Many gardeners think they are saving money when they purchase plants rather than growing their vegetables from seeds. This decision will certainly save some time but it will not save any money.
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Why? Due to the fact that vegetable plants range in price from around $2.00 to $6.00 on average per plant, why not purchase a package of great seeds for $2.00 or less and grow fifteen to twenty-five vegetable plants instead?
Choose Your Vegetable Garden Seeds Based on What You Like
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image: vegetable garden seedsThe first thing to consider when thinking about the vegetable garden seeds you will purchase is what vegetables you like. For instance, does you family like leafy vegetables such as spinach, cabbage, lettuce, swiss chard, or cress or do they like root vegetables such as radishes, carrots, turnips, parsnips, and onions?
As another example, if your family loves squash, a large proportion of your vegetable garden seeds can consist of seeds for the different varieties of squash such as summer squash, crook neck squash, zucchini squash, spaghetti squash, and acorn squash. Simply put, there’s no reason to plant pumpkin seeds if no one in your family likes pumpkin.
Of course there are quite a lot of varieties for vegetable seeds from which you can choose in order to compose your vegetable garden's symphony. Do you want to have a vegetable garden mainly for eating fresh vegetables during the harvest season or do you want to grow vegetables for canning?
This latter option will mean that you can have homegrown vegetables throughout the year by keeping your canned vegetables in a cellar, basement, or in a your garage. The answers to these questions will help determine the cost of your seeds as well as the amounts and types of garden seeds that you will need to purchase for your harvest.
Vegetable Seeds, Soil, and Containers
You must decide if you want certified organic vegetable seeds or if you are just fine with organic vegetable seeds that are not certified. You should also decide if you would like to plant hybrid vegetable seeds or seeds that are not crossbred.
image: garden seeds in packets
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Once you have chosen your preferred type of vegetable garden seeds, then you will have to decide upon the type of soil that will be appropriate for your seeds as well as the right container for the plants that will eventually grow from your seeds (that is, if you are not going to plant the seeds directly into your garden).
A wide variety of containers are available including compressed peat pellets, clay pots, milk cartons, and multi-plant trays that allow the planting of more than one plant.
No matter what container you choose, keep in mind that for most vegetable plants, you need to allow approximately 6 to 9 square inches for each plant when you transplant the vegetable from the container to your garden.
Fill the containers with a suitable potting mix and peat moss. Later when the seeds sprout into more robust plants, you can add some compost or manure for healthier plant growth. Watch how much fertilizer you add, however, because adding more than the recommended amounts can burn the plants.
image: pumpkin seeds for the gardenIf you live in an area with sandy soil, you will probably need to purchase some potting soil. Potting soil can be found at your garden center or at most home improvement stores such as Home Depot. Spending $3.50 or $4.50 per 40-pound bag of potting soil can go a long way in producing healthy and nutritious vegetables.
Whether your seeds are from seed packs that you purchased from your garden center, seed packs leftover from last year, or from vegetables that were produced in your own garden, you need to know if the seeds will sprout before you plant your vegetable garden.
After planting the seeds, check every other day or so to see if the seeds are beginning to sprout. If there is no sign of sprouting after two or three weeks, you should buy fresh seeds from your garden center.
Tips For Storing Vegetable Seeds
If you do not plant all the seeds you have, you can store them for future use. Here are some tips for the proper storage of your vegetable seeds.
* Store seeds in a sealed jar in a cool, dry place.
* To help keep the seeds dry, add 2 tablespoons of powdered milk rolled up in a paper towel and place in the sealed jar.
* A number of different vegetable seeds are good up to five years. As a result, so you know how old your vegetable seeds are, make sure you date each jar.
image: bean seeds for your gardenIf you want to include a variety of vegetable garden seeds and would like to have fresh vegetables year round, then consider planting some of your favorite vegetable garden seeds in containers.
You should also feature some high nutrition vegetable seeds in your vegetable array, such as asparagus, green beans and snow peas, in order to add flavor and variety to your favorite dishes.
Vegetable Garden Seeds: Conclusion
The key to choosing good vegetable garden seeds is to create menus, and then make your list of vegetable seeds from your vegetable menus. Then when you are creating savory dishes for your family and friends, the lovely colors and delightful flavors will please their palate and win you the compliments of the day.
Stated differently, using vegetable garden seeds to grow your vegetable garden is one of the best, most healthy, and most rewarding ways of saving money on quality food.
Copyright 2009 - Denny Soinski. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, and give the author credit.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Vegetable garden planning is the first of many processes related to growing your own vegetable garden. Planning your garden is important because you will need to figure out which plants you want to plant, which plants grow best in your area, and how your vegetable garden will look.
The Vegetable Garden Planning Process
It's that time of year when starting a vegetable garden is on our list of projects. This is the perfect time to get going with your ideas and thoughts for the vegetable garden planning process.
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image: vegetable garden with cartRemember that planting and designing a vegetable garden does not happen over night and the best gardens are those that have been planned with thought and care. There is no doubt that the end result of a vegetable garden is what really counts. That is, you want to have beautiful, homegrown vegetables showing up on your dinner table—nutritious vegetables that you can share with family, friends, and neighbors.
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If you know what kind of vegetables you want to plant, the actual planning of the physical garden can be a lot easier. When deciding what kind of vegetables you will be planting, taste, cost, and personal preference will be among the first considerations.
What vegetables do you and your family usually eat on a regular basis and what other vegetables would you like to plant in your garden? Once your have a list of what vegetables you are considering on planting, you need to think about how much time you want to put into your garden.
