Almost A Month
By admin | April 15, 2012
Hello,
like the title says its almost a month since my last update, I put that down to pressure of work and not just in the garden.
The tomatoes in the greenhouse are fairing well but making more root growth than topside, not to worry that was expected.
The first and second early potatoes are comimg along fine, see picture, but due to the frequent frost warnings of late I have earthed them up a lot more than I would normally do.
Both the shallots and onions have sprouted well and the only area in the main bed still covered in netting are the main crop potatoes.
Since last posting I have bedded the runner beans in and the Mengetout will soon be ready to go out as well.
More soon Happy Gardening
Norman
Topics: organic-gardening, Vegetables | Comments;
Potatoes Broad Beans Etc.
By admin | March 18, 2012
It has been a couple of weeks since my last personal update that does not mean I have idled my time away.
I am happy to say that I now have all three seaons of potato in the ground.
I was left with enough space to add some Shallots and Onions to the same bed.
Next were the Broad Beans that had been hardening off in the cold frame.
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For the benefit of those that think they do not have enough space to grow any sort of Organic Vegetables I have potted 4 Broad Bean plants in a 12″ pot, will be interesting to see what this will yield.
And finally for this post I have moved the Runner Beans from the Greenhouse to harden off in the cold frame prior to planting out next week.
I have also started the Mangetout and the Courgettes in the large propagater in the Greenhouse which is kept at 10 ‘C’ The night temperatures around here have not dropped below 5 ‘C’ during the last week.
Feel free to leave to leave a comment or share as always
Happy Gardening
Norman
Topics: organic-gardening, Vegetables | Comments;
The Best Tools for Lawn Maintenance
By admin | March 11, 2012
When springtime starts to bring life back to your lawn, homeowners begin thinking about the best way to encourage new growth and maintain the outdoor space so that it’s attractive and well-kept.
You’ll need the right tools to do the job, and most people simply think of a lawn mower, when sizing up their needs. But a great lawn is more than just trimming the grass and weeds – it’s about nourishing the soil and seedlings so that your lawn has a beautiful green hue and is void of any invasive plants that choke out new growth.
Before you get started planting and nurturing, you’ll want to make sure you have the right watering system in place. Some homeowners spend a small fortune having an automated sprinkler system installed.
This is great if you can afford it. If not, you can still get the same results by investing in sprinklers that you set with timers. Another option is the manual on/off sprinklers you can buy. Some hoses will have a single spout, but there are those that help you with a larger area by having multiple spouts to spray the water over the lawn.
Lawn fertilizer is necessary if your soil isn’t up to par. You have a wide variety of options here. There are organic fertilizers or synthetic ones. Some release the nitrogen slowly, while others have a fast release.
You can distribute the fertilizer across your lawn using a broadcast spreader. Some people do it using other methods, including by hand. It might depend on how large your lawn is when you decide how to apply your fertilizer.
Sod or seed will be the next question you have to answer. You can buy seeds that get planted or broadcast across the soil and grow individually. Or, you can invest in sod, which are little plots of readymade lawn that you put down and watch take root on your soil.
Sod offers a sort of instant lawn. It’s far more expensive than seeded lawns. If you’re on a tight budget, then you might want to take the longer route and go with the seeding process.
A lawn aerator tool will be necessary to keep your lawn looking healthy. It helps your lawn get water to the roots, so they can grow strong and fight against disease. You can hire a professional to aerate your lawn, rent or buy a tool, or even use spike shoes that you wear while walking on your lawn. All have different levels of effectiveness.
Once your lawn is prepared, you’ll want to look at all of your weed killer options. Some are organic and some are not as eco-friendly. There are many types of lawn grass that fight against weeds, but some are more vulnerable than others.
Once your lawn seed or sod is in the ground, you’ll want to keep it looking beautiful as it grows and flourishes with the right lawn mower. There are all sorts of mowers on the market – from riding lawn mowers to push mowers. Some are electric, some use gas, and some even use the manual strength you have to offer.
Start by figuring out which type of lawn grass you want and then work your way backwards to determine which tools you need to help it go from seedling to plush lawn in the shortest amount of time possible.
