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The 12 Easiest Vegetables to Grow in Home Gardens or Containers for First Time Gardeners

The 12 Easiest Vegetables to Grow in Home Gardens or Containers for First Time Gardeners

A lot of people, myself included, are growing our own vegetables to beat the credit crunch. And why not? Planting a few seeds in containers on your patio or in your backyard yields delicious, organic results – and money savings, too! Growing organic vegetables is easier than you think. Here are the 12 vegetables you will have no problem planting, tending for and harvesting in your own garden, even if you are a first-time gardener!

#1 Radish

Radishes are particularly easy to grow and can be intercropped with rows of lettuce to take up a minimum amount of space! Great thing about radishes is that very few pests bother them. Choose a sunny, sheltered position in soil, well fed with organic matter. Sow the seed thinly, evenly at ½ inch below the soil’s surface with one inch of space between each. Water the soil thoroughly before sowing and after the seeds emerge water them lightly every couple days. Radishes are a great source of potassium, folic acid, magnesium and calcium, and are perfect in salad dressings or as a garnish for salads. Radishes are fast growers and should be ready to pull in several weeks.

#2  Zucchini/ Squash

Zucchini and squash do well in most climates and they need very little special attention. If you plant zucchini you’ll probably end up with way more than they can even eat!

Zucchini and squash are very low in calories but full of potassium, manganese and folate. Sow several zucchini seeds in a heap pile of composted soil a foot high and a couple feet wide. Space each heap pile approximately 3 feet apart, water them heavily every other day and wait for them to sprout in a couple weeks. They should be ready to harvest about a month later. For any early start sow the seeds singly about ½in (1.25cm) deep, in small pots and place in a temperature of 65-70F (18-21C). After germination of seeds, grow on in a well lit spot, harden off and plant out after the last spring frost when the weather is warm.

#3 Carrots

Carrots tend to be pest free and need little attention. Carrots are rich in vitamin A, antioxidants, carotene and dietary. Dig a hole less than an inch deep and plant a couple of seeds in each, and leave several inches in between holes. Thin out in stages to 4-6in (10-15cm) apart. Keep the soil moist but remember to water the carrots less as they begin to reach maturity.

#4 Spinach

A highly nutritious and easily grown crop, high in both calcium and iron. Spinach can be eaten plain, cooked, and made into a chip dip. Turn over the soil with compost and plant seeds less than an inch deep, placing them at least 4 inches apart to give room for growth. Pick young leaves regularly. Sow the soil a couple more times in the first month and keep this area well-watered.

#5 Peas

Peas are another high-yield crop, both sweet peas and sugar peas. Other than fruit flies, these guys attract very few pests. A good source of vitamins A, B and C. Cultivate the soil just prior to sowing top dress with a balanced fertilizer. Keep in mind that your soil must drain well in order for peas for flourish. Space each seed several inches apart and sow them one inch deep. Freshly planted seeds require ½ inch of water every week, while more mature plants need a full inch. Any surplus peas can be frozen very successfully.

#6 Peppers

Peppers contain nutrients like thiamin and manganese. Peppers can be stuffed with meat and rice or used in salsa and pasta, and raw in salads. Till the soil with compost and Epsom salts, this will make it rich in magnesium to help the peppers develop healthily. Peppers can be produced outside in growing bags, large pots etc. Since they grow best in warm soil, sow the seeds a foot or more apart in raised beds or containers. Water them frequently, keeping the soil moist, or they may taste bitter once harvested.

#7 Lettuce/ Baby Greens

Lettuce is one of the easiest vegetables to grow; you just have to plant the seeds, water and watch how fast it grows. Lettuce is a good source of folic acid and vitamin A, used as the main ingredient mostly in salads, but also can be stuffed with various ingredients to make a lettuce wrap or top sandwiches, hamburgers and tacos. When cultivating the soil with nutrient-rich compost, break up any chunks and remove debris. Make sure that seeds are planted between 8 and 16 inches apart and water them every morning. Avoid doing so at night because this could cause disease. Loose-leaf varieties are ready to start cutting about seven weeks after sowing.

