Archive for November, 2009

Herbs

Friday, November 20th, 2009

Herb plants come in annuals, perennials, and biennials like other types of plants. There are many kinds of herb and each one has its unique properties. By researching the particular type of herb you are interested in, you will understand how to care for it and use it correctly. In this article we will look at the  different types of herbs and how they are used. Annuals like basil, cilantro, and summer savory will not survive a frost. Plant them from a seed or sapling every year. Perennials like sage and winter savory can survive colder temperatures and will return year after year. Click here for more: herb garden plants

Biennial herbs are plants that form leaves in their first growing season and flowers and seed in the second season, then die. Biennial herbs like parsley, angelica, or caraway should be sown in late spring directly into the garden. Get the soil ready for planting, work it into a fine texture soaking it slightly.  Plant the seeds in shallow rows then firm the soil on top of them. Fine seeds can be planted in a mixture of sand which will allow them to spread more evenly. It is an idea to cover the planted bed with paper or burlap to keep the soil damp prior to germination. Herbs are also grouped into the categories for which they are used. Herbs used for cooking are the best known to gardeners. They provide a vast range of menu options in cookery.

Because of their strong flavors, herbs like chives, thyme, basil, sage, savory, and marjoram are generally used in small quantities to add flavor to different types of food. An very popular herb used mainly as a garnish is Parsley. Fragrant herbs have wonderful smelling foliage or flowers. Oils from aromatic herbs like loyage, mint, and rosemary can be used to make different types of perfumes, toilet water, or other various scents. Parts of aromatic herb plants used intact can also be used in the home to scent linens or clothing. For more visit our blog: Herb Garden Blog

They can also be dried and made into potpourri which will enable them to be able to retain their aroma for a long period of time.  Lavender and lemon verbena are great herbs to use for potpourri. Some herbs are also used for medicinal purposes. For centuries herbs have been thought to have the ability to cure the body. Present medical knowledge recognizes that some herbs are beneficial to one’s health, others are overrated. However, you should be careful in using herbs for medicinal purposes in this way. Some herbs are harmless but others can be dangerous if eaten.

Some herbs are not used for their flavor, power to heal or fragrance. Some herbs are used for their beauty. Ornamental herbs have brightly colored flowers and foliage. Herbs like valerian have white flowers with crimson blossoms and borage and chicory have splendid blue flowers. While herbs can be categorized into these different categories of uses, many herbs have multiple purposes. For example, mint may be used for cooking, tea, and pest control. By taking the time to understand herbs, whatever your reason, you will be able to choose the ones most beneficial to you. Click here for more: Herb Garden Facts

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Make Your Garden Give The Impression Of Being Individual With Garden Sheds

Thursday, November 19th, 2009

Garden is the open space outside your house which you can hold the way you want. On the other hand it is seen that today you can keep your garden in the most desired way as there are attractive items like garden sheds. There are a variety of ways through which you can give the pet way. In the market there are a variety of types of garden sheds available, in special designs and rates. It is up to you to want the most wanted one. On the other hand it is seen that people buy garden sheds keeping assorted piece in mind. On the other hand it is seen that there are arrays like, playhouse garden shed, steel, wooden, carport etc.

Therefore, to get your desired one for your garden you have to have the necessary idea about them. In today’s time there is a big necessitate for sheds so the market value has also risen to a great area. If you want to give a preferred look to the outdoor of your house then you should make it a point that you scrutiny it in a specified manner and then buy it. As there are diverse types of garden sheds so you should have the beloved idea about them so that you make the right choice.

On the other hand garden shed is becoming the most preferred thing as a ornamental the garden. It is seen that you should have a suitable market assessment about them so that you can make the paramount out of it. The market development shows that the dealers in this item are really doing a good business as there is a vast demand for this sheds. Moreover, it is seen that now decorate your garden in the most much loved way the beloved garden hut where you can store your pet stuff or you can give a unique look to your exterior. Therefore, this in return is giving a very unique and unusual look to your whole abode. So, today only get the most stunning and much loved sheds for your garden and make it the most good-looking part of your house.

