Category: Vegetable Farming

Vegetable Farming

How to Grow Boston Fern Indoors?

Author ByMaryem

The perennial herbaceous plant is also known as the sword fern. Boston fern is native to the tropical region in the world. It is the species in the family of Lomariopsidaceae and it is consists of 30 tropical varieties. Boston fern is used to decorate the balcony and it can grow quickly.

Boston fern is a popular houseplant and it is essential to take care of Boston fern to keep healthy. Let us know how to take care of Boston fern is not difficult but it is specific. Here we have few care tips for Boston fern to keep happy and beautiful.

Also Read: 15 Healing Houseplants That Can Improve Your Health

How to take care of Boston fern?

First of all, you need to check the right kind of environment for the proper Boston fern care and it requires cool space with high humidity and indirect light

Especially in winter, you need to provide additional humidity for Boston fern, when you care for Boston fern indoors. Additional humidity care tries lightly misting your fern once or twice a week which helps it to get the humidity it needs.

Another method to take care of Boston fern is to make sure about the fern soil remains damp. Dry soil is the main reason for Boston fern die. Check the soil regularly and give it some water if the soil needs it to become moist. Boston fern should be planted in potting mixture with high peat moss because peat moss is fully hydrated or soak the pot once a month.

Due to lack of humidity, the leaves of the Boston fern turn yellow. Therefore you have to increase the humidity around the plant. it doesn’t require any fertilizers. Fertilizers can be used few times a year.

If your plants are infested be sure to treat them as quickly as possible to keep them healthy because they can be susceptible to some pests such as spider mites and mealybugs.

Here are the few essential requirements to keeping happy, healthy, and beautiful.

Light:

Boston fern loves bright, indirect sunlight. Excess of shade can results in the leaves of Boston ferns aren’t typical bright color and excess of the sun can burn leaves. So, be sure direct sunlight won’t be able to hit your plant.

Soil:

These Boston fern needs organically rich loamy soil with good drainage. Poorly drained soil becomes root rot and finally kills the plant. Therefore, peat moss is used for the potting mixture.

Water:

To quick growth of Boston fern, it is key to keep the soil moist at all times but not soggy. If the soil begins to dry out then the leaves of the plant also dry and drop off. The winter and fall months slightly reduce the watering as the plant not growing actively. If you notice that the fronds are dries, increase the water quantity you are giving to the plant regularly.

Temperature and Humidity:

The Boston fern cannot tolerate extreme heat or extreme cold. It can prefer mild temperature 65 to 75 Fahrenheit. The above 95 degrees Fahrenheit can harm the Boston fern and below 35 degrees Fahrenheit also harm them. High humidity is also critical for Boston ferns but they thrive in humidity levels above 80 percent. If you need to raise your humidity level around the surrounding of your plant, try to fill the tray with water and pebbles and also mist the plant regularly. If it is not getting enough humidity the tips of leaves will begin to turn brown and slowly overtake the whole plant if the humidity does not increase.

Also Read: 8 Edible Flowers You Should Grow In Your Vegetable Garden

Propagation:

The Boston fern is very easy to propagate by division. When transplanting in spring, carefully cut off the section from the fern to which the healthy roots are attached. Even very small parts can grow new plants on their own with proper care. Grow your division in fresh potting soil and make sure the soil remains slightly damp at all times. Also, keep the plant in a warm place, away from drafts and temperature extremes, and in direct sunlight. When you feel resistance by gently pulling on the base of the leaf, you will know that it is rooted.

Repotting:

Repot the Boston fern in the spring every year or two when the roots fill the pot. Your fern wants to be in well-drained soil mixed with peat and perlite. Choose a pot with drainage holes and increase the size of the pot in which the fern grew. Keep the tree at the same original level. Don’t plant it too deep in the ground. You want the crown to be higher than the ground to avoid crown rot. Avoid fertilizing for several weeks after transplanting to allow the roots to recover.

Is it Boston fern poisonous?

I am happy to inform you that Boston fern is non-toxic to humans, cats, and dogs, so if you have a furry friend who loves to chew vegetables in your home, Boston Fern is a safe choice.

Where to buy a Boston fern?

You can start at your local garden center or botanical store. Buying new plants is fun and allows you to choose the healthiest and most beautiful plants for yourself.

At home, your new fern will take a few days to acclimate to its new location. Don’t worry if you may drop a few leaves or look thoughtful during acclimatization. If you can’t find a Boston fern nearby, there are several tree vendors on Amazon and Etsy who will deliver it to your door! There are many artificial ferns for sale online, so check the listing to make sure you are buying a live plant and not a fake one.  

Vegetable Farming

How to grow the best crop of cucumber ever?

Author ByMaryem

Cucumber is one of the best vegetables which grows in high temperature and plenty of water resource. It is a refreshing vegetable, especially who picked up fresh. It loves the sun and water. It grows quickly if it receives sufficient water and warmth and it is popular for its refreshing taste and crunchiness. 

Cucumbers can be eaten in a variety of ways cooked, raw in salads, and pickled. 

You have to raise healthy productive plants then you can end up with all of those delicious cucumber treats.

Learn about the simple cucumber growing secrets below.

How to grow cucumbers-with the simple secrets to success

 So, it all begins with great soil which is used for the growing of cucumber. It is top-secret for the successiveness of cucumber yield or production.

Cucumber can be flourishing on rich in nutrients, well-drained, and fertile soil. Addition of a generous amount of compost to the soil at planting time, which provides better results. 

Compost is an ideal soil supplement for growing healthy cucumber plants as it is rich in nutrients and humus that help the plants to grow quickly. But it is really helpful to retain moisture to the soil of cucumber plants.

Combine 3 to 4 cups of compost in every hole of the cucumber plant is planted and also add half a cup of casting to planting holes to boost the soil fertility and structure even more.

This organic compost and worm casting help roots absorb plenty of nutrients and retain moisture too.

After completion of planting add a few amounts of mulch on the bottom of the plant to repel weeds and conserve moisture, therefore it will slowly fertilize plants and it breaks down.

Don’t be forgotten, be better the soil than better the crop!

Also Read: How to use Epsom salt for cucumbers

Plant with morning sun in mind

Cucumber performs at peak level productions which need a generous amount of early morning sunlight. 

