Jenny and I grow flowers in hanging baskets which are containers plus we grow tomatoes in containers and train them on a trellis or tall stakes. We also like to keep a herb container garden near the backdoor for use in the kitchen.

For people in impoverished nations, container gardening is being taught to women in the context of food security. While for some it can be a hobby that brings vibrancy and color to a home, it can be more than that when vegetables are grown in pots.

What makes container gardening such a wonderful thing are the ideas that one comes up with. While each garden is unique, there are  common practices that gardeners can do to ensure the survival and growing of their plants.

1. What determine the container gardening pots, the  plants species and the size of the garden is the purpose or the design that the gardener wants to create. Choosing of pots can be based on how it will be used or the way it looks. The use of personal preference is usually acceptable yet one’s choice must never depart from the basic concept of suitability.

2. This is an artificial environment, so check the elements and keep them in optimum levels. Choose the right size of the garden by deciding on the container; provide enough space to prevent competition. Avoid being waterlogged with the use of containers with a drainage system like drainage holes or a layer of gravel  1 to 2 inches thick at the bottom. To prevent the garden from drying out, do not use garden soil but good potting mix.

3. Picking plants with similar needs in terms of water  and sunlight requirements is strategic when doing combination or companion planting. To give the garden some harmony, choose plants with sizes that are suitable to the size of the pot and with preference to plants that can stand aridity. Do not plant active spreaders.

4. Maintain the garden with enough sunlight, water and food. Despite the convenience of  commercial fertilizers, going organic especially for vegetables for personal consumption. Using composts from one’s own biodegradable waste is best.

There are challenges in container gardening yet it provides the chance to learn much by trying new concepts. Having the jitters at the start is normal for all beginners, get started  with the right container gardening pots.

Related articles

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• Herb Container Gardening To Add Pizzazz To Your Cuisine (hbb2obm.com)
• Vegetable Container Gardening Is Perfect For Beginners (backyardgardeningtips.com)
• Container Gardening When You Have No Space (backyardgardeningtips.com)

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Whether you started your veggies from seed or buy starter plants like we did for the first couple of years it’s still stressful as there seems to be a lot that can go wrong. I hope these 6 steps to vegetable garden planting helps you as much as they have helped us.

1.  Choosing Where To Start Digging

My wife and I found that planting wasn’t the thing we should have been focusing on. Instead we should have put more thought into the location we were going to start our vegetable garden.

Our first vegetable garden location just happened to be the lowest spot in our yard and soon filled with water that wouldn’t drain. It took a lot of work to get our vegetable garden to drain in a reasonable amount of time.

2.  Digging The Right Sized Holes

When Jenny and I first started vegetable gardening we were a little confused about the size each hole needed to be. It seemed it was different for each plant.

It was a little overwhelming at the start but really all we had to do was follow the instructions that came with each veggie plant.

We also learned that we could just make the holes we were digging a little deeper than from the bottom of the container to the top of the dirt. That was pretty simple, once we learned it.

3.  Getting Your Plants Safely Out Of Their Pots

Another beginner gardening task I found a bit scary was removing my plants from their pots without destroying the plant of root ball.

After all, these fragile little things can be easily damaged so you want to go gently.  I usually squeeze the sides of the pot to release the dirt ball from the sides. This helps to keep the dirt from clinging to the pot.

Next I gently place the fingers of one hand around the stalk for support, turn the pot on it’s side or upside down and gently work the roots and soil out of the container. I do this slowly as the roots can sometime be root bound and stuck through the holes on the bottom.

4.  Getting The Plants In The Ground

Now comes the fun part – putting your plants in their new home!  The first thing you want to do is gently try to spread out the roots.  Sometimes they are really compacted and you need to do a bit of tearing – not too much though.

What you want to do is just loosen them up a bit so they grow down into the soil.  Then simply place the plant in the hole with the roots spread as much as possible.  Be sure the plant isn’t leaning to one side.

5.  Filling In The Holes The Right Way

Once the plant is securely in the hole and the top of the original soil is level with the top of the hole, fill the empty spaces of the hole in with the dirt you originally removed from it.  Make sure you pat it down firmly – not too firm so that it is compacted, but enough so there are no air bubble.

