You can make your own potting mix:
- 30% peat moss or coco coir
- 30% perlite or vermiculite
- 30% compost or soil
---
From Larry Hall:
Miracle Grow potting mix works great or you can mix your own by using 2/3rds peat moss and 1/3 well rotted manure or compost and a couple of good handfuls of perlite. It lightens the soil. I also add about a cup of garden lime or dolomite, I also throw in a handful of Epsom salts.
A standard batch I will make would be 2 5 gallon buckets of peat 1 bucket of compost or well rotted manure 1 cup garden lime and a handful Epsom salts.
In summary:
2 five gallon buckets full peat moss
1 five gallon bucket Well rotted horse manure or compost or worm castings
1 and 1/2 cup Garden lime
1 large coffee can full of perlite
1 handful of Epsom salts
Great Deal on Watering Can from Ikea
Here is a Great Deal on a Watering Can from Ikea:
IKEA PS VÅLLÖ, Watering can, assorted colors white, black for $0.99 (it was promoted for 50 cents in the store).
http://bit.ly/VWBg7j
IKEA PS VÅLLÖ, Watering can, assorted colors white, black for $0.99 (it was promoted for 50 cents in the store).
http://bit.ly/VWBg7j
Self-watering plant pot by Ikea
IKEA PS FEJÖ, Self-watering plant pot, $19.99 http://bit.ly/VWAYNH
The search results show several different sizes: http://bit.ly/VWARl7
The search results show several different sizes: http://bit.ly/VWARl7
How to Grow Basil
Growing Basil - GrowOrganic Peaceful Valley - YouTube http://bit.ly/16UVLph
What is it?
It is an annual herb belonging to the mint family, Lamiaceae (Labiatae) and like others in this family, basil can be identified by its square, hairy stems. Basil is native to India and Asia having been cultivated there for more than 5,000 years. It is grown as a perennial in tropical climates.
Basil is eaten for its rich and spicy, peppery flavor with a trace of mint and clove.
There are over 40 known varieties of basil of which Ocimum basilicum or Sweet Basil is the most commonly known and grown. Ocimum is from a Greek verb that means "to be fragrant."
The foliage is easily bruised; just brushing against its foliage releases spicy fragrance.
Varieties can grow to a height of 2 1/2 feet and are about as wide. Foliage colors range from pale to deep green, vivid purple and even purple laced with yellow. Flowers appear in summer as whorls on the ends of branches and are either white or lavender.
How to grow?
Basil is surprisingly easy to grow. It is easily grown from seed regardless of whether it is started indoors or broadcast outside in the garden after the danger of frost has passed. Basil is very tender and sensitive to frost injury.
For indoor culture, cover seeds no more than twice the size of the seed. Space seeds 1/2 inch apart. Once germination begins (after 5-7 days), the plantlets must be kept warm at 70 degrees F. When seedlings have at least 2 pairs of true leaves, transplant them to 2 inch pots.
Basils grow best in a sunny location and need a well-drained, rich soil. Plants started indoors and hardened off in May can be planted outside to their permanent location and spaced about 12 inches apart. Fertilize basil sparingly as this decreases the fragrant oils.
To encourage a bushy plant and maximize production, prune the basil plant. Pinch off the flower buds when they emerge. Basil has to be pruned every 2-3 weeks.
Here is a list of the best plants to grow indoors under lights in the winter:
- leafy vegetables such lettuce, spinach, chard
- herbs such as basil, oregano and parsley
Everything You Need to Know About Growing Basil - from Burpee Gardens
References:
Growing, Selecting And Using Basil, HYG-1644-94 http://bit.ly/XU5KNh
Basil - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://bit.ly/XU5LAT
Growing All Types of Basil Everywhere: All Season Long! The Rusted Vegetable Garden http://bit.ly/120LFnK
Medicinal Plants in Permaculture: Basil http://bit.ly/1tKuwhz
How to Make Compost (video)
From Lowe's - How to Make Compost - YouTube http://bit.ly/137CdzD:
1. Add organic material - Using a composter helps speed up the process, but you can also pile materials in a corner of the yard. Green materials include kitchen scraps, garden debris and grass clipping. Brown material include fallen leaves, dried stems or sawdust. Don't add meat, dairy, grease or bones to your compost.