The rays of sunlight can help to dry off the dew of cucumber plants which keeps mold and mildew away. It will help to ripen fruits at a faster rate.

Add more mulch for plants quick growth

When it involves developing cucumbers with large success, mulching closely is any other massive key. And meaning mulching extra than simply with the little compost ring referred to above.

Place some inches of straw or shredded leaves 12″ to 18″ across the base of every plant.

Mulching cucumber vegetation has numerous massive blessings in your crop. Not handiest does it assist preserve competing weeds at bay, some inches of mulch additionally allows manage fluctuations with inside the soil temperature.

And the blessings don’t forestall there.

It additionally allows preserving soil-borne ailment at bay. The protecting mulch layer maintains soil from splashing up on leaves while watering, or throughout heavy rainfalls. Soil could include mold and mildew spores to harm or even kill plant life.

But perhaps most significantly of all, mulch allows the roots of cucumber vegetation to maintain moisture. Moisture is prime to staying productive!

Prevent plant overload

This is a secret that gardeners often overlook. To keep your harvest at its peak, you need to harvest your cucumbers regularly. 

Plants overloaded with too many cucumbers will stop sprouting and blooming. This will completely stop the production of the plant. 

When the plant becomes overwhelmed, it begins to channel all its energy into the ripening of the crop and does not produce many flowers.

How to grow cucumber?

The main two types of cucumber plant varieties can be grown as vining or bush, but the fruits can be used for slicing or pickling.

What do you plant and where you plant and how should you plant cucumber can be determined by few guidelines to follow for each.

Bush varieties are contained in smaller spaces because they are compact plants. Vining style they lend to trellising or even small fences or cages. It will take 2 to 3 feet of space to spread their foliage. Both of them are suited to make slices or making pickles or canning.

Also Read: Easy to grow the Fresh and Pure Cucumbers

How to plant cucumber?

When growing in the garden, it is best to plant small mounds.

 Planting the cucumber on a small hill helps prevent water from accumulating at the base of the plant. Create mounds several inches high and 12 to 18 inches in diameter. 

When planting, leave approximately 3 feet between embankments for vining varieties and 18 inches for bush cucumbers. 

In the garden, the cucumber vines must have enough room to grow. 

Climbing plants can be thrown several times or using a rope or trellis. However, shrubs do not require much support. 

For potted plants, fertilize regularly every few weeks. Once the soil must remain rich in nutrients. Both compost tea and worm tea are perfect choices. They are also ideal for stimulating garden plants. 

This is the best harvest of cucumbers of the year!

Vegetable Farming

Carrot Farming – A Complete Guide

Author ByMaryem

If you can grow carrots in the garden, you will get the best of the varieties, full of flavor and texture! Carrots are very popular, loved, long-lasting vegetables. And you can grow them in almost any climate. Here is everything about carrot farming methods, planting growing, and harvesting.

You can grow carrots pretty easily if you can use loose, sandy soil during cold days of the growing season – fall and spring, and carrots can tolerate frost as well. Depending on the local conditions and variety, carrots may take two to four months for proper growth. Plant them in summer and spring and harvest them continuously through the fall!

Why is the Type of Soil Very Important?

It is massively important to choose the most suitable soil for profitable carrot farming. If the roots of the carrot don’t grow easily, you may end up getting misshaped crops – of course, the last thing you would want!

Here is how to prepare the soil for carrot farming:
  • Till down 12 inches and remove all the stones, rocks, and even the clumps of soils – ensuring the soil is very smooth and sandy.
  • Don’t amend the soil with material rich in nitrogen like manure and fertilizer, which can disrupt the healthy growth of carrot roots. Working in cold coffee grounds is a great idea.
  • If there are a lot of clay or rocks in the ground, you should think about planting carrots in a raised bed with 12 inches deep trenches filled with airy, loamy soil.
Climate Requirement for Carrot Farming:

Cold weather is ideal for growing carrots but does well in warm climates too.

The optimum temperature for healthy growth is 16 degrees Celsius to 20 degrees Celsius, while temperature more than 28 degrees can drastically affect the production. Temperatures below 16 degrees Celsius may affect the natural colour of carrots, and may even lead to slender roots, while there are shorter and thicker roots in warm climates.

The temperature range of 15 degrees Celsius to 20 degrees. Celsius is very, very good for growing carrots, as you will get attractive roots with decent colour and quality.

Planting Dates for Carrots

Fall Carrots Planting:

Usually, the first frost occurs at the end of September in the USA

  • For carrot harvesting in summer, you should sow the carrot seeds outdoors three to five weeks before the end of spring frost.
  • To ensure productive carrot harvesting, you should plant a fresh round of seeds every three weeks continuously through the spring.
  • If you want to harvest carrots during fall, ensure sowing seeds in mid to late summer. Start approx ten weeks before the first fall frost.

Choosing the right planting site

  • Location with proper, direct sunlight is the best site for carrot farming, though they survive in partial shade as well.
  • As already discussed, you should opt for loose, loamy or sandy, airy soil, so that the roots can easily go through the soil.

Propagation of Carrots

Propagation of carrots is done using the seeds. Depending on the variety, the seeds that are broadcast or sowing in the filed with a seed rate of 5 to 6 kg/ha or 6 to 9 kg/ha.

Seeds are smaller in size and count approx. 800 per gram. And they remain lively for as many as three years with up to 80% chances of germination. However, the germination may be inadequate in some local varieties.

Therefore, you should not forget to get a rough calculation of germination percentage while calculating the requirement of seeds.

For best results, procuring clean, healthy and viable seeds from a reliable source is very important. Usually, the carrot seeds take up to 7 to 20 days to germinate properly.

The atmospheric temperature of 20 to 30 degrees Celsius is ideal for seed germination (different from the growth of carrots).

Also Read: Sweet Potato Farming Information Guide

How to Plant Carrots?

Carrot planting from seeds is the best option, instead od transplanting. It would be best if you sowed the seeds directly in the field, keeping in mind that they don’t like any disturbance whatsoever.

Sow the seeds 2 to 3 inches apart in rows, ¼ inch deep, and 1 foot apart.

A useful TIP: Ensure distributing seeds equally so that they don’t grow together at the same place. You can use a seed-sower for proper distribution.