Baby greens are simply greens that are harvested while they are still young and tender. They are true instant gratification vegetables – you’ll be harvesting your first salad in under a month! Sprinkle the seeds as thinly as possible across the soil in a 2- to 3-inch wide band. Space rows of baby greens 6 to 8 inches apart. Or plant baby greens in a pot, and cut your salad fresh every night!

#8 Onion

Rich in dietary fiber, folate and vitamin C, onion need little care – just give them plenty of water. Plow the soil a foot deep and get rid of debris. The easiest way to grow onions is from sets which are small onions. Plant sets so that the tip is showing about 5in (13cm) apart in rows 12in (30cm) apart. Or, plant the seeds a couple centimeters deep and several inches apart. Weed this area frequently but gently and provide them with about an inch of water every week.

#9 Beets

The beet (beetroot) can be peeled, steamed, and then eaten warm with butter; cooked, pickled, and then eaten cold as a condiment; or peeled, shredded raw, and then eaten as a salad.. Betanin, one of the primary nutrients in this deep red or purple vegetable, can help lower blood pressure. Clean and strengthen the seeds by soaking them in water at room temperature for a day. Plow the soil and remove any stones from the top 3 feet. Plant each seed 2in (5cm) apart, thin out to 4in (10cm) apart and water them at least once every day.

#10 Broccoli

For the most part doesn’t need a lot of special care, broccoli is easily grown vegetable that gives the best return for the space it occupies and is cropped when other green vegetables are in short supply. One row of 15ft (4.5m) will accommodate six plants to give self-sufficiency for a family of four. Sow broccoli seed in spring in a seed bed ½in (1.25cm) deep and transplant when the seedlings are about 4in (10cm) tall 2ft (60cm) apart each way.

#11 Tomatoes

There are many benefits to growing tomatoes – they’re good for you, they’re tasty, and the dollar value of the yield can be very significant. Tomatoes are rich in nutrients like niacin, potassium and phosphorous, antioxidants like lycopene, anthocyanin and carotene, and vitamins A, C and E.

Sow the seed just below the surface in a tray of peat-based compost. When the seedlings have made two pairs of true leaves prick them out into 3in (7.5cm) pots and place them in a light, warm place indoors (like windowsill). After the last danger of frost has passed, pick a spot in your garden that receives at least 6-8 hours of sunlight and test the soil’s pH level – needs to be between 6 and 7. (To decrease pH level add sulfur, to increase it add lime). Spread compost over this area and mix it with the soil. After hardening off, set tomato plants 2ft (60cm) apart in rows 3ft (90cm) apart, bush plants 3ft (90cm) apart. Water them a couple times per week.
Tomatoes do need a little more attention then the other vegetables on the list. However, for the little bit attention that tomatoes do need, you get an incredible reward in the large amount of fruit that they produce. Here are a few tricks for growing tomatoes.

#12 Herbs

There are many herbs including thyme, rosemary, basil, mint, sage, chives, parsley and oregano that need very little attention and can be grown successfully in containers on a patio, balcony or terrace. Purchase some of your favorite small herb plants from your local nursery and get a container that is at least 6-12 inches deep. You can plant multiple herbs in a wide or long container or use at least a 6″ pot for individual plants and you will enjoy not only their fragrance and beauty but also their culinary benefits. Water sparingly because herbs don’t like to sit in wet soil.

If you are a little apprehensive about planting an organic garden, start slow with any of the veggies I’ve mentioned. Soon you will gain confidence and have a beautiful organic garden, complete with delicious vegetables and bragging rights!

Jane Thomas is experienced and respected vegetable grower, hobbyist gardener with more than 15 years of experience in organic vegetables gardening. Among other projects, she is co-owner of Laminated Garden Guides, your one-stop resource to learn how to start a vegetable garden with subjects like: Home Vegetable Gardens, Container and Raised Beds Gardening, Growing Tomatoes, Herb Gardening and many more.