2. Add water - Watering your compost helps speed up the composting process.
3. Bring on the Heat - Your compost will heat up and the inside of your tumbler should be about 140 degrees.
4. Tumble or Stir - Tumbling your compost will help to speed up the composting process.
If you keep it well watered and turned, you will have compost in about a month. It is ready when there is no more heat coming off it.
Get more tips and tricks for making compost here: http://lowescreativeideas.com/idea-library/videos/How_to_Make_Compost.aspx
Related:
Making A Tumbling Composter Work For You | Planet Natural http://bit.ly/176Qv5p
1. Add organic material - Using a composter helps speed up the process, but you can also pile materials in a corner of the yard. Green materials include kitchen scraps, garden debris and grass clipping. Brown material include fallen leaves, dried stems or sawdust. Don't add meat, dairy, grease or bones to your compost.
2. Add water - Watering your compost helps speed up the composting process.
3. Bring on the Heat - Your compost will heat up and the inside of your tumbler should be about 140 degrees.
4. Tumble or Stir - Tumbling your compost will help to speed up the composting process.
If you keep it well watered and turned, you will have compost in about a month. It is ready when there is no more heat coming off it.
Get more tips and tricks for making compost here: http://lowescreativeideas.com/idea-library/videos/How_to_Make_Compost.aspx
Related:
Making A Tumbling Composter Work For You | Planet Natural http://bit.ly/176Qv5p
How to Build a Raised Garden Bed
How to Build a Raised Flower or Garden Bed - YouTube http://bit.ly/WbOcVz
How to Grow Collard Greens (Collards)
What are collards?
Collard greens is the American English term for various loose-leafed cultivars of Brassica oleracea (Acephala Group), the same species as cabbage and broccoli. The plant is grown for its large, dark-colored, edible leaves and as a garden ornamental. The name "collard" is a corrupted form of the word "colewort" (cabbage plant).
The cultivar group name Acephala ("without a head" in Greek) refers to the fact that this variety of B. oleracea does not have the usual close-knit core of leaves (a "head") like cabbage.
Collards are also known as tree-cabbage or non-heading cabbage. Collards look like loose cabbage, without the rounded head in the middle. They are similar to kale in growing habits and taste.
Georgia is the most popular variety. Cooked collard greens is a dish often associates with the American South, however, collard is a cool weather plant that grows better in the fall.
Botanical Name: Brassica 'Creole'. Collards are from the cabbage family.
Collards grow 2 to 3 feet tall with rosettes of large, non-heading, waxy leaves growing on sturdy stems. Collard is a kind of kale and a primitive member of the cabbage family.
Grow, Pick and Cook your own Collard Greens (video):
How to grow collards?
Start from seed
You can grow collard greens as either a spring or fall crop. They are more flavorful and sweeter when grown in the cool autumn. Collards are usually sown right into the garden when the danger of frost had passed.
Days to germination: 5 to 10 days
Days to harvest: 85 days to maturity, harvest at 40 days
Light requirements: Full sun or light shading
Water requirements: Regularly and frequently
Soil: Tolerates all soils, extra nitrogen is helpful
Container: Suitable
The plants grow quickly, reaching a spread of up to 2 feet at maturity.
Collards are one of the most cold-hardy of all vegetables, able to withstand temperatures as low as 10 F to 20 F. In Zone 8 and southward, collards often provide a harvest through the entire winter. Collards are a cool-weather crop and can tolerate temperatures as low as 20°F. Collards are more tolerant of heat than cabbage.
Collards are considered to be “heavy-feeders”. Plant a few seeds every 2 feet, and thin them down to 1 plant after they sprout. Seeds should be planted just a 1/4 inch under the surface.
Pinch out the growing tips of the collard greens to encourage side branching. You can eat the leafs you cut off.
If you want to start harvesting young greens earlier, you can not bother with the specific spacing and just sprinkle the seeds over the soil. Cover them over with a thin layer of soil. As the plants begin to grow, you can pick the young ones for eating, until you are left with larger plants with at least 2 feet of spacing between them.
How to fertilize?
Apply a high-nitrogen blend of fertilizer to boost leaf production. Collards like to be fed. Choose a fertilizer high in nitrogen (because you're promoting leaves, not flowers). Try Dynamite Organic All-Purpose (10-2-8). Water regularly.