6.  Planting Care of Your Plants

Finally, you want to water the plant thoroughly and you might even want to give it some starter fertilizer.  What I usually do is dig a shallow well around the plant kind of like a moat and let the water run in and fill this up.  Then I turn off the water and let it all drain in and repeat the process one more time.  You might find that you need to fill in a bit more soil as it settles down from the watering.

Check out our other home gardening tips blog which covers other home gardening tips.

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• Making The Best Use of Your Vegetable Garden Space (backyardgardeningtips.com)
• Companion Planting And Your Vegetable Garden (hbb2obm.com)

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I for one remember all too well the long days and hard work growing up on a 100 acre farm. I also remember how Dad would be up for hours before us and would be in the barn working before we ever crawled out of our warm beds.

Home Vegetable Garden

Today Jenny and I have a little garden plot about 16×10 feet. We get the unbelievable taste of home grown vegetable but without all that hard work and pesticides that gave me such horrible migraines.

Develop fruit and veggies that functions very best in your soil and climate. Don’t bother with land intensive plants like corn, leave that towards the farmers. However, in many places you can develop ice box melons, cantaloupes, tomatoes, and other truck farm fruits.

Plan Your Vegetable Garden

Start off having a diagram of one’s garden plot. Account for as numerous variables in the diagram as possible. The space, the fencing required to keep out critters, the irrigation, how numerous and just how much of every type of veggie, decrease it all to paper. Figure in your terrain, and access to sunlight as important elements.

For example, because of the rockiness of the area, or the way it’s situated within the back yard, you might be better off thinking about two 5×5 plots, instead of 1 10×10. If there’s a boulder back there, you may be much better off attempting to function around it, instead of face the expense and labour in removing it.

I like to figure some component of my veggie plot is going to become in containers. Take tomatoes, everyone desires them, they are component of the salad duet of lettuce and tomatoes, they’re versatile for sandwiches, and some people eat them alone. But they may require more sun than the garden plot part of your property receives, and they might need to begin in containers anyway to keep them going. So what’s going to become in containers ought to be part of one’s diagram, too.

Determine what you want and how much of it you can devote to your garden plot. Half a row of carrots or perhaps a entire row? Will all the plants in my veggie plot deal with water the same? Simply because what I truly wish to do is lay the garden hose in one end from the plot and have it water every thing equally.

We have grown both melons and zucchini and soon found they threw runners to bear fruit. These runners make them take up a little extra space. Our second year we planted them separate from our vegetable garden.

You also don’t want these runners to wrap themselves around more delicate plants and strangle them. Maybe a separate region could be much better for them if available?

Fruit or root plants–tomatoes, and peppers, for instance, thrive in complete sun. But there are plenty of leafy plants including broccoli, beans, and cauliflower, that do well having a couple of hours of sun, and mostly shade. So, in the event you currently have trees in the yard that will form a all-natural shade canopy, and still let in the requisite amount of rays, think about planting these by the tree.

But don’t anticipate your veggies to grow in total shade.

Container Herb Garden

As with the containers, think outside the plot. Can I make use from the porch for an herb garden that grows in a box or two?

Taking the time to diagram the garden prior to planting, and to determine which parts from the yard or porch are best for which purpose, will save time and cash in comparison with trial and error methods.

After you have a diagram, you are able to refine it, or take it with you to the local nursery where the specialists can assist offer the seeds, tools as well as other gear very best suited for your veggie garden.

Related articles

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• Companion Planting And Your Vegetable Garden (hbb2obm.com)

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Once you’ve tasted what a little herb does to a meal and learn how easy it is to grow a container herb garden you will definitely want your own herb garden.

I think it was Magellan who headed out into the unknown in search of spices to add pizzazz to their cooking. Trust me it’s a whole lot easier to grow your own herb container garden that to trek around the globe to find them.

There are only a few things you need to keep in mind when starting a container garden.

1. Choose Good Looking Containers

If you feel you would like to have herbs in individual containers you could select a variety of small containers that look good together. On the other hand if you buy large containers you can do some companion planting.