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Growing strawberries in containers

Growing strawberries in containers

Growing strawberries in containers or pots is easy to do, even if you don’t have much outdoor space. But you say I don’t have room for a garden! Not to worry, this article will show you how to grow strawberries in containers on your deck or any sunny outdoor area. In fact, pots, cans and, other containers are a great way to grow strawberries. Just feed and water your container-growing strawberry plants regularly and enjoy strawberries throughout the summer. Clay pots designed for growing strawberries work best with special pockets on the sides for multiple strawberry plants. What you’ll need to grow strawberries in containers or pots. Strawberry crowns preferably plants certified as disease free. Choosing containers: proper drainage is very important for strawberry plants to grow and produce plenty of fruit. You can either plant them in hanging containers or raise the containers to allow drainage. Any type of clay planter pots that have drainage holes in the bottom and saucers to keep the soil from washing away, will work just fine pick a size that fits the area you intend to grow your strawberries and how many containers you have. Most nurseries and garden centers also sell special strawberry pots which have pockets up and down both sides. If you use the strawberry pots, be sure to fill each one to the lowest pocket with soil. If you use cans, fill them so you have about one-and-a-half inches of the rim still showing.

Selecting Strawberry Plants – The two main types of strawberry plants are ever-bearing and seasonal. Either type will work fine for container growing, but if you live in a colder climate then the ever-bearing type may not survive the winter months, so seasonal producing strawberry plants may be your best bet. Preparing soil for strawberry plants: Strawberries like soil that is loamy, with lots organic material they can consume. Planting your strawberries after filling each container with the amended soil, also plant your strawberry plants so the roots are covered. Unless you have very large containers, place only one plant in each container. Strawberry plants should be about two feet apart from each other so that they get plenty of sunlight. Watering container grown strawberries, don’t over water your container strawberries they should be watered enough to keep the soil damp but not so much that you have any standing water. Again it’s important to be sure your containers are able to drain adequately without the soil being washed away. Fertilizing container grown strawberries throughout the summer months. Fertilize your plants every other week with a high phosphorus liquid fertilizer to encourage them to flower. Strawberries are one of summer’s special pleasures, and making your own strawberry patch is easy and fun to do Strawberries are a summer favorite, and growing them is easier than you think. Selecting the right strawberry variety will save you from having either too many or too few strawberries when you need them most. Even novice gardeners can expect great triumph in the container growing of strawberries. Container strawberries can be grown anywhere in a container, even inside an apartment with no balcony, patio, or yard.

Choosing the best variety of strawberry plants is vital to accomplishment in container growing strawberries. Aromas – Ever bearer; fast fruiting strawberries, resistant to powdery mildew and spider mites, large strawberry fruit, has some pollination issues. Since you are container growing the strawberries, follow one simple rule – only plant one strawberry plant per container. And remember strawberries can be grown in nearly any type of container hanging baskets, pots, tin cans, pocketed strawberry pots, and in tiers, to name a few. I hope these tips help you grow sweet and tasty container strawberries. For more tips on gardening go to www.Teegoes.org

Timothy Samuel I live in Wilmington,De enjoy writing on many topics from food to travleing. And you hope my articles be enjoyable and helpfull to all.

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Organic Container Gardening – Growing Strawberries in Containers

Organic Container Gardening – Growing Strawberries in Containers

Fresh, bright red and juicy strawberries are often used as dessert toppings and decorations because they make any food appear visually sweeter and mouth-watering. No wonder why many people love strawberries. But did you know that you can grow strawberries in your home? And for those interested in organic container gardening, strawberries are actually one of the easiest fruit-bearing plants to grow in pots. As long as all their growing requirements are met, strawberries can thrive well in any potted environment.

But before you rush to your local nursery to purchase a seedling, here are some points that you must consider to in order to successfully grow your own potted strawberries:

One: Choose the variety that suits your climate. There are two main types of strawberries – seasonal and ever-bearing. Seasonal variety bear fruits during May-June while Ever-bearing produce crops twice a year, one early in summer and another late in summer. If you live in colder regions, you’re more suitable to grow the seasonal variety because ever-bearing strawberries don’t thrive well in cold weather. But you can winter your plants by covering them with plastic sheets to keep the cold out. And since they are in containers, you can easily bring them in, especially during the night, to protect them from the cool evening draft.