Obviously, the more time you can dedicate, the bigger and the more complex the garden can be. Conversely, if your time is limited, then you probably should consider planting a smaller garden.
After you have identified your time constraints and the vegetables you would like to plant, it is time to do a little research on which plants will grow best in your area and what time of the year these plants should be planted. Basing your plant selection on your research findings will pay off down the road with less plant maintenance and fewer crop failures.
When doing vegetable garden planning make sure to ask yourself what would probably work best for you and for your plot of land. For instance, it probably wouldn’t be the best idea to grow particular vegetables if you do not have the room or the proper soil, sunlight, temperature, or time. Indeed, if you are planting a garden for the first time and are inexperienced, keep to the basics.
Selecting Your Vegetables
image: cabbage in vegetable garden
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The basic vegetable of most vegetable gardens is the tomato. Although the tomato is actually a fruit, it has become the most popular plant for gardens. Tomatoes are easy to grow and easy to take care of and harvest. They come in many varieties, are inexpensive, and easy to find at your local Kmart, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, and garden centers.
Other vegetables that work well for a typical garden include, peppers, squash, onions, parsley, eggplant, and lettuce. Of course you can plant your favorites but try to stick with vegetables that will not only grow well but also those that you are going to eat.
You don't want to be disappointed with your results and any vegetable garden planning should include an evaluation of what is going to be served at the dinner table and what will grow with success. You must also consider how much time you are going to spend in your garden. Some vegetables take a lot of tender loving care while others almost grow on their own.
The Garden Design
Another step in vegetable garden planning is deciding upon your garden design. You have several options. For instance, you can grow your garden in rows, in beds, in a mixed flower, vegetable, and herb bed, or in containers.
image: green plants in a vegetable gardenMany home gardeners now plant their vegetables in beds rather than traditional rows. As a result, when you are doing your vegetable garden planning consider using beds. Beds seem to work much better than traditional rows especially when adding compost to the bedding area. The beds allow for a minimum loss of compost to the concentrated areas as opposed to rows. Beds also work better if you can elevate them just a little. Drainage is much better and the beds stay warmer for your plants.
Containers provide another way that you can plant your vegetables. Containers provide a compact way to plant your garden, especially if this is your first garden and you are not quite sure that you really want to dedicate the time and a part of your yard required for a large garden project. Container vegetable gardening also works extremely well for people who want to have a garden but who don’t have a backyard, such as people who live in apartments.
Regardless of what plants you decide to plant or how you plant your garden, it is certainly a rewarding hobby. Not only this, but you will discover that fresh vegetables taste far better than those you find in grocery stores. Planning and planting a garden is also a great way to teach children where their vegetables come from. And no matter where you live, with a little bit of creativity, you can have some type of vegetable garden. All it takes is a little vegetable garden planning.
Vegetable Garden Planning: Conclusion
If you do a little vegetable garden planning you will experience great results. Plan your crops, prepare the soil, fertilize, water properly, rotate your plants, and add some good care, sunshine, and warm air, and you will enjoy the fruits, (in this case the vegetables) of your labor. Don't be afraid to ask for help and get some good tips and advice but most of all enjoy your vegetable garden.
Copyright 2009 - Denny Soinski. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, and give the author credit.
The Vegetable Garden Planning Process
It's that time of year when starting a vegetable garden is on our list of projects. This is the perfect time to get going with your ideas and thoughts for the vegetable garden planning process.
AdsSpy: 23 sites by this AdSense ID
image: vegetable garden with cartRemember that planting and designing a vegetable garden does not happen over night and the best gardens are those that have been planned with thought and care. There is no doubt that the end result of a vegetable garden is what really counts. That is, you want to have beautiful, homegrown vegetables showing up on your dinner table—nutritious vegetables that you can share with family, friends, and neighbors.
If you know what kind of vegetables you want to plant, the actual planning of the physical garden can be a lot easier. When deciding what kind of vegetables you will be planting, taste, cost, and personal preference will be among the first considerations.
What vegetables do you and your family usually eat on a regular basis and what other vegetables would you like to plant in your garden? Once your have a list of what vegetables you are considering on planting, you need to think about how much time you want to put into your garden.
Obviously, the more time you can dedicate, the bigger and the more complex the garden can be. Conversely, if your time is limited, then you probably should consider planting a smaller garden.
After you have identified your time constraints and the vegetables you would like to plant, it is time to do a little research on which plants will grow best in your area and what time of the year these plants should be planted. Basing your plant selection on your research findings will pay off down the road with less plant maintenance and fewer crop failures.
When doing vegetable garden planning make sure to ask yourself what would probably work best for you and for your plot of land. For instance, it probably wouldn’t be the best idea to grow particular vegetables if you do not have the room or the proper soil, sunlight, temperature, or time. Indeed, if you are planting a garden for the first time and are inexperienced, keep to the basics.
Selecting Your Vegetables
image: cabbage in vegetable garden
AdsSpy: 23 sites by this AdSense ID
The basic vegetable of most vegetable gardens is the tomato. Although the tomato is actually a fruit, it has become the most popular plant for gardens. Tomatoes are easy to grow and easy to take care of and harvest. They come in many varieties, are inexpensive, and easy to find at your local Kmart, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, and garden centers.
Other vegetables that work well for a typical garden include, peppers, squash, onions, parsley, eggplant, and lettuce. Of course you can plant your favorites but try to stick with vegetables that will not only grow well but also those that you are going to eat.
You don't want to be disappointed with your results and any vegetable garden planning should include an evaluation of what is going to be served at the dinner table and what will grow with success. You must also consider how much time you are going to spend in your garden. Some vegetables take a lot of tender loving care while others almost grow on their own.
