Herb Gardening Plans - Beauty Or Practicality? By Norman Kirby

 

What's nice about herb gardens is that they can both be pleasing to the eyes and functional at the same time, depending on what gardening plans you follow. From using simple plastic potting containers to intricately designed backyard gardens, it's all up to you.

You are only limited by the amount of space you can spare for the herb garden and how much time and effort you're willing to give to it.

There are 3 basic gardening plans you can use for your herb garden. All of them have their own advantages and disadvantages ; just choose the type of garden that suits your needs the best.

The first is container gardening. With this technique, you grow your herbs in pots that you can place wherever you want; you can place it on your porch or even just on a sunny windowsill. This is the ideal method of herb gardening for people who are really cramped for space, like those living in apartment buildings. With container gardening, you can choose to grow different herbs in small individual pots or mix them together in a slightly bigger container. This method can be used for growing either medicinal or culinary herbs for your personal consumption.

The next herb gardening method is the outdoor herb garden. For people who have a bit of yard space to spare, this kind of herb gardening is great. Like container gardening, you can use this method to grow whatever kinds of herbs you need. You just need to provide a small patch of dirt and a bit of prep work to get your garden going. Since herbs are a hardy bunch of plants, they need little to no maintenance work done. You basically just plant them and leave them there.

The last type of herb gardening plan is the decorative garden. As the name states, the main purpose of this kind of garden is to be aesthetically pleasing rather than to have a practical use. The common herbs that are planted in this method of herb gardening are those plants that have brightly colored foliage and may even have some that has a relaxing scent. The herbs in this kind of garden are usually not made use of since picking some of the leaves may ruin the overall look. Along with the herbs, you can also plant a few flowers to add even more color to the mix.

Herb gardening is so much better than regular flower gardening. With herb gardens, you can actually make use of the plants you take care of, and there are some herbs that can rival any kind of flower when it comes to beauty. And unlike flowers, herbs require less maintenance, they can almost take care of themselves. All they really need is ample amounts of sunlight and water.

So now that you have an idea somewhat on what kind of herb garden you'd like to have, why not try your hands at it now? Stop buying herbs from the store and grow your own.

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About The Author:

Kellie is an expert when it comes to Vegetable Gardening. To find out the latest News and Tips on Gardening, visit "Growing Vegetable Garden" at http://growingvegetablegarden.com

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Simple Gardening Tips To Growing Your Own Vegetables By Norman Kirby

 

You must constantly be wary of the food you eat, most especially the food that you give to your family. Are the fruits and vegetables that you can purchase in the supermarkets are as healthy as they once were when you were a kid? Are you sure that they aren't soaked in harmful chemicals and pesticides that are very dangerous to the body? Are the fruits and vegetables you buy really safe for your kids to eat? These are just some of the questions that are troubling you regarding the produce that is being supplied these days.

In order to free yourself from these worries the only logical answer will be to grow your own vegetables. There's no contest to the taste of homegrown vegetables when compared to store-bought ones. And there's something about eating food that you have grown yourself using your own two hands. Plus, you know what absolutely went into growing these vegetables so you can be sure they're safe.

But you may be a bit scared of starting your own vegetable garden. It's true that not everyone has a green thumb, but if you just start out small, you'll be getting the hang of it in no time. If you're sold on the idea of growing your own veggies, then here are a few gardening tips to help you out.

Make sure that the plot of land you choose for your garden gets at least 7 hours of direct sunlight every day. A garden plot facing southwards is an ideal place to plant.

It's important to be mindful to where the shadows fall in your yard during the course of a day. Avoid placing your garden plot in a spot that's near hedges or trees as they may cast shadows over your plants.

Do not flood your plants. Make a good drainage system around your garden plot so that the excess water can seep out.

Use good quality soil. By combining organic manure or a good compost mix to your garden soil will make it an ideal place for plants to grow. You should fertilize your garden soil like this every year to ensure a good crop yield.