Two: Pick pots or containers with enough drainage holes. Strawberries do not like to sit in soggy soil so good drainage is important. You containers must be at least 8-10 inches deep.

Three: Start with a good potting soil and enhance it by mixing organic matters in. You can also add fertilizers to the starting soil. When transplanting a young seedling, add enough soil such that the roots are covered and the bottom leaves are level with the top of the soil. But also, make sure that you leave at least 1 to 1 1/2 inch space between the rim of the pot and the top of the soil.

Four: Strawberries like it warm so give them daily doses of sunlight, making sure that you turn the plant around on a regular basis to expose all sides evenly.

Five: Avoid overwatering your strawberry plants. Water only when the top ½ inch of the soil feels dry to the touch.

Six: Feed your strawberries regularly with organic fertilizer to encourage them to bloom. Organic fertilizers that are high in phosphorus are your best bet because they aid plants in flowering and seeding.

Seven: Strawberry plants may produce fruits during the first year, but don’t expect too much. For the ever-bearing varieties, you can suppress flowering (by removing the buds) during the first season to ensure more fruits on the next year. They are sure to yield a good harvest during the second year. Wait until spring before your strawberries ripen.

Eight: When picking strawberries, pick only the ones that are already bright red in color with no green patched left.

Nine: Like you, some pests will not be able to resist the sweetness of your strawberry fruits. Slugs and ants are most likely to pester on plants that are placed at ground level. You can hang your potted plants to prevent these pests but make sure that the hooks are sprayed with ant-sprays. Birds, raccoons and other bigger animals can be attracted to the bright red berries too, so install a barrier or cover your plants with netting to stop them from enjoying your strawberries before you do.

Follow these organic container gardening tips and you’ll enjoy a sweet harvest of fresh, plump and red strawberries every year.

Nova Person is an organic gardener who’s been growing different types of plants including fruits, flowers and vegetables in her home garden. She especially loves Organic Container Gardening and shares her tips on her site at http://theorganicgardeningsecrets.com

.

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Organic Container Gardening – Growing Strawberries in Containers

Organic Container Gardening – Growing Strawberries in Containers

Fresh, bright red and juicy strawberries are often used as dessert toppings and decorations because they make any food appear visually sweeter and mouth-watering. No wonder why many people love strawberries. But did you know that you can grow strawberries in your home? And for those interested in organic container gardening, strawberries are actually one of the easiest fruit-bearing plants to grow in pots. As long as all their growing requirements are met, strawberries can thrive well in any potted environment.

But before you rush to your local nursery to purchase a seedling, here are some points that you must consider to in order to successfully grow your own potted strawberries:

One: Choose the variety that suits your climate. There are two main types of strawberries – seasonal and ever-bearing. Seasonal variety bear fruits during May-June while Ever-bearing produce crops twice a year, one early in summer and another late in summer. If you live in colder regions, you’re more suitable to grow the seasonal variety because ever-bearing strawberries don’t thrive well in cold weather. But you can winter your plants by covering them with plastic sheets to keep the cold out. And since they are in containers, you can easily bring them in, especially during the night, to protect them from the cool evening draft.

Two: Pick pots or containers with enough drainage holes. Strawberries do not like to sit in soggy soil so good drainage is important. You containers must be at least 8-10 inches deep.

Three: Start with a good potting soil and enhance it by mixing organic matters in. You can also add fertilizers to the starting soil. When transplanting a young seedling, add enough soil such that the roots are covered and the bottom leaves are level with the top of the soil. But also, make sure that you leave at least 1 to 1 1/2 inch space between the rim of the pot and the top of the soil.

Four: Strawberries like it warm so give them daily doses of sunlight, making sure that you turn the plant around on a regular basis to expose all sides evenly.

Five: Avoid overwatering your strawberry plants. Water only when the top ½ inch of the soil feels dry to the touch.

Six: Feed your strawberries regularly with organic fertilizer to encourage them to bloom. Organic fertilizers that are high in phosphorus are your best bet because they aid plants in flowering and seeding.