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All About Growing Hydroponic Lettuce

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

Hydroponics or “working water” is a way of growing plants without soil. The grower provides through water instead all of the nutrients they would normally get from the soil. Hydroponics can easily be used by the home gardener as well as used on a mass production scale. A good place to start is hydroponic lettuce growing if you are new to hydroponics. Novice farmers will find that plants are forgiving and easy to work with.

 

You will need to prepare for starting your hydroponics garden two weeks in advance of actually planting the lettuce. Gather your equipment first. Get a 5-gallon container and lid to use. Using a dark plastic container works the best as it helps prevent algae from growing. If you can only find a clear plastic container, cover it with a dark plastic film or aluminum foil. You will also need a growing medium. Oasis root cubes work well for hydroponic lettuce. Pre-formed grwoth mediums such as root cubes are easy to handle. They should have a neutral pH and be designed for propagation. Of course, you will also need your lettuce seedlings. Two weeks in advance of the planting, insert the seedlings in the growth cubes, and keep them in a dish of water.

 

While your seedlings are in water, you can prepare the lid of your container for planting. Take plastic planting cones, and trace their outlines on the lids. You can get on a 5-gallon lid four to six evenly spaced, but be careful not to get them too close to the edge of the lid. You can insert the cones into the holes once you cut the circles you have traced with the plastic planting cones.

 

Now you can create your water nutrient solution. The nutrients plants would normally get through the soil must be supplied via water, in hydroponic growing this is most crucial. The base for your solution is easy to find because there are many pre-mixed hydroponics solutions on the market. For a 5-gallon drum, take 2 teaspoons of the pre-mixed hydroponic fertilizer (8-15-36 works well), 2 teaspoons of calcium nitrate, and 1 teaspoon of Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate). Dissolve each of these ingredients, one at a time, in a cup of water, and then add the water to the drum. Once you have added your nutrients, fill the drum to near the top with water.

 

After your seedlings have been sitting in water for two weeks, they are ready to add to the planters. First, place your lid over the drum and secure it in place with duct tape. Then next thing is toplace the seedlings inside the root cubes and then into the plastic planting cones that you previously prepared and placed in your drum lid. Equal amounts of direct and indirect sunlight works best as hydroponic lettuce needs plenty of sunlight.

 

You will need to keep an eye on the plants for any insects or worms. Always remove insects by hand if you see any. Though pesticides are used in hydroponic gardeningm for small scale plant projects it is not recommended. Be sure the plants are taking water by keeping an eye on the water level in the drum and you also want to be sure it doesn’t get too low.

 

Within 4 to 5 weeks, you should have fully grown lettuce plants, ready to pick. To pick all you have to do is simply remove the leaves. There are some hydroponic growth mediums that are recyclable, however root cubes are not and should only be used one time.

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Practical Herb Garden Info

Monday, November 16th, 2009

This article will share some useful herb garden information.  Herbs can be traced back into the times of the ancient Egyptians and the ancient Chinese.  Medieval documents and stories in the Bible show that herbs were used by most households during those times.

Growing herbs in an herb garden is something that is very beneficial to gardeners for several different purposes.  Herbs are used for medical purposes, for potpourri, to flavor food, tea and to control pests in the garden.

Herb gardens can be specialized towards one of these specific areas or a mixture of a few different purposes.  They can also be grown with other species of plants in an outdoor garden or in containers indoors.  Herb gardens can be grown in different ways such as an indoor herb garden in the kitchen or a small plot in the garden.  A four feet by six feet size of garden is enough to support a small family.

Although a popular use for herbs are for cooking known as culinary herbs, they are also grown for their aromatic foliage and some for the beauty of their flowers.  They can be used fresh or dried.  Some variety of herbs can be used to improve the flavor of a dish and some are used as decoration for plates or salads.

