seem drastic but unhealthy plants do not produce well and may spread disease to healthy plants

Deformed tomatoes or catfacing are common problems if the weather is cool and cloudy at the time of bloom. And tomatoes tend to crack during rainy periods when the temperature is relatively high. This happens more when rains follow a long, dry period.

Many of the cosmetic flaws found on fruit may be attributed to drastic changes in temperature and moisture levels during the flowering sage and even during the first stages of fruit developing.

Lack of pollination, petal drop, or no fruit in some vegetables may also be attributed to drastic changes in weather patterns or abnormal temperatures.

Sprays will help any disease from plants that are stressed from bad weather conditions but poor fruit or vegetable crops really cant be controlled unless you grow you crops in containers, which can be moved indoors or into a greenhouse or if you can cover your crops.

Poor weather conditions can affect any area and my NW Pennsylvania garden has seen a few too many unpredictable gardens seasons in the last few years.

For this reason I have learned to always grow a few tomato and pepper plants on the patio or in a greenhouse. I also grow strawberries year round in hanging baskets. I also keep row cover handy for covering my plants against rain and cooler nights.
photo credit: quinn.anya

If your garden is suffering from poor climate conditions these ideas may help and your weather may also improve.

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Gourds can vary from the small decorative gourds most popular for fall decorations and to the dishrag gourds used for cleaning. And who can forget the larger gourds that are used for canteens or even tables or toy boxes.  
photo credit: timlewisnm

I have grown almost every variety of gourd there is and in my zone 5 climate this can be a challenge.  Many of the larger gourds can take 125 to 130 days to mature.

This year in my crafting garden I am growing the smaller decorative gourds, two other small gourd varieties and the dishrag gourd.

In my swing set garden I have nine gourd varieties growing and near the barn I have the bushel gourd and two rare gourds that are new to me this year. I separated them from my other gourds so they would not cross-pollinate and I would be able to save seeds.
photo credit: Otto Phokus

My swing set garden is exactly what I named it. I like to grow my gourds vertical so that insects do not bother them and so they grow evenly. Since they are very heavy I needed strong support so I use an old swing set.

By placing a heavy layer of rotted manure in the triangular section of the set, I create a barrier against weeds and also supply a source of nutrition for the gourds, which are heavy feeders.

I place heavy twine from the top of the swing set to stakes in the ground to supply support for the gourd to grow on.

I also include flowers and sunflowers mixed in with the gourds to help attract bees for the gourds pollination. The flowers also add color and interest to the garden area.

Growing gourds on a swing set has improved the quality and production. And later in the year I can cover the swing set with clear plastic if I need to extend the season for a week or two.
photo credit: Aunt Owwee

I use the gourds I grow for small furniture, gourd instruments, wall decorations, birdhouses and ornaments.

Gourds are a fun crop to grow because you never know exactly what you will get and the gourd has so many uses.

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photo credit: Lorri37

Both drought conditions in gardening and cool damp weather creates their own growing problems but with planning you can head off possible challenges that would slow down your crop production and beauty in the flower gardens.

This year my growing climate started out dry and warmer than normal, now I have moved into nights that are too cool and damp weather. I also live in a zone 5 growing zone so my growing season is shorter than most to begin with.

Here are a few ideas that have helped me keep my gardens warmer and drier in those cool summers.

Grow you crops and flowers in raised beds. Raised beds dry out faster, warm up quicker in the spring and can be built in such a way as to place a cover over the garden to keep rain off the plants and soil if you really are suffering from too much rain. (Plants that have too much rain will start to have yellow leaves, thin out and look unhealthy)

If your garden is already planted you may want to add a raised bed for plants and crops that are not doing well and replant or plant container planters. Container gardens can be moved onto porches if there is too much rain. I also have made mini tents to cover my containers when I have had wet cold summers.

Cover your crops with plastic or if you growing zone is short you may want to consider using a mini greenhouse for certain plants. I grow a few tomatoes, peppers, most of my gourds and a variety of flowers in a greenhouse n the summer. I can start these plants earlier and grow them late into the fall.