The thing to keep in mind is to NOT go with containers so big you won’t be able to move them if you feel the need.

Check each container to make certain they have the right sized drainage holes. This will keep your herb container garden from drowning the roots of your herbs.

2. Go For Herbs That You Enjoy

Don’t make your herb garden for other people. If you are going to eat them I would suggest you plant herbs you and your family enjoy. This doesn’t necessarily mean you only grow herb you like to eat. Many people enjoy planting herbs in containers, for their aroma or their look.

Some of my favourite herbs to grow in my herb gardens are:

• parsley
• basil
• mint
• sage
• rosemary
• thyme

3. Try Doing Some Companion Planting

Companion planting is a great idea in herb container gardening for plants with similar needs. Herbs that like water are parsley, chives, and marjoram. Conversely, herbs such as oregano, basil, rosemary, and thyme like the soil dry. Spreaders  like mint will do better when planted alone. The solo planters can be grouped for better visual appeal and expediency.

To make your herbs thrive you should provide them with lots of direct sunlight, start with a good potting mix, water as needed and even provide them with some plant food. When I talk about sunlight I would say at least 6 hours a day.

Of course if the sun is very intense it’s a good thing to move your herbs to a shadier spot which is one reason container gardening is so cool, no pun intended.

Today is a perfect day to start your herb container garden, I’m starting an indoor herb garden today, while preparing for our outdoor herb container garden. It’s always a surprise when you grow enough to share your herbs with friends and family, even your neighbours.

Related articles

• Choosing Container Gardening Pots Helps Get You On Track (hbb2obm.com)
• How to Start Home Gardening Without a Backyard (backyardgardeningtips.com)

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Spring 2012 looked a whole lot drier that 2011 and I thought I would get our vegetable garden turned over and prepared for planting. I thought we would be able to trim the edges and make it look better.

Oh well it’s still only April 27 so I guess I will concentrate on getting my vegetable and flower seeds started indoors and wait for the rain to stop and the ground to drain again. It’s certainly nothing like it was last year.

Last year this part of our yard was completely under water. Enough that ducks were able to land in it and swim around.

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Even a cat knows about alternative energy and will find the spot in our yard that gets the most heat directly from the sun.

James H. responded with a couple of great guest articles on alternative energy sources. I put the first article James sent us on my home gardening tips Moncton

Working for a national scale solar power company for the last two years has been an incredibly busy time. The number of installations of electricity-generating systems (also known as photovoltaic panels), has increased by a record amount year-on-year.

The size of the solar industry increased by 20% in the USA in 2009, and then by a further 30% in 2010. Despite their growing popularity, many people are uncertain as to whether their property would be suitable for installing solar panels, and whether the panels themselves should be installed in their garden or on the roof of their property.

There is no definitive answer to this question – it depends on your property. Over 85% of small scale, domestic, solar panel installations are carried out on rooftops rather than in gardens – a large figure, which may be because of the fact that many people don’t realize that if their roof isn’t suitable, then they could instead opt to install solar in their garden.

Location, Location, Location

It is a prerequisite that you have plenty of space in your yard, and that this space is almost entirely un-shaded at all times of day. The area required is approximately 20 feet by 15 feet. Many people with a small amount of space available will instantly assume that there would be no issue installing solar, however make sure to check every hour or so that the potential area doesn’t get covered in shadow by anything regardless of the Sun’s position.

The reason this is so important is that if the solar panels are shaded for even a slight fraction of the day, then the electricity generated by the system can be very dramatically reduced, which can mean they go from being a great investment to not covering the cost of their installation.

A good option to investigate with solar in your yard is the mounting system used for the panels. If the panels lie flat on the ground, then they will not operate less efficiently than if they are angled towards the Sun. This means that it’s a good idea to build up a bank at approximately a 30 degree angle from horizontal, facing exactly south on which to place the panels. Doing so will instantly increase the return of the system by approximately 10%.

