Hydroponic Fruit

 guest writer  No Responses »
Jan 102010
 

Here are some of the chief reasons why you should produce your own Hydroponic Fruit as opposed to using long-established soil based techniques!

Asian Pears 2
Creative Commons License photo credit: SummerTomato

1. There is no necessity to water them! This will of course save you time, but too over or under watering is one of the most important mistakes that apprentice gardeners do which can be destructive to your plant life.

2. Hydroponic fruit grows up to 50% faster than time-honored soil grown fruitl This is because you will have completely manipulated the growing conditions to be optimum for whatever it is you’re growing.

3. You don’t have to possess a garden. So if you live in the desert, the arctic or in a crowded town center high-rise block then this is no impediment.

4. No earth borne disease can be passed on if they are not being grown in soil.

5. No earth living pests will be able to get close to your fruit so you will have far healthier looking foodstuffs! You will also save cash on high-priced pesticides.

6. Maintenance time is to a great extent reduced. There is no necessity to water hydroponic fruit and there is no weeding. In truth all you’ll really have to do is choose your fruit as soon as they are complete.

7. The produce is year round. You will forever have access to all the fruit you need. As soon as it’s off season, you will be able to trade your harvest for an increased revenue margin.

8. You can grow them wherever; basement, conservatory, backyard, greenhouse, garage, window ledge, corridor or attic.

9. They will grow up to 40% better as they will always have access to all the nutrients they need. You will have made their growing environment to be ideal for them, they will love it and will be better looking as a result.

10. You will be able to fit extra into your growing trays as the roots don’t grow as big. This is for the reason that they don’t need to spread out to obtain nutrients as they are so readily available.

So if you’re wanting to study more concerning growing your own Hydroponic Fruit then you must look further into it! Growing Hydroponic Fruit is an thrilling hobby that you can potentially make a lot of money from!

Posted by Damian Jackson at 2:59 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , ,

Selecting Shrubs for the Backyard Oasis

 backyard design  No Responses »
Jan 082010
 

January is a perfect time to select shrubs, trees, groundcover and any other ornamental for the backyard and garden areas.

IMG_2090
Creative Commons License photo