Like all other plants, herbs grow as annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees.  You can use well-drained soil when growing herbs in an herb garden.  You can add organic matter to the soil if you find it heavy or compact.  Fertilizers are not necessary either.  There are herbs that like a full shade but most of them prefer a sunny location.  Afternoon shade is great for many herbs to grow well.

Amazingly, very few diseases or insects attack herbs.  Sometimes in dry, hot weather, red spider mites can be found on low-growing plants and aphids may attach dill, caraway, anise, or fennel.  Rust can also affect mint.

Seeds can be used to grow herbs or a young herb plant can be purchased and grown into a home herb garden.  There is great honor and indescribable joy in seeing a plant grow from a single seed.  You are able to enjoy every step of the process from birth to death in a respect.  When growing a plant like an herb from a seed the experience is all the more rewarding because herbs are so useful.

Almost all herbs can be grown from a seed.  Seeds should be placed in a shallow pot or box in the late winter.  You can use a light, well-drained soil to grow your seeds.

Make sure not to cover the seeds with too much soil because they do not have a deep root base.  You should plant the seeds in a shallow soil.  Follow the rule: the finer the seed, the shallower it should be sown.

You can transplant the seedlings to the outdoors in the spring.  Although most herbs can be grown from seeds, some herbs do not transplant well.  You should plant herbs like dill, fennel, anise and coriander directly into the herb garden.

Growing herbs in a home herb garden may seem quite easy, but you need to have the right information to grow them successfully.  This article has given you a lift and now it is time to complete the journey with more information.  And you can find all of the information you need right here! Good luck!

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The Italian Herb Garden

Sunday, November 15th, 2009

Growing your own herbs in an Italian herb garden provides a huge amount of possibilities. Some of the most famous and tastiest herbs in the world come from Italy.  Some of the best cuisines come from Italy and are famous in part for their herbs.

One well known Italian herb is Basil and it is useful in many recipes. Basil will not only add flavor to many Italian cuisines, it is useful in the garden to other plants. Did you know that planting them beside tomatoes and peppers will improve their flavor?. Plus, basil will also repel flies and mosquitoes. Click here for more: herbs in italian

Parsley, while slightly harder to grow will find it’s way into many Italian recipes as well as other types of cuisine. Fresh parsley also used to be used for refreshing the breath after an appetizing meal. The tradition arose to serve parsley on a small dish after the meal.  The tradition lives today by using parsley as a garnish on a variety of meals.

Equally tasty and appealing is Oregano.  When it is fully mature it will sprout pretty little purple flowers.  Remember that Oregano should not be freshly used until it has  fully blossomed because this is when it is at it’s flavorsome best.

Fennel is famous for its seeds that grace and enhance the flavors of Italian sausage.  The interesting thing about fennel is that the plant looses its flavor as it matures. To get the best out of this perennial, every few years it should be divided and replanted to enhance the taste. For more visit our blog: Herb Garden Blog

Like basil, rosemary is an Italian herb that is beneficial to the garden.  IT sprouts little blue flowers and grows into a large shrub. It helps the garden by attracting bees. Although it is a tough evergreen perennial, it is sensitive to frost.

Probably the most used herb in Italian cuisines is garlic. And no Italian herb garden would be complete without garlic.  They need little attention once planted and will thrive in most gardens. They can be stored to be used at a later time after they are harvested by freezing them or pickling them to store in the refrigerator.

Sage is used in a variety of Italian dishes from meats to salads. With Sage, it is the new shoots that are the most tasty so it is recommended to trim the plant regularily. This will encourage new growth.  Harvest Sage after it has bloomed.

While there are many more herbs that canbe put to good use in your Italian herb garden, it is important to think about which ones you will use. This means examining the growing conditions for each type of plant and whether or not it is easy for you to provide them. So while Italian herbs are essential for cooking they also provide much more than just flavor. Take their scenic role in landscaping. They can be particularly useful for their smell and color.

By planting Italian herbs amongst other plants, you will be graced with the sweet aromas straight from Italy. It will be like taking a stroll on a Italian hill side. Click here for more: Herb Gardening

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