Design The Perfect Vegetable Garden To Suit Your Dinner Table

By Ann Marier

When you are looking to start your own vegetable garden, you have a few decisions to make. First of all, you have to decide what kind of vegetables you want to include. You have to decide how many of each plant type you want to include and you have to decide where to place your garden. The placement of your garden is the most important part. You want to choose a place that gets plenty of sunlight and you want to make sure that your garden is big enough for the one that you have in mind. Once you have your spot picked out and your seeds in hand, it's time to design the perfect vegetable garden. Pick Out A Spot To choose a spot for your vegetable garden, pick a spot near your house or at least where you can keep an eye on it. You shouldn't be worried too much about people coming into your garden and messing things up but you want to be especially worried about rodents, pests and other animals who might see your vegetable garden design as some help yourself buffet. Once you have your plot picked out, you might want to line it with chicken wire to keep it safe from those same pests. The size of your garden is important as you want to make sure that your plants have enough room to grow and flourish. When creating your vegetable garden design, you want to make sure that each seed is placed at least six inches apart. Any less than that and you risk overcrowding, which means that your vegetable garden may not produce as much as you hope. When you have the spot picked out and you deem it large enough for all the vegetables that you plan to sow, make lines in the soil with your finger or a garden tool. These lines should lead the long ways across the garden, at least six inches apart as stated above. Once you have the lines in the soil drawn, drop your seeds into the divots that you made, again about six inches apart. Cover the holes with soil and water thoroughly. If you wish, you can insert some plant food sticks that you can get at your local home and garden store to give them the extra nutrients they need to grow big and strong. Make sure you water your vegetable garden thoroughly every day and keep a close eye on it. The most important part of your vegetable garden design is proper maintenance. By paying attention to your plants, you will begin to notice when they are in need of certain things, such as water, certain nutrients and even sunlight. The perfect vegetable garden design is all about what you are looking for whenever you break ground to plant your seeds. There really is no wrong vegetable garden design. As long as your garden produces and you get the vegetables you set out to grow, you have the perfect vegetable garden design.

Ann Marier has written articles on house and garden topics providing helpful tips and advice. Read all about her latest articles on types of garden design offering a new insight into Garden design

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Organic Indoor Gardening: Grow Your Own Fresh Herbs - Be Healthy

Do you like to consume organic food? People are becoming more aware of what they eat, so it could be a very good idea to start an organic indoor garden of your own so you can be sure of eating vegetables that are free of unhealthy chemicals. One of the best things with organic indoor gardening is it doesn’t need a lot of space to grow a good crop of vegetables. A small balcony or an accessible rooftop are all you need to get started with organic indoor gardening.

Even if you live somewhere that doesn’t have anything like a balcony or flat rooftop, you can still indulge in organic indoor gardening. Not having these doesn’t mean you won’t be able to garden. If you have some space you can devote to your plants inside your house, you can easily set up your organic indoor garden. You can use artificial lighting for the plants so you won’t need to be concerned about having enough sunlight.

In addition to having a good supply of organic vegetables, there are a number of advantages to organic indoor gardening. Professionals insist that stress can be relieved by gardening. Indoor gardening can help relieve stress because it doesn’t require much thought or hard-on-your-back work. It can be a great way to be calmed and relaxed after a hard day at the office.

Save Yourself From Yourself

As well as relieving stress, indoor gardening has the bonus of saving money on your grocery bill. Since you will be growing some of your very own food, a lot less money will be spent at the grocery store. But experts say that you really save a lot on recreation and health expenses. How does this work? Studies show that people involved in organic indoor gardening are more content as a result and have less of a need to leave home to find such contentment in the spending of money for pleasure. If you don’t like coming back to an empty lonesome house with nothing to look forward to, you can keep yourself happily busy with as organic indoor garden.

According to studies, medical expenses are high because some much money is spent of anti-depressants. It is believed that without constructive release of pent up frustrations and stress through some sort of outlet, many Americans end up suffering from depression. A hobby that interests them, such as indoor gardening, helps to reduce episodes of depression in many people.