Many companies can now offer tracking systems to hold the modules. These support the panels and rotate to make sure that they are held at the most direct angle to face the Sun from morning to evening. These can be expensive at first, costing over $1,000, but they will pay themselves off over time and then you’ll make a profit from the investment. This is because a further 10% efficiency can be achieved through making the most of the available sunlight this way. Given that solar panels operate effectively for 25 to 30 years, over the life time of the panels, a 10% gain in the electricity produced would easily amount to several thousand dollars.

Installing solar on your roof can be easier for others – most people’s properties are not overshadowed by anything because of the fact that their roof is, obviously, at least as high as most other nearby objects like trees or electricity poles. Your roof is also very likely to already be at approximately a 30 degree angle from the horizontal, saving the need to build a bank or install a tracking system. The installation process, whilst requiring scaffolding, is usually cheaper because the wiring is simpler – with a ground mounted system, a wire will usually have to be buried under the ground, running from the solar panels to your property.

No matter which method you go for, solar panels can be a great investment because so many properties can have them easily installed, and any reputable company should be able to advise you as to the best method.

The option to install the solar panels in your garden means that you can hide them, so your neighbours won’t be upset and you’ll be able to maintain the appearance of your property, or alternatively your roof may face directly east / west and thus wouldn’t receive much direct sunlight. Have a careful look at your property before you get a quote – you may just be able to earn yourself an extra couple of thousand dollars for just a day or two of thinking about it!

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Unfortunately, not all pest controls are made equal. In fact, many of them are filled with dangerous pesticides. If it’s important for you to find pesticide free options, consider the following.

What Do You Need For Pest Control?

Before you choose a certain product or method, it’s important that you know what the problems are. Some pests come from the soil and ground, while others fly into the area. Different pests require different control, which will dictate which form how you handle the issues.

• Beetles and caterpillars – spray on pest control

• Magots, larvae – soil based control

• Rabbits, raccoons – Fence

Prevention

Before utilizing any form of control, it’s smart to take precautions to avoid the need for pest control at all. Prevention is the best method, and helps you avoid problems in the future. So, before you start seeing the effects of pests, you can keep it at bay with a few simple tactics.

• Get rid of weak plants: If they are wilting or have stunted growth, they may already have been attacked. Get them out to avoid a spread to other plants.

• Cross contamination: Clean all gardening tools before after handling an infected plant.

• Clean: Keep you garden free of debris or already picked plants.

• Rotate: When you rotate your plants, it’s less likely that pests can spread throughout your entire garden.

Control

So you’ve taken all the necessary precautions, and now it’s time to decide which method to use. There are a variety of ways to keep pests out of your garden without utilizing toxic sprays or fertilizers. In fact, many of these utilize nothing but the natural environment, physical labor and tedious garden care. When every method requires nothing but yourself or the animals around you, you can be sure to keep your tactics are inflicting no harm on the environment.

• Natural predators: Bats are natural predators for insects, frogs take care of caterpillars and wasps help with small insects.

• Soil additions: Utilizing seaweed fertilizer, which contains zinc, calcium and sulfur, will help your plants become stronger. Sturdy plants are able to fend off disease and attacks much easier.

• Biological pest control: Introducing fungus or other bacteria will kill pests.

• Handpicking: Spend a few hours picking through for beetles and large insects that you can see and catch yourself.

• Barriers: Placing small fences around your garden can keep larger critters from strolling in and picking.

If you have small children or prefer not to attack your garden with toxic pesticides, then going without is your best choice. There are a variety of ways to do this, whether you choose to introduce other predators or make a DIY fence for hungry rabbits or squirrels. Keep your garden pesticide free with these easy-to-utilize tactics and have a safe and healthy garden.

Courtesy guest post by Frank Merryman and Protex Pest Control providing expert pest control service and Houston pest control protection since 1978.

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Would you like to be  more efficient growing your vegetables? Then I would say it’s time for you to check into raised bed gardens.

Raised garden beds are very convenient, can UP your produce levels, and they look spectacular in a backyard or garden setting. Raised garden beds can be built in many sizes, making them a good option for garden-lovers everywhere.

