Water Only The Vegetables and Save

While conserving water is on all of our minds having a vegetable garden requires a lot of water. Nothing compares to good ole rain water but it seems to me that we are not getting it like we use to... or at least I'm not in my neck of the woods. Since the rain fall is lacking I need to use my water to make sure my plants have what they need in order to produce. If you are not on well water and have to pay your bill each month like me you will quickly become a conservationist.

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Weed and Insect Control through the Use of Companion Plants

The development of most vegetable plants is slowed down considerably by the occurrence of weeds. To reduce the weed situation for susceptible plants, you can grow different plants for the duration of the prior season so as to dissuade weed development in the soil in the present season. Two such type of plants are kale and rape. Another example is the Tagetes minuta, Mexican marigold. It has been noted that in many cases it has killed couch grass, wild morning glory, ground ivy, ground elder, horsetail, and other chronic weeds that defy nearly all poisons.

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Companion Planting: A Love Hate Relationship

Like people in relationships, specific crops love and hate each other, based on the specific natures involved. Seedlings of transplanting size begin to interact more and more together with the plants near them. These associations come to be especially necessary as adult plants cultivate explicit  personalities, essences, and aromas. Green beans and strawberries, for instance, thrive better when they are grown in combination than when they are grown independently. To get really wonderful-tasting Bibb lettuce, one spinach plant should be grown for everyfour Bibb lettuce plants.

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Composting

• Written by Jonathan White, Environmental Scientist

For many people, composting is just an alternative way of dealing with rubbish.  It prevents the garbage bin from getting full and smelly.  It’s also a way of disposing of grass clippings and leaves, which saves many trips to the garbage depot. Whilst these things are valid, they are not giving compost the full credibility it deserves.  Compost can be very valuable when used in the right way.

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Organic Gardening and Permaculture

When we think of organic gardening and permaculture we tend to conjure up images of leathery-skinned bearded warriors who dedicate their lives to working long days in their vegetable plots.  Whilst this may be a wonderful way to live your life, it doesn’t suit the average suburbanite with a full-time job and a hefty mortgage.

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Ecological Vegetable Gardening

When we think of organic gardening and permaculture we tend to conjure up images of bearded warriors dressed in overalls who dedicate their lives to working long days in their vegetable plots.  Whilst this may be a wonderful way to live your life, it doesn’t suit the average suburbanite with a full-time job and a hefty mortgage.

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Restore Basic Life-Supporting Systems

The breakdown of our food growing systems poses one of the biggest threats to our survival.  Our existence depends upon our agricultural systems, but what do our agricultural systems depend on?  The answer: water, air and soil.  These basic elements support all life-forms and without them, life as we know it cannot be sustained.

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ECO-Organic Vegetable Gardening

We all know how much hard work there is in growing vegetables - digging, weeding, crop rotation, watering, fertilizing, planting winter crops, resting beds, spraying pests and weeds - the list goes on and on.  So imagine a vegetable garden that didn’t need any of these things. 

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Ecological Gardening

The term Ecological Gardening seems to be gaining popularity.  But what is it?  My experience with Ecological Gardening started many years ago.  You see, I have always been a fence sitter.  As a teenager I could never make my mind up whether I wanted to be a horticulturist or an environmental scientist.  And sometimes I’m still a little unsure!

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The Problem with Traditional Vegetable Gardening

• Written by Jonathan White, Environmental Scientist

Traditional vegetable gardens require an enormous amount of hard work and attention - weeding, feeding and strict planting schedules.  There is also the problem of seasonality, allowing beds to rest during the cooler months producing nothing at all. 

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Advantages of Planting Vegetable Gardens

Is there a patch of land in your backyard that’s been left useless all this time? If you’re still undecided to what to make out of it, maybe it’s high time you consider planting vegetables in it. Read on to learn some of the advantages of planting vegetable gardens.

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Save Money and Get Healthy by Planting Vegetable Gardens

Instead of setting up a swimming pool or a Zen garden in your backyard, why not plant vegetables instead? Planting vegetable gardens is a great way to spend quiet time de-stressing while getting in touch with nature. Having a steady supply of vegetables will also lessen food expenses and improve the health of your loved ones.

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Planting Vegetable Gardens for Stress Relief

More than letting you reduce the sum of money allocated for food, there is another very beneficial effect of planting vegetable gardens that will really give your health a great deal of favor: stress relief. We all know how stress wreaks havoc to our overall health. Aside from the more obvious fact that stress takes out joy and serenity in our lives, it is also the root of many illnesses known to man. The negative effects of stress in our lives can and will bring several problems such as: heart diseases, depression, migraine, eating disorders and many others.

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Planting Vegetable Gardens for Beginners

Planting vegetable gardens can be a very rewarding endeavor, not to mention that it's good for your body because of all the exercise you will get, and the vegetables that you'll get to eat. These days, it's really ideal if you can plant your own vegetables to make sure that they're pesticide free, but a lot of people feel intimidated by the idea of planting vegetable gardens especially in a city.

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Planning Before Planting Vegetable Gardens

In periods of financial difficulty, planting vegetable gardens becomes a viable option that achieves two things: it helps the family reduce expenses related to buying food, and it offers the opportunity to sell excess yield to friends and neighbors. Starting a vegetable garden is not particularly difficult, so long as you put enough thought, time, and effort into it.

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No Backyard? Try Planting Vegetable Gardens Indoors!

Nothing beats the fresh wholesome taste of vegetables freshly picked from your own garden. Planting vegetable gardens can be a challenge if you don’t have a backyard, but you can still grow vegetables indoors. Just follow a few simple garden-smart guidelines.

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Long-term Plans for Planting Vegetable Gardens

A lot of people are beginning to see the benefits of planting vegetable gardens. It's usually healthier because you get to decide whether or not to use commercial pesticide on them. Since vegetable gardens are typically manageable in size because they're not grown for profit, it's easier for people to manage the plot without having to resort to using commercial pesticides.

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Laying Out and Planting Vegetable Gardens

As you start planting vegetable gardens it’s important to know how the garden will be laid out. The layout of your own garden will depend on what vegetable you want to grow, the planting space and if you would like to opt for companion planting. Here are some helpful tips on how to layout your own garden and start planting vegetables.

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