There’s a lot more to horticulture than most people realize. This is especially true if you want to garden naturally. You may need to learn everything from soil pH to controlling pests without chemicals. It might be challenging to grow organic. Use the tips below to grow like a pro.
Your plants need to adapt and must be gradually introduced to changes in temperature or condition. Place them outside in the sunlight for an hour or two on the first day. Gradually increase the the time they spend outside over a one week period. At the end of a week, they should be accustomed to the outdoors and ready to transition to outside safely.
Stinkbugs can be a nuisance in the garden. These bugs are known to be proliferate in the cooler fall months. Stink bugs prefer peppers, beans, tomatoes, and various varieties of fruits. If you do not keep them under control, the damage can be excessive, so keep an eye out for them.
Before you plant seeds, pre-soak them for a night somewhere dark. Place a couple of seeds in a tiny container, and fill it with water nearly to the top. This will hydrate the seeds and facilitate growth. The young plants will survive better, and get a boost toward maturity.
Vegetables in a garden need to have at least six hours of sun every day in order to thrive. Most vegetables that can be grown need that much sun to grow well and quickly. Some flowers are especially sun-loving as well.
Deciduous shrubs and young trees need to be protected. Cold weather significantly affects these plants, especially if they are in pots. Tie together the tops, and then use a sheet or blanket to cover the wigwam loosely. In contrast to wrapping the plant with plastic, this method promotes air circulation, which stops the plant from rotting.
Do you ever wish that your fresh mint leaves would not grow as quickly and overcome your garden? Stunt their growth a little by planting your mint into a garden container or large pot instead. This container can be placed in the soil if you prefer the look of mint in your garden, and it will continue to contain the roots of your mint and prevent it from taking over.
Every good gardener knows when the best time is to begin harvesting one vegetable or the other. Different vegetables have different, ideal times that they should be picked for best flavor. For example, baby peas and zucchini taste best when they are picked young. The opposite is true of tomatoes. They taste their best if you allow them to ripen on the vine as long as possible. Thus, you ought to familiarize yourself with the best times to pick the produce from your garden.
You don’t have to plant just for spring and summer. Consider what are often beautiful colors in the fall. But, that does not have to be the case! In terms of colorful foliage, fall is the time of year admired by many. There are a number of trees that provide exuberant displays of color, such as Dogwood, Beech and Maple. Barberry, conaneaster and hydrangea are all wonderful choices in shrubs.
Water your garden wisely. Use a type of soaker hose so that you don’t need to do individual waterings with the hose nozzle, or be refilling a watering can constantly. Turn the water on at low pressure so your delicate plants will not be damaged by the soaker hose. Watering your garden for a couple hours while you are working on other tasks is an efficient use of your time.
During the day, when the weather is hot, vegetables tend to be softer, which causes them to be damaged even if you gently pick them. Use garden shears to remove your vegetables from the vine to avoid damaging the plant.
Take the necessary time when planting seeds. First, add moisture to the soil where you will be planting. Then distribute the seeds so that they are evenly spaced and have sufficient room to grow. Look at how big the seeds are, multiply that by three, and plant them down into the earth accordingly. Read the seed pack as some varieties shouldn’t be covered with soil because they require light to sprout.
Now, you shouldn’t get your hopes up and believe that a few tips are going to turn you into an instant professional gardener. However, these tips are a great starting point if you do plan to grow organically. As you implement these tips and hone your skills, you’ll be a professional green-thumb-holder in no time.