Again, maintain enough moisture in the soil with frequent shallow watering. Small carrot seeds don’t like hard crusts or lumps for their growth. Covering the seeds with fine compost or vermiculite is also a decent idea to prevent the formation of crusts.

You can check the moisture by putting a finger in the ground – the soil should be moist, but not wet.

At times, carrots germinate very slowly, and it may take two to three weeks to show any sign of life. So, being patience is also very important. If you have maintained the right carrot planting distance, there are very high chances of timely, healthy and productive germination.

Tip: You can add radish seeds to carrot seeds to track the growth of carrots. As radish grow quickly, you can harvest them, and the carrots will also start to grow.

Fertilization Management in Carrot Farming:

You should choose the fertilizers after proper analysis of the soil.

Farm Yard Manure with the distribution rate of 30 tonnes per hectare is recommended at final ploughing with a dosage of 40 to 60 kg nitrogen, 90 to 110 kg potassium, and 25 to 50 kg phosphorus for every hectare.

Add about three tons of farmyard manure while preparing the land, mixed with 40 kg phosphorus, 50 kg nitrogen, and 50 kg potash for each hectare.

Add a full dose of phosphorus and potassium, and half the dose of nitrogen before sowing the seeds. You should add the remaining nitrogen at the 56th week of germination.

Carrots love feeding on potassium, deficiency of which can severely affect the roots as well as the overall metabolism of the plants. Carrots with low potassium quantity are not good to taste and don’t last long too.

Irrigation Management for Carrot Crops

The first carrot farming irrigation should be light, and you should do it immediately after sowing. Carry out the subsequent irrigations as per requirement.

As discussed, too much moisture is not ideal for carrot crops, and you may end up getting light-coloured, short carrots with a larger diameter. Types of soil, season, and variety of carrots play key roles in deciding the requirement of irrigation.

carrot farm

Usually, irrigation in every 5 to 6 days in summer and 10 to 15 days in winter is ideal for adequate moisture for the carrot crop.

Only occasional irrigation is needed during the rainy season. It would help if you avoided water stress around the roots, especially while they grow, to prevent from cracking.

Care

While Carrots Are Growing

  • Mulching carrots gently is a decent option to maintain moisture, speed-up the germination, and stop direct sunlight to the roots.
  • When seedlings are of one-inch height, they will usually stand 3 to 4 inches apart. You should trim the tops with a farming scissor instead of plucking them to avoid certain damage to the fragile roots.
  • One-inch water every week is recommended in the beginning, then two inches with the growth of roots.
  • Weeding is an important aspect of carrot planting care, but ensure you don’t disturb the young roots while doing so.
  • Fertilizer with low-nitrogen quantity but high potassium and phosphate after 5 to 6 weeks of sowing is recommended. Excess nitrogen in fertilizer works on the top of carrot plants, not on the roots.

Managing Pests and Diseases

There are some common pests and diseases associated with carrot planting. They are:

  • Black (Itersonilia) canker
  • Flea Beetles
  • Carrot rust flies
  • Root-knot nematodes
  • Wireworms, and
  • Aster Yellow Disease:Causes discoloured and shortened carrot tops with hairy roots. You can invest in a control plant to control the pests like leafhoppers.

Carrot Harvest and Storage:

Harvesting

  • Small-sized carrots taste best, so you should prefer carrot harvesting when they are still young.
  • You can decide to harvest, depending on your priority. Carrots with the width of a thumb or at least ½ inch of diameter are very good for harvesting.
  • Suppose you are planting carrots in the early summer or spring. In that case, harvesting before the arrival of hot days is the best idea, as carrots may get fibrous under high atmospheric temperature.
  • Harvesting carrots after one or more frosts are linked with better taste, as the plants store more energy (sugars) in the roots for later usage.
  • You can also preserve the carrots after first frosts by covering the 18-inch layer of shredded leaves for late carrot harvesting.

FYI, Carrots are biennial crops. If you don’t harvest due to some reason, the tops will start flowering and producing seeds after the first year.

Storage

Once the carrot harvest season is at its end, storage is the next big task.

  • Twist or cut the ½ inch off the tops of carrots to store them fresh.
  • Don’t forget to remove any dirt under cold, running water, and dry in the air.
  • Refrigerate only after sealing them in airtight plastic bags; otherwise, they will get limped within a few hours.
  • For temporary carrot storage, you can leave the mature ones in the soil, if there are not freezing or pest’s problem with the soil.
  • Tubs, sand, dry sawdust with the cool, dry atmosphere are also some other options for storage.

Recommended Varieties

There are plenty of different carrot varieties. They are of rainbow colors, shapes, and sizes!

  • Bolero: 7 to 8 inches, slightly tapered, resists most leaf pests as well as blights.
  • Danvers: One of the classic heirloom carrot varieties, tapered at the end, and has a dark, rich orange color, suitable for heavy soil.
  • Little Finger: Another heirloom variety, looks like Nantes as they grow only 4 inches long, and one inch thick; one of the best varieties for storage.
  • Nantes: Cylindrical, 6 to 7 inches tall, sweetest of them all; with a crisp texture.
  • Napoli: One of the first-rate sub-types of Nantes variety, grown in spring, known for bright orange roots, mild, juicy, crunchy, and fine texture.

Some common varieties of UK carrot:

Altrincham: Long and slender roots with good flavour. The neck is purple, where it is exposed to sunlight.

Amsterdam Forcing: Bouncing, small, finger carrot.

Autumn King: One of the most common commercial carrots, flaky type, with strong tops and heavy yields. A true winter carrot, which is fairly colourful and smooth.

Baby Bell: Small, tender type, matures earlier than most of the other varieties.

Belgian White: Large roots with white skin, very popular in Belgium as well as France.

Crusader: One of the Nantes types, good colour, smooth skin, ready to harvest in autumn, summer and late spring.

Wit and Wisdom

  • There are so many different colors of carrot, including orange, purple, red, and white, and only some of them are resistant to pests and diseases.
  • Long-lasting carrots contain a rich quantity of sugar and are a very good source of carotene and vitamins.
  • Carrot is also called as “underground honey” in Ireland due to its sweetness.
  • FYI, carrots are the first vegetables to be commercially canned.

That’s all about our guide on “how to do carrot farming”.If you are planning to start carrot farming, we would suggest you go ahead. It’s easier; it’s full of fun, and very, very productive too.

