Gardening

  • Vegetables

    How to grow cucumbers from seeds

    Introduction Cucumber is known to be native to Asia. These plants can grow up to 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Cucumbers come in two types namely vine variety and the bush variety. Vine varieties produce large leaves and the crop yield is relatively high compared to the bush varieties. Bush varieties grow upto 3 feet tall and they can be grown in containers. Cucumbers grow best in spring and early summer seasons. This article discusses how to grow cucumbers from seeds. Growing conditions for cucumbers Sunlight: Cucumbers love warmth and require 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily.Temperature: Cucumbers require temperatures between 21 to 28°C to grow well.Soil:…

  • Vegetables

    Vegetables to plant in zone 3 and 4 in August

    Zone 3 and 4 have a shorter growing season of about 180 days. Cool-weather crops can be grown in August as they can tolerate frost to some extent. These vegetable seeds can be started 10 to 12 weeks before the last frost date. The vegetables can then mature sooner. Choose varieties that are resistant to cold temperatures. Ensure that you use row covers if the areas are too cold. Here is a list of vegetables to grow during August. Vegetables to plant in zone 3 and 4 in August 1.Kohlrabi Kohlrabi germinates within 7 to 10 days. It can take about 3 months to harvest kohlrabi. 2.Radish Radish seeds germinate…

  • Flowers

    How to plant gazania 

    Gazanias are vibrant flowers native to South Africa that can grow up to 12 inches tall. These warm-weather flowers come in colours like orange and yellow. Gazanias are also called as treasure flowers and they are known to symbolize wealth, prosperity, and joy. They are low-maintenance, heat-tolerant flowers that attract a variety of pollinators. Due to their drought tolerance, these flowers are ideal for coastal regions, and rock gardens. They can also grow well in pots and add aesthetical value.I love growing these flowers in pots. Find out how to plant gazania. Growing conditions for Gazanias Sunlight: Gazania grows best when it gets 4 to 6 hours of sunlight every…

  • Vegetables

    How to grow potatoes in a cardboard box

    It is easy to grow potatoes in your home and homegrown potatoes are way tastier compared to those brought in stores. There are several benefits of growing potatoes in cardboard boxes. Growing potatoes in cardboard box is a great solution when you have a small garden. It’s also a great way to reuse cardboard boxes. Growing conditions for potatoes Potatoes are cool-season crops that can tolerate light frost. You can plant your potato seeds 3 weeks before the last frost date. The ideal temperature for potatoes to grow well is 16 to 19°C. For growing potatoes, you will need a cardboard that is at least 15 inches deep and wide.…

  • Vegetables

    How to grow cabbage 

    Cabbage belongs to the Brassica family. It is closely related to Cauliflower and Broccoli.It is native to Western and southern Europe. They are biennials that are grown annually. Cabbage grows best during the spring and fall seasons. Growing conditions for cabbage Optimum temperature: Cabbage grows best when temperatures are between 8 to 30°C (46 to 86°F).Soil: Cabbage grows best in well-draining, fertile soil rich in organic matter, but can tolerate various soils including clay. However, cabbage cannot tolerate saline soils.Sunlight: Cabbage requires 4 to 6 hours of daylight to grow well.Water: Water your cabbage regularly to keep the soil moist. Watering on the leaves can cause fungal diseases so avoid…

  • Vegetables

    How to grow cauliflower at home.

    Cauliflower is an annual vegetable native to the Mediterranean region. It belongs to the cabbage family and is likely to have originated from broccoli. Cauliflower can grow up to 30 inches tall and 20 inches wide and comes in colours like purple, yellow, and orange. Depending on the variety, there are early, mid-season, and late-season varieties. Here is how you can grow cauliflower from seeds. Growing conditions for cauliflower: Soil: Cauliflower can grow in all types of soil. The early-season varieties can grow in lighter soils. Mid and late-season varieties can grow in heavy clay soils. Temperature: Depending on the variety cauliflower is known to tolerate different kinds of temperatures.…

  • Vegetables

    How to grow kale at home 

    Kale is native to eastern mediterranean countries and belongs to the Brassicas family. It is biennial that takes 2 years to complete its cycle. The leaves appear in the first year. The best time to grow kale is during early spring season. It can grow up to 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Kale is a good source of Vitamin A and K. Best Conditions for Growing Kale Kale grows best in fertile well-draining loamy soil.  The soil pH should be between 6.5 to 6.8. You can grow kale in containers as well. Kale grows best when temperatures are between 15 to 18 °C (60 to 65°F). Consistent watering…

  • Companion planting

    10 Best Companion Plants for Potatoes

    Potatoes are cool-season, crops that grow in fertile soil conditions. They are heavy feeders and can be sensitive pests. Planting the right companion plants can help to improve soil health, repels pests and help in steady growth throughout the season. By enabling smart companion planting you can get better harvests, produce resilient potatoes and create a thriving garden. Best companion plants for potatoes: 1.Cilantro Cilantro or Coriander are good companion plants for potatoes. The shallow roots of cilantro don’t compete with potatoes much. The fragrance produced by cilantro repels aphids, potato beetles and spider mites from attacking your potatoes. When there are less pests, potatoes can grow even healthier producing…

  • Companion planting

    10 Best Companion Plants for Eggplant

    Introduction Eggplant is a summer vegetable that belongs to the nightshade family. It grows best infertile soil rich in organic matter. This vegetable is vulnerable to pests such as whiteflies, mealy bugs and aphids.Practising companion planting is one way to get repel these pests, improve fruit yield and maximize space in your garden. In this article we discuss the best companion plants for eggplant.  Best companion plants for eggplant: 1.Marigold Marigolds are drought-tolerant, low-maintenance flowering plants. Growing them near your eggplants can help deter pests and attract pollinators. Also, marigolds don’t compete for nutrients with eggplants. 2. Basil The strong aroma produced by basil can help to repel pests and…

  • Companion planting

    Best companion plants for sunflowers

    Sunflowers are vibrant annuals that attract pollinators and beneficial insects. There are several varieties of sunflowers and they come in different colours as well. They are great companion plants that can be grown near vegetables and herbs. They help to attract pollinators and beneficial insects that can help in pollination and reducing pest attack. In this article we well discuss about the best companion plants for sunflowers. Best companion plants for sunflowers: 1. Corn Sunflowers and Corn make great companion plants. Both these plants grow tall and don’t compete for sunlight with one another. The deep roots of sunflowers help the short root system of corn. Sunflowers help to attract…