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Petal Power - Five Uses for Rose Petals
It might surprise you to find out that rose petals can be used for a variety of different purposes. Some uses have a common everyday application, such as beautifying our gardens and walkways, while other uses are more unusual, such as using them for therapy...
Not Your Grandma's Heirlooms: Three Things to Know about Heirloom Roses
What exactly are heirloom roses? Heirloom roses (also called old or antique) are all the types of roses that were in existence prior to 1867 when the first hybrid tea rose was introduced in France. The heirloom roses became less popular with gardeners...
Water Ways - Picking the Best Time to Water your Roses
Think a quick spray with the hose is enough to keep your roses lovely and blooming? Think again. How, and when, you decide to water your roses is one of the most important and often overlooked aspects of basic rose care. Here are a few tips and guidelines...
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Rambling Roses - How to Tame those Climbing Roses in your Garden
Climbing, or rambling roses are one of the popular types of roses that have many varieties to them and can be grown in many different places. However, like many other plants, they need help to stay healthy and maintained through the different seasons...
To Form a More Perfect Union - Summary of Rose Grafting
Many people choose to graft their roses to help them grow better and to bloom better. Grafting is not necessarily difficult, but it does require some skill and some forethought before making the attempt. There are many reasons to graft roses, and you can find...
Roses - Creating Beautiful Cut Roses
Roses Creating Beautiful Cut Roses Many gardeners like to enjoy their roses twice first in the garden, then indoors as cut flowers. By choosing the right roses, cutting them at the proper time of day, and conditioning them after cutting, you can enjoy...
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Turn Your Patio Into A Voluminous Vegetable Garden
My first apartment was a second-story condo in an urban complex, far displaced from the groomed suburban landscapes and sprawling gardens I had grown up with. My only connection to the outdoors was a small porch, surrounded by brown siding and a fading carpet of artificial turf.
To add a little color to the patio, I adopted a few small tomato plants from a friend who had started his garden indoors, and planted them in large pots near my railing. To my surprise, they started to grow. Soon I had filled the 5 x 10 space with more than a dozen ceramic pots, plastic containers, and beach pails filled with peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and pole beans. Before I knew it, my porch was a curtain of green and my meals regularly featured home-grown vegetables.
Well-planned patio gardens allow gardeners to make the most of a small space while maintaining a degree of control not available to those who plant in the ground. If a plant is not getting enough sun, it can be moved. If it is not draining properly, more holes can be added. Healthy plants prevent pests, and some, such as slugs, are not even a factor. Watering is more efficient, because it must be done by hand, making a patio garden ideal in a drought situation. And at the end of the year, even inexperienced gardeners can enjoy a bounty of vegetables thanks to the built-in advantages of garden containers, which include regular drainage and nutrient-rich soil.
Herbs also make great container plants, as they survive in generally drier conditions. Pots offer the opportunity of bringing herbs inside when the weather gets colder. However, many herbs are fast-growing, so its best replant the container each spring.
Starting a patio garden is not difficult. Here are a few tips:
1. Start with 4 plants, which can be found at most nurseries. With a little creativity, just about any vegetable can be planted in an above-ground container, however, the most common seem to be tomatoes, cucumbers,
peppers, lettuce, beans, and spinach
2. The size of a plant can vary depending on the variety of seedling used. Make sure containers are large enough to accommodate a full-sized plant. Most tomatoes will need at least an 18 square container. Peppers, however, are perfectly happy in smaller pots.
3. Cover the holes at the bottom of the container with small rocks to improve the soil drainage.
4. Part-fill the container with compost. A slow-release fertilizer can be added at this stage to distribute nutrients as the compost dries out. Fill the remaining space with a nutrient-rich planting soil.
5. Water the plants and let them drain. Take them out of their pots and arrange in the container, packing in tightly. Fill in any gaps and firm all the plants in place. Keep the soil below the rim of the pot for easier watering.
6. Water the container well and move it to its final position. Arrange plants according to their needs. Tomatoes prefer a south-facing porch with full sun, while spinach and lettuce are happier near the house in partial shade. Make sure the place where you want to plant gets at least six hours of direct sun every day.
7. Trellises, cages or poles will be needed for tomatoes, cucumbers, beans and other vines. Patio gardeners can also take advantage of permanent features, such as fences and railings, to support their plants.
8. Containers need to be watered at least once a day in summer. They also require regular fertilization. A fertilizer dilutor can be clipped on to the hose to feed plants as you water.
With just a little time and imagination, any drab patio can become home to lush green vines, red peppers, juicy tomatoes, and succulent cucumbers. Why not start today?
Jill Homer is a freelance writer who is happy to provide articles for your home and gardening needs. For more information, contact her at jill@biketoshine.com
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