If your garden has a problem draining put in a small drainage channel with a hoe or spade to re-direst water. One year we had too much rain in the summer and I put in mini ditches in the garden. It helped.

I also let my nephew have a section on the lower garden for playing with his farming toys. It tended to be a little moister in that area and one day after a heavy rain while he was playing he hit water with his toy backhoe, which he thought was funny. I wasn’t quite as impressed at the time.

Black plastic will keep the soil warmer and will keep some of the water off the soil. I am not that much of a fan or plastic on soil but my neighbors have used it and seem to like the results.

The main thing to remember if you have too much water is to try and keep the soil dry and additional rain off if possible. And if cool temperatures exist at the same time covering with clear plastic to hold in heat in the evening and to keep additional rain off will help.

Usually a cool wet spell will pass in a few weeks and if you can keep the plants healthy during this time they will flourish later.

Also with flowers, make sure to deadhead the old blossoms. In cool weather they will get wet and rot which may lead to plant disease.

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photo credit: adobemac

This year I am hearing mixed reviews of gardening problems that relate to droughts or too much rain and cold. Both problems can slow down plants growth and the success of you plants. And of course I seem to be having a mix of both problems this year.

So how do you prepare for weather related garden problems? The answer, be prepared!

Drought Conditions

The best way to prepare for drought conditions is to set your garden up to deal with the lack of water. Here are a few suggestions that will help you.

Rich soil with loam and compost will hold water better than poor soil. So add compost and fertilizer to your garden at the beginning of the year.

Mulch your garden plot. After I have planted my garden I water the area well and immediately cover the ground with 2 to 4 inches of mulch. My mulch is a mix of compost, leaves, grass clipping and straw that has sat for a few weeks to age.

If you don’t have these materials on hand newspaper will also work. But you should be able to round up grass clipping from your yard or your neighbors.

Weeds require water, so remove all weeds as soon as they appear.

Use native plants in your flower gardens and around the yard. Native plants are drought tolerant.

Mow less and do not cute the grass not as short. Also if you live in an area that suffers from drought a lot you may want to consider removing the grass and going for a wooded look or add hardscape and rock and retire that lawn mower.

As a rule, lawns need about 1 inch of water a week. Test how much you’re watering by collecting your sprinkler water in a can. And if conditions are very bad in your area you may have to let the grass go brown and use that water for you garden vegetables.

Add a rain barrel to your yard. It’s amazing how much rain you can capture and reuse for plants and the garden area.

You can water by using an inverted plastic bottle that you have placed in the ground by a plant. Cut out the bottom of the bottle, take off the cap and place in the garden by water hungry plants. This bottle will act like a funnel and take the water directly to the plants roots. I use this technique with tomato plants, melons and my gourd crops. The funnel is put in place at the same time I plant the plants.

If your garden is small and you are using the “intensive garden method” water each plant with a dipper. Create a small inverted saucer near the plant to keep the water near the plants and hand water each plant. You will have no water run over suing this method and a small garden can easily be watered in 20 minutes.

If you have a sprinkler system, make sure its in good condition. Repair any broken or missing spray heads or emitters. You can also install a drip or low-volume irrigation system.

You may want to check out this Home and Garden article. It’s all about different irrigation systems and packed with great information: How to Build a drip Watering System.

I would also check plants for moisture before watering. Curling leaves, a grayish color and permanent wilting indicate under-watering. Leaves that turn yellow and drop off indicates you could be over-watering.

One other trick I have used in a drought is to cover my plants and give them shade during the hottest hours of the day, noon to 2 p.m. I only do this if the drought is very bad and the plants look like they are suffering.

With a little care you can keep you plants healthy when there is a drought. And hopefully the problem will end and your garden will be able to flourish without extra steps.

An article on gardening in cold and damp weather will follow in a few days.

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photo credit: cupcakes2

But whatever amount of lawn you have it need to be healthy and full with out bare spots for the lawn to have a flowing look. And a healthy lawn can be a centerpiece in your landscape design and will cool the temperatures around your home.

