The Gardners Path

If you grow only one vegetable other than tomatoes, it should be lettuce. Growing lettuce is so easy, takes up little space, and you can even grow it among flowers. here are a few things to think about when adding lettuce to your garden. Since lettuce is a cool weather plant it’s best to plant them in the spring or fall. You can also do succession planting to be able to have lettuce harvest all season long. To succession plant, you’ll want to plant a few seeds and then a week or two later plant a few more. This way your lettuce will be ready to harvest at different times, so you don’t have a huge harvest of all at once. When to Plant Lettuce is a cool weather plant and does well in most areas when planted in the spring and fall. Lettuce seeds can be started indoors 4-6 weeks before the last spring frost. Lettuce seeds can be direct sown into the garden as soon as the soil can be worked. Lettuce usually grows well at temperatures between 45 and 65 degrees. Hotter weather tends to make l...

Building up your garden’s soil is the best way to make your garden thrive this year. As we grow plants in our gardens year after year the soil breaks down and needs help to provide your garden with what it needs. If you are growing a garden to feed your family or even to make a little extra money from your garden it is important to have great soil. Building up your soil is an easy taste that has a great reward. Fall is a great time to build up your soil for next year.  Compost, compost, compost for the best garden soil Adding great compost to your soil is an amazing way to build up your soil quickly. Check your local Craigslist for a deal on mushroom compost. This strong compost is often sold by the truckload or large feed bags for cheap. Mushroom compost is high in salt so it is best to add to established plants rather than germinating seeds. This is a great start for any canning garden. If you would rather DIY your compost you can reduce kitchen waste and get great compost for yo...

There’s nothing quite like the experience of going out into your own backyard and picking fresh fruit right off the tree. But fruit trees can be discouraging to many gardeners who like to see a quick turnaround in yield. Many fruit trees can take years to start bearing fruit, and represent a significant time and space investment in any garden. Some citrus trees can take between six and ten years before you see the first piece of fruit! For those of us that like to see a quicker turnaround from our gardens but still don’t want to give up the idea of fresh fruit, there are several types of fruit trees that will bear fruit fairly quickly. Figs, mulberries, peaches, and even limes can all give you a successful fruit harvest within the first year they are planted when well cared for. The key to getting a quick first harvest from many fruit trees is to purchase grafted stock. Grafting is a technique where a budding stem of one tree is inserted into the rootstock (roots and some portion of th...

Growing Bell Peppers In Containers Peppers are a complete joy to grow if you live in a continuous hot weather climate that is! If you don’t have the space to grow them in a garden, it gets a little trickier, but don’t fret, a pot is all red peppers need to grow! It’s container gardening at it’s finest! After you’ve got your hands on some pepper seeds or a plant from the local nursery, the next step is, yep you guessed it, you need to find a pot! Time to start growing bell peppers! Pots Or Containers : When browsing for suitable pots, make sure its at least 10 inches deep and 10 inches in width. Drainage holes at the bottom are definitely recommended, a pot of this size can easily grow and maintain 2-3 plants. Avoid place pots if you’re already in a hot climate for your plants will attract a little too much sun. Seeds: If you choose a plant from a nursery you can skip to the next section, however, if you simply purchased some seeds you’ll want some seed food or potting mix as well. Fill...

Pothos is a common houseplant and often thought of as the easiest one to grow. Its botanical name is Epipremnum aureum. It is also sometimes called taro vine or devil’s ivy. Pothos is a vine plant, but it doesn’t need a trellis. However, it can be draped around a room in a becoming fashion. It can grow up to thirty feet long, but most plants are between six and ten feet. How To Grow Pothos While it is easy to grow, pothos does need a few things to thrive. This plant does well in moderately cool temperatures. It prefers about fifty-five degrees Fahrenheit but can handle warmer room temperatures. Pothos also needs full shade or partial shade though it does like diluted sunlight. This plant isn’t picky about soil, it does need to have some fertilizer. When first planting it, use potting soil that has some in it. The plant does not like to be overwatered. Let the soil dry out completely before watering it. Keep in mind that all parts of this plant are poisonous. It is a mild to moderate po...

While beets don't look like much on the outside, on the inside they're a vibrant colour. Usually, they're red, but brilliant golden and bright white beets also exist! Whatever variety you plan to grow, homegrown beets can make a delicious addition to recipes or can be made into homemade dehydrated beet chips! You'll be able to grow your best beet crop ever after reading these 6 Great Tips for Growing Beets. 6 Great Tips for Growing Beets 1. Have the right soil. Beets are very particular about the PH of the soil they're planted in. There's a very short range of pH that they thrive in- 6.5-7. They like this pH best because in this range, phosphorus is easily available to them. To make sure you grow great beets, ensure they're in soil with the appropriate pH and that there's already enough phosphorous in their soil. If necessary, you can add phosphorous to the soil via a fertilizer. 2. Provide good space. To ensure your beet crop does well, give each plant ...

