Gardening Tips – Interplanting Can Foil Pests

An invasion of aphids or an encampment of slugs in your garden patch doesn’t need to send you running to the nearest garden center for one of the many broad spectrum insecticides.

Our grandparents raised bountiful gardens without the use of chemical pesticides, and there are many lessons we can learn from them about taking care of our gardens.

Here are some suggestions about inter-planting and home-made insecticides. Hopefully, more and more people will concern themselves with living environmentally sound lives and still have bumper crops of more healthful, better tasting, fruits and vegetables.

Border planting and inter-planting crops in specific combinations can help eliminate many varieties of insect pests in the garden…

Marigolds rid the soil of nematodes and Mexican bean beetles. Grow marigolds where tomatoes and eggplant are to go the next year. In the fall, dig in the plant residue or leave as a mulch through the winter. The factor that kills the worms is produced slowly in the roots of the plants and gradually released into the soil. The good effect of inter-planting marigolds may not show the first year.

Nasturtiums defer aphids, squash bugs and striped pumpkin beetles. Grow them between vegetable rows and around fruit trees.

Rosemary deters cabbage moth, bean beetles and carrot flies. Plant around your vegetable garden.

Sage deters cabbage moths and carrot flies. Plant with rosemary, cabbage and carrots, but keep away from your cucumbers.

Chives keep Japanese beetles at a healthy distance from raspberries and grape vines.

Onions deter most pests.

Mint deters white cabbage moths and ants. Plant along side members of the cabbage family.

Soybeans shield corn from clinch bugs. Plant in alternate rows with your corn.

Garlic repels aphids from roses, fruit trees and cabbages. Plant the cloves near these flowers, fruits and vegetables.

There are also several home-made insecticides. Common plant oils, food stuffs and household items can be very effective in the treatment of insect infestations. They can be used as sprays, dusts, bait or as rinses and baths.

To make a spray from plant oils, chop or grind the plant and add an equal part of water. Strain, if necessary, and mix with emulsifiers such as fish oil and liquid soap. As oil tends to separate out, use the spraying solution as soon as possible. Some remedies you can make at home are:

A strong soap and water solution sprayed on infected plants will rid them of aphids and mites.

Garlic oil spray is effective against onion flies, aphids, thrips and ermine moths. Onion and chive solutions are also effective.

Mineral oil applied to corn silk with an eye dropper when the silks have turned brown will eliminate corn earworms.

Table salt sprinkled on slugs and snails is lethal.

Hot pepper, salt and sour milk spray has proven effective on cabbage maggot.

Paper or tin can collars placed around plant stems and forced down into the soil will prevent cutworm damage.

Tips on Organic Gardening

Instead of chemicals in your soil and on your food, why not try organic gardening?  You can start with just a few plants in pots or a small patch, or you can go whole hog and dig up half your yard! 

Actually, if itâ??s your first garden, itâ??s better to start small.  Gardeners have a tendency to plant more than they can reasonably care for â?? everything looks so great in the catalogs!  But even though gardening is a lot of fun and a satisfying pastime, itâ??s also a lot of work.  Half way through the growing season you may wish youâ??d been a little more moderate in your planting.  Itâ??s better to work your way up to that huge garden!

On Locationâ?¦

Like the real estate agents are fond of saying, â??Itâ??s all about location, location, location.â?Â  Some plants will grow in the shade, but for most vegetables you need sunshine.  An ample amount of sunshine is one thing you canâ??t provide artificially, unless youâ??re planning on a huge bank of portable lights out in your garden, and with the price of electricity these days, thatâ??s a definite no-no.

Practically speaking, any garden, organic or otherwise, needs sunshine.  Put your pots or garden plot where the plants will get at least 6 hours of sun a day for best results.  While itâ??s nice to locate the garden close to the house for easy access, shade from the house or trees may not make that possible.  Sunshine has priority over easy access.

Be sure your garden location not only gets ample sunshine, but drains well so the plants donâ??t sit in water.  Fertile soil is a big plus, but if thatâ??s lacking, you can always add soil amendments.

Down and Dirty

Adding compost will help your soil no matter what type it is.  You can also use natural fertilizers and organic materials to improve the soil and help the plants grow.  Most vegetable roots are in the top 6 inches of soil, so tilling or double digging will easily mix the materials into the soil where the roots can reach it.

Time to Plant

Seed catalogs and nurseries are brimming with all types of vegetables.  Besides taking into account what you and your family like to eat, choose vegetables that will do well in your climate.  For instance, some long season crops like sweet potatoes wouldnâ??t do well up north, while cool climate crops might not fare so well in the deep south.

Mulching your vegetables with organic material helps conserve water, adds humus and nutrients as well as discourages weeds from growing.  Itâ??s a great way to improve your garden soil and plants!

Donâ??t Let Them Bug You

Where thereâ??s lovely young plants, thereâ??s bugs looking for a meal.  Hand picking caterpillars or other bugs off is one option, or spraying the plant with soapy water, or even plain water, will dislodge the bugs.  There are also some organic products made for bug control. 

 Not all bugs are bad, and some are even beneficial.  Bugs such as green lacewings, ladybugs, praying mantis, spiders and wasps eat the insects that try to eat your vegetables. 

Companion planting with insect repellant plants such as marigolds or nasturtiums can also help keep bugs away from your garden.

It also helps to learn to live with a certain amount of imperfections.  The vegetable doesnâ??t have to be perfect to taste good.  You can cut off any problem spots before eating it.