It will also add cleaner air to you backyard. Add a few plants for color and accent and you have created a perfect backyard oasis to relax in and enjoy your free time.

Planting a lawn

Plant cool-season grasses in early spring or fall and warm-season grasses in late spring to early summer.

The first step is to determine you soil mix. You can send a sample to your local cooperative extension service or test it yourself with a home testing kit. This will help you to determine what nutrients you have and lack, what the pH is, and whether or not you need lime or sulphur.

Your neighbors may also know the soil conditions that are most common in your area. I know I have high acid and clay in most soil.

After you know what your soil lacks for a healthy lush lawn you can improve the soil by adding 2 to 3 inches of organic matter over the planting area. Compost and bark are two organic materials that are often used.  A starter fertilizer may also be beneficial to your yard if you lack potassium and phosphorous.

Till the soil to mix in the organic matter to a depth of six to eight inches. This step may take several passes to get properly mixed into the soil. Smooth the planting area with a leveling rake.

You can sow seed, lay sod over the planting area or plant stolens. Which process you decide on will depend on your climate, time and the amount you plan to spend on your new lawn area.

In choosing your grass you can check which type of grass grows best in your area.  Your garden center or nursery will be able to help you select the best grass for the climate and even for the use of your yard. A yard with heavy traffic or children will need a hardier grass mix.

Also keep in mind that you need to plant cool-season grasses in early spring or fall and warm-season grasses in late spring to early summer.

Avoid letting your newly planted lawn dry out. You may need to water more than once a day for at least a week or two after planting. You will also need to keep an eye on the moisture of the lawn for six to eight weeks. If the lawn dries out it will die in places.

You will also want to keep children and pets off the grass until it is about 1 ½ inches tall. At this time you can let traffic on the yard and even mow it.  You may want to rope off your yard if you live in a town or area with many children to protect the lawn from intruders.

If your new lawn is watered well and has the right nutrients it will be healthy and look great for years to come.

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The economy has the nation in a pinch. Your grocery bill expands while your paycheck continues to shrink. Your gas tank eats $30 to $40 every time you fill up. Considering the devastated economy, you’re probably never going to see a raise this year even though prices are going up. Sometimes it can feel like you’re wrestling an alligator just to make ends meet.
photo credit: NatalieHG

You’re going to have to do something about your budget. Penny pinching begins with the grocery bill. More people are beginning to raise their own food in their home, growing their own indoor vegetables in whatever free space they have. All it takes is a few feet of extra space to harvest a fresh indoor vegetable garden, cutting your grocery bill down to size.

Making every dollar work for you makes economical sense, especially when it comes to a LED UFO light. They use very little energy, generally just a little more than a typical living room lamp. A 90-watt growing LED light can produce as much light as a 400-watt HPS bulb and cover 12 feet of space. The lights aren’t even noticeable on your electric bill, no more than leaving the front light on all night.

LED lights may be a little more expensive, but keep in mind they virtually last a lifetime. While HPS lights lose their power after only a couple of growing seasons, LED lights produce optimal light for decades. If you plan to grow indoors for more than a few seasons, they are absolutely worth the money.

Because the lights produce little heat, there’s no danger of heat damage to your plants. You don’t need to worry about using fans or air conditioners.

An LED UFO light is simple to install. Conveniently hang it from the ceiling and plug it in. You don’t have to mess with cumbersome ballasts, and you don’t need any fans. With growing LED lights, setting up a growing process couldn’t be simpler.

There’s also no need for an electrician. Since all you have to do is plug the light in, there’s no complicated wiring to configure. It’s safe with little risk of fire.

With indoor gardening, you can enjoy fresh tomatoes, lettuce, herbs, green peppers throughout the year, even if you live in the city. LED lights let you grow indoors with no carbon footprint. You’ll save money growing your own food, and you’ll live healthier. When you enjoy a complete diet of fresh organic tomatoes and herbs, you really feel the difference, beginning with your energy and vitality. Your food will not only taste better, but you’ll be healthier and enjoy more energy every day.

Technorati Tags: container gardening, gardening tips, Growing LED, indoor plants, vegetables

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