Seven: Strawberry plants may produce fruits during the first year, but don’t expect too much. For the ever-bearing varieties, you can suppress flowering (by removing the buds) during the first season to ensure more fruits on the next year. They are sure to yield a good harvest during the second year. Wait until spring before your strawberries ripen.

Eight: When picking strawberries, pick only the ones that are already bright red in color with no green patched left.

Nine: Like you, some pests will not be able to resist the sweetness of your strawberry fruits. Slugs and ants are most likely to pester on plants that are placed at ground level. You can hang your potted plants to prevent these pests but make sure that the hooks are sprayed with ant-sprays. Birds, raccoons and other bigger animals can be attracted to the bright red berries too, so install a barrier or cover your plants with netting to stop them from enjoying your strawberries before you do.

Follow these organic container gardening tips and you’ll enjoy a sweet harvest of fresh, plump and red strawberries every year.

Nova Person is an organic gardener who’s been growing different types of plants including fruits, flowers and vegetables in her home garden. She especially loves Organic Container Gardening and shares her tips on her site at http://theorganicgardeningsecrets.com

.

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Picking the perfect containers for your container garden

Picking the perfect containers for your container garden

One of the most enjoyable aspects of starting your own container garden is choosing the container. There are so many choices that it can be a little overwhelming. To help you with this most enjoyable part of the project I would like to give you a few ideas. First you will want to consider the surroundings for your container garden. If you want a natural outdoor blend, an earth tone container would be a great choice. These can be made from many natural or faux natural materials and can be found at any home and garden center. Maybe a beautiful wood or natural clay container would enhance a natural look.

Or you may want a lively colorful look to your container garden, something that says wow look at me!. The possibilities for this are endless. You could choose a variety of colored containers and make it a rainbow garden, this would certainly give your garden an eye catching appeal. Or you could choose a theme, such as southwestern or Moroccan to make it fun and colorful.

If you desire a more uniformed or formal look to your container garden you could choose your pots all in the same color with maybe different shapes. Or you may want to use the same containers for each garden, so the look is very symmetrical.

One idea that will bring a very personal touch to your garden is to create your own. You can purchase plain clay pots and do mosaic designs by attaching small tiles or broken china. Add some grout and as easy as that you have your own unique personalized containers. Even painting the containers and adding floral or abstract designs will make it your very own. Personally I enjoy these containers, your imagination will go wild!

Whatever you choose to fit your own personal style, I’m sure that you will find the search for your perfect garden containers most enjoyable. Just by visiting a few garden centers or floral shops you will be astounded by the possibilities. In fact your imagination will take off and the excitement of starting your own container garden will make you want to get going right away.

Hopefully I have given you some ideas on how to choose your own unique containers. Beware, once you get started you will surely come home with more containers and end up with a larger garden than you had originally planned on! Container gardening can become quite addictive!

Mathew Henderson has been an avid outdoor gardener for many years. He hosts a Blog dedicated to sharing container gardening tips and ideas. Be sure to visit him at Great container gardening ideas to get some inspiration and to share your ideas.

Article from articlesbase.com

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Organic Container Gardening – Growing Strawberries in Containers

Organic Container Gardening – Growing Strawberries in Containers

Fresh, bright red and juicy strawberries are often used as dessert toppings and decorations because they make any food appear visually sweeter and mouth-watering. No wonder why many people love strawberries. But did you know that you can grow strawberries in your home? And for those interested in organic container gardening, strawberries are actually one of the easiest fruit-bearing plants to grow in pots. As long as all their growing requirements are met, strawberries can thrive well in any potted environment.

But before you rush to your local nursery to purchase a seedling, here are some points that you must consider to in order to successfully grow your own potted strawberries:

One: Choose the variety that suits your climate. There are two main types of strawberries – seasonal and ever-bearing. Seasonal variety bear fruits during May-June while Ever-bearing produce crops twice a year, one early in summer and another late in summer. If you live in colder regions, you’re more suitable to grow the seasonal variety because ever-bearing strawberries don’t thrive well in cold weather. But you can winter your plants by covering them with plastic sheets to keep the cold out. And since they are in containers, you can easily bring them in, especially during the night, to protect them from the cool evening draft.