The secret to tender, succulent collard greens is rapid, even growth. Keep soil moisture consistent. Add a complete organic fertilizer before planting and side-dress with fish emulsion monthly to provide the nitrogen needed for quick growth.
Collards need fertile, well-drained soil with a soil pH of 6.5 to 6.8 to discourage clubroot disease.
Can I grow collards in containers?
Yes. However, collards grow larger than most other greens, so you will have to have one plant per 10-inch pot. Larger containers are fine with 2 plants as long as you can provide at least 18 to 20 inches between their main stalks. Keep them well-watered and well-fed with fertilizer.
Use a 3- to 4-gallon pot that's about 10 to 12 inches in diameter for a single collard plant. A pot this size provides enough soil depth for the collards to produce healthy roots. The roots grow deep, so make sure the container is about foot deep.
Can I grow collards indoors, in containers?
Yes. Hang a fluorescent light that you can raise it up and down. Lower the light until it is 1/4 inch from the seedlings. This distance prevents collards from growing spindly. Raise the light as the seedlings grow. Plug the light into a timer, set for 12 hours of darkness and 12 hours of light.
When to harvest collards?
You can start harvesting leaves 4-6 weeks after you planted the seeds.
You can pick the leaves as the plant grows, by cutting off the ones at the bottom of the plant. As the inner stalk continues to grow upwards and produce more leaves, your collard plant will eventually look like a little tree with a bare stem at the bottom and leaves on the top.
What parasites affect collards?
Cabbage worms grow in the soil and kill collards. Collards may be attacked by cabbage family pests: cutworms, cabbage loopers (preceded by small yellow and white moths), and imported cabbage worms. Handpick these pests or spray plants with Bacillus thuringiensis. Deter collard-loving caterpillars, especially in spring, with a biological insecticide such as DiPel or Thuricide containing Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis).
Otherwise, collards have no serious disease problems.
References:
Collards from Lowe’s Plant Guide http://low.es/X1Imt0 -- There is more info at Lowe's plant guide available at http://lowes.com/plants
How to Grow Collard Greens | Backyard Gardening Blog http://bit.ly/X1IqsB
Growing Collards - Bonnie Plants http://bit.ly/X1Ip8a
Can Collard Greens Be Grown in Containers? | eHow.com http://bit.ly/X1IpVH
How to Grow Collards | Harvest to Table http://bit.ly/X1Iskr
Grown Your Own Collard Greens - Southern Living http://bit.ly/X1Iwk9
Collards - Vegetable Directory - Watch Your Garden Grow - University of Illinois Extension http://bit.ly/X1IwR6
Collard greens - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://bit.ly/X1Ix7I
Collards - Plant Care Guides - National Gardening Association http://bit.ly/X1Iys7
Container Vegetable Gardening, HYG-1647-00 http://bit.ly/X1IzMS
How to Grow Collard Greens Indoors | eHow.com http://bit.ly/X1IBV1
Collards Are the New Kale | Whole Foods Market http://buff.ly/1crSCQO
From Amazon:
Collard greens is the American English term for various loose-leafed cultivars of Brassica oleracea (Acephala Group), the same species as cabbage and broccoli. The plant is grown for its large, dark-colored, edible leaves and as a garden ornamental. The name "collard" is a corrupted form of the word "colewort" (cabbage plant).
The cultivar group name Acephala ("without a head" in Greek) refers to the fact that this variety of B. oleracea does not have the usual close-knit core of leaves (a "head") like cabbage.
Collards are also known as tree-cabbage or non-heading cabbage. Collards look like loose cabbage, without the rounded head in the middle. They are similar to kale in growing habits and taste.
Georgia is the most popular variety. Cooked collard greens is a dish often associates with the American South, however, collard is a cool weather plant that grows better in the fall.
Botanical Name: Brassica 'Creole'. Collards are from the cabbage family.
Collards grow 2 to 3 feet tall with rosettes of large, non-heading, waxy leaves growing on sturdy stems. Collard is a kind of kale and a primitive member of the cabbage family.
Grow, Pick and Cook your own Collard Greens (video):
How to grow collards?
Start from seed
You can grow collard greens as either a spring or fall crop. They are more flavorful and sweeter when grown in the cool autumn. Collards are usually sown right into the garden when the danger of frost had passed.