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Butterfly Gardens - 7 Essential Elements For Attracting Butterflies

Butterflies are very beautiful to watch as they flit and float all over the place, as if they have no cares in the world. Butterflies hold a sense of delight and wonder for all ages. Bring some of that delight and wonder to your garden by creating a butterfly garden.

Butterfly gardens can be any size, from small patches of flowers to large flower beds. The most important aspect of creating a butterfly garden is to research what butterflies are native to your area and concentrate on attracting those butterflies. Next, find out which plants or flowers attract those butterflies and plant the ones that are native to your area.

Here's a list of seven essential elements to include when creating a butterfly garden.

1) Have plants in your garden or yard that will attract butterflies. Some of the most popular plants are buddleia, milkweed, a butterfly bush (planted where it will get plenty of sunshine), lavender, thistle, wildflowers and herbs such as chives. The butterflies feed on the nectar of the plants, so the more nectar that a flower produces, the more butterflies that flower will attract.

2) Have plants that will provide food for caterpillars. Butterflies will stay longer if there are plants handy for them to lay their eggs on. Caterpillars will emerge from the eggs when they hatch and the caterpillars will need a food source nearby. In a short period of time, the caterpillars will form cocoons and emerge as new butterflies and once again you'll have some beautiful butterflies to watch. Some of the most popular plants for caterpillars are alfalfa, clover, milkweed and peas.

3) Provide a sunny spot. Butterflies are cold-blooded and need the sun in order to warm themselves up. Plus, butterflies prefer to visit flowers that are in the sun, since they are able to keep warm and obtain nourishment at the same time.

4) Create shelter. Butterflies need a calm place to rest, a place without a lot of wind or breeze. Shrubs or small bushes suit this need well.

5) Avoid pesticides. There are two main ways that pesticides affect butterflies. First, as caterpillars. If the caterpillars can't survive, then they will never turn into butterflies. Second, butterflies also eat insects. If the insects have ingested pesticides then so will the butterflies when they eat these insects.

6) Have a source of water handy, such as a birdbath or even sand that is soaked with water. The sand should be soaked, but not submerged in the water. The butterflies will sit on the sand and drink the water underneath it.

7) Have rest spots for the butterflies – they get tired too! Rocks are perfect for this task. Plus, when the rocks are in the sun, it allows the butterflies to warm up on a cool morning.

By combining all of these elements together, you will be successful in attracting butterflies to your garden.

To plan your dream garden today, please visit http://www.thegardenersescape.com/ and escape to your own world ... where it is all about you!

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Boost veggies with side-dressing of nitrogen fertilizer

Many vegetable crops benefit from a side-dressing of nitrogen fertilizer after making considerable growth or starting to fruit, unless a slow-release fertilizer was applied at planting time.

In a side-dress application, the nitrogen fertilizer is applied along the sides of the plants, about six inches away from the stems, either along the row or around individual plants, such as tomatoes.

A Purdue publication on vegetable gardening, HO-32-W, suggests using ammonium nitrate, which has an analysis of 33-0-0, as the fertilizer material. However, it's not readily available, and other forms of fertilizer can be used on an equivalent basis.

One is urea, which has an analysis of 46-0-0. It can become volatile, escape into the air and burn the leaves and should be incorporated immediately by lightly tilling it into the soil or watering it in with irrigation.

The general application rate for ammonium nitrogen is about one pound, or about one pint, per 100 feet of row. For three feet of row, that's one tablespoon (one teaspoon per foot). When urea is used, apply slightly less, or about 1 1/2 cups per 100 feet of row, 2 1/4 teaspoons per three feet of row or 3/4 teaspoon per foot of row. For example, if you side-dress tomato plants, spaced four feet apart, you should use one level tablespoon (three teaspoons) of urea around each plant.

The time for side-dressing depends on the crop. Side-dress tomatoes about two weeks after the first fruit sets, two weeks after picking the first tomato and again one month later. The cole crops (cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli) should be side-dressed three weeks after setting out plants, onions about one to two weeks after bulb formation and peppers after the first fruit sets.

Side-dress cucumbers one week after blossoming begins and three weeks later; peas and beans, after heavy bloom and set of pods; and sweet corn when plants are 8-10 inches tall and one week after tassels appear. It's important not to apply more than the recommended amount of nitrogen or damage to plant roots can occur.