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Quick Update from North Wales
By admin | March 4, 2012
I thought we had seen the last of the cold weather but it has come back again this week-end. with snow on the mountains just a few miles away.
I have been able to make some progress this week however in getting my first early potateos into the ground. I am growing Maris Bard this year, I grew them last year and was more than pleased with the crop they produced even though the weather was not at its best.
Having potted up the Broad Beans that I had started in the warmth of my boiler cupboard on the 2nd Febuary and kept in my large propagator I found it was time to move them to the conservatory.
Where they will stay fore at least another ten days prior to planting out.
The tomato plants are doing well and have been moved from the small propagator to the large one. I have also potted up the Runner Beans that have been in the boiler cupboard for a week.I am doing my best to keep records of all produce this year which I will publish when the growing season is over for me.
Feel free to leave a comment below.
Happy Gardening
Norman
Topics: Uncategorized | Comments;
Digging in the Green Stuff
By admin | February 14, 2012
I do not recall whether or not I published the fact that I was going to try out an additional Green Manure this winter I normally use Agricultural Mustard for this purpose. But being one who is always looking for improvement I thought I would give
Hungarian Rye a try.
Sowing took place imediately the last of the main crop Potatoes were lifted with the instruction to allow it to grow until the spring and then turn it in. Well needless to say it grew quite well, so well in fact that it reach six to eight inches high with quite broad leaves.
I am an advocate of not going on the ground for any reason when it is soaking wet, but we had no rain for two days prior to Suday the 12th of Feb. So I bit the bullet got out my trusty spade and turned the area over see picture.
As you can see the density of the foliage was such that it was almost inposible to hide it all even digging a full spades depth. I have come to the conclusion that
Hungarian Rye is for farmers or those that have sufficient land to warant using a plough.let you know how I get on when I come preparing the same area for planting.
Happy gardening
Norman
Topics: General, organic-gardening | Comments;
‘Learn About Desert Plants’
By guest | February 11, 2012
By alfredama | September 1, 2009
Despite how acrid the desert may appear, there are expansive types of desert plants that grow in dry conditions. These plants are tough, thriving on little water, a great deal of light, and conditions that would wilt or kill most living things. However, just because these plants can survive in an environment many creatures do not, desert plants do not necessarily make good house plants.
However, those who manage to raise desert plant indoors get the rewarding experience of nurturing a type of plant that many people do not usually get to see up close. These plants can serve as conversation starters, as well as adding a unique atmosphere to your home.
When you think of desert plants, the most common desert plant to come to mind is the cactus. Wild cacti can grow to a few feet tall, and usually do not endure home life very well. Many require special greenhouses with artificial lighting to survive. Don’t be concerned, there are cactus species that can be grown indoors for your enjoyment. These include the Acanthocalycium klimpelianum, the Acanthocalycium spiniflorum, the Acanthocalycium thionanthum v. variiflorum and the Acanthocalycium violaceum, as well as several other varieties. All of these cacti tend to be small, round in shape, and have one or several blossoms at the tip of the plant. Like desert wildflowers, cacti require tender care in order to endure. Unlike common belief, you cannot just neglect your cactus and water it infrequently. They need a specific amount of exposure to the sun, and planned watering. Without this, your cacti will wilt and die. Cacti are among some of the most difficult plants to keep in a home, so you will need to approach their care with caution.
If you are looking to keep desert plants in your home, there are a few key things that you need to keep in mind. Plants like the Apache Plume, the Arizona Poppy and the Blue Phacelia require a great deal of sunlight and heat. While they can survive the freezing spikes of the desert night, these plants need conditions that resemble the desert in order to survive. If you plan to keep any one of these plants in your home, you should take care to provide them a great deal of light and be wary of over-feeding.
Should you adhere to the few requirements of desert plants – scheduled feeding, proper temperatures and exposure to light – you will be able to adore your cacti and wildflowers for a long time to come.
Organic Pest Control
By admin | February 10, 2012
Regretfully the credits for this post in Octobber 2010 could not be saved.
The idea of organic gardening pest control is not a new theory, and in fact is as old as agriculture. The problem is that since World War II organic pest control has been replaced in civilized countries with man-made pesticides that are detrimental to both the environment and to the people who consume the plants on which the products are sprayed. The return to organic gardening pest control and choosing to reject or restrict made-made pesticides is very popular with people today. Not everyone feels the same about these products. Some people oppose their use only on food, and others hope to minimize their use as much as possible.