Carrots make for a healthy snack, and they are a vegetable that even children can’t wait to get their hands on. If you want to try growing carrots in your garden this year, take a peek below at these helpful growing tips. Below you will find tips for growing carrots in your own garden, so you can enjoy their sweet and crunchy taste all season long. Here is what you need to know! Tips for Growing Carrots in the Garden How to start carrots from seed: When planting carrot seeds, you want to head outdoors about 4 weeks before the final frost of the season. There is no need to wait until the threat of frost has passed. Choose a spot that offers full sun. Be sure when planting your seeds the soil is fine and free from foreign matter. Carrots have deep roots (the vegetable itself), so you want to be sure they have plenty of room to stretch. If anything blocks their way (such as rocks in the soil) their growth could be stunted. When planting, seeds should be placed at least 4 inches apart. Try...

So you don’t have space for an in-ground garden. That’s no reason to give up on growing food at home. You can absolutely grow vegetables in containers! Growing veggies in containers are only a little different from growing in the ground or raised beds. And there are lots of advantages to container gardening. Container gardens do not have to battle weeds, can be placed in any location, and they don’t have to take up very much space. FIVE TIPS FOR GROWING VEGETABLES IN CONTAINERS Here are some tips for getting good results from your veggies grown in pots. CHOOSE AN APPROPRIATELY SIZED CONTAINER. Make sure your container is large enough to provide adequate space for your plant’s roots. The larger the adult plant, the larger the pot. Larger containers mean you’ll have plenty of space for the roots to spread out. Stunted space for root growth leads to stunted plants. Smaller containers will also require more frequent watering and fertilization. CHOOSE AN APPROPRIATE LOCATION The ability to ...

It’s fragrant, fast-growing, green, and compliments fruits, vegetables and meats. It’s also its own ice cream flavour. So what’s not to love about mint? If you’ve ever grown the herb, you know where I’m going with this, but if you haven’t and are interested: read on for the dos and don’ts of successfully growing mint in your home garden or in a container. Like cilantro and basil, mint is one of the easiest herbs to grow; however, its roots, which are called “runners,” are incredibly invasive: they quickly grow, sprouting new leaves and new plants as they go. Mint will overtake a flower bed or garden in no time if you’re not careful. DO When choosing a location for your mint, find one where the plant will receive morning sun and partial afternoon shade. Plant on a patio, in a container. When planting the herb in a flower bed, first submerge a container (either a pot, a mesh bag or edging to at least 5 inches deep), leaving the rim above ground level when potted, so the mint’s fast-growi...

They say when life gives you lemons, make lemonade, but you really should do a whole lot more than that. This little citrus fruit not only offers a multitude of health benefits, but they’re also one of the most alkaline-forming foods on Earth, which makes them great for balancing an acidic body. Lemons were first created as a cross between a lime and a citron. It was the Arabs that first introduced them to the Europeans, and Christopher Columbus himself brought them to the New World during his second voyage in the late 15th century. A few centuries later during the California Gold Rush, lemons were commonly eaten by the miners to protect themselves against scurvy, a disease that results from a lack of vitamin C. While lemons are well known for their high level of vitamin C, they also contain riboflavin, thiamin, iron, magnesium, pantothenic acid, fiber, vitamin B6, potassium, copper, calcium, and folate. EATING LEMONS REGULARLY IS A GREAT WAY TO:  Boost your immune system Keep your...

Many people, including myself, avoid using commercial fertilizer on the veggies or plants. It performs well, but some chemicals are involved, which are not environmentally friendly, and some can even harm your plants. I can't even pronounce that they are so dangerous for the atmosphere. Therefore a lot of gardeners prefer more natural ingredients for their gardens. This Miracle Grow fertilizer is an extra organic process to supplement your garden plants. The homemade plant fertilizer recipe is easy to make, and it works well like commercial fertilizer! Retail fertilizers are more expensive. So why several gardeners prefer to make their homemade fertilizers for their garden plants with items located around the home. What is homemade Miracle Grow? Commercial fertilizers are reliable for garden vegetables, plants, shrubs, and the manufacturer promised not to burn your plants while if you used it as directed. However, several gardeners (who love organic) don't prefer to apply chemi...

