Gardening
Plants that attract beneficial insects
When we have a vegetable garden, we have to constantly monitor and take care of our plants so that they don’t get infested by pests. When the pests are left untreated they end up killing our plants.A garden that needs constant maintenance can be a lot of work over a period of time. One of the ways to control pests in the garden is by growing plants that attract beneficial insects into the garden. Beneficial insects are those that feed upon these unwanted pests like aphids, mealy bugs, whiteflies, cabbage moths etc. Some of the beneficial insects include ladybugs, lacewings, hoverflies and parasitic wasps. Creating a garden that provides a…
8 Easy flowers to grow for beginners
Flowers create a vibrant atmosphere and attract butterflies and other pollinators to our gardens. Some flowers need lots of care and maintenance and at the same time other flowers grow quite well and they do not require consistent care. If you are a beginner in gardening and want to grow some flowers in your backyard then this article might help you. Here are a few flowers that are easy to grow for beginners. Easy Flowers to Grow in your Garden 1. Marigolds These flowers grow well in average soil conditions and are drought-tolerant. They can be annuals or perennials depending upon the variety that is grown. They come in colours…
How to plant tomato seeds
Tomatoes grow well when they get the needed soil, water and light. You can get lots of tomatoes by simply growing them in a few containers. There are two varieties of tomatoes namely determinate or bush varieties and indeterminate or vine varieties. The bush variety is easier to grow in a container. The vine variety needs lots of space to grow. If you are living in an apartment or if you don’t have much space in your garden, then it’s best to grow the bush variety. The container size for growing the bush variety is 14 inches deep and 8 inches wide. You can grow a single tomato plant in…
How to plant zinnia seeds in containers.
Zinnias are annuals that grow fast and attract pollinators and beneficial insects. They do not tolerate frost and the best time to plant zinnia seeds is during the spring and summer seasons. Zinnia flowers come in colours like purple, pink, red and white. The best zinnia varieties for container gardening are hybrid varieties. Some of them areZahara, Uptown grape and Profusion. These varieties are more resistant to pests. Growing Conditions for zinnias Zinnias require fertile well-drained soil to grow. They grow well when the weather is warm. The optimum temperature for zinnias to grow is between 23°C to 28°C (73°F to 82°F). They germinate within4 to 7 days. Zinnias need…
How to plant sunflower seeds in containers or pots.
Sunflowers are annual flowering plants that are native to North and Central America. The scientific name of the sunflower is Helianthus annuus and it belongs to the family Asteraceae. Sunflowers come in several colours like yellow, white, brown, red and orange. They are grown as food crops or ornamental flowers. The seeds are packed with vitamins and minerals. There are about 70 varieties of sunflowers. Certain types grow from 12 to 24 feet. A few examples are the Russian Giant, Titan Sunflower, Mongolian Giant, American Giant and Skyscraper Sunflower. Other varieties of sunflowers grow 2 to 3 feet. A few such sunflower varieties are Elf, Firecracker, Double dandy and Sunbright…
How to grow basil from seeds in pots or containers.
Basil is a perennial herb that belongs to the mint family. It is native to tropical Asia and Southeast Asia and is widely used for culinary and medicinal purposes. It is used to add flavour to dishes and soups. There are 50 to 150 varieties of basil. Some of the varieties that are commonly grown are sweet basil, purple basil, lemon basil and holy basil. You can either grow basil from seeds or you can buy a sapling from the local nursery. Growing Conditions for Basil The best time to grow basil is during the spring and summer seasons. Basil is neither frost-tolerant nor is it drought-tolerant. Mulching should be…
How to grow butterfly pea flower from seeds in containers.
Butterfly pea flower (scientific name Clitoria Ternata) is a perennial flowering plant that is native to Southeast Asian countries. It is a vine that can grow up to 8 feet tall and 3 feet wide. It is easy to grow butterfly pea flower and requires less maintenance. This plant gives blue and white flowers and they can be used to make tea and natural colourings. It is also grown as a cover crop as it helps to fix atmospheric nitrogen in soil. Growing Conditions for Butterfly Pea This flower can be grown during the spring and summer seasons. They require warm temperatures to grow well and do not grow in…
How to attract earthworms to your garden.
Having earthworms in your garden benefits your plants and improves the soil. They are also known as farmer’s friends as they help to plough the soil thereby loosening the soil and helping plants to penetrate their roots into it. Earthworm manure also called as worm castings is a great fertiliser for plants. They contain loads of minerals like nitrates, phosphorous, magnesium, potassium and calcium that help in plant growth. Worm castings contain lots of beneficial microbes that help build soil fertility. Find out how to attract earthworms to the garden. Compost Worms are the ones that help in turning biodegradable waste to organic matter, by turning them into worm castings.…
How to make Vermicompost at home from kitchen waste.
Vermicomposting is the process of using worms that feed on organic matter and produce worm castings that can be used on plants. Vermicomposting is an easy process and you can get good compost for your plants when it is done in the right manner. Find out how to make vermicompost at home. Benefits of using vermicompost It is necessary to know the right kind of worms needed to make vermicompost. There are a variety of earthworms but the worms for composting are the red wrigglers and Eisenia fetida. These worms feed on kitchen scraps and organic waste to produce worm castings. Earthworms have a huge appetite and they eat a…
How to grow cosmos in containers or pots
Cosmos is a herbaceous annual plant that is native to Mexico. There are 30 different varieties of cosmos. Cosmos comes in several colours like pink, white, yellow, orange and red. It grows up to 6 feet tall. There are also shorter varieties and they can grow up to 4 feet. Some of them include Cosmic red cosmos, Cosmos yellow and Cosmos bipinnatus pink. These beautiful flowers require less maintenance. Cosmos attracts bees and other pollinators. The shorter varieties of cosmos can be grown in pots. Growing conditions for cosmos The best time to grow this flower is during the summer season. Cosmos is drought tolerant and does not like soil…