Saturday, March 15, 2008

Container Gardening Basics



Today from gardening for beginners, we'll be showing you the basics of container gardening. Many people enjoy growing plants but do not have the space for a proper garden, in this situation, a container garden is an ideal solution. Container gardens have the following advantages - they are portable (you can move them easily without damaging the plants), they are dynamic (you can easily add or remove containers or pots as you wish, it's easy to start a small container vegetable garden and expand slowly) and most importantly, they take up far less space and require less maintenance than regular gardens. More often than not, they also cost less.

You might be interested in container gardening if you live in an apartment or a house in an urban estate, when land and space in general is very pricey. Granted, some plants cannot be grown in a pot as they require too much space (roots may grow too deep, or the overall plant is far too large, such as apple trees), but nevertheless container gardening is very useful for any beginner.

Starting a container garden is easy, so long as you know a little gardening basics. You might want to begin with easy plants such as chili and onion, which don't grow very large and can be kept indoors. Purchase a few small ceramic pots, try to get those with holes at the bottom and come with a drainage pan as they allow excess water to drain off and prevent the soil from becoming waterlogged. Buy some quality topsoil from a nearby plant nursery with the suitable acidity and mineral content for the type of plant you are growing.

Garden pests are not as much a concern in container vegetable gardening but they can become a concern if conditions are poor. Do not allow stagnant water to collect anywhere, turn unused pots and drainage pans upside down to prevent the collection of rainwater, which can breed pests and insects which may be harmful to human or plant health.

Keeping the containers indoors can be beneficial, especially if the weather is too cold outdoors and the pots are small enough. Remember, though, that soil contains many pathogens and thus should be kept away from consumables and other sensitive products or equipment.

That's about the basics of container gardening. The best way to learn more would be to try it yourself. You can also refer to my guide on how to get started on gardening.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

How to grow onions

A good day to everyone, and here's the lastest article from gardening for beginners, the blog catered towards aspiring gardeners and people who want to grow organic fruits and vegetables.

In today's article, we will cover a little bit on the uses of onions and how to grow onions.

Onions belong to the genus allium and have been cultivated for thousands of years. They can be used in many different recipes and, like many vegetables, are a rich source of vitamin C and antioxidants.

It's easy to grow onions if you start with a good bulb. You can buy these at the supermarket in large amounts for mass growing. Onions can be grown relatively near to each other, but make sure you do your research before growing other types of vegetables near them as they might not be suitable.

Select whole onions for growing that are not dented or broken. An onion with a portion chipped off will not grow. I've found that smaller species of onion tend to grow faster and are easier to cultivate than their larger counterparts. Place the onions in soil, make sure the soil is deep enough to accommodate the new onions that will bud off. Do not bury the entire onion, leave the top one-third of the onion sticking out of the soil. Water regularly but do not over-water.

In the next two weeks or so, the onion will grow roots although you will not be able to see anything happening. Do not uproot the onion once you have planted it or you will kill it. After about 10 days, you may start to see green shoots sprouting from your onion, this is spring onion and it is an indicator that you're doing good. A healthy onion plant under good conditions should have 7 to 10 such shoots sprouting.

Your onion will continue growing, be sure to water it regularly. You can harvest the shoots (spring onions) for dishes such as fried rice. It takes about 3 to 6 months for a new onion to be fully developed from the onion that you have planted, depending on the species. When you think the time is ripe, you can then uproot the onion and harvest off the new onions which would have budded from the one you planted.

Good luck in growing onions!

Sunday, February 24, 2008

How to grow good tomatoes



Tomatoes are actually fruits although they are commonly grown in vegetable gardens. They are a close cousin of chili peppers and are relatively easy to grow. With a little determination, anyone can enjoy fresh, home grown organic tomatoes from their own garden. Tomatoes are powerful antioxidants, a good source of vitamin C and can ward off prostate cancer. Who can resist it's juicy goodness?

Tomatoes need acidic soil to grow, with a PH between 5.0 to 6.0. They thrive in warm weather, so they are ideal for growing in tropical regions. If you do grow them in temperate places, make sure you only start after the frost is gone.

Find a spot in your garden with the above mentioned soil. Do not plant the tomatoes too close to each other. Place the seeds deep into the soil and make sure they are well covered up. The area must receive a good amount of sunlight if you want good tomatoes. Note that the same plot of land should not be used for growing tomatoes every season, instead, rotate different crops. Top the soil with around 3 inches of compost.

Water your plant 2 to 3 times weekly, but water the soil with the roots, not the leaves.

When it begins to flower, shake the plant so that the pollen will distribute evenly.

Enjoy fresh tomatoes! You may also want to check out this recipe for tomato soup!

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Comparing different types of fertilizers

Hello and welcome to another article from Gardening For Beginners. In today's article, we'll be comparing different types of fertilizers.

As you may or may not already know, fertilizers are compounds added to the soil to promote plant growth. They are usually absorbed into the plant via it's roots and help the plant grow faster and stronger than it would otherwise, by supplementing it with nutrient rich substances. Especially in areas with poor soil, overused soil or plots where the topsoil has been washed away by rain, fertilizers can provide the plants with much needed minerals to survive. Fertilizers will allow you to grow more plants in the same plot of land and allow you to keep reusing the land after every batch of plants.

Fertilizers are largely divided into two categories, organic fertilizers and inorganic fertilizers. Organic fertilizers are those which are derived from organic matter such as animal manure, compost and seaweed. Inorganic fertilizers are made from simple inorganic minerals and chemicals.

Organic fertilizers can be further divided into those which are manufactured (like compost) and those which occur naturally (like sulphur of potash).