Christmas cactus plants (Schlumbergera bridgesii_) are epiphytes that grow naturally in trees in Brazil. They absorb moisture and nutrients from debris that gets caught in the tree branches. Commonly grown as houseplants, they can also be grown outdoors in pots in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 to 11, as long as they are brought indoors if the weather gets too cold. They can survive temperatures down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, but their stems will be severely damaged. Rooting a New Christmas Cactus To root a brand new cutting of a Christmas Cactus, be sure to plant in a mixture of moist peat and sand soil. You'll want to place the cactus into the soil about a quarter of an inch. Also, be sure not to overwater your newly rooted cactus to avoid rot. Once fully rooted, you can move your plant to a pot with potting soil for a permanent home. Light and Temperature Place indoor Christmas cactus plants in bright, indirect light. Right next to south-, west- or east-f...

The Monstera adansonii is a more petite relative of the insta-famous Monstera deliciosa and quite often mislabelled as Monstera obliqua, a rarer family part. With the proper care, the cheese vine plant makes an excellent evergreen indoor houseplant. Because it doesn’t spread as fast as the Monstera deliciosa, it is ideal for shorter spaces. Smaller size, but still a notable impact. It can climb or trail; therefore, your Monstera adansonii is excellent for keeping as an indoor hanging plant or on a shelf where it can cascade down. Monstera adansonii Care Tips Know the basics on how to best care for your Monstera adansonii and make it thrive. It’s not hard, but it does require a little attention. Light It is good to know where the Monstera adansonii originates from. What is the native habitat? Knowing this you can try and and mimic this for your plant in your home. The Monstera adansonii comes from the jungles of Central and South America. In the wild, they grow on tree trunks under cove...

Peace lilies are not only remarkable through the fact that they stay green all year round, but also because they don’t require too much care, making them great plants for beginners. Additionally, these plants look fabulous in any house and can match almost any interior design. Plus, are excellent air-purifying plants. As always, to find out how to best care for a plant, you first need to know a few things about its origins. Therefore, let me provide you a little background about peace lilies. Peace Lilies Despite its name, the peace lily is not a member of the Liliaceae family but belongs to the family Araceae, in the genus of Spathiphyllum. The peace lily is a perennial plant indigenous to the tropical regions of the Americas and southeastern Asia. In its natural habitat, this plant grows on the floor of the tropical forests, amongst the trees. Many say that the name “peace lily” comes from its white blossoms that look like white flags of peace. While the name “peace lily” is frequent...

Ginger is one of the best tremendous and helpful root plants you can purchase, but what if you could own an endless supply grown right at the house? Ginger can be costly to buy, and that's why getting your personal is highly valued. Not only that but growing your ginger guarantees that there are no pesticides or extra unhealthy ingredients. Now we'll tell you how to grow ginger in containers or pots and receive an endless supply! HOW TO GROW GINGER IN CONTAINERS or POTS 1. SOAK THE GINGER Most ginger roots in markets are treated with a germination inhibitor, which limits them from growing. So first, soak your ginger root in water for 24 hours to get rid of that issue. 2. LOOK FOR GROWTH BUDS After having soaked them for 24 hours, bring them out from the water and see for growth shoots. The sprout will begin on the indention of the cover of the root. If your ginger doesn't enhance some buds, place it near a window sill till shoots begin growing. This process may demand for s...

Sweet potatoes are grown in the Southern U.S. They are planted in the springtime by slips of sweet potatoes. Did you know you can harvest a small crop of sweet potatoes with a single sweet potato? You'll need to start this plan with one sweet potato – market-bought is accepted for optimal outcomes, around mid-March. Varieties of Sweet Potatoes : Thre are two types of Sweet potatoes in general: vegetable varieties bred for their delicious roots, and other varieties bred primarily for their ornamental trailing foliage. Both varieties relate to the Ipomoea batata varieties, and both edible and ornamental varieties are relatively easy to grow in containers. HOW TO GROW SWEET POTATOES This whole process is too easier than you might imagine. To get started, look for firm sweet potatoes without any major bad spots. It's more helpful if they haven't been refrigerated. SIX EASY STEPS FROM BEGINNING TO HARVEST… Step 1. Get a sweet potato and leave it in a glass of water almost mid o...

Do you have a few favorite “go-to” herbs? Why not grow them in water and keep them close at hand on the kitchen window sill or right on the counter? Water-grown herbs are just as flavorsome as those you grow in the garden. You don’t have to mess with soil or worry about regular watering or changing seasons. Most herbs will be happy growing in water, but those propagated from cuttings are easier to start in the water. Seed-grown annuals like cilantro, mustard, and dill are a bit tricky because you need to sow the seeds in soil or some other medium and then transfer the seedlings to water. Soil to water transition is not impossible, but it may not always work out because soil-grown roots are a bit different from water roots. WHAT YOU NEED TO GROW HERBS IN WATER WATER For a simple herb stand in the kitchen, you can root herb cuttings in plain water in glass bottles. Avoid using chlorinated water directly as the bleaching chemical is not exactly friendly to plant tissues. Tap water that ha...