Gardening Pleasures

Posts Tagged ‘pests’

 

Ensuring you get the best from the plants you buy

Plants for containers and bedding as well as vegetables and fruits are readily available during the spring and summer.  Many can be obtained in your local garden centres or by mail order and over the Internet.  They come in various stages of growth and sizes and the cost will depend on how much time and effort the grower has put into the plant prior to you buying it.

Take a bit of time once you get your new plants home to re-pot or plant them out.  With care and attention to watering, feeding and pest control, newly purchased plants will give you pleasure for this season, and depending on the plant, perhaps many more to come.

 

Potting
Particularly for summer hanging baskets or window boxes, use good quality compost for potting up newly purchased plants. Soil-less composts, while light and easy to handle, will dry out quickly and plants that are fast-growing, like fuchsias, will quickly be short of the nutrients they require.

Another important factor is the stability of the plant. For reliable results choose a compost (such as John Innes No.1) that is at least partially soil-based.  This will also reduce the consequences of over-watering.  To ensure the plant remains upright, use a small (3.5 inch /9cm) pot, and  lightly firm the compost. For the first time, water the plant thoroughly to settle the compost. Place the plant in a light, cool place to help it recover quickly from being transplanted and new growth should begin quite soon.

 

Growing On
As your plants develop a good root ball, they can be moved to their final positions, whether that is a container, basket or open ground. To check on root growth, carefully remove the plant from the pot, the white roots should fill the pot evenly. Using a similar compost such as John Innes No.2, and plant it out or plant in a pot.

 

Watering
During the growing season, watering is your most important task. Two basic rules apply – never allow the plant to stand in waterlogged conditions and never allow the plants to dry out completely. Water standing in a tray or plant saucer for a  short period will not create any problems, however significant over-watering can often result in leaves and flowers dropping. The best time to water is in the evening, be sure to moisten the soil evenly. An overhead spray can be beneficial to plants in very hot weather.

 

Pests & Diseases
Many plants such as Fuchsias actually suffer relatively infrequently from diseases although the most likely pests are aphids – greenfly and whitefly.  However with regular inspection, and spraying if necessary, these insects can easily be kept at bay.  Insect sprays for aphids are readily available from garden centres. Avoid treating plants during the middle of the day or in bright sunlight. Always read the label and use garden chemicals accordingly.

With fuchsias, the two main diseases to look out for are botrytis or grey mould and rust. Be careful about watering, feeding and growing conditions and inspect your plants regularly for any of the telltale signs of disease. If you see indications and treatment is required, use one of proprietary products that are widely available.

With the costs of food rising all the time, it’s possible to save money and improve your family’s health at the same time, simply by growing some of your own vegetables. It’s always good idea to choose vegetables your family likes and those that cost a lot in the grocery store.  Don’t grow the ones that are really cheap unless those are your favourties.  Plan carefully and you will have vegetables to harvest early in the season, as well as in the middle and during later parts of the growing season.

Vegetables generally require at least 6 hours of light each day, with some needing 8 hours. Some quick growing veg like lettuce and radishes can be grown between the rows of other planting, like beetroot or corn, which take longer to mature. This way you make better use of the growing area you have available.

Throughout dry periods, vegetable gardens will need extra watering. Depending on what you are growing, most vegetables benefit from at least an inch of water each week, especially when they are fruiting.

It’s always necessary to watch out for insect pests. The earlier you discover a bug problem, the easier it will be to deal with it, but be careful about using pesticides when the vegetable are close to harvest unless it’s absolutely necessary and always read the label.

Organic gardening, using natural remedies rather than chemicals, and is often the healthier and more environmentally-friendly option. Part of the organic cycle is, of course, recycling the vegetable waste onto the compost pile once you’ve harvested your crop.

It is important to protect your vegetable garden from animals looking for a tasty meal. Surrounding your garden with a fence can keep out dogs and some other animals – birds, rabbits, moles and mice are another matter. Other types of protection for your crops will have to be devised to thwart these critters.  The damage done by animals during one growing season can equal the cost of a fence and other protective devices. And, of course, a fence can serve a second purpose as a frame supporting peas, beans, tomatoes, and any other plants that need support.

Careful planning, choosing the right plants for your conditions, installing the right protection for your plants and keeping a vigilent eye on yoru plants as they grow will all add to improving the yield from your vegetable garden.  Yes, it can be hard work but the dividends can be very tasty.