Fall Vegetables

There are many fall vegetables that can withstand a light, early frost. The key is to know which vegetables will be productive in a cool climate, and to purchase those that have the earliest maturing varieties. Beets, onions, rutabagas, spinach, turnips, leaf lettuce, kale and cabbage can all be considered a fall growing vegetable. Before you plant your fall vegetable seeds, you should water the site the day before you sow. As the days grow shorter, you should ensure that your seeds are able to soak up every minute of sunshine they will receive. You can do this by applying a water-soluble fertilizer weekly.

Using Grow Lamps Correctly

Beginning indoor gardeners often get frustrated when grow lamps do not give the results they expected. Two main reasons for this can be: 1. The lamp is placed too far away from the plant. Grow lamps should be placed 12 to 18 inches from the plant to work properly for plants. If you are raising seedlings, they will need to be closer to keep the seedlings from getting leggy, typically between three to six inches from the top of the seedling. 2. The lamp is not Full Spectrum. Sunlight contains many frequencies of light from visible, to UV, to Gamma, Alpha, and Beta Radiation. Grow lamps often only provide one end or the other of the spectrum. They come in "hot" varieties and "cold" varieties. To mimic the sun as best as we can, we need both a "hot" bulb and a "cold" bulb. Be sure to ask your local nurseryman for a grow lamp that has both or simply use two grow lamps. If you are using flourscent lights look for one bulb that is on the hot end of the spectrum and one that is on the cold end of the spectrum. Most of the time this information can be found on the bulb package.

Plant Markers

Instead of marking rows with the traditional empty seed packets on stakes, make far more durable labels out of plastic picnic knives. Use the plain white kind; their blades offer a good flat surface for inscriptions. Record the plant variety and planting date with an indelible marker and then push the knife, handle downward, into the soil at the head of the row. Other cheap ways to make row markers or seed starting markers is to cut up light colored window blinds and use a permanent marker on them. Wooden popsickle sticks will work too although they tend to rot where they touch the soil.

Clean Your Equipment

Your tools and equipment for the garden will last longer and work better with regular cleaning and maintenance. They also will be less likely to spread disease. Clean your pruning shears, trowels, shovels and spades after each use. At the end of the gardening season, inspect your tools for rust. Then, clean and dry each tool and place the metal end in a bucket of builder's sand for the winter season.

How to Chose an Online Garden Center

Decorative Containers And Drainage Holes

Many decorative containers can be purchased that do not have drainage holes. If you prefer to not drill drainage holes into them, simply place a level layer of rocks or pebbles into the decorative container. Then, place your plant into a pot that does have drainage holes and put it into the decorataive container on top of the rock layer. Spaces between the two pots can be filled with soil or peat moss or simply left empty. Putting a piece of rope or other material around the second pot will make it easier to seperate the two pots without disturbing the plant or taking a chance on dumping soil.

Clay versus Plastic Pots

Always soak clay pots overnight before using them so that they do not immediately wick all the moisture from the soil. Clay pots allow the plant to breath better than plastic pots, however due to this fact the plants will dry out faster. Plastic pots or peat pots are best used when starting seeds. Clay pots are better for older plants with established root systems.

Tips for Flower Seeds

Before you plant your flower seeds, you should read the instructions on their individual packets. The packet will tell you when the flower seeds should be sown. If you are planting your flower seeds in a tray or pot, you should make sure that it is washed and well rinsed. You do not want your new plants to contract a disease from a previous plant. You should use a seed starting compost when planting. Using a seed starting compost will ensure that more of your seeds germinate, and that your seedlings are healthy.