Raised Garden Bed Styles are Endless

If you’re ready to try your hand at raised garden beds, you’ll find many options available. Raised garden beds come in a variety of materials, such as cedar, railroad ties, composite timber, redwood or recycled plastic for low maintenance.

There are raised garden beds with attached trellis’ for your climbing vegetables and raised garden beds in every configuration and many sizes.

You can choose to have your raised garden beds high enough to sit on while you weed, or just off the ground. The choices are endless! If you’re handy, you can even build your own raised garden beds with easy instructions.

Finding More Raised Bed Garden Info

We found more information about building and using raised garden beds at one of our local hardware store but no matter where you are you can always find more info on the internet.

Using the internet along with your favourite search engine and just search for:

• "raised garden beds"
• "garden beds"
• "raised garden"
• "cedar raised"
• "garden beds raised"
• "beds raised garden"

You’ll find lots of useful information about where to buy and how to build raised garden beds. You can compare prices and materials for your garden beds and decide which raised garden beds will work best for you in your garden.

The Advantages of A Raised Bed Garden Bed

There are so MANY ADVANTAGES of raised garden beds its a wonder everyone doesn’t use them!

• Your back pain will be eliminated with raised garden beds
• No more bending over!
• Raised garden beds provide excellent drainage for vegetable gardening.
• Gardening can sometimes be started earlier in the season because the soil warms up sooner in raised garden beds.
• Raised garden beds provide a neat and appealing order in the garden area.
• Plants (vegetable, fruit or flower) can be spaced closer together, providing more efficient gardening.
• Your soil will stay nice and fluffy
• You do all your gardening from the path!
• It’s much easier to control water, fertilizer, and compost to raised garden beds.
• Raised garden beds produce more than double the vegetables and flowers as ordinary beds.
• Raised garden beds are great for limited space!

Let Me Tell You, Gardeners LOVE Raised Garden Beds!If you’re a TRUE gardener and are looking for an easier and better way to garden, raised garden beds are the answer. Whether you build them or buy them, your raised garden beds will soon be your new best friend in gardening! Try them TODAY!

Raised Garden Beds Our New Best Friend

If you’re ready to try your hand at raised garden beds, you’ll find many options available. Raised garden beds come in a variety of materials, such as cedar, railroad ties, composite timber,…. Learn more at Raised Garden Beds and cedar raised.

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We only have a limited amount of garden space but found we could grow more by building a trellis for our cucumbers to climb, plus we can grow lettuce in the shade the trellis provides.

Actually I saw Jamie, my fishing buddy, using a trellis for his cucumbers and thought they looked really cool and appealing to the eye.

1. Enjoying A DIY Project

I looked at Jamie’s cucumber trellis and thought I could easily build it myself. I actually have the materials but we may want a second one and found the required materials such as lumber, nails or screws and a mesh net at a hardware store down the street from us. It should only take an hour maybe two and they will be complete.

If you are into appearances then you will want to purchase wood that matches your home’s appearance. We prefer the look of wood and may just have it laminated so it lasts longer and will match other outdoor furniture we have or plan to buy.

If you don’t have any idea where to start I would look up ‘how to build a home garden trellis’ to find free plans that will make it easier to build your trellis. We put our first trellis together as a kit and used the garage floor so we were out of the wind and it was a lot easier.

2. Improve Your Garden’s View

Your home garden or backyard will start to look more lush as the cucumbers start climbing your new trellis. We also grow beans on a trellis of sorts. For the beans I like stacking branches to look like a tee-pee, it looks so cool.

I see a home garden a few blocks away when I go for a walk and they have a number of vegetables growing on a number of trellis’s. It was the best looking home garden I saw last year and I’m sure they enjoyed sitting out on their back porch watching their garden grow.

3. Love Eating Crispy Vegetables

Previous to seeing Jamie’s cucumbers crawling up their trellis I just let them sprawl along the ground and just dealt with the risk of soil diseases. When your cucumbers are guided up the trellis they have more elbow room, sunlight and air to help them grow bigger and healthier.

We now have a trellis that goes the full length of our garage, on the south side. Now it’s just waiting for us to plant something to crawl up it. We plant to have cucumbers going up the middle and one of our clematis on each side.

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