Remember that your garden plot needs protection from strong winds and from animals. Try building a small fence around your plot to shield it from both of these threats.

You need to choose what kinds of seeds you will be buying. Consult with the staff in your local nursery for gardening tips on what seeds you need to buy, they will be able to tell you what vegetables can grow best in your area's climate.

Decide on what layout works best for you. If you're a beginner it's best that you start with a small raised bed for a garden plot. And you also need to consider just how much space is available for you to plant in.

By following these simple gardening tips, you'll be on your way to growing your own delicious, healthy and, most of all, safe vegetables.

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About The Author:

Kellie is an expert when it comes to Vegetable Gardening. To find out the latest News and Tips on Gardening, visit "Growing Vegetable Garden" at http://growingvegetablegarden.com

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Eight Major Benefits For Successful Organic Gardening

 

What exactly is organic gardening and why would you want to do it?

People who choose to go the organic route, when it comes to growing their own food, think of their plants as part of a whole system within nature that starts with the soil and includes the water supply, compost, wildlife and insects.

An organic gardener tries, as much as possible, to work in harmony with nature and not use such things as synthetic fertilizers or pesticides on their plants, and also to continually replenish any resources that the garden consumes.

I have outlined seven tips below to help you get the most from your organic gardening efforts.

1. Compost can easily be made from kitchen and other garden waste. Though this is more time-consuming than buying prepared chemical pesticides and fertilizers, it certainly helps by putting garbage to good use.

2. Chemicals that may have an adverse affect on your health are not used during organic gardening. This is especially important when growing fruits and vegetables.

We are told by the chemical companies that the chemicals and toxins we use are safe and, if used according to their directions, have no harmful effects on us. On the flip side, independent research shows that even small amounts of chemicals absorbed through the skin can cause various medical conditions, especially in young children.

A child ingests, on average, four to five times more pesticides from foods than an adult, and this can lead to disease later on in the child's life. These incidents are virtually eliminated when the food is grown organically.

3. Less harm is caused to the environment. Chemicals and toxins are often washed into our waterways, causing death to the wildlife that lives there. Organic gardening practices help to keep the environment safe for future generations of wildlife and humans alike.

4.Organic farming practices help prevent the loss of topsoil through erosion. The Soil Conservation Service says that an estimated thirty billion tons of soil erodes from United States farmlands every year.

5. A simple mulch of pine needles will help to suppress the growth of weeds as well as keeping the moisture in.

6. Cost savings. You do not not need to buy expensive chemical fertilizers and pesticides when gardening organically. Many organic recipes for the control of pests and plant diseases come straight from the kitchen cupboard and other garden waste.

7. In some cases, other plants can be grown as companions to the main crop. An example of this is the marigold, which helps to repel aphids from fruit and vegetables.

8. Mixing one cup of cooking oil with one tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap can make a cheap garden pest spray. Put three tablespoons of this mixture in one quart of water and spray on the plants.

Organic gardening is a worthwhile endeavour and the more people who practice it, the better for our environment and over-all well-being. When we garden organically, we are taking from nature and giving back all at the same time.

Hydroponic Gardens By Jane Hartman

 

When you lack the land for a traditional garden, consider one of the hydroponic gardening systems in order to raise vegetables indoors.

Hydroponics gardening techniques were brought into modern agricultural practice with the invention of nutrient additives and formulas in the early 1900s. Originally hydroponic gardening utilized water as the growing medium. Today hydroponic gardeners use various other forms for growing medium.

There are six basic types of hydroponics growing medium systems in use today: wick, water culture, drip, ebb and flow, nutrient film technique and aeroponic. There are other growing mediums available today but the are variations of these six basic types of hydroponics.

Hydroponics Gardening Wick Systems
Of the hydroponic gardening systems the most suitable for indoor gardening is the wick system. Most indoor gardeners prefer wick systems as the simplest ways to grow plants. The wick system is passive, so it has no moving parts. Growing plants using the wick method is very simple. A wick is simply placed into a container of nutrient solution. The wick draws the nutrient solution into the growing medium, so there is no need for any additional moving parts.