The third week of June is the time to ...

*Obtain a copy of the publication, 'Home Gardener's Guide', from an Extension Service office in Indiana for details on fertilizing vegetable crops.

*Deadhead or remove spent blossoms from early-blooming perennials to prevent seed formation and encourage re-bloom later this season or next year.

*Remove vegetable crops such as lettuce, which have bolted (formed seed stalks), and replant the areas with bush green beans.

*Thin fruit from apple trees after the June drop of excess fruit. Space remaining fruit about 6 inches apart (one per cluster on the average), to obtain larger and higher quality fruit.

*Plant seeds of cole crops (cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower) to obtain transplants to set out in late July for a fall harvest.

Steve Buchanan writes article on many topics including Honda Generator, Yard machines snowblower and Murray lawn mower


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Organic Herb Farm – Getting Started

An organic herb farm can be rewarding financially, physically, and emotionally. Even a small organic herb farm can produce a good harvest. You can use the herbs yourself, or sell them for profit at a farmer's market. You will want to plan, of course. You will need to learn a number of things before getting started with an organic herb farm.

Organic Herb Farm Plans

Organic herb farm plans begin with determining how large a space you will allot to growing organic herbs. Herbs do not require as much space as many organic vegetables require. You can reap a good harvest in a small space.

You will want to plan, too, what types of herbs you will plant. There are three main categories.

1. Culinary – herbs valued for their taste


2. Medicinal – herbs valued for healing power


3. Scented – herbs valued for their fragrance

Organic herb farm plans often use all three, but some limit the farm to one type. Some organic herb farms grow only one herb. Think about whether there are any organic herbs you consider "must-haves" and whether there are some you really do not want to grow.

Once you have decided on space and the type of organic herbs you will grow, you need to test your soil. Is it chalky, clay, loam, or sandy? The type of soil you have will play a part in your organic herb farm plans. Test it, or have it tested so that you know. Determine whether the soil is well drained. Is the location sunny, shady, or mixed sun and shade? Will parts of your organic herb farm be exposed to wind?

Organic Herb Farm Layout

Your organic herb farm plans will need to include a layout. Use graph paper, or a computer program with a graph. On your graph paper, mark north and south. Then draw in the basic shape of your planned farm. Use a key. For example, 1 square on the graph equals 1 square yard. Draw any buildings, walls, ponds, streams, trees, or other obstacles. Indicate how tall the trees are, since this will affect sunlight. Indicate areas that are especially damp or dry.

Use your farm layout to select seeds or healthy herb plants. You can buy bulk organic herb seeds, sometimes at wholesale prices. Consider your soil and climate in selecting plants or seeds. Most nurseries or farm suppliers can give you guidance in these matters.

You may want to arrange plants according to color, If soil, sun, shade, and wind conditions allow. Or you may group organic herbs that offer benefits to one another on the farm. Here are three examples of good groups.

1. Germander, lavender, rosemary, sage, and thyme


2. Cilantro, lemon balm, lemon verbena, oregano, parsley, and thyme


3. Basil, mint, oregano, and thyme

Organic herbs are among the most beneficial plants you can grow. The plants will attract insects to your organic herb farm. Count on the help of bees, birds, and butterflies to enhance pollination and increase harvest.

Your organic herb farm plans should take advantage of the fact that those who grow organic herbs create a beautiful landscape, teeming with wildlife.

© 2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about organic herbs at http://www.organicspringtime.com . Anna is posting new articles regularly on that site, each one dealing with some facet of organic gardening. If you want information on maximizing your organic herb harvest, visit Anna now.

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Building Your Garden On A Budget

By Joanne Jones

Have you always imagined what your dream garden will look like? If you're like me, it's going to cost a pretty penny. But you can have that gorgeous garden that you have always dreamed of and do it on a budget. You just have to be creative and patient. I'll show you how.

For plants, choose smaller plants that will grow for the whole season. Smaller plants are cheaper than larger plants and they will quickly grow and fill your garden. When you buy larger plants at a green house, the staff there have had to spend more time caring and growing the plant and they charge you for that.