The Garden Design
Another step in vegetable garden planning is deciding upon your garden design. You have several options. For instance, you can grow your garden in rows, in beds, in a mixed flower, vegetable, and herb bed, or in containers.
image: green plants in a vegetable gardenMany home gardeners now plant their vegetables in beds rather than traditional rows. As a result, when you are doing your vegetable garden planning consider using beds. Beds seem to work much better than traditional rows especially when adding compost to the bedding area. The beds allow for a minimum loss of compost to the concentrated areas as opposed to rows. Beds also work better if you can elevate them just a little. Drainage is much better and the beds stay warmer for your plants.
Containers provide another way that you can plant your vegetables. Containers provide a compact way to plant your garden, especially if this is your first garden and you are not quite sure that you really want to dedicate the time and a part of your yard required for a large garden project. Container vegetable gardening also works extremely well for people who want to have a garden but who don’t have a backyard, such as people who live in apartments.
Regardless of what plants you decide to plant or how you plant your garden, it is certainly a rewarding hobby. Not only this, but you will discover that fresh vegetables taste far better than those you find in grocery stores. Planning and planting a garden is also a great way to teach children where their vegetables come from. And no matter where you live, with a little bit of creativity, you can have some type of vegetable garden. All it takes is a little vegetable garden planning.
Vegetable Garden Planning: Conclusion
If you do a little vegetable garden planning you will experience great results. Plan your crops, prepare the soil, fertilize, water properly, rotate your plants, and add some good care, sunshine, and warm air, and you will enjoy the fruits, (in this case the vegetables) of your labor. Don't be afraid to ask for help and get some good tips and advice but most of all enjoy your vegetable garden.
Copyright 2009 - Denny Soinski. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, and give the author credit.
It's hard to beat the high nutritional value and the fresh taste of vegetables harvested from your own garden. Before you get to this point, however, you need to plan your vegetable garden layout so that you can reap the most from your handiwork.
Planning Your Vegetable Garden Layout
image: rows of lettuce in garden
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If you have never had a vegetable garden before, you could probably use some information and advice on the different options for a vegetable garden layout. In order to have the best possible vegetable garden, you really should do some planning on paper before you start planting.
This way you can figure out which type of vegetable garden will work out the best for you, as well as the best places to put each of the different vegetables that you wish to plant in your garden.
One of the first things you will need to do when planning your vegetable garden layout is determine where you are going to put your garden. You should try to find the location with the most sun and the most light possible for the best results.
Of course space limitations may mean that you don't have a lot of choice in the location of your garden, and if this is the case you will have to take into consideration the limitations of the spot when you decide which vegetables you are going to plant.
Selecting the Type of Garden You Want
image: backyard vegetable garden
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Another consideration is the type of garden you wish to plant. You need to decide whether or not you want a more traditional flat garden with rows, or a garden with raised beds, or a container garden.
There are advantages and disadvantages to each of these different types of vegetable garden layout. Traditional gardens are one of the easiest to set up since you don't need a lot of additional materials.
You just need to plow the area and add any nutrients that the soil needs. Raised beds can be easier to tend to and easier to grow vegetables since they heat up faster and retain the heat for longer, however, they take a bit more time and materials to set up. For those without a lot of space a container garden can be the perfect answer.
Since smaller beds allow you to easily get around the garden area while weeding, watering, or harvesting, the beds should not be more than a width of 3 or 4 feet for an ideal vegetable garden layout design.
Vegetable Selection is Important
image: rows of corn in vegetable gardenOnce you have decided on the location and type of garden, you can set up your vegetable garden layout. Most people advise that rows go in a north south direction, with the taller plants at the northern end of the garden and the shorter plants at the southern end of the garden.
As there are some plants that don't do well near each other, you should be sure to check out the plants you are planning to grow to make sure that you know which can be grown near each other.
Rotating your crops is also a good idea. You should plant root crops in one area, brassicas in another area, and everything else in a third area. Rotating your plants not only helps control pests and diseases but it helps you get the most nutrition from your garden.
Copyright 2009 - Denny Soinski. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, and give the author credit.
About the Author
Denny Soinski writes about garden decor, gardening, bronze garden sculptures, water fountains, and outdoor metal sculptures. For more information, please visit http://www.water-fountains-and-garden-decor.com right away!
Planning Your Vegetable Garden Layout
image: rows of lettuce in garden
AdsSpy: 23 sites by this AdSense ID
If you have never had a vegetable garden before, you could probably use some information and advice on the different options for a vegetable garden layout. In order to have the best possible vegetable garden, you really should do some planning on paper before you start planting.
This way you can figure out which type of vegetable garden will work out the best for you, as well as the best places to put each of the different vegetables that you wish to plant in your garden.
One of the first things you will need to do when planning your vegetable garden layout is determine where you are going to put your garden. You should try to find the location with the most sun and the most light possible for the best results.
Of course space limitations may mean that you don't have a lot of choice in the location of your garden, and if this is the case you will have to take into consideration the limitations of the spot when you decide which vegetables you are going to plant.
Selecting the Type of Garden You Want
image: backyard vegetable garden
AdsSpy: 23 sites by this AdSense ID
Another consideration is the type of garden you wish to plant. You need to decide whether or not you want a more traditional flat garden with rows, or a garden with raised beds, or a container garden.
There are advantages and disadvantages to each of these different types of vegetable garden layout. Traditional gardens are one of the easiest to set up since you don't need a lot of additional materials.
You just need to plow the area and add any nutrients that the soil needs. Raised beds can be easier to tend to and easier to grow vegetables since they heat up faster and retain the heat for longer, however, they take a bit more time and materials to set up. For those without a lot of space a container garden can be the perfect answer.
