Kitchen And Indoor Garden Tips

  • February 20, 2011 7:34 am

Having your own kitchen garden is a unique idea. You can pluck the fruits and vegetables required for your kitchen and also use the flowers for the table. So if you are interested in gardening you could start right away. The first thing you need to do is choose the best place. Remember that most of the plants require good sunlight for their growth. So the availability of sunlight for the vegetation is very important. Another important aspect is drainage. You have to avoid areas where water could collect and be stagnant. See that the water drains away and the place does not become a breeding ground for insects.

The place you are going to start the garden should be close to your kitchen. This can enable easy access if you want to pick a few items from your kitchen garden. If you feel that the distance is not a problem you can choose other convenient location. Ensure that your garden can be seen easily so that you can notice various changes easily and take the necessary steps immediately. After selecting the area you have to prepare it well according to a layout. Mark the layout according to what you are going to plant.

After the layout and the area are ready you can start planting your favorite herbs and vegetables. You can choose from different seasonal flowers, fruits and vegetables for your garden. Ensure that the garden is well protected from animals and insects. Use a good trellis to protect your plants. The type of soil is also very important for successful gardening. It has to be fertile, friable, deep and well drained. Supply appropriate nutrients and water for growing well. Some of the vegetables you can easily grow at home include onion, tomato, radish, zucchini, beet, carrot, spinach, peas, pepper, lettuce etc.

Gardening And Seed Starting Tips

  • July 1, 2009 7:21 am

You can save a lot of money by starting all your own seeds for your garden.  For the price of one started plant you can often buy a whole package of seeds, and you can order a better variety. The main thing that stops many people from starting their own, is they do not have a greenhouse. A greenhouse is not always necessary and there are a lot of ways you can have a profitable garden by becoming the king or queen of the environment by reusing lots of things that would otherwise end up the dump.

You can get around needing a green house by collecting all the clear two liter bottles you can get. First put a small hole or two in the bottom. If you have a wood burning pen, those are great for melting small holes in the plastic without cracking it. You cut the bottles off at the top and fill the bottom part about one third to half full of good potting soil. You plant the seeds and use clear duct tape to tape the top back on. You now have a miniature green house that can be put in sunny places outside or if it still really cold,  tied hanging in front of windows in your home. You can also take clear zip lock bags, you can use some that are used, and fill them partly with potting soil, and start seeds hanging in front of windows inside your house. It is not hard to poke holes in the top and just use something like hay string over the curtain rods to keep them where you want them. Just be careful not to over water. Note – drain holes are not always necessary if you add just little bits of water at a time and open the bags or bottles a lot to keep air circulating and prevent mold and rot. You can also use small plastic bottles, but the plants will need to be transplanted sooner.

Another idea for starting seeds, saving money, and reusing trash, is egg shells. This does not let you start plants early without a green house, but it is still a handy method. When you crack eggs, break off the small end carefully and try to leave as much of the bottom intact as you can. Some people may prefer to break off the big end instead for a wider top part and that is fine. You put the empty shells, (no need to rinse them) back in the egg carton, fill them with potting soil, and plants seeds. Now, when the plant is ready to go in the garden, just crack the shell and use the pieces as fertilizer. The only drawback is watering can be a little hard, unless you poke a lot of holes in the eggs cartons. Otherwise, when water leaks around the shells and fills the compartments, the shells start to float and tip over.