Two: Pick pots or containers with enough drainage holes. Strawberries do not like to sit in soggy soil so good drainage is important. You containers must be at least 8-10 inches deep.

Three: Start with a good potting soil and enhance it by mixing organic matters in. You can also add fertilizers to the starting soil. When transplanting a young seedling, add enough soil such that the roots are covered and the bottom leaves are level with the top of the soil. But also, make sure that you leave at least 1 to 1 1/2 inch space between the rim of the pot and the top of the soil.

Four: Strawberries like it warm so give them daily doses of sunlight, making sure that you turn the plant around on a regular basis to expose all sides evenly.

Five: Avoid overwatering your strawberry plants. Water only when the top ½ inch of the soil feels dry to the touch.

Six: Feed your strawberries regularly with organic fertilizer to encourage them to bloom. Organic fertilizers that are high in phosphorus are your best bet because they aid plants in flowering and seeding.

Seven: Strawberry plants may produce fruits during the first year, but don’t expect too much. For the ever-bearing varieties, you can suppress flowering (by removing the buds) during the first season to ensure more fruits on the next year. They are sure to yield a good harvest during the second year. Wait until spring before your strawberries ripen.

Eight: When picking strawberries, pick only the ones that are already bright red in color with no green patched left.

Nine: Like you, some pests will not be able to resist the sweetness of your strawberry fruits. Slugs and ants are most likely to pester on plants that are placed at ground level. You can hang your potted plants to prevent these pests but make sure that the hooks are sprayed with ant-sprays. Birds, raccoons and other bigger animals can be attracted to the bright red berries too, so install a barrier or cover your plants with netting to stop them from enjoying your strawberries before you do.

Follow these organic container gardening tips and you’ll enjoy a sweet harvest of fresh, plump and red strawberries every year.

Nova Person is an organic gardener who’s been growing different types of plants including fruits, flowers and vegetables in her home garden. She especially loves Organic Container Gardening and shares her tips on her site at http://theorganicgardeningsecrets.com

.

Article from articlesbase.com

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Picking the perfect containers for your container garden

Picking the perfect containers for your container garden

One of the most enjoyable aspects of starting your own container garden is choosing the container. There are so many choices that it can be a little overwhelming. To help you with this most enjoyable part of the project I would like to give you a few ideas. First you will want to consider the surroundings for your container garden. If you want a natural outdoor blend, an earth tone container would be a great choice. These can be made from many natural or faux natural materials and can be found at any home and garden center. Maybe a beautiful wood or natural clay container would enhance a natural look.

Or you may want a lively colorful look to your container garden, something that says wow look at me!. The possibilities for this are endless. You could choose a variety of colored containers and make it a rainbow garden, this would certainly give your garden an eye catching appeal. Or you could choose a theme, such as southwestern or Moroccan to make it fun and colorful.

If you desire a more uniformed or formal look to your container garden you could choose your pots all in the same color with maybe different shapes. Or you may want to use the same containers for each garden, so the look is very symmetrical.

One idea that will bring a very personal touch to your garden is to create your own. You can purchase plain clay pots and do mosaic designs by attaching small tiles or broken china. Add some grout and as easy as that you have your own unique personalized containers. Even painting the containers and adding floral or abstract designs will make it your very own. Personally I enjoy these containers, your imagination will go wild!

Whatever you choose to fit your own personal style, I’m sure that you will find the search for your perfect garden containers most enjoyable. Just by visiting a few garden centers or floral shops you will be astounded by the possibilities. In fact your imagination will take off and the excitement of starting your own container garden will make you want to get going right away.

Hopefully I have given you some ideas on how to choose your own unique containers. Beware, once you get started you will surely come home with more containers and end up with a larger garden than you had originally planned on! Container gardening can become quite addictive!

Mathew Henderson has been an avid outdoor gardener for many years. He hosts a Blog dedicated to sharing container gardening tips and ideas. Be sure to visit him at Great container gardening ideas to get some inspiration and to share your ideas.