Since smaller beds allow you to easily get around the garden area while weeding, watering, or harvesting, the beds should not be more than a width of 3 or 4 feet for an ideal vegetable garden layout design.
Vegetable Selection is Important
image: rows of corn in vegetable gardenOnce you have decided on the location and type of garden, you can set up your vegetable garden layout. Most people advise that rows go in a north south direction, with the taller plants at the northern end of the garden and the shorter plants at the southern end of the garden.
As there are some plants that don't do well near each other, you should be sure to check out the plants you are planning to grow to make sure that you know which can be grown near each other.
Rotating your crops is also a good idea. You should plant root crops in one area, brassicas in another area, and everything else in a third area. Rotating your plants not only helps control pests and diseases but it helps you get the most nutrition from your garden.
Copyright 2009 - Denny Soinski. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, and give the author credit.
About the Author
Denny Soinski writes about garden decor, gardening, bronze garden sculptures, water fountains, and outdoor metal sculptures. For more information, please visit http://www.water-fountains-and-garden-decor.com right away!
With the proper planning, design, and upkeep, it is no longer necessary to hide your vegetable garden away from view. In fact, a well thought through vegetable garden design can produce a vegetable garden that is as lovely as any flower garden while at the same time providing food for the table.
Ideas for a Great Vegetable Garden Design
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image: backyard vegetable gardenThe root of vegetable garden design problems typically stems from poor planning before the first spade of dirt is turned. Several considerations must be taken into account before you run to your local nursery or supply store to get seeds or plants for your vegetable garden.
First, the successful gardener considers the space. It will become apparent that with smaller gardens, you cannot plant vegetables that take up large areas. For instance, I once planted 6 cabbage plants that, when mature, took up an 8 by 10 plot. Another time, I planted 23 tomato plants, only to see them totally overtake my 20 foot by 15 foot garden.
One way to counteract the problem of having enough space for your garden is to plant some vegetables above the ground and others below the ground so that they are in close proximity to one another.
One year my garden space was a mound 6 feet around by approximately one foot high. In the top middle, I planted two big leaf cabbage plants. Around the edges I planted 4 potato plants about one foot from the edge. While the cabbage and potato plants are growing, you should trim the potato bush lightly away from your cabbages. Harvest the cabbages first, leaving the potato plants to thrive.
Another space saver is to plant vine plants, such as cucumbers on a string hung from a fence or pole. When you grow vine plants, however, you need to make sure that you remove dead leafs and vines on a daily basis so that you prevent ground rot and control where those pesky vines grow!
The Appeal of Quick Growing Vegetables
image: cabbage vegetable garden
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Now that your vegetable garden design is starting to make more sense, another gardening tip can be articulated, namely, planting quick growing veggies at various times during the planting season.
Spinach is a good choice because it is quick growing and also has the advantage of growing in cooler weather. This means you can plant a small patch of spinach that will grow first and then try planting radishes or beets in the same plot later.
At the end of your growing season when it's starting to get cooler, try planting another batch of spinach. Some vine plants like beans or peas, for instance, will grow quickly on trellises. The wall of vines provides shade. This shade comes in handy when you grow a plant nearby that only needs 8 or fewer hours of sunlight.
Tomato plants fit this bill. Try placing the tomato plants two or three feet away from your trellises, giving the tomato's enough room to thrive. Use these keys for your vegetable garden design and you will be pleased with the results.
Quick Spreading Vegetables
How about those plants that thrive and spread year after year? Strawberries, for instance, can take over any garden. Indeed, a while ago I planted three tiny strawberry plants that turned into 60 plants within two years! If you love strawberry short cake, as much as I do, you're going to make sure you plant some strawberry plants.
Be sure to plan an area large enough for the strawberries to spread, because they will! For example, I made an 8-foot round raised spot that was covered and overflowing with strawberries within a few years. Building on this theme, it can be noted that strawberries can also be used as ground cover for any area of your yard or garden that has empty spaces.
Vegetable Garden Design: Conclusion
I hope you can employ some of these ideas in your next garden. Remember - - the most successful vegetable garden begins with a well-planned vegetable garden design!
Copyright 2009 - Denny Soinski. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, and give the author credit.
About the Author
Denny Soinski writes about garden decor, gardening, bronze garden sculptures, water fountains, and outdoor metal sculptures. For more information, please visit http://www.water-fountains-and-garden-decor.com right away!
Ideas for a Great Vegetable Garden Design
AdsSpy: 23 sites by this AdSense ID
image: backyard vegetable gardenThe root of vegetable garden design problems typically stems from poor planning before the first spade of dirt is turned. Several considerations must be taken into account before you run to your local nursery or supply store to get seeds or plants for your vegetable garden.
First, the successful gardener considers the space. It will become apparent that with smaller gardens, you cannot plant vegetables that take up large areas. For instance, I once planted 6 cabbage plants that, when mature, took up an 8 by 10 plot. Another time, I planted 23 tomato plants, only to see them totally overtake my 20 foot by 15 foot garden.
One way to counteract the problem of having enough space for your garden is to plant some vegetables above the ground and others below the ground so that they are in close proximity to one another.
One year my garden space was a mound 6 feet around by approximately one foot high. In the top middle, I planted two big leaf cabbage plants. Around the edges I planted 4 potato plants about one foot from the edge. While the cabbage and potato plants are growing, you should trim the potato bush lightly away from your cabbages. Harvest the cabbages first, leaving the potato plants to thrive.