Other components of the wick hydroponic gardening system usually include:

• Growing medium
• Growing tray
• Hydroponics system air pump
• An air stone

To use the wick hydroponics system, you ll need to include a growing and rooting medium. Perlite, vermiculite and Pro Mix are commonly used for grow medium with hydroponic gardening systems. The major problem with the wick system is that plants requiring large amounts of water may use up the nutrient solution faster than the wick can supply it.

Ebb and Flow
This hydroponics gardening system is also known as the flood and drain method, The ebb and flow indoor system works by temporarily flooding the grow tray with nutrient solution, and then draining the solution out of the tray and back into the nutrient solution holding tank. A submerged pump run by a timer is responsible for continuously cycling the nutrient solution. The timer turns the pump on, and the nutrient solution is pumped into the grow tray. Then, when the timer shuts the pump off, the nutrient solution flows back into the holding tank. This process is carefully timed, and repeated several times throughout the day. The size and type of plants, humidity, temperature and the type of growing medium used can all affect the number of times the hydroponics system will ebb and flow.

Water Culture System
Another easy hydroponic gardening system that is simple to set up is the water culture system. Components include:

• a floating platform
• air line
• air stone
• air pump

The floating platform acts as a foundation system and holds plants in place while the roots dangle in the nutrient solution. The air pump is located outside of the tank and pumps air through the line to the air stone. The air stone, in turn, aerates or bubbles through the nutrient solution, providing oxygen for the plant roots.

An ideal plant to grow using the water culture hydroponics system is leaf lettuce. Leaf lettuce is a plant that grows quickly and requires a lot of water, making it a good match for this type of hydroponics system.

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Growing Fruit And Vegetables In Your Greenhouse By Gabriel Ash

 

Adding a greenhouse to your garden will give you the chance to grow your favourite plants all year round, including a variety of fruit and vegetables. Tomatoes, onions, lettuce, cucumbers and aubergines are just a few of the many types of fruit and vegetables that you can grow in your greenhouse.

Growing your own fruit and vegetables gives you the chance to enjoy a wide variety of food and can be particularly beneficial to those who opt to grow their fruit and vegetables organically. Organic fruit and vegetables provide a wide variety of health benefits. You can also keep your fruit and vegetables healthy by using organic methods of pest removal in order to avoid harmful chemicals.

In order to successfully grow your own fruit and vegetables, it is important to be aware of what your plants need. Be sure to add plenty of ventilation to your greenhouse and install extra heating if you think your plants need it. If you are a beginner, then you may wish to invest in a set of cold frames, which are ideal for tomatoes and easy to use. Cold frames come with a hinged lid, making it easy for you to care for your plants.

In addition to fruit and vegetables, you can also grow a variety of herbs in your greenhouse, which is ideal for those who love home cooking. Growing your own fruit, vegetables and herbs will provide you with a variety of fresh ingredients that you, your friends and family can enjoy all year round.

When growing your own fruit and vegetables, it is important to ensure that you provide them with enough care and attention. They will need to be watered regularly and provided with plenty of ventilation during summer. Be sure to research the needs of your plants before you start growing them. You will also need to make sure that you keep your fruit and vegetables safe from pests. Pests can be removed by blasts of water or sticky traps, which are a great alternative to pest removal sprays that contain harmful chemicals.

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Tips On Growing An Organic Garden By Sharon Price

 

If you have always liked buying organic produce at your local supermarket you may have considered growing your own organic garden. Learning how to grow an organic garden is actually quite easy. The most important thing to remember is that the products you use must be free form chemicals and pesticides.

Steps You Should Take When Growing A Organic Garden:

1. The First thing you should do is test your soil. The test will tell you how healthy your soil is. If you test different parts of your garden you will be able to decide the best place for growing a organic garden. The soil should be sent to a lab who will conduct the tests and provide you with accurate results. You will then be able to make any adjustments necessary to ensure you have perfect soil for growing a organic garden.