Hopefully, you liked it, and you are not better prepared to start your own carrot farming. Do write to us if you have found it helpful, or if you have some questions. Share the guide with your friends who are interested in carrot farming.

References:

https://www.almanac.com/plant/carrots

https://agricultureguruji.com/carrot-farming/

Vegetable Farming

8 Amazing Onion Skin Uses and Benefits for Gardening

Author ByMaryem

Learn about 8 amazing onion skin uses and benefits. They are so important that you will never waste them again.

 Did you know that onion skins are rich in antioxidants and quercetin, which are effective for obesity? A number of clinical trials and studies have confirmed its usefulness, and clinical trials involving 72 men and women in South Korea have shown positive results. Studies have shown that after 12 weeks of use, BMI and body fat percentage will decrease.

Onion is the most common vegetable in kitchens to make most dishes in a day. Imagine how many onions are used around the world and how many onion skins are thrown away. What if we tell you those paper onion skins that you thought were useless are? Now, if you’re wondering what the hell those insignificant onion skins can do after their vital components have been removed, you will be in for a great surprise – if some previous research is to be believed, onion skins are actually more nutritious than one! Onion itself!

When you’ve digested this amazing news, let’s see what makes onion peels so useful. Many studies have claimed that onion peels are very high in antioxidants, fiber, vitamins A, C, E, and environmentally friendly flavonoids. Onion peels are said to boost immunity, promote heart health, and help maintain blood sugar levels.

 Onion skins are usually thrown away. Using onion skins will open your eyes.

Uses and Benefits of Onion Skin

1. Discard them in the compost bin

 You can compost the peels and peels of onions, and the result is nutritious compost. To get rid of their rancid smell, bury them a few inches deep in the compost pile. Do not put them in the earthworm droppings box.

2. Cut the onion

The dried peel will quickly decompose, adding potassium and calcium to the soil.

3. Fertilizing onion skin

Don’t throw away onion skins. Use them to make potassium-rich organic fertilizers for all your indoor and outdoor plants. It will increase your disease resistance, growth, strong stems and yield. This onion skin fertilizer is also rich in calcium, iron, magnesium and copper.

To prepare, take 2-3 handfuls of onion skins or a bowl of onion skins and soak them in 1 litre of water for the next 24 hours. Strain into a glass. The fertilizer for onion skin tea is ready. Feed your plants 3-4 times a month, experiment and share the results.

Also Read: Growing Spring Onions From Seeds

4. Making onion skin tea

Use flawless onion skins and peels to make healthy onion skin tea. This research shows that you can suppress obesity. In addition, due to the high content of quercetin, onion skin tea can help relieve allergies, high blood pressure and infection-related problems.

 5. Get rid of leg cramps

Although there is no specific evidence or research showing that onion skin can heal calf cramps, you can still try this home remedy, which can work due to the anti-inflammatory properties of surgery. Soak in water for 10-15 minutes, take out only the soaked water or tea, and drink it before going to bed. Keep it for at least a week to see the difference.

6. Dye Easter Eggs with Onion Skin

Onion skins are the best natural way to colour Easter eggs. The dyeing process is simple and almost free.

7. Dye Your Fabric and Wool

Onion peel is not only suitable for eggs, but also for the natural dyeing of yarns, fabrics and wool.

Also Read: Garlic Farming: Planting, Care, Harvesting-A complete Guide

8. You can use onion skins in broth and soup recipes

With onion skins, you can darken the broth and add a bright colour to your soups and sauces. The peels may not affect the taste, but they will improve the appearance of the product to be cooked. And don’t forget the nutrients, the onion peel is richer in antioxidants than the onion itself.

Vegetable Farming

9 Inventive Ways to Use Coffee Grounds in Your Garden

Author ByMaryem

Most people probably enjoy a fresh cup of coffee every day. But what are doing after the preparation of coffee are you throwing them into the trash, you’re wasting money. There are few ways in which you can reuse the coffee grounds in the garden around the house. Plants, soil, or even worms love Coffee grounds -different methods to apply for the usage of coffee grounds on your gardening. Coffee grounds have many advantages in your garden, so when you have coffee grounds at home, or can take out them up from your neighborhood cafe for gardening.

The best tips for coffee grounds usage from your favorite cup. Here’s a way to use them in your garden.

How to use coffee grounds in the garden

1. Coffee grounds are used to eliminate bad odors

The coffee grounds will contain nitrogen that will absorb the bad odors. The Brooklyn-based coffee company recommends inserting coffee grounds in an open container inside a cupboard or freezer or anywhere else that smells funky to neutralize the odors. When nitrogen combines with carbon it removes the sulfur content from the air. Instead of using them in other ways if you toss your ground, it will neutralize your garbage. 

2. Fertilize your garden with the coffee ground

Coffee grounds are rich in crucial minerals such as chromium, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, nitrogen, iron, and magnesium which are needed for plant growth. Sprinkling coffee ground minerals into your garden soil will make wonders for your crop. It will absorb heavy metals from soil and also attracts worms which are beneficial for your garden.

Also Read: How To Grow Cilantro

3. Deter cats from your garden

Take used coffee grounds with chopped orange peels mix them well and sprinkle the mixture generally around the garden and flowerbeds. The smell of citrus and coffee grounds will help to deter the cats around the neighborhood which are used as a private litter box.

4. Composting

The basic and crucial way to reuse the nutrients in your garden with the help of compost coffee grounds later on. There is a tad acidic and as they humiliate they release nitrogen which makes for particularly rich compost. Due to this unnecessary material won’t be allowed to add to landfills.

5. Change soil pH

If you want to get your garden soil to become acidified. Just you need reached coffee grounds, you have to dig your garden soil for 7 to 8 inches and sprinkle the coffee grounds inside the soil. Later you will observe the acidity of your garden soil will begin to rise naturally.

Also Read: How to Grow Sweet Potatoes?

6. Repulse snake and slugs

Snails and slugs are familiar garden pests, commonly targeting plants such as kale, broccoli, and lettuce in their desirous journey. Around the garden sprinkle the coffee grounds to make them away from plants. They escape from those areas where coffee grounds will be sprinkled or found.