Article from articlesbase.com

  No Comments

Organic Container Gardening – Growing Strawberries in Containers

Organic Container Gardening – Growing Strawberries in Containers

Fresh, bright red and juicy strawberries are often used as dessert toppings and decorations because they make any food appear visually sweeter and mouth-watering. No wonder why many people love strawberries. But did you know that you can grow strawberries in your home? And for those interested in organic container gardening, strawberries are actually one of the easiest fruit-bearing plants to grow in pots. As long as all their growing requirements are met, strawberries can thrive well in any potted environment.

But before you rush to your local nursery to purchase a seedling, here are some points that you must consider to in order to successfully grow your own potted strawberries:

One: Choose the variety that suits your climate. There are two main types of strawberries – seasonal and ever-bearing. Seasonal variety bear fruits during May-June while Ever-bearing produce crops twice a year, one early in summer and another late in summer. If you live in colder regions, you’re more suitable to grow the seasonal variety because ever-bearing strawberries don’t thrive well in cold weather. But you can winter your plants by covering them with plastic sheets to keep the cold out. And since they are in containers, you can easily bring them in, especially during the night, to protect them from the cool evening draft.

Two: Pick pots or containers with enough drainage holes. Strawberries do not like to sit in soggy soil so good drainage is important. You containers must be at least 8-10 inches deep.

Three: Start with a good potting soil and enhance it by mixing organic matters in. You can also add fertilizers to the starting soil. When transplanting a young seedling, add enough soil such that the roots are covered and the bottom leaves are level with the top of the soil. But also, make sure that you leave at least 1 to 1 1/2 inch space between the rim of the pot and the top of the soil.

Four: Strawberries like it warm so give them daily doses of sunlight, making sure that you turn the plant around on a regular basis to expose all sides evenly.

Five: Avoid overwatering your strawberry plants. Water only when the top ½ inch of the soil feels dry to the touch.

Six: Feed your strawberries regularly with organic fertilizer to encourage them to bloom. Organic fertilizers that are high in phosphorus are your best bet because they aid plants in flowering and seeding.

Seven: Strawberry plants may produce fruits during the first year, but don’t expect too much. For the ever-bearing varieties, you can suppress flowering (by removing the buds) during the first season to ensure more fruits on the next year. They are sure to yield a good harvest during the second year. Wait until spring before your strawberries ripen.

Eight: When picking strawberries, pick only the ones that are already bright red in color with no green patched left.

Nine: Like you, some pests will not be able to resist the sweetness of your strawberry fruits. Slugs and ants are most likely to pester on plants that are placed at ground level. You can hang your potted plants to prevent these pests but make sure that the hooks are sprayed with ant-sprays. Birds, raccoons and other bigger animals can be attracted to the bright red berries too, so install a barrier or cover your plants with netting to stop them from enjoying your strawberries before you do.

Follow these organic container gardening tips and you’ll enjoy a sweet harvest of fresh, plump and red strawberries every year.

Nova Person is an organic gardener who’s been growing different types of plants including fruits, flowers and vegetables in her home garden. She especially loves Organic Container Gardening and shares her tips on her site at http://theorganicgardeningsecrets.com

.

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Vegetable Container Gardening – Can You Grow Just Any Vegetables in Containers?

Vegetable Container Gardening – Can You Grow Just Any Vegetables in Containers?

Vegetable container gardening is a fast-rising trend, particularly among vegetable growers that do not enjoy the luxury of big backyard spaces. And if you’ve had some success with container growing, you can’t help but wonder: Is it possible to grow any vegetable in containers?

Technically speaking, it is possible as long as you provide them with the basic conditions for growing plants. But vegetables are grown not for their beauty, scent or medicinal application. They are grown to be eaten. And as with any type of food, we always prefer the bigger, tastier and healthier (although not always) variety. So the underlying question should be: Is it possible to grow any vegetable in containers that will yield big, great-tasting produce?

The answer is most likely but can be very difficult at some extent. Why? Because not all vegetable are suitable for container gardening. Some can be easily grown in pots while others, although possible, will require too much effort and yield very little success. Tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, peppers, beans, eggplants, radishes, lettuce, and zucchinis are among the best plants for pot growing. Vegetables with large produce such as squash, pumpkins, corns and melons are better left planted in the ground than in containers.