2. The next step in growing a organic garden is the seeds. There are several outlets for gardeners to find the exact seeds they are looking for. The type of garden you choose to plant is entirely up to you.

3. Once you have chosen your seeds, you need to weed the area where you will be growing a organic garden. The weeding makes sure that the soil is kept at its best.

4. Planting the seeds, followed by watering is the next steps. Soil should be watered regularly; however it should never be over watered. Over watering will wash away all the nutrients you have been trying so hard to accumulate in the soil and ruin your hard work in growing a organic garden.

5. Fertilizing is also an important step when you are growing a organic garden. . Garden centers have fertilizer for purchase or you could mix your own fertilizer with products from your home. The best times to fertilize are in the spring, and then again during summertime. This will ensure that your organ garden will achieve the desired results you are trying to achieve.

Learning how to grow an organic garden is easy, with a few tips your garden will blossom in no time. Deciding on what you will plant is a different story. Some choose to learn how to grow an organic rose garden, while others may choose to grow herbs or vegetables. Using seed guides, you can determine what items would grow better in your region. You will learn from experience too as trial and effort in growing a organic garden will show in the results that you achieve. You will find what works and what doesn�t and you should have fun learning too.

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http://www.myorganicgardener.com is an informative site offering help and advice in all aspects of gardening, organic gardening, herb gardens, to help you grow and maintain your garden.

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Are Organic Foods Worth The Money? By Gerald Fitz

 

Food prices have risen faster in recent years than ever before. As many of us are feeling the pinch, it is time to reevaluate some of our food purchases. The term "organic" has been thrown around in the shopping aisles like sprinkles on the jelly donut you're trying to avoid. It seems like hundreds of new "organic" products have emerged, all with a price tag about 30% higher than the regular option. Is it really worth the extra money, or are we all being duped with a clever marketing campaign to get us to buy essentially the same thing for a lot more?

It is true that organic growing practices are a lot better for the environment. So if you're swayed by that fact alone, go organic. You actually are supporting practices that benefit the environment. If you want to go deeper into the nutritional value of organic vs. regular foods, research is mixed on that topic. Some studies suggest a higher level of anti-oxidants in organic foods. But other studies have failed to find a significant difference in anti-oxidant levels. The nutritional quality of fruits and vegetables goes down as soon as it is picked. You could argue that a cucumber that was picked yesterday and sold at a farmer's market has more nutritional value than one that was picked 3 weeks ago and flown across the country to your local supermarket. Overall, it is hard to make a case for organic fruits and vegetables containing higher nutrient levels. Both organic and regular varieties offer similar nutrient content and health benefits.

One argument that does hold some weight is the fact that regular fruits and vegetables are grown with pesticides and herbicides. There is residue from these toxic substances that can build up in the body over time. This increases the risk of cancer and can cause other health complications like fertility problems.

Apples, peaches, and bell peppers have consistently shown the highest herbicide and pesticide residue. The lowest on the list are onions, avocados, and frozen corn.

If you avoid the top 12 on the list of foods that have the highest pesticide residue, you can actually reduce your herbicide and pesticide exposure by 90%.

Here are the top 12 to avoid:

• Peaches
• Apples
• Bell Peppers
• Celery
• Nectarines
• Strawberries
• Pears
• Imported Grapes
• Spinach
• Lettuce
• Potatoes

The best way to eat healthy without breaking the bank is to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and to be smart about the balance between organic and regular. Try to buy them in season in the location where you live because they will be fresher. If the organic is close to the price of the regular option, picking organic is better for you and better for the environment. In the case that the organic option is just far too expensive, try to avoid the top 12 with consistently high levels of herbicides and pesticides and you should be in great shape.