7. Mulch

With the help of wood chips or sawdust, you can prepare your mulch in addition to coffee grounds. The mulch does not dry because the coffee ground will regulate the moisture content in it and also helps to keeping it oxygenated, maximizing usage.

8. Foliar spray and fungus prevention

Soak coffee ground in water and make the mixture of soak coffee ground in water spray over the plants, including the underside of the leaves. it will boost the strength of your plants with the help of nutrients produced by the help of coffee grounds in water. It will also be known to keep your plants healthy and strong with the prevention of fungus infection. 

9. Suppress weeds

Fresh coffee grounds are considered to have a few allelopathic properties. Therefore, you’ll be able to use them to suppress weeds and diverse fungal pathogens, too.

Vegetable Farming

How to Grow Spinach in Pots?

Author ByMaryem

Are you crazy about spinach? Do you know how to grow spinach? You could be yields your own spinach tasty leaves in your garden within six to eight weeks.

Spinach leaves are rich in nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin c, iron, and calcium. They are several varieties of spinach and it is easy to grow. Once you sow the spinach seeds successfully, you can enjoy the leaves the entire year.

You can enjoy these spinach leaves in a multitude of dishes such as salads, stews, soups, and pasta dishes, etc.

Also Read: How to grow spinach hydroponically?

How to grow spinach in pots?

There are several ways to grow spinach but here you learn about how to grow spinach in pots and it can be placed outdoors, indoors, terrace or courtyard.

There are two ways to grow spinach: the seeds can be transplanted from the root. If you are growing spinach from seed, you can plant the seeds directly in the pot or use the pre-seeding tray. Choose a pot with a wide mouth of 6 to 8 inches deep. You can also use a garden crate, wooden crate, or even a spinach growing container.

Sow the seeds into the soil ½ inch deep. After sowing, they should germinate within 5 to 14 days. However, the time it takes for spinach seeds to germinate will depend on growing conditions and variety.

If you are using a seeding tray, you should wait 2-3 days for the plant to sprout true leaves. Once the actual leaves have grown, the spinach is ready to be transplanted. Spinach loves bright light, although it will grow well in partial shade.

Protect spinach from the midday sun to avoid burns. We recommend growing spinach from seed in early summer as it is a fast-growing plant. Thus, you can simply transplant the spinach along with the rest of the heat-resistant plants. It will grow in a variety of soil types but prefers moist, well-drained clay that is rich in compost.

How to take care of spinach?

It is important to organize the space for the plants because you want the spinach to have enough room to grow. Since spinach has larger leaves, you should place each plant 3-5 inches apart. Of course, you can leave less space if you want to harvest young spinach. If you plan on harvesting earlier, you can continue to grow the spinach along with other vegetables in the same pot. Spinach doesn’t need a lot of room to grow.

The water spinach wants to put the plant in a sunny place in the fall, in temperate climates the time is shorter, and the sunlight is less intense, so the bright light does not burn the water spinach. In the spring or summer, you want to place the plant in partial shade. Since spinach is grown in a pot, you can move it around easily. You can also place the morning glory pot in a sunny place in the morning and the shade during the day. In tropical or subtropical climates, place the spinach pot in the shade.

Watering

When watering spinach with water in a pot, do not wet the leaves. Foliage can cause rot or fungal infections. Make sure the pot you are using drains well, as spinach doesn’t like standing water. Water the spinach regularly in a gentle bath. This is especially true for newly planted seedlings or seeds, where the strong environment can wash away the planted seeds.

Also Read: Why Are My Spinach Leaves Turning Yellow

Soil

Composting the soil is equally important when growing spinach. The soil texture should remain humid and brittle. Spinach hates soaking dense soil in water, so use well-drained soil for optimal plant growth. Keep the soil always moist, never soggy. Moisturizing the soil and protecting spinach from excessive heat, adding mulch. This is true even for potted spinach. Use organic coating materials.

Temperature

Sprout at temperatures below 40 degrees F or 4 degrees C. This vegetable also sprouts at high temperatures, but too much heat can cause burns. The ideal soil temperature for germinating spinach seeds should be maintained at 50 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit or 10 to 27 degrees Celsius.

 Spinach is surprisingly hardy and can withstand frost. Ripe spinach leaves will not freeze until the temperature drops to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature is over 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the spinach needs to be protected from the heat. You can also add mulch to lower soil temperatures in summer.

Fertilizers

Growing spinach loves nitrogen, so enrich the soil with this nutrient before sowing seeds. Just mix compost or well-rotted manure with potting soil. You can also use timing fertilizer or liquid fertilizer; just make sure the nutrients enter the soil slowly. While the spinach is growing, enrich the soil with fish emulsion, cotton meal, compost, or compost tea.

If you use liquid or liquid fertilizers from time to time, add them at regular intervals to ensure sustainable growth. Spread the manure around the base of the water spinach and then gently fertilize the soil. Do this carefully because spinach has shallow roots extinction.

Soil pH

The pH value of soil should be maintained from 6 to 7. Otherwise, if the soil pH is below 6 then the leaves of spinach can turn yellow and wilted. So, maintain the pH above 6.5 which leads to slow growth.

Harvesting spinach from pots

After germination for nearly 50 days, the spinach is almost ready to harvest. Generally, the spinach plant has grown in a pot with 4 inches in height and at least 6 leaves then you can harvest it. You can remove the leaves with scissors. Cut off the outer leaves first and leave the new inner leaves to grow a little longer. You can also cut off the entire plant from the base. The tree will grow again.

You want to start harvesting. The spinach leaves before the plant blooms, otherwise, the leaves will become too bitter to eat. Flowers can bloom in hot and humid weather. The spinach will grow into a straight stem and produce yellow or green flowers. The flowers grow, the leaves thicken and taste bitter. This is called bolting.

Conclusion

As you can see, growing spinach in a pot is surprisingly easy. But to enjoy a bountiful harvest, remember all the gardening tips above.

Vegetable Farming

How to Prune Mint to Keep it Healthy?

Author ByMaryem

Mint is a one of the best plant with many uses. If you are not planted properly it can grow easily. Here we are going to learn about to take care of your mint plant which saves you a lot of times and headache in future.