There are a variety of sensible reasons that appeal to logic for using organic gardening pest control methods. Most importantly, if pesty insects are left alone, free of pesticides, they ae less likely to become resistant “super bugs”. Organic methods tend to be less polluting and blend into the ecosystem around it instead of disrupting it. In addition, because many of the pesticides that are available are derivatives of petrochemicals, their costs are higher, thus making alternatives more attractive. Whatever the reasons may be for avoiding their use, the organic gardener has to be prepared to work in order to make up for the loss of those chemical products that he chooses to abstain from using.
Organic gardeners use a variety of proficient, chemical-free strategies to limit pests in the garden. An easy and effective way to avoid pest problems is varietal selection, which includes choosing seed varieties that have been bred to be resistant against certain diseases and pest. The cultural control method of organic gardening pest control involves changing your gardening methods in order to reduce the hospitality that your garden offers to pests. This may mean removing or burning diseased plant material and destroying weeds and plan debris that provide hiding places for insects. Using stakes to keep fruits off the ground as well as pruning to remove diseased limbs, removing sickly plants, proper building of the soil, and making sure the plants are in raised areas in rainy seasons also help control diseases and pests. Crop rotation can also help in the prevention of disease and in pest control.
Using non-pesticide methods for pest control may not be as quick as the use of pesticides, but it is safer and over time, these methods will not simply repel the insects for the current season but prevent their reappearance in other corps. Although organic gardening pest control may present a longer and more strenuous process, it is well worth the time and effort.
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Topics: Hydroponics, pests | Comments;
Time to Start
By admin | January 24, 2012
I made a start in the greenhouse to-day, initially I spread a good layer of my three year compost on the area where I grow my Tomatoes. I then gave it a coating of potash, the ash from hedge cuttings I burnt last year.
Having turned the above in, I decide to set out the canes and give the whole area a good soaking with water from the rain butt.
The reason for the collars around the canes is so that if I need to use a liquid fertilser during the growing period it will go direct to the roots.
With that job done I turned the heat on in the small propagater and will be sowing the Tomato seeds in a couple of days. I will be growing three ‘Gardeners Delight’ at the back and two ‘moneymaker’ at the front both Organic of course. I will keep you imformed of the progress from time to time.
Happy gardening
Norman
Topics: organic-gardening, Tomatoes | Comments;
New Year New Blog
By admin | January 17, 2012
It was obviously not a good idea to set up auto posting. One or two of the posts were informative but most of them were rubbish. If you consider you have relevent information on Organic Gardening I would be extremely pleased to hear from you.
Just leave a comment in the ‘Comments’ box below with you email address giving a short content idea and I will contact you.
Norman
Topics: Uncategorized | Comments;
Your Questions About Organic Vegetables Wholesale
By guest | December 31, 2011
Ruth asks…
Consumer Alert!!!: Is the organic food business fraudulent?
On new year’s I was in the presence of some really intoxicated businessman. Eventually they started bragging about the various business deals that they had done. Now the one guy manages an independent food store. He said that his greatest profit margin was on produce that he purchased wholesale, and rebranded as “organic” even though it wasn’t. He said they did it with all sorts of vegetables, and even some meat cuts. Apparently the customers never questioned the origin. I’m hoping that this guy was just showing off in front of his friends, and it wasn’t true, but he was so drunk I doubt he realizes what he was admitting. When I asked him ” Don’t you worry that someone with an allegy to chemicals might get sick or something” He replied “Are you kidding me? Don’t be niave. Chemicals are in everything. It’s all in their head anyway”. Needless to say I think this whole thing sucks, and I won’t be buying organic anytime soon. Is this sort of fraud commonplace?
guest answers:
That’s illegal,sure it goes on,but I would think only in smaller places.I know at wal-mart they got a company removed from the shelves because they didn’t follow the guidelines for orgnic foods,yes there are guidelines,but most people don’t know that.I trust whole foods,but I wouldn’t trust a real small grocery store.
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Topics: organic-gardening | Comments;