Gardening Pleasures

Posts Tagged ‘vegetables’

The requirements for plants are the same whether you are growing a garden traditionally  or with a hydroponics method.  In hydroponics, the nutrients the plant would get from the  soil are replaced by a growing medium that can be purchased at gardening supply stores.   The need for water and light is still just as important though.  Light can come from a  natural source, an artificial source or a combination of the two.  Depending on the type of  hydroponics system the method that your plant gets water will differ too.

In order to get the best results from your home-based hydroponics garden, find a south- facing window to give the plants the best natural light.  If this isn’t possible, you can  purchase special lights that are specifically designed for plants.  Instead of using a  fluorescent light, buy what is known as a discharge light.  This imitates the light the  plants would naturally get from the sun and will produce healthier and hardier plants.

The water that the root system is growing in needs to be healthy water full of nutrients  and this can be determined by checking the pH level (it should be a pH level of 6).  The  pH level should be checked on a regular basis to ensure it is not too acidic or alkaline.  If  the reading is too high, add small amounts of vinegar and keep re-testing until you can  the reading you want.  If the water reading has a pH level that is too low, use the same  procedure to raise the pH level except use baking soda instead of vinegar.

By growing your plants with hydroponics, you will see faster and more abundant growth.   The method that the plants get their nutrients is more efficient and results in robust and  prolific plants – whether they are houseplants, vegetable plants, or herbs.

For as long as there have been gardens there has been some degree of garden envy. Whether the garden contains flowering or non-flowering plants or vegetables, there always seems to be one garden that is more beautiful, prolific, greener, more colorful, or yields more food.

If you find yourself looking over the garden fence and envious of others, chances are that if you take the time to learn about plants, their optimal growing conditions - preferred soil conditions, placement in sunlight or shade, the amount of water required - you, too, can create a summer garden that will rival the best in your neighbourhood.

Gardens require time, effort, energy and planning to become the absolute best. And, depending on your lifestyle, your efforts may be best put into making small improvements each year,  rather than a massive overhaul that may put you off forever.

That being said, there is some useful information below to help you to make your summer garden the best it can be.

As one of the first things to do, check whether there are any regulations that may affect what you do with your garden.  Once you know what you can and cannot do, test the pH of the soil to ascertain the soil acidity you currently have and if any adjustments need to be made to your planting plan.  Some plants do not like an acid soil while others do not get on well in an alkaline soil. For example roses like a somewhat acidic soil while hydrangeas will give you different colour blooms depending on the ph of the soil – somewhat acidic soil gives blue flowers, neutral to alkaline gives pink flowers and a high ph (very alkaline) will give you purple or a mixture of colours on the same plant.

You should also understand that every decision you make about your garden will affect the yield and output to some degree.  And, there are always events that are beyond your control, regardless of how carefully you plan. Some years we have record rainfalls in one part of the country while other parts experience drought. The next year it could be the other way around.  When planning what to put in your garden, think about what grows naturally in the area and include plants that will tolerate a certain amount of drought.

Each plant has its own needs that must be met for optimal growth and yield. If those needs are not met, your chances of having the best  flowers, the most vegetables or the greenest leaves can be vastly reduced. If having the very best is not part of your plan then your garden won’t require as much time or effort as it would take to grow ribbon-winning vegetables or flowers.

Avoid using pesticides as much as possible as they can be harmful to beneficial insects, animals and humans. Instead try to use pest control methods that are natural and humane, particularly if planting vegetables your family will be eating.

Grow a garden that makes sense for your lifestyle.  If you don’t have the time to weed, feed, water, etc. plant flowers that don’t need lots of care and attention.  Also plant within the constraints of the conditions and space you have for gardening. If you have only shady conditions, choose flowers, plants and vegetables that thrive in those conditions rather than choosing those that need lots of sunlit conditions you don’t have. Don’t forget however, you can have some very nice specimen plants that may not like your soil conditions but that will grow happily in a pot.

More importantly, bring into your garden those plants that you love. The pleasure you get will often determine how much effort you are willing to put into taking care of your garden.  The more you enjoy the results, the more likely you are to enjoy putting in the effort necessary to get those results.