1. Pruning a large harvest of mint

  • After flowering  one third of prune mint back

                Pruning can really encourage growth. This is not a negative thing to do with your mint plant. if you don’t like to shear to use them you can prune mint through your fingertips. Its take more time but it  is quite effective. With the help of your fingertips cut off about one third of length of the stem. Small amount mint should be pruned at indoor use fingertip is easier than scissor or a sharp knife.        

  • Shape your mint plant

Consider what shape you like to your plants to be trimmed. You want to shape your mint plant in the direction that grow, which confines the pot without getting out of control. It can grow fast in various directions, trim your plant in a shape which is comfortable or compatible with the pot.

Shape the plant it doesn’t have excess leaves and shoots pour over the plant.

Must focus on trimming over the plants. Ensure that plant is not sprawling around the side of the pot.

Also Read: Things you should know How to Grow Mint

  • Store your mint for future use

After a big harvest store mint properly for usage in future is really important. There are various methods to store mint for future purpose in that the most famous method is drying mint. For this dry mint various techniques are used such as hanging it to air-dry, dehydrating and baking it on the oven.

Mint can be freeze. Pick your mint leaves and remove damaged leaves. Pat it dry with a cotton cloth. Cut off the mint leaves and withdraw stems. Place few amount of leaves in the  various compartments of ice tray, fill with water and place them in freezer. If cubes are frozen keep them in container or bag and then leave in the freezer.  

  • Harvest a fresh mint throughout year

Avert harvest plants are not growing good due to bad and cold weather conditions.

2. Trimming a small amount of mint

  • Regularly trim your mint plant

Mint is grown up now it begins to bloom (after 90 days), after it grows 3 to 4 inches tall. Trim it regular basis with that the plant should be healthy and strong. You can also use fresh mint after a mint harvest.

Make certain to trim your mint cautiously on every occasion it wishes to be reducing back. Remember to trim the mint so it grows with inside the difficult form of the pot you are the use of. If you are trimming mint outside, make certain to trim mint so mint plant life does now no longer overgrow your garden.

While you could use shears to prune mint, small plant life can effortlessly be pruned simply the use of your fingers.

  • Use mint for cooking

In most of recipes mint must be used to add a stronger mint flavor. Try to use fresh mint instead of dry mint. For beverages like lemonade or mojitos the mint leaves should be add for flavor purposes.

  • Turn small harvest into new mint plant

For more mint plant, with help of trimming you can create a new mint plant from the existing plant. Cut off the 5 inches stem from existing mint plant and placed in a pot which is filled with potting soil. The stem will develop into its own plant with sunshine and water.

Fill the pot with the mixture of large amount of compost with potting soil and take the stem which is cut from its original mint plant and place it into the soil.

In a glass of water you can place the cutted stem, remove all leaves that are below the water line. Evenly roots will starts to grow in the water.

3. Growing mint

  • Plant your mint in a pot

Mint plant is a best to plant in a pot because it has fast growing root system. If you plant in a garden without container it will fastly spread all over the garden.

If you want to plant inside, take a pot fill the garden soil in it and then plant your mint in it. Keep this pot at the window where the sunlight gets throughout the day. Towards the heat source don’t place it.

If you plant outside then dig a 5 inches hole in the ground and place the container inside the hole and place mint inside the container and covered with dirt on top of it. Then the roots of mint plant will spread entire the garden.   

  • Select right time to plant

 If you are planting at outdoors then the correct time to plant the mint in the spring, if you are experiencing the climate as winter. In frost free climate, it will plant in mid fall.

  • Water your mint plant often

Mint plant can be grow in different soils, but it fail to grow in dry environments. It will grow in moist soil. So ensure to water the mint frequently in required condition.

Also Read: 7 Houseplants that Reduce Dust and Particulate Matter

  • Plant your mint properly

While planting the mint it should be placed under the ground of about 1/4 inches from the surface of ground. If you are planting single seed, plant in the pot and place the pot to expose sunlight on it. If you are planting in the garden then plant each seed about 2 feet distance among them. Ensure that each seed will be in its own container.

Do not use the container or pot with damages or cracks because mint is a fast growing root so it spread over the entire garden from the damages and cracks of the pot or container.

And do not place near the heat source or near the furnace, mint can dry out.

Vegetable Farming

11 Best Tomato Varieties for Hanging Baskets

Author ByMaryem

Plants that are kept small and survive in smaller baskets are perfect for small spaces. When browsing the seed catalogue or talking to a helpful person in the garden centre, look for plants that can tolerate smaller containers, have smaller mature growth sizes, and have dwarf, shrubs, or definitive names.

For urban gardens small tomato varieties are ideal because they don’t need much space. Many people are heard about cherry tomatoes but there are several small tomato varieties are available.

Tomato is one of the best and essential vegetable grown in garden, even small or non space gardener can enjoy the hanging basket tomatoes. Tomatoes are the vegetable that flourish when grown in containers with their different varieties and pair them with my 11 tomato varieties for growing a rich crop of delicious tomatoes in pots.

When you are planting the tomato plants for first time, it is mostly recommends to purchase the tomato seedling from nursery preferably starting from seeds. With your seeding in your hand, you are very close to enjoy your own home grown tomatoes.          

Here are 11 types of small tomato varieties are planting in your garden. They all are suitable for containers and pots also.

 Black Pearl

Black pearl tomatoes are rich in colour gets from anthocynanins, which are powerful antioxidants and it has a sweet, tangy flavour. The black pearl can grown in 5 feet height and it need a stack or cage for support. They are ready to harvest within 65 days.

Also Read: Growing Tomato for Your favorite Cuisines

 Roma

Roma tomatoes are one of the most popular for cooking and also known as Italian tomatoes. They are ideal for making pasta sauces and canning. If you want to cook Italian recipes you will definitely need to plant Roma tomatoes in your garden.

 Sweetie

Sweetie is one of the sweetest tomatos than most of the other tomatoes. It is small and has higher sugar content. It has a lengthy fruiting season and you can start harvesting from 65 days after planting.  

 Yellow Currant

A tiny yellow tomato variety which is add to salads, it makes a perfect bite size snack and you can also pop them into kids lunch box.

 Super Sweet

Super sweet tomato plants starts production from summer and continue until the first frost.

 Baby Red Pear

It is a small juice red tomato which grows to 1.5 inches in length. The fruit became ripe in a cluster. It has along fruiting season and they are climbers need stalking.