Another space saver is to plant vine plants, such as cucumbers on a string hung from a fence or pole. When you grow vine plants, however, you need to make sure that you remove dead leafs and vines on a daily basis so that you prevent ground rot and control where those pesky vines grow!
The Appeal of Quick Growing Vegetables
image: cabbage vegetable garden
AdsSpy: 23 sites by this AdSense ID
Now that your vegetable garden design is starting to make more sense, another gardening tip can be articulated, namely, planting quick growing veggies at various times during the planting season.
Spinach is a good choice because it is quick growing and also has the advantage of growing in cooler weather. This means you can plant a small patch of spinach that will grow first and then try planting radishes or beets in the same plot later.
At the end of your growing season when it's starting to get cooler, try planting another batch of spinach. Some vine plants like beans or peas, for instance, will grow quickly on trellises. The wall of vines provides shade. This shade comes in handy when you grow a plant nearby that only needs 8 or fewer hours of sunlight.
Tomato plants fit this bill. Try placing the tomato plants two or three feet away from your trellises, giving the tomato's enough room to thrive. Use these keys for your vegetable garden design and you will be pleased with the results.
Quick Spreading Vegetables
How about those plants that thrive and spread year after year? Strawberries, for instance, can take over any garden. Indeed, a while ago I planted three tiny strawberry plants that turned into 60 plants within two years! If you love strawberry short cake, as much as I do, you're going to make sure you plant some strawberry plants.
Be sure to plan an area large enough for the strawberries to spread, because they will! For example, I made an 8-foot round raised spot that was covered and overflowing with strawberries within a few years. Building on this theme, it can be noted that strawberries can also be used as ground cover for any area of your yard or garden that has empty spaces.
Vegetable Garden Design: Conclusion
I hope you can employ some of these ideas in your next garden. Remember - - the most successful vegetable garden begins with a well-planned vegetable garden design!
Copyright 2009 - Denny Soinski. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, and give the author credit.
About the Author
Denny Soinski writes about garden decor, gardening, bronze garden sculptures, water fountains, and outdoor metal sculptures. For more information, please visit http://www.water-fountains-and-garden-decor.com right away!
With some planning and a little bit of care, your container vegetable garden will flourish under the right conditions and provide you and your family with healthy and delicious vegetables that were grown entirely by your nurturing hand.
A Vegetable Container Garden for Every Type of Household
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image: cabbage in vegetable container gardenAt first thought, not everyone has the space to have a vegetable garden. Others, such as apartment or condo dwellers have no land at all and yet many of these people would like to raise their own vegetables. If a person has a balcony, a doorstep, or even a windowsill they have room for a vegetable container garden.
Almost any container will work as long as it is large enough to hold a mature plant, can hold soil without loosing it, and will allow water to drain. Keep in mind, moreover, that since the size of the vegetable is really what determines the container size, for most vegetable container gardens, you will need a container that is at least 12 inches in diameter.
It probably should go without saying, but the container for growing vegetables should never have contained toxic material. You can be imaginative and use many discarded items for your containers. Examples include large wooden boxes, truck brake drums, old wine barrels, cast iron sinks, plastic pots, or even garbage cans.
The Importance of Soil Selection
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Once the container has been selected you will need to choose a medium for your vegetable container garden. Avoid using regular garden soil because it is too heavy and will not be porous enough to allow the plant roots to get both air and water.
image: woman adding soil to container for vegetable gardenYou can purchase pre-packaged potting soil in most department stores that have garden centers. Examples include Home Depot and Kmart.
If you need a lot of soil or just have a sense of adventure, you can make your own. Mix one part garden loam with one part peat moss and then add one part coarse and clean builder’s sand.
Mix thoroughly. Add your own 10-10-10 fertilizer of about 1 and 1/2 tablespoons per 12 inches of container depth. Finally check the pH and add lime until you have a pH of around 6.5.
Making Sure to Water Your Vegetable Container Garden
Before planting your vegetable container garden, fill your container to about 1/2 inch from the top with a slightly damp mixture of your soil. Whether you are sowing seeds or using transplants, water your plants gently with warm water and then clearly label your container so that you know exactly what it holds. Water will evaporate rapidly from a container especially if it is in the afternoon sun.
image: tomato plants in container gardenWater your vegetable container garden often until the water starts to run out the drainage hole. Avoid watering so much that your soil becomes soggy soil because soggy soil will invite root diseases. Check your soil daily or more if in a hot location. Adding mulch to the top of the soil will help it to retain it's moisture and keep in mind that light pots do better than dark ones. Your plants will need food so plan to fertilize every two to three weeks with a water soluble fertilizer.
Remember to inspect your plants on a daily basis for dryness and while you do this, make sure to check your plants for curling leaves, holes in the leaves, discolored leaves, or for other signs of disease or invasion by pests.
Vegetables For Your Container Garden
Now that we have selected the containers and added the soil to the contianers, it is time to plant your vegetables. You can purchase vegetable plants for around $2.00 to $6.00 on average from your local garden center or you can buy a pack of great seeds for under $2.00 and grow twenty-five or more plants, dependening on the seeds that were chosen. Keep in mind that dwarf or compact varieties of vegetables grow best when planting these vegetables in containers. With this is mind, the following list represents some of the vegetables that can be planted in containers.
* spinach
* radishes
* peas
* swiss chard
* lettuce
* peppers
* pumpkins
* beets
* zucchini
* onions
* cabbage
* carrots
* cauliflower
* broccoli
* summer squash
* cress
* turnips
* cucumbers
* parsnips
* tomatoes
* eggplant
* pole beans
* parsley
* green onions
* radishes
* beans
* squash
* green beans
* leaf lettuce
Vegetable Container Garden: Conclusion
Your vegetable container garden will add hours of enjoyment to your life and help you to reduce your weekly grocery bill. Inspect your plants regularly for insect damage and keep them out of direct sunlight if possible. Give your vegetable container garden shelter from heavy rains or hail and pat yourself on the back for a job well done.