If you’re really bent on growing vegetables in containers, you must always consider the size of the root system and how much space they will need, and how much the plant will grow upon maturity. These things can help greatly in determining what type and how big your container should be. And since they do not have more soil to grow on, you must also compensate for the other things that they need such as nutrients and water. Potted plants, especially vegetables usually require twice as much as fertilizer and water than they would if they were planted in the ground.

But in general, most vegetables do well in organic container gardening. Miniature or dwarf varieties are instant favorites but regular plant breeds are also favored because they produce bigger crops. Tall and viny vegetables like some indeterminate type of tomatoes and beans, must be fitted with stakes to support their height or placed near a vertical structure where they can climb. Crops that develop in the roots like carrots and radishes must be planted in deep containers. Vegetables that bear “fruits” such as cherry tomatoes, bell peppers and eggplants should be grown alone in their containers.

Vegetables container gardening is not nearly rocket science. If you’ve grown some plants and vegetables, you’ll probably do well growing vegetables in container. But you must also remember that some plants are more suitable to grow in the ground than in pots.

If you want more information about Vegetable Container Gardening, please go visit Nova Person’s blog, http://theorganicgardeningsecrets.com/. Nova Person is an organic gardener who been growing her own vegetable garden at home for over 20 years. Her blog contains all her expert tips and useful tricks that she learned from her many years of experience in gardening.

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Growing Herbs in Containers

Growing Herbs in Containers

Container herb gardening is a great way to get started growing your own herbs. The acceptable news is that it is easygoing, and enthusiastic fun! The portability of maturing herbs in containers is enthusiastic because you can set them anywhere you dwell, whether you have an ample yard or dwell in an apartment with a little balcony

Containers

First, find a container with good drainage. Even something like a recycled market basket can be utilized for maturing herbs. Whatever container you use, make bound that it is food secure, as some pots are made with lead or other materials that you don’t desire in your food. Always use the largest accomplishable container for your accessible space. Larger containers balanced less maintenance than smaller ones in terms of drying out out and necessitating water more frequently. Be alive that terra cotta pots are permeable and will necessitate more predominant irrigating as well. In universal, herbs are rugged and drought defiant plants, so growing them in containers is an acceptable way to go

Soil

When you’re ready to add soil, use a ready-grow soil mix with all the ingredients for optimal growth already mixed in. Mix a little “Soil Moist” (or something akin) with polymers into the soil so that the soil will keep more moisture. This way, you acquiredt have to water every day

Seeds vs Plants

You can easily grow grassier herbs like Chives, Cilantro, Parsley, and Mint from seed. I urge purchasing plants of the larger, woody herbs like Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, and Marjoram from your localised nursery and implanting them directly into your containers. Basil and Sage are better acquired as plants instead of seeds

Placement

When you remove the plant from the little container that you bought it in, it will usually be root-bound, so tease the roots apart a little to help optimize growth. Plant herbs that mature taller in the back of the container, plant shorter herbs in the front, so that all plants get plenty of light. Cascading plants much as Oregano and Thyme should be implanted near the edges of the container so they can slop over the sides. Some full-length herbs admit: Basil, Dill, and Rosemary. Medium size includes: Chives, Oregano, Parsley, and Sage. Short: Thyme. If you plant many plants in a single container, you will have to harvest often to see to it that the plants don’t get overcrowded. Next, water the plants in

Watering and Location

Be sure to water when your thumb stays dry halfway up when inserted into the soil. Keep your container herb garden proper outside your kitchen door so that it is easygoing for you to reach your caller herbs whenever you necessitate them

Depending on your climate, you may have to re-plant some of your herbs each spring, or they may survive the winter. Or, if you let the herb to flower and seed, you may happen the plants coming back on their personal. If you desire to uphold some of your herbs at the end of the season, simply reduce abundant stems, hang up to adust (for a couple weeks), then harvest and store in an airtight container

As a student of Chinese Medicine, Mark Perlik has a strong understanding of the power of fresh herbs used for cooking and medicine. http://www.mygrowingherbs.com has been created by Mark to help others who are interested in finding resources and information about herbs.

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