Build your garden one item at a time. Start small with a few essentials, like seating and a small number of plants. You can expand your garden over several years, which will be easier on your wallet. Also, it can be a lot of fun to window shop until you find just the right item. There are several advantages to taking your time. One, you won't overbuy on furniture and plants. Two, it gives you a chance to do some comparison shopping. You just might find the same product, or something very similar, elsewhere for a much better price. Three, most importantly, visit many stores until you find that something special that will make your garden unique.

Get to know the clerk at your garden centre. They know which plants are the healthiest, how best to grow the plant, and most importantly, when the sales are coming. The most important sales of all are the end of season sales, especially for garden furniture. It might not get much use this season, but you will have the furniture ready for next season and saved a lot of money.

When buying from a mail order company, try to buy from only one or two. This will save you money on shipping costs when compared to the shipping costs you would pay if you bought the same items from several different mail order companies.

Constantly buying new pots, especially large pots, can be expensive. So, get creative when it comes to containers. You can use vases, an old barrel or tub, old boots or anything else that you can think of. The most important thing in selecting a container is to ensure that it is large enough for the plant to spread out its roots for future growth.

Join a garden club. You will get a lot of ideas from the other people in the club and you can trade plants, cuttings and seeds. Sometimes, some club members will give away plants to other members. Some plants grow like crazy and are easy to transplant a portion of the plant or start a new one. For example, to start a new African violet, simply break off one of the leaves near the base of the plant. Then, put the newly cut leaf in soil in another pot. The leaf will begin to root and within a few weeks you will see new leaves start to grow. Easy and inexpensive!

To plan your dream garden today, please visit http://www.thegardenersescape.com and escape to your own world ... where it is all about you!

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How To Naturally Enrich Your Soil By Using Organic Garden Fertilizer

Every organic gardener knows that it is vital to use good quality soil in you want successful produce. The start and end of each growing season are the times which the organic gardener is going to work with the soil to ascertain it is capable of producing good quality organic vegetables or flowers. At least twice a year, organic garden fertilizers need to be added to the soil to enrich it and replace nutrients which have been used by the plants. Organic garden fertilizers are made from live materials rather than being chemically manufactured. An organic gardener might also mix various additives into the soil, organic or non-organic, to add micronutrients or to control the pH. Common organic soil additives include potash and Epsom salts.

Soil additives are an optional extra for the soil. They help to improve the soil consistency or give micronutrients. Organic garden fertilizer improves the soil's overall substance.

Nearly all animal-based organic garden fertilizers can be called manure. You can get other types of animal-based fertilizers, such as fish emulsion, but manure is by far the most common. Manure can come from bats, cows, chickens, horses, rabbits and other animals. Human manure is used in some places. Manure cannot be used from cats or other predators because they have pathogenic bacteria in their digestive systems, which can get into the food grown. Manure needs to be composted or aged before being used as an organic garden fertilizer to remove such dangerous pathogens as E. coli. You can add composted manure to the soil in liquid or solid form and you should mix it into the soil well. It is best to add the manure at least a few weeks before planting, so it can mix well and age. Also, it will be more pleasant to plant when the manure is mixed in and aged a bit rather than fresh and ripe-smelling!

Another option is plant-based organic garden fertilizer, such as worm castings, compost, seaweed and 'green manure'. Kelp and seaweed are usually dried and processed before being sold.

Compost creation is an ongoing process which can be learn from community workshops or other experts. It is a great way to recycle peelings and left over vegetable matter. Worm composting (also called worm castings) can be made or bought. They contain a lot of nutrients. To make them yourself, you will need to get the right sort of worms from any organic gardening source. You also require some sort of covered tub and some damp vegetable matter such as old newspapers. Then you just leave the worms to it and you will get great organic fertilizer from them.

'Green manure' is normally planted after harvest in the fall and is a cover crop. It is usual to plant a nitrogen-fixing crop like soybeans or something similar. In the springtime, when the cover crop emerges, you just dig it into the ground where it enriches the soil and decomposes.

Organic garden fertilizer can be bought or created and is very worthwhile because you can add living matter to the soil and fertilize in the most natural way possible with no need for potentially dangerous chemicals.

Lee Dobbins writes for Backyard Garden And Patio where you can learn more about gardening and find out about organic garden fertilizer.

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