Copyright 2009 - Denny Soinski. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, and give the author credit.
About the Author
Denny Soinski writes about garden decor, gardening, bronze garden sculptures, water fountains, and outdoor metal sculptures. For more information, please visit http://www.water-fountains-and-garden-decor.com right away!
A Vegetable Container Garden for Every Type of Household
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image: cabbage in vegetable container gardenAt first thought, not everyone has the space to have a vegetable garden. Others, such as apartment or condo dwellers have no land at all and yet many of these people would like to raise their own vegetables. If a person has a balcony, a doorstep, or even a windowsill they have room for a vegetable container garden.
Almost any container will work as long as it is large enough to hold a mature plant, can hold soil without loosing it, and will allow water to drain. Keep in mind, moreover, that since the size of the vegetable is really what determines the container size, for most vegetable container gardens, you will need a container that is at least 12 inches in diameter.
It probably should go without saying, but the container for growing vegetables should never have contained toxic material. You can be imaginative and use many discarded items for your containers. Examples include large wooden boxes, truck brake drums, old wine barrels, cast iron sinks, plastic pots, or even garbage cans.
The Importance of Soil Selection
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Once the container has been selected you will need to choose a medium for your vegetable container garden. Avoid using regular garden soil because it is too heavy and will not be porous enough to allow the plant roots to get both air and water.
image: woman adding soil to container for vegetable gardenYou can purchase pre-packaged potting soil in most department stores that have garden centers. Examples include Home Depot and Kmart.
If you need a lot of soil or just have a sense of adventure, you can make your own. Mix one part garden loam with one part peat moss and then add one part coarse and clean builder’s sand.
Mix thoroughly. Add your own 10-10-10 fertilizer of about 1 and 1/2 tablespoons per 12 inches of container depth. Finally check the pH and add lime until you have a pH of around 6.5.
Making Sure to Water Your Vegetable Container Garden
Before planting your vegetable container garden, fill your container to about 1/2 inch from the top with a slightly damp mixture of your soil. Whether you are sowing seeds or using transplants, water your plants gently with warm water and then clearly label your container so that you know exactly what it holds. Water will evaporate rapidly from a container especially if it is in the afternoon sun.
image: tomato plants in container gardenWater your vegetable container garden often until the water starts to run out the drainage hole. Avoid watering so much that your soil becomes soggy soil because soggy soil will invite root diseases. Check your soil daily or more if in a hot location. Adding mulch to the top of the soil will help it to retain it's moisture and keep in mind that light pots do better than dark ones. Your plants will need food so plan to fertilize every two to three weeks with a water soluble fertilizer.
Remember to inspect your plants on a daily basis for dryness and while you do this, make sure to check your plants for curling leaves, holes in the leaves, discolored leaves, or for other signs of disease or invasion by pests.
Vegetables For Your Container Garden
Now that we have selected the containers and added the soil to the contianers, it is time to plant your vegetables. You can purchase vegetable plants for around $2.00 to $6.00 on average from your local garden center or you can buy a pack of great seeds for under $2.00 and grow twenty-five or more plants, dependening on the seeds that were chosen. Keep in mind that dwarf or compact varieties of vegetables grow best when planting these vegetables in containers. With this is mind, the following list represents some of the vegetables that can be planted in containers.
* spinach
* radishes
* peas
* swiss chard
* lettuce
* peppers
* pumpkins
* beets
* zucchini
* onions
* cabbage
* carrots
* cauliflower
* broccoli
* summer squash
* cress
* turnips
* cucumbers
* parsnips
* tomatoes
* eggplant
* pole beans
* parsley
* green onions
* radishes
* beans
* squash
* green beans
* leaf lettuce
Vegetable Container Garden: Conclusion
Your vegetable container garden will add hours of enjoyment to your life and help you to reduce your weekly grocery bill. Inspect your plants regularly for insect damage and keep them out of direct sunlight if possible. Give your vegetable container garden shelter from heavy rains or hail and pat yourself on the back for a job well done.
Copyright 2009 - Denny Soinski. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, and give the author credit.
About the Author
Denny Soinski writes about garden decor, gardening, bronze garden sculptures, water fountains, and outdoor metal sculptures. For more information, please visit http://www.water-fountains-and-garden-decor.com right away!
Tomatoes are one of the most commonly grown fruits or vegetables in the United States. As a result, tomato container gardening is growing in popularity. This is especially the case when the only sunny spot a person has is a porch, balcony, patio, or deck. Not only this but the need for smaller scale gardening may be triggered when the only land you have is unsuitable for gardening.
For instance, if your gardening efforts have been thwarted by soil that is full of rocks, by poor, shallow soil that is deficient in nutrients and/or humus, or by an uneven slope that makes the soil too dry on top and too wet at the bottom of the slope, tomato container gardening may be your only option if you have a passion for growing your own tomatoes.
Your First Tomato Container Gardening Project
No matter what climate you live in you may want to prepare some homemade foods such as Chili, Spaghetti, Tacos, salads, or BLTs.
image: woman adding soil to container
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Fortunately, there is a way you can have as many homegrown tomatoes as you like. How?, you may ask. Via tomato container gardening. In short, with tomato container gardening you can have a fresh tomato with a quick flick of your wrist.
