How To Grow Vegetables and Vegetable Gardening Tips
If you have a new garden area in mind, there are several tasks you should perform before sowing that first seed. The first task is to take soil samples, and perform a soil test. The second task should be to measure the drainage of the proposed area.The type of soil you have will dictate your soil drainage. Soil that has a high content of clay will drain slowly. Soils with high contents of sand will drain too quickly. Also your vegetable … [Read more...]
Adding compost to your garden soil will help to improve just about any soil type - whether it is clay, sand, or silt. There are two things that unhealthy soils lack: microorganisms and organic materials. Truthfully, you need the organic materials in order to attract the microorganisms.Remember the movie Field of Dreams? "Build it and they will come".It is pretty much the same for those beneficial microorganisms. Enrich the soil with … [Read more...]
The next time you are throwing an item in the trash, think about whether you can compost it instead. There are many things that can be added to your compost pile, and later used to grow some great tasting vegetables or herbs. Everyone that is familiar with composting knows that things like grass clippings, and dead tree limbs are great additions to a compost pile, but what about some ordinary items from around the house?There are many things … [Read more...]
Any coffee drinker will likely throw away a filter full of coffee grounds each day. But, to gardeners these old grounds are very useful in the vegetable plot, flower bed or landscape. Some may remember family members throwing coffee grounds around roses or azaleas. Besides improving acidity for plants like these, coffee grounds are useful against pests and as soil amendments. If you don’t drink coffee or need more grounds than your family can … [Read more...]
Dear EarthTalk: What effects do fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides used on residential lawns or on farms have on nearby water bodies like rivers, streams—or even the ocean for those of us who live near the shore? -- Linda Reddington, Manahawkin, NJWith the advent of the so-called Green Revolution in the second half of the 20th century—when farmers began to use technological advances to boost yields—synthetic fertilizers, … [Read more...]
If you do not like the idea of having a compost pile or composting equipment in your yard then direct composting (or trench composting) might be for you. Some localities and gated communities do not allow compost piles, but you can use direct composting as an alternative and still supply your garden with rich compost. Direct composting can serve two purposes - add valuable nutrients to your garden soil, and create an alternative method of … [Read more...]
Compost toilets have been around for quit a while and are becoming more and more popular. I will be the first to admit that the sound of a compost toilet does not sound very pleasant, but are a great money saver for the frugal gardener. Compost toilets have made great strides in the effort for using greener methods of living. Green living and frugality have become common lifestyles in today's world where global warming and rising energy costs … [Read more...]
Composting has become an intricate and necessary part of organic gardening. Compost is the best amendment that you can add to your gardening soil, but many people view composting as a tedious, time consuming, and messy affair. It does not have to be that way if you use a composter.Composters make light work out of producing your own valuable compost. Like everything else, there are many types of composters that are available for different … [Read more...]
I'm intrigued by heirloom vegetables, and crazy about sharing my passions with others.
It is my wish to share as much of my vegetable knowledge that I can with you.
Hopefully, I can learn as much from you as you do from me.
So, I'd like to welcome you to Veggie Gardener, and please do not forget to say hello. I'd love to hear from you!
[Read More …]
Garden Connections