Destroy Those Weeds!

Weeds have been defined as â??a plant growing in the wrong place.â?Â  That pretty much sums it up.  If itâ??s not something you planted, consider it a weed and hoe it out, pull it up, or till it under.  However you do it, get it out of the garden.  Those extra plants steal nutrients and water needed for your vegetable plants.

Ready, Set, Garden!

A good location, fertile soil, the right plants, and working to keep the garden weed and bug free are the right ingredients for a great garden.  Growing an organic garden is a wonderful way to put superior tasting food in your diet.  So get out there and get your garden growing!

How To Grow Tomatoes – Tips On Growing Tomatoes At Home

Did you know there are almost thirty varieties of tomatoes today? According to the U. S. department of Agriculture, people in this county eat over 22 pounds (per person) of tomatoes each year, half of this going to ketchup, sauces and soups. Tomatoes are highly popular, whether you think they’re a fruit or vegetable, it doesn’t seem to matter, people eat them up. Tomatoes can be expensive to buy in the super market and it’s no telling how old they actually are. There really is no reason to buy them, especially since this article is going to tell you how to grow tomatoes and you will find they are so easy to grow at home.

All you need is a good pot with good drainage and some good dirt or a little space outside and you’re all set. Tomatoes really like a dark, loose soil with organic matter and nutrients and a little acidity (about 6.2 pH) is best if you want really big red tomatoes.

 If your going to grow in a pot instead of in the ground, be careful when fertilizing and don’t add too much, maybe about a tablespoon to a 10 gallon pot and work this into the soil at least two weeks before planting. If planting outdoors a 10-52-17 or 15-30-15 fertilizer will be all your tomatoes need and about a cup scattered around the plants roots or seeds will keep your tomato plants well fed.

Staking your tomato plants will improve fruit production considerably and it also makes getting to your tomatoes much easier. If you’re planting seeds go ahead and place your stake in the dirt close to the seeds, this way you won’t disturb their roots once they start growing. If buying young plants, gently push your stakes in close to the plant and try not to disturb the roots as little as possible. Use a soft twine or yarn to tie your plants to the stake and remember to leave room for growth. Small tomato plants don’t usually need to be cut back or pruned but tall tomato plants may need a little clip here and there in the beginning. Just a little off the top and on the sides should be all the pruning your plant or plants need.

If you have a place picked outside for growing tomatoes, make sure you space them at least 24 inches apart, 36 inches is better if you have the room. Planting tomatoes closer together will reduce air circulation and can set your plants up for disease outbreaks.

Tomato plants are about 95% water so they do need to be watered daily, even those tomato plants grown in a pot on a porch, and remember to make sure your pot has good drainage. Water your plants thoroughly and let excess water drain away from potted plants. For those plants outside, it’s a good idea to cover the soil around your plants with mulch, pine needles, hay or even plastic to prevent water evaporation. Now that you know how to grow tomatoes, you will find they grow pretty fast and before you know it, you will soon have vine-ripe tomatoes, better than any grocery store tomatoes.

Your tomatoes will be ready when their color is almost a perfect red, or yellow depending on the kind you plant. Tomatoes grown in hot weather, over 75 degrees will actually reduce the flavor of your tomatoes, so if you live in a hot climate, planting tomatoes where they will get afternoon shade will give you better tasting tomatoes. Once you pick your tomatoes don’t put them in the refrigerator, leave them sitting at room temperature and they will keep their flavor much better. Another good thing about knowing how to grow tomatoes is you will probably never buy them at the store again.

Organic Gardening – Six Beneficial Tips!

Organic garden is nothing but gardening with the help of all the naturally endowed gifts that we possess. It deals with how well we use the natural endowments for the purpose of creating the garden of our dreams.

Why would anyone want to have an organic garden? Here is the answer to the question.

1. It is the IN thing to do. With the help of the kitchen and garden waste that we get, one can be very eco-friendly and put the waste into good use though it is quite time consuming than opting for pesticides and fertilizers available in the market.

2. There is very little usage of chemicals in case of organic gardening as we tend to use only what is naturally available to us. Hence, we can be safe from many serious consequences which are faced if chemicals are used. Many researches have proved that even small amounts of chemicals found in fruits and vegetables due to use of fertilizers and pesticides can cause great damage to our health especially among children.

It is believed that on an average every child swallows at least 4 to 5 times more cancer causing agents from pesticides than an adult. Organic gardening helps in eliminating this issue. We need to keep it in mind that the main motive behind using pesticides is to kill little organisms.

3. Organic gardens are very eco friendly. Usually, the pesticides that we use are washed into water which in turn causes a lot of harm to the organisms which thrive in it. This is eliminated in case of organic gardens.

4. Helps in saving costs. As we do not have to purchase fertilizers and pesticides for keeping away pests and insects we are saved from spending the extra buck. The items that we use for organic gardens mostly come from our kitchen cupboard. And many times, we can grow other plants with the ability to keep insects and pests at bay along with the main plant that we intend to grow. For instance, marigold is often grown along with vegetables as they are very helpful in repelling aphids.

Another solution for the pest problem is by using a mixture of 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid with a cup of cooking oil and using three tablespoons of this mixture with a quart of water to use as a pest spray on plants.

5. A mulch of pine needles will help in controlling the growth of weeds and will also keep the necessary moisture intact.

6. Organic gardening ensures a great environment to live for the generations to come.

TerraCycle Seedstarter tips

Tutorial on how to use TerraCycle seedstarter kit.

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