All you have to do to start your tomato container gardening project is go to your local grocer and ask for any five-gallon buckets they may not need. Once you have your bucket at home wash it well so there are no pesticides or chemicals that may harm you and your family.
Now that you have your container it is time to put your tomato garden together. You will need to start with a drill and a 1/4 inch drill bit. You need to drill about a dozen holes into the bottom and sides of the container. Once you have drilled the holes you need about seven or eight empty soda cans that you have washed out. Crush these soda cans just a little, then place them in the bottom of the container. The soda cans will occupy some space in the container for easy maneuvering of the roots and for water run off so that you don't over water the tomato plants.
We are now ready to add the soil, making sure to leave a hole about the shape of an ostrich egg in the middle of the container. You are now ready to place the tomato plant in the hole, making sure not to press too hard around the plant so that there is room for the roots to grow. Also keep in mind that when growing tomatoes you need a stake or gardening trellis to help support the tomato plants.
Once the tomato plant and stake are in place you will need a string, zip tie, or twist ties to secure the plant to the stake. Now that you have started your tomato container garden you will need to keep all insects that like tomatoes away from the plant. Some of these bugs are Aphids, mites, white flies and many more.
Your Homemade Tomato Plant Bug Spray
To prevent these pests from harming their tomato plants, some people make up their own bug spray in the following manner. Put one teaspoon of liquid dish soap and one cup vegetable oil in a jar and shake vigorously. You can then place two teaspoons of the mix and one cup of water in a spray bottle and spray each plant once every 10 days.
Tomato Container Gardening: Conclusion
image: tomato and juiceOne way to ensure success in your tomato container gardening is to provide a saucer below each container in order to catch some of the water after you have watered the plant. Obviously, with frequent watering some of the water will drain through the soil and run off. This water loss can be somewhat circumvented, however, by placing a saucer beneath each container. In a word, doing this will result in some water that stays behind and seeps slowly and throughout the soil.
Now that your tomato container gardening project is finished, all you have to do is to place your tomato plant in the sun, water it frequently, spray the leaves every ten days with your bug spray and you will have great tasting tomatoes within a few months.
Copyright 2009 - Denny Soinski. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, and give the author credit.
About the Author
Denny Soinski writes about garden decor, gardening, bronze garden sculptures, water fountains, and outdoor metal sculptures. For more information, please visit http://www.water-fountains-and-garden-decor.com right away!
For instance, if your gardening efforts have been thwarted by soil that is full of rocks, by poor, shallow soil that is deficient in nutrients and/or humus, or by an uneven slope that makes the soil too dry on top and too wet at the bottom of the slope, tomato container gardening may be your only option if you have a passion for growing your own tomatoes.
Your First Tomato Container Gardening Project
No matter what climate you live in you may want to prepare some homemade foods such as Chili, Spaghetti, Tacos, salads, or BLTs.
image: woman adding soil to container
AdsSpy: 23 sites by this AdSense ID
Fortunately, there is a way you can have as many homegrown tomatoes as you like. How?, you may ask. Via tomato container gardening. In short, with tomato container gardening you can have a fresh tomato with a quick flick of your wrist.
All you have to do to start your tomato container gardening project is go to your local grocer and ask for any five-gallon buckets they may not need. Once you have your bucket at home wash it well so there are no pesticides or chemicals that may harm you and your family.
Now that you have your container it is time to put your tomato garden together. You will need to start with a drill and a 1/4 inch drill bit. You need to drill about a dozen holes into the bottom and sides of the container. Once you have drilled the holes you need about seven or eight empty soda cans that you have washed out. Crush these soda cans just a little, then place them in the bottom of the container. The soda cans will occupy some space in the container for easy maneuvering of the roots and for water run off so that you don't over water the tomato plants.
We are now ready to add the soil, making sure to leave a hole about the shape of an ostrich egg in the middle of the container. You are now ready to place the tomato plant in the hole, making sure not to press too hard around the plant so that there is room for the roots to grow. Also keep in mind that when growing tomatoes you need a stake or gardening trellis to help support the tomato plants.
Once the tomato plant and stake are in place you will need a string, zip tie, or twist ties to secure the plant to the stake. Now that you have started your tomato container garden you will need to keep all insects that like tomatoes away from the plant. Some of these bugs are Aphids, mites, white flies and many more.
Your Homemade Tomato Plant Bug Spray
To prevent these pests from harming their tomato plants, some people make up their own bug spray in the following manner. Put one teaspoon of liquid dish soap and one cup vegetable oil in a jar and shake vigorously. You can then place two teaspoons of the mix and one cup of water in a spray bottle and spray each plant once every 10 days.
Tomato Container Gardening: Conclusion
image: tomato and juiceOne way to ensure success in your tomato container gardening is to provide a saucer below each container in order to catch some of the water after you have watered the plant. Obviously, with frequent watering some of the water will drain through the soil and run off. This water loss can be somewhat circumvented, however, by placing a saucer beneath each container. In a word, doing this will result in some water that stays behind and seeps slowly and throughout the soil.
Now that your tomato container gardening project is finished, all you have to do is to place your tomato plant in the sun, water it frequently, spray the leaves every ten days with your bug spray and you will have great tasting tomatoes within a few months.
Copyright 2009 - Denny Soinski. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, and give the author credit.
About the Author
Denny Soinski writes about garden decor, gardening, bronze garden sculptures, water fountains, and outdoor metal sculptures. For more information, please visit http://www.water-fountains-and-garden-decor.com right away!