Another important diet tip for protection against unwanted diseases is to take a daily multivitamin. Combined with lots of fruits and vegetables every day, a multivitamin will insure you're getting plenty of all of the essential vitamins and minerals that you need to feel healthy and invigorated every day.

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Composting - It Can Save You Money! By Jonathan White

 

For many people, composting is just an alternative way of dealing with rubbish. It prevents the garbage bin from getting full and smelly. It's also a way of disposing of grass clippings and leaves, which saves many trips to the garbage depot. Whilst these things are valid, they are not giving compost the full credibility it deserves. Compost can be very valuable when used in the right way.

I have a completely different way of looking at compost. To me, composting is a way of building valuable nutrients that will, one day, feed me and my family. I only use compost on my vegetable gardens. The way I manage my vegetable gardens means that composting is an integral part of the whole food production system. I create compost as a way of collecting nutrients in one form (waste), and turning them into another form (food).

The average person buys food from a shop, consumes it and then sends the waste away. This is simply buying nutrients, taking what you need for that precise moment, and disregarding the remainder. It's a nutrient flow that only flows in one direction, like a fancy car roaring down the road. You admire the car for a moment, but after a second or two, it's gone.

My goal is to slow down the car and then get it to do a U-turn. I want to keep the nutrients within my property where I can capitalize on them. By doing this, I am able to use the nutrients again, so I don't have to buy them for a second time. Surely, that's going to save me money. It may seem strange to think of nutrients in this way when we can't even physically see them. However, all organic materials contain nutrients. My goal is to get those nutrients out of the form they are in and into a form that is useful to me and my family.

To put it in a different way; composting is a vehicle in which we are able to create a nutrient cycle within our property. We are part of that cycle because we consume the nutrients when they are, for a brief time, in a useful form. Then they return to the compost and slowly make their way into another useful form where we consume them again. This cycle can go on and on indefinitely. Of course, there will be many lost nutrients that you will never see again, but with a little diligence, you will be surprised at how much compost you can create, and hence, how many valuable nutrients you can recycle.

My composting system is large because I have a few large vegetable gardens. I believe that the size of your vegetable garden should be determined by how much compost you can create, and not merely by the amount of space you have in your backyard. To run a rich, high yielding vegetable garden you need to have some sort of soil conditioning plan, and the best thing for your soil is a generous layer of good compost on the surface a few times per year.

If you can create your own compost from the organic waste that you generate in your everyday life, then you can have a vegetable garden that is self-sustainable. Once it is set up, it will never need nutrients in the form of store-bought fertilizers. You will have established a flow of nutrients, and your nutrient-store will grow bigger and bigger, year after year. Applying compost to your garden will have a very positive effect on your soil structure and fertility. With good soil structure and plenty of organic material, you will be able to release nutrients that have been locked up and unavailable to your plants. You will be speeding up the flow of nutrients, thus increasing your yield significantly. Your soil will become alive and healthy with micro-organisms and soil bacteria that are beneficial to creating the conditions for proper plant growth. Your vegetables will contain all the essential nutrients in the correct proportions, giving your body the vitamins and minerals it needs to function at its best.

Composting is very easy once you make it part of your everyday life. A small container on your kitchen bench to collect scraps and a daily trip to the compost bin is all it takes. It's a small effort for huge rewards. The golden rule in making compost is never to have large clumps of a single type of material. Thin layers of hot and cold materials work best. Cold materials include leaves, shredded newspaper and dried grass clippings. Hot materials include fresh grass clippings, manures, weeds, discarded soft plants and kitchen scraps.

If you make composting part of you daily routine, along with an effective method of growing food, you can literally save thousands of dollars per year. This is possible simply because you won't have to keep buying nutrients over and over. You will buy them once, hold onto them and then convert them into useful forms again and again. It's that simple!

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Jonathan White is an Environmental Scientist and the founder of the Food4Wealth Method, a high yielding, low-maintenance form of vegetable gardening. For more information see http://www.Food4Wealth.com

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