Green Grape

Green grape tomatoes grow small and they turns yellow/ green colour when ripe. This plant may need support due to surplus yield of small tomatoes.

 Tumbling Tom

Tumbling tom tomato plants ideal for hanging baskets because of cascading or trailing habit. Especially if they are located in full sun, they need consistent water and you will harvest the tomatoes in about 70 days.

 Golden Grape

Golden grape is another type of small yellow tomato; it is an ideal snacking tomato that is low in seeds. These plants are high in yield and produce surplus of tomatoes.

 Golden Nugget

Golden nugget tomatoes are yellow in colour; because they are lower in acidity their taste is milder than regular tomatoes. It looks great on the vine and they are especially used for salads and snacks.

Also Read: How To Hand Pollinate Tomato Flowers To 3x Tomato Yield?

 Cherry Cocktail

Another small tomato variety is the cherry cocktail, which produces small tomatoes full of flavour. Plants are uncertain (climbing), so cuttings are needed, and the maturity period is about 70 days. More fruit is produced on the vine.

Growing small tomato plants

Growing small varieties of tomatoes is very easy, even for inexperienced gardeners and children.

Before planting tomato seeds, bury some compost in the soil.

 You can plant seeds indoors in early spring and transplant them into your garden as soon as the weather gets warmer. There is no more frost.

 Small tomatoes can also be grown in large containers, using stakes or tomato cages to support the plants.

Tomato can grow good in full sun, so select the spot which receive at least 6 hours daylight each day.

Tomato need compatible moisture to avoid splitting and for growth.

Tomatoes grown in containers will dry out quickly, and may need to be watered once or twice a day in the hot summer.

Most small varieties of tomatoes can be harvested 65-70 days after planting.

Tomatoes will continue to ripen after harvest, but it is best to leave tomatoes in the bushes until they turn bright red or yellow to enhance the flavour.

You can choose a single tomato according to your needs, or you can cut the entire bouquet with a pruning knife or sharp scissors.

Advantages to growing tomatoes in hanging baskets

  • To extend the growing season, place the hanging basket in a sheltered place or indoors in cold weather.
  • Hang it in a suitable place flush with the line of sight to make harvesting easier.
  • Allows you to grow delicious tomatoes without consuming precious garden soil.

Vegetable Farming

How to Grow Beans: Planting, Care, Yield, Harvesting?

Author ByMaryem

The term beans generally refers to large seeded plants that include soybean, peanut and peas.  Beans are one of the evergreen vegetables that can be grown easily in your backyard, terrace garden and even in your balcony as well. They belong to the legume family and have enormous amounts of health benefits. 

Beans are a good source of protein and fiber and are also rich in iron, potassium and magnesium. 

How to Grow Beans and What Month do you Plant Beans:

Beans need warm weather to grow, so if you are planning to grow green beans then summer is best for growing, start it in summer as cold weather or frost can damage the seeds and make them rotten. Sow the seeds directly in the garden, if you transplant it later,  then the roots may get easily damaged as they are shallow. 

Before planting the beans make sure to know about the type of plant that it grows into, whether it is a bush bean or pole bean.

Bush bean: If it is a bush bean then sow the seeds one or two inches deep and apart. In case you are planting it in garden then the rows should be 2-3 feet apart. 

Pole bean: If you are planting pole bean then they need support of some stick or pole to grow. For every 3-4 seeds one pole is required with a space of 3-4 feet between each pole.

These beans grow when under full sunlight or at least look for a place where there is partial sunlight. The soil should be well drained but moist enough for the seeds to germinate.

Different Types Of Beans:

Beans come in large variety, some can be eaten raw while the other needs to be cooked. The green tender pods can be consumed as it is, where as the dried ones need to be cooked before consuming. 

They are considered nutritious as it contains large amount of protein, carbohydrates and minerals. The various beans cultivated through out the world are

  • French Beans
  • Soy Beans
  • Kidney Beans
  • Cluster Beans
  • Lima Beans
  • Broad Beans
  • Sword Beans
  • Garden Beans
  • Dolichos Beans
  • Navy Beans
  • Fava Beans
  • Pinto Beans
  • Cranberry Beans

In this article we are going to study about how to grow kidney beans, when to harvest beans, when to plant broad beans and how long do broad beans take to grow.

How To Grow Kidney Beans

Kidney beans are very healthy as they contain antioxidant properties, vitamin B6, folic acid as well as cholesterol lowering fiber. Kidney beans can be a good choice for vegan’s as well as the one having diabetes. Kidney beans need to be consumed only once they are dried and cooked, the raw once are toxic. 

Kidney beans can be planted when the temperature is about 18-26 degree Celsius. It is best to do the planting in the spring or after the last frost. It give good results when they are directly sowed in the garden instead of doing transplant, as it may damage the plant and it may not yield well. 

Kidney beans comes in two varieties-bush and vine. Make sure you know what type of seed you are using. The vine variety need some sort of support like a pole or trellis to grow.

The planting area should have full sun exposure or at least for about 6 hours daily. Kidney beans require humidity and warmth to thrive. Make sure that the temperature does not go below 16 degree Celsius. Sow the kidney bean seeds 1-2 inches below the soil surface, giving a space of about 4 inches between each seed. Water the plant daily once, when the soil is dried out, do not give over supply of water. The seeds will germinate in about 10-12 days. 

Unexpectedly if there is snow fall after the beans have sprouted , cover the seedlings with a canvas or cloth so that it doesn’t get effected by the freezing temperature. 

Harvest And Storage

If you have planted bush variety then it needs to be harvested only once at the end of the growing season. But if it is pole variety then it has to be harvested several times through out the season. The average harvesting time will be 3-4 months depending on the type of seed you use. 

If there are some unfavorable conditions like dropping temperature that may threaten your harvest then pull out the plants early. Keep the plants for the pods to dry out completely, it may take several days or weeks. As you dry the seeds keep them in a warm indoor location with lots of circulating air. 

How To Grow Broad Beans

 Broad beans produce high yields from the smaller area of garden. These can be grown in modest sized pots as well. This vegetable is easy to grow, especially a good activity for children. 

Lets learn about when and how to grow broad beans.

Before starting with the planting few things need to be kept in mind. Always choose a spot away from strong winds, sheltered spot, fertile land and a place where you can easily get sunlight.