No matter what type of home remodeling project you are trying to accomplish, it can easily be done if it is planned properly; an increasing level of choice can make the process harder and take longer for it to be started. Whether you are remodeling the outside or the inside, budgets for the project must also be carefully managed. The excitement of the proposals can soon be dampened once the cost has been looked at more closely and often compromises have to be made in order to complete the task.
The Fun and Excitement of Home Remodeling
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Home remodeling can be fun and exciting but much depends on how creative and determined you are. There are so many designs and things to consider and staying clear-headed and focused is not easy.
Keep in mind that you have the renovation costs to consider and whether the remodeling you have set your heart on is actually possible within your budget. This is bound to be the most difficult of areas due to the fact that so much depends on being able to stick with the financial budget that has been established.
Home Remodeling: Calling the Contractor
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The first step should really to call in a contractor who will make suggestions on materials and styles given the budget you will have set and talked about. If you hire a contractor you need to specify clearly who will get the supplies and materials.
If you live close to other people you might want to consider letting them know about your remodeling plans in case there will be any disturbance. Your crucial task however, is to take very accurate measurements of all the materials you will need since mistakes at this stage can be costly. If you are unsure about measuring and ordering the materials for your home remodeling project, let your general contractor perform this task for you.
There are those who like to carry out as much of the work as possible but will still employ the services of a contractor to consult and ensure the plans are sound. A general contractor negotiates a contract for the entire project and either completes the specialized work with his own crew or sub-contracts the work to other various home-remodeling contractors.
General project managers can also carry out all of the remodeling or you may decide you only require them for aspects you do not feel comfortable completing yourself.
Why Move When You Can Remodel?
There isn't always a need to leave the neighborhood you live in just to get a larger house when often a home remodeling project will achieve this for you. Some desired home improvements seem to differ from region to region (sometimes from city to city) so before embarking on any remodeling work, be sure to investigate what types of improvements are being carried out in your neck of the woods. If you are remodeling in order to increase the comfort and usability of your home then you are probably going to pick areas that need attention, which may or may not be the areas that tend to be most profitable in the housing market.
The good news, however, is that home improvement has another, equally important advantage: it usually increases the value of your home.
A common mistake homeowners make is assuming that when they sell their house they will get back the money they invested in the improvements they made to their home. Home remodeling should in theory increase the value of your home and can also be a project where the whole family can get involved.
The Pleasure of Home Remodeling: Conclusion
Home remodeling can be fun and exciting but much depends on how creative and determined you are. Often people do not want to move, so home remodeling provides a workaround and usually increases the value of the home at the same time. The type of remodeling work you are considering will obviously depend on your financial and aesthetic circumstances and if you intend to stay in your current house, then area fashions will not be your major concern.
Copyright 2008 - Denny Soinski. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, and give the author credit.
About the Author
Denny Soinski writes about garden decor, gardening, home decor, bronze garden sculptures, water fountains, and outdoor metal sculptures. For more information, please visit http://www.water-fountains-and-garden-decor.com right away!
The Fun and Excitement of Home Remodeling
AdsSpy: 23 sites by this AdSense ID
Home remodeling can be fun and exciting but much depends on how creative and determined you are. There are so many designs and things to consider and staying clear-headed and focused is not easy.
Keep in mind that you have the renovation costs to consider and whether the remodeling you have set your heart on is actually possible within your budget. This is bound to be the most difficult of areas due to the fact that so much depends on being able to stick with the financial budget that has been established.
Home Remodeling: Calling the Contractor
AdsSpy: 23 sites by this AdSense ID
The first step should really to call in a contractor who will make suggestions on materials and styles given the budget you will have set and talked about. If you hire a contractor you need to specify clearly who will get the supplies and materials.
If you live close to other people you might want to consider letting them know about your remodeling plans in case there will be any disturbance. Your crucial task however, is to take very accurate measurements of all the materials you will need since mistakes at this stage can be costly. If you are unsure about measuring and ordering the materials for your home remodeling project, let your general contractor perform this task for you.
There are those who like to carry out as much of the work as possible but will still employ the services of a contractor to consult and ensure the plans are sound. A general contractor negotiates a contract for the entire project and either completes the specialized work with his own crew or sub-contracts the work to other various home-remodeling contractors.
General project managers can also carry out all of the remodeling or you may decide you only require them for aspects you do not feel comfortable completing yourself.
Why Move When You Can Remodel?
There isn't always a need to leave the neighborhood you live in just to get a larger house when often a home remodeling project will achieve this for you. Some desired home improvements seem to differ from region to region (sometimes from city to city) so before embarking on any remodeling work, be sure to investigate what types of improvements are being carried out in your neck of the woods. If you are remodeling in order to increase the comfort and usability of your home then you are probably going to pick areas that need attention, which may or may not be the areas that tend to be most profitable in the housing market.
The good news, however, is that home improvement has another, equally important advantage: it usually increases the value of your home.
A common mistake homeowners make is assuming that when they sell their house they will get back the money they invested in the improvements they made to their home. Home remodeling should in theory increase the value of your home and can also be a project where the whole family can get involved.
The Pleasure of Home Remodeling: Conclusion
Home remodeling can be fun and exciting but much depends on how creative and determined you are. Often people do not want to move, so home remodeling provides a workaround and usually increases the value of the home at the same time. The type of remodeling work you are considering will obviously depend on your financial and aesthetic circumstances and if you intend to stay in your current house, then area fashions will not be your major concern.
Copyright 2008 - Denny Soinski. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, and give the author credit.
About the Author
Denny Soinski writes about garden decor, gardening, home decor, bronze garden sculptures, water fountains, and outdoor metal sculptures. For more information, please visit http://www.water-fountains-and-garden-decor.com right away!
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