Organic Fertilizers
tend to be cheaper than inorganic fertilizers and are better for the environment as well as plant health. However they tend to be more diluted than inorganic fertilizers and can contain harmful pathogens. Inorganic Fertilizers are readily available and can be manufactured in vast quantities. However they can cause eutrophication due to runoff. It is up to you to decide which type of fertilizer you would rather use.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

How to grow chili

In this article, I will give you some tips that can help you grow chili.

First, a short introduction on chili. Chili is the fruit of the plants from the genus capsicum. They are a subset of chili peppers, usually comparatively smaller and hotter than other types of capsicum. There are many variants of chili, and different species require different conditions to thrive. The following is a general guide as there is no one size fits all approach to growing chili.

By nature, chili isn't hard to grow though it requires constant care in order to survive. You would probably want to grow them indoors first as they are vulnerable to harsh weather for the first few weeks. Ideally, chili should be grown towards the late part of spring after all the frost is gone. They grow best and produce hot fruits in tropical regions with year long summer.

Start by preparing a small pot inside your house. The pot should be around 3 inches in diameter and be filled with rich topsoil. Holes at the bottom will allow excess water to drain out. Fertilizer can be added at a later time once the plant starts to flower. Personally I think that asian varieties of chili such as chili padi are a great choice to grow. Place the pot in an area that receives plenty of sunlight as chili plants need plenty of sunlight. Start by sowing the seed approximately 6mm below the soil. Make sure the soil is well aerated. Add some water to the soil and wait for the seed to germinate, which should take anywhere from 4 days to over a week. Even before germination, water regularly, ensuring that the soil is damp but not soaked.

If conditions are not too warm, water the plant two to three times a week, otherwise water the plant every two days. Especially in hot tropical regions, chili plants can lose water quickly and wilt. Water early in the morning before it gets too hot. Do not water so much until the soil gets completely soaked as the roots will have no air and begin to rot, killing your plant.

When your seedling grows to good height, you might want to transplant it to a larger pot. Continue watering it regularly. When it begins to flower, you may want to help it along by adding some organic fertilizer every few weeks. Leave the flowers on the plant as they will die after a few weeks. If all goes well, chilies may start to form.

Chilies will take a few weeks to develop and a further couple weeks to turn from green to red. You may pick them off the plant any time after they are fully developed but the longer you leave them on the hotter they will become. Do not leave them on for too long though, as delaying after the chili is ready for harvest will result in a decline of further yields.

Chili can be used to spice up many dishes and is a good source of vitamin C.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Getting started on gardening

So you've made the decision to start your own garden? Be it a large garden in your front yard or a small container garden indoors, you'll need a fair bit of proper planing to ensure that things run smoothly.

First off, ask yourself what type of gardening do you want to do. Do you plan to convert your neighborhood into a flowery park? Perhaps beautify your house? Or a few potted plants outside your apartment for some greenery to get away from the busy city? Gardening of different scales need different types of equipment. A small watering can is fine for your small rose bush. You'll need sprinkler systems to water an entire field of assorted flowers.

Next consider how much you are willing to spend. For those just getting started on gardening, ideally you would want to cut costs while being able to enjoy watching you first plants blooming with flowers. For starters, you should start small and slowly expand. Aim to spend no more than US$100 on your beginning equipment, seeds and all. You may be tempted to buy the state of the art tools - don't. Most beginners don't know how to fully utilize such equipment anyway. If possible, make a trip to the local discount department store's gardening section. There's plenty of good stuff that you can pick up at value-for-money prices. Remember that you need money to maintain the garden too - buying fertilizer and weed removal products.

Once you have acquired all the equipment necessary, decide on what you will grow. For beginners, you may wish to start with tomatoes and green beans (they grow fast). Make sure you read up on how to grow each plant before you begin, as poor conditions can quickly kill a plant or render it flowerless. Pay attention to the amount of water needed, the soil acidity and the temperature. In the next few posts, you will learn how to grow a few different types of plants.

Good luck and happy gardening!

Friday, February 8, 2008

Why should I do gardening

Welcome to Gardening for Beginners. If you're reading this you're probably new to gardening and want to find out more. Well there are many reasons why one may want to grow a garden. Most people start gardening as a hobby to occupy their spare time. What many beginners do not realise is that there is more to gardening than simply planting seeds, watering them and watching them grow. Gardening offers many other benefits and can be therapeutic too. If you are not convinced, here are some reasons why you may want to start gardening:

1. Gardening is fun.

Gardening provides an opportunity to unwind after a stressful day's work and get in tune with nature. A garden might serve as an escape from the hectic demands of everyday life. The beauty of flowers can rejuvenate spirits and bring calm relaxation, as well as a great way to spend your free time.

2. Gardening as excercise

Gardening is a great way for people of all ages to keep fit. Mowing grass is like taking a vigorous walk, bending and stretching to plant seeds can be compared to an exercise class. Hauling plants and soil is similar to weightlifting. See immediate results in your garden even as your physical health improves.

3. Gardening for safe, healthy food.
There's nothing more exciting that preparing a dish in which all the ingredients were home-grown. Reports of food-borne illnesses and contamination regularly appear in the news media. Growing concerns about pesticides in our food supply have led to an increased interest in organic gardening and availability of organic produce. Processed foods contain additives and preservatives that many consumers want to avoid. Start your own garden and know the food you’re eating is fresh and safe with fantastic flavor not always found in grocery store produce.

Welcome to Gardening for Beginners

Welcome to Gardening for Beginners. Here you can learn some practical ways to get started on gardening. This site also provides some easy tips and techniques for beginning gardeners to get started. Learn how to grow various types of plants. If you have questions not covered here please feel free to leave a comment.