When To Grow Broad Beans

Some variety of broad beans need to ne sown in spring while some are well grown if you plant them in autumn. If you sow it in November, that is autumn then it will germinate within 2-3 weeks. 

The germinated seeds will overwinter and start growing again in spring. In severe winters you need to protect the crops by covering it with fleece or cloches. 

How To Sow Broad Beans

The seeds of broad beans should be sown 2 inch deep into the soil. Each seed should have a gap of at least 9 inches. These can be sown in double row with a gap of 9 inches between each row. After sowing the seeds water them adequately. 

Now you will be concerned about how long does it take for the broad beans to grow. Well the answer is that these beans germinate in approximately 10 days. 

When To Harvest Broad Beans

Broad beans should be harvested and when they are 3 inches long. You can even wait for a little longer and harvest them later. But make sure that when you harvest the seeds should be soft and pots well filled. 

Best time to consume them is when the scar on the edge of the seed is white or green. If it has become black then the bean will become hard and chewy. 

The most important thing to keep in mind while sowing any seed is that don’t be in a hurry to plant the seeds, wait till the weather becomes appropriate as all the seeds may not be suitable for all typed of weather.

Take proper care after the seeds germinate and protect them from insects and mice attack.

Vegetable Farming

How to Grow Litchi Tomatoes and Harvest?

Author ByMaryem

A Morelle de balbis shrub is another name for Litchi tomatoes. It has been grown in small gardens and is now increasingly popular in heirloom gardening. Solanum sisymbriifolium is its Latin name which is from the nightshade family along with tomatoes and eggplants. It is native to South America. It will grow in tropical and warm temperature regions. It had an indigenous culture for hundreds of years as an important food staple. Litchi tomato plant appears like 5 feet tall and wide.

Take the prime example of Litchi tomato of a smattering of weird and beautiful traits, all in a single plant. It seems like a cherry tomato plant with its deep lobed green leaves, spreading habit, and similar small red fruits. When comes close the leaves of the Litchi tomato can be covered with spines like cactus and the fruits are hidden in tiny shell-like tomatillos.

The bigger and fluffy flowers look like squash plants. The Litchi tomatoes from the outside look red in color and when sliced they revealed a velvety yellow interior. If you pop one litchi tomato into your mouth feels like raspberries. The flavor of litchi tomato is slightly seemed like cheery with a subtle hint of tomato. Although many of them get different tastes like kiwi, watermelon, apple, pear and few of them said like creamy and sweet ground cherries with mixed tomatoes. The deeply lobed leaves with tooth margins appear as attractive when it blooms.

Also Read: Why Are My Tomato Flowers Falling Off?

Growing conditions for Litchi tomatoes

Litchi tomatoes like warm temperature and deep sunlight.

Hardiness

The litchi tomato doesn’t like cooler temperatures and is very sensitive. It can survive dips as 25°F and is remarkably tolerant to light frost. This is an invaluable trait that can squeeze to more harvest before winter.

Light requirement

It can be grown in full sunlight and can tolerate light shades also.

Soil 

The litchi tomato can prefer moist and sandy soils with a wide range of soil types and pH.

Watering

For every week give them at least 1 inch of water for better productivity and good health of the plant. 

 Fertilizers

Fertilize tomato plants as usual regular tomato plants. As fertile feeders, these plants will benefit from generous amounts of organic fertilizer applied regularly throughout the growing season. 

Pruning

Massive throne shrubs will grow from litchi tomatoes. Regular pruning will make it easier to manage. Litchi tomatoes have different growth habits than regular tomatoes. The flower buds emerge from the main stem and are leafless. You can trim branches with unwanted leaves, but try to leave young shoots and buds on the tree. It will not bear fruit.

Plant supports   

Likewise, using tomato cages and other plant supports can help maintain the restraint of litchi tomatoes. 

Pollination 

Litchi tomatoes self-fertilize but produce more fruit when more than single plants are planted together.

Where to buy litchi seeds?

Since litchi tomatoes are a unique heirloom variety, you are unlikely to find seeds for sale in garden centers or seed catalogs.

 Local seed libraries and seed exchanges are good places to look, as well as these online sellers: 

  • Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds,
  • Amazon
  • Etsy
  • eBay

How to grow litchi tomatoes from seeds?

Since litchi tomatoes are related to tomatoes, the growing instructions are somewhat similar. 

Sow seeds indoors approximately 7-8 weeks before the last spring frost. Draw one seedling per pot and transplant it outdoors when the frost hazard is over. Plant them 1/2 feet apart, leaving enough room to grow. 

The plant grows in dense vegetation, reaches 3-5 feet in height, and is often made in a trellis or cage, like a tomato. 

Grow litchi tomatoes in full sun, although they do well in partial shade as well.

Also Read: Best Potting Soil For Tomatoes?

How to harvest litchi tomatoes?

Litchi tomatoes take about 90 days to bear their first fruits (after transplanting), which means they will bear fruit even with our short growing season of 100-110 days in Vermont. Add to that the fact that they are frost-resistant and will allow you to work even in remote northern climates. 

To harvest, carefully remove the fruit from the stem. When the fruit is fully ripe, the thorns will bend away from the fruit and the fruit will easily fall off the stem. You are not ripe yet.

The longer you preserve them at the plant, the sweeter they may be. The fruit must launch without difficulty from the calyx; if it resists, wait some extra days.

Fruits that have fallen off the plant are a signal of height ripeness so acquire those as well.

Some gardeners record that it’s going to produce fruit extra abundantly closer to fall because the climate cools. Fruits harvested in cooler climates additionally tend to be very candy and feature an extra fruity taste.

Seed Preservation of Litchi tomato

Tomatoes fruits are riddled with tiny flat seeds that are easy to preserve from year to year by fermenting and drying. These plants are also easy to self-sow too.

 Diseases and Pests of Litchi Tomatoes 

Another notable feature of litchi tomatoes is their impressive resistance to most pests and diseases. 

The leaves and stems of the plant contain solasodine, a substance that is very toxic to fungi and insects.

 Tomato leaf beetles are affected at all stages of life, which reduces the overall survival rate of adults, pupation, and metamorphosis of leaf larvae.

 Look for tomato hornworms and potato beetles. These two vicious enemies do not appear to be affected by the chemical solasodine.