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Divided the vegetable crops grown in gardens into the following headings for ease of reference them in this order: Root crops Legumes (peas and beans) Brassica crops (cabbage and related crops) Potatoes Salad crops Other crops General problems—planning (a) ROOT CROPS Beet Q. A lot of my beet roots ‘bolt’, i.e. run to seed before the roots are properly developed. […]
Spider mites, also known as two-spotted mites, become a particular problem for the gardener through the winter. Normally, they hibernate in ground litter or under the bark of trees or shrubs. However, if they stow away onto a plant being brought indoors, the artificial lights, and warm, dry, conditions of most heated homes will allow them to keep infecting plants. […]
Just because you stay in a small area doesn’t mean you cannot enjoy the health benefits of fresh vegetables. A small garden space shouldn’t restrain you at all; instead, it should make you more creative. The small garden can still give you enough vegetables to feed your family. You can bring out your creative side by coming up with a […]
LEAFY GREENS Lettuce leads the way among garden-grown greens and few vegetables are as easy to grow in the cool weather of spring and fall. Instead of trying to grow hard-headed iceberg types, fill your garden with the unusual colors and leaf textures found in loose-head selections, often called leaf lettuce. Stiff-ribbed Romaine lettuces are not difficult to grow either, […]
What is seed germination? Gardening is a pleasing activity. It boosts the happiness level as the plants grow, and the greenery rejuvenates the mind. However, the propagation of plants is a bit tricky and a task to be “looked after.” Seed germination (propagation) is the first and foremost process, which, if done accurately, will give fruitful results. Seeds germination is […]
Planting the vegetable seed There is no part of the garden work which calls for such nice judgment and careful attention as the sowing of seed. Most of the failures originate right here, and a large share of the blame devoted to the seeds and seedsman, if traced back to its original source, would be found to rest on the […]
ROOT CROPS Crisp, sweet carrots are just the beginning of delicious roots from the vegetable garden. Parsnips are back in style, possibly because of their sweet nutty flavor when lightly grilled. The new appreciation for vegetarian cuisine has also caused a surge of interest in turnips and rutabagas, two root crops long known only as stock-up foods for hard times. […]
In the 70’s, my father would pack all of us in the station wagon, and drive for what seemed an eternity to visit my relatives. I was pretty young, but I can remember two details quite vividly. My brother getting me to ask, “Are we there yet?” and, visiting my Grandparents. My Grandma was an avid cook and gardener. While […]
Do bulbs need fertiliser? If so, when? If the choice of bulbs has been adapted to the local conditions, no fertiliser is necessary, in principle. However, if you want to be absolutely sure that they bloom next season, some fertiliser (preferable organic) could be given, immediately after bloom time. Could you trim off the ugly leaves after bloom time? No, […]
This is the time of year when garden pundits tell their disciples to bring in branches of forsythia, pussy willow or flowering quince for indoor bloom. A minority of those disciples will follow orders; the rest (and I am one of them) will wish they had actually planted some of those spring flowering shrubs last year or the year before […]