Days to germination: 5 to 10 days
Days to harvest: 85 days to maturity, harvest at 40 days
Light requirements: Full sun or light shading
Water requirements: Regularly and frequently
Soil: Tolerates all soils, extra nitrogen is helpful
Container: Suitable
The plants grow quickly, reaching a spread of up to 2 feet at maturity.
Collards are one of the most cold-hardy of all vegetables, able to withstand temperatures as low as 10 F to 20 F. In Zone 8 and southward, collards often provide a harvest through the entire winter. Collards are a cool-weather crop and can tolerate temperatures as low as 20°F. Collards are more tolerant of heat than cabbage.
Collards are considered to be “heavy-feeders”. Plant a few seeds every 2 feet, and thin them down to 1 plant after they sprout. Seeds should be planted just a 1/4 inch under the surface.
Pinch out the growing tips of the collard greens to encourage side branching. You can eat the leafs you cut off.
If you want to start harvesting young greens earlier, you can not bother with the specific spacing and just sprinkle the seeds over the soil. Cover them over with a thin layer of soil. As the plants begin to grow, you can pick the young ones for eating, until you are left with larger plants with at least 2 feet of spacing between them.
How to fertilize?
Apply a high-nitrogen blend of fertilizer to boost leaf production. Collards like to be fed. Choose a fertilizer high in nitrogen (because you're promoting leaves, not flowers). Try Dynamite Organic All-Purpose (10-2-8). Water regularly.
The secret to tender, succulent collard greens is rapid, even growth. Keep soil moisture consistent. Add a complete organic fertilizer before planting and side-dress with fish emulsion monthly to provide the nitrogen needed for quick growth.
Collards need fertile, well-drained soil with a soil pH of 6.5 to 6.8 to discourage clubroot disease.
Can I grow collards in containers?
Yes. However, collards grow larger than most other greens, so you will have to have one plant per 10-inch pot. Larger containers are fine with 2 plants as long as you can provide at least 18 to 20 inches between their main stalks. Keep them well-watered and well-fed with fertilizer.
Use a 3- to 4-gallon pot that's about 10 to 12 inches in diameter for a single collard plant. A pot this size provides enough soil depth for the collards to produce healthy roots. The roots grow deep, so make sure the container is about foot deep.
Can I grow collards indoors, in containers?
Yes. Hang a fluorescent light that you can raise it up and down. Lower the light until it is 1/4 inch from the seedlings. This distance prevents collards from growing spindly. Raise the light as the seedlings grow. Plug the light into a timer, set for 12 hours of darkness and 12 hours of light.
When to harvest collards?
You can start harvesting leaves 4-6 weeks after you planted the seeds.
You can pick the leaves as the plant grows, by cutting off the ones at the bottom of the plant. As the inner stalk continues to grow upwards and produce more leaves, your collard plant will eventually look like a little tree with a bare stem at the bottom and leaves on the top.
What parasites affect collards?
Cabbage worms grow in the soil and kill collards. Collards may be attacked by cabbage family pests: cutworms, cabbage loopers (preceded by small yellow and white moths), and imported cabbage worms. Handpick these pests or spray plants with Bacillus thuringiensis. Deter collard-loving caterpillars, especially in spring, with a biological insecticide such as DiPel or Thuricide containing Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis).
Otherwise, collards have no serious disease problems.
References:
Collards from Lowe’s Plant Guide http://low.es/X1Imt0 -- There is more info at Lowe's plant guide available at http://lowes.com/plants
How to Grow Collard Greens | Backyard Gardening Blog http://bit.ly/X1IqsB
Growing Collards - Bonnie Plants http://bit.ly/X1Ip8a
Can Collard Greens Be Grown in Containers? | eHow.com http://bit.ly/X1IpVH
How to Grow Collards | Harvest to Table http://bit.ly/X1Iskr
Grown Your Own Collard Greens - Southern Living http://bit.ly/X1Iwk9
Collards - Vegetable Directory - Watch Your Garden Grow - University of Illinois Extension http://bit.ly/X1IwR6
Collard greens - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://bit.ly/X1Ix7I
Collards - Plant Care Guides - National Gardening Association http://bit.ly/X1Iys7
Container Vegetable Gardening, HYG-1647-00 http://bit.ly/X1IzMS
How to Grow Collard Greens Indoors | eHow.com http://bit.ly/X1IBV1
Collards Are the New Kale | Whole Foods Market http://buff.ly/1crSCQO
From Amazon:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)