Thursday, May 27, 2010

Tips For Planting A Small Vegetable Garden

The decision to grow your own small vegetable garden will reap many benefits other than the vegetables. There will be a lot of money saved at the market and the things grown at home taste much better than those bought at a market. This is also a wonderful way to teach children the process of how food items are grown and the importance of using the environment for life resources.

When you grow your own vegetables there are no unknown pesticides and preservatives in them. This means healthier food items for you and your family. There is not a need to have acres of land available, many items can be grown in small plots. All that is needed to begin growing vegetables is an area that gets plenty of sunshine, accessibility to water and soil.

The main idea is to begin with a small plot to grow items you like to eat. An area that is plowed about four feet wide and four feet long is sufficient for a beginner new to gardening. Starting off with a smaller piece of land will give you time to become familiar and comfortable with caring for the plants.

Start with choosing an area of the yard to plant. Dig the area the size determined, the depth needs to be approximately four inches. Remember to only plant what you will enjoy eating. Choosing the seeds will be overwhelming if you are not prepared before going to get supplies. Planting four to five varieties of seeds is going to fit better in the area.

Tomatoes are always a good choice for those just starting out in gardening. The tomato plants produce a great harvest and are easy to maintain. They will need to be staked once they begin to grow. Tomatoes not staked will lie on the ground and begin to rot on the ground side.

Most plots can be reused. After harvesting, rework the ground and plant other seeds through the same ground area. To get the most out of a small plot, if you have planted seeds that are quick in producing product, in the same section plant seeds that require more time for full growth.

There is no greater feeling than digging in the earth to plant your vegetable garden. The results will produce an excellent tasting vegetable and save tremendous amounts on the grocery bill. Getting the family involved in the planting process will encourage children to eat more vegetables as they will be anxious to sample what they have grown themselves.

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Sunday, May 23, 2010

Identifying And Germinating Seeds In Time

Many of the plants and shrubs too can be easily grown from their seeds. Plants like Berries and other fruits can be easily grown from their seeds. You can never match the fun and the pleasure that can be obtained from plucking and eating the berries that have grown in your gardens. One must be aware of the fact some seeds germinate faster and also grow faster and some take a longer time.

These days apart from the original seeds one can also fine seeds that are genetically altered or hybrid in nature. These seeds and plants thereafter grow very fast and also bear fruits much faster than if you had tried the original seed. You can sow the seeds in small seed boxes or even pots that are filled with the composts required for the nutrition of the plants.

Tips for growing seeds The following are some tips that you can follow in order that your seeds germinate and grow well:

You must be very careful to drain the boxes of the container in which you are placing the seeds for germination. This can be done by putting a layer of rocks on the bottom of the container.

After sowing the seeds you need to cover them to a required level with compost. The compost needs to be very fine. Then after that you need to place the container in a place that is not exposed to heat. It is best if you keep it in a cool place and preferably in an unheated seed house also called a green house.

Remember to water the pots well especially in the early stages or there are dangers of the new plant drying up. Also the soil could dry up and prevent the seeds from germinating.

In order to speed up germination you need to place the seeds in a tin. Make tiny holes on the lid of the tin to let the air pass in to it. Then layer it up with compost and soil. After this you need to bury the tin in the ground for the winter. This is one way of stratification that quickens the germination.

Always stratify the seeds in the whole if the winter before you sow them. This process needs to be followed in the case of seeds of fleshy berries and fruits. This is because these seeds have a hard outer covering that needs to be softened. Once you have carefully followed the above mentioned steps then your plants will grow. Once your plants have grown considerably then they can be transplanted to another box or pot that is bigger and gives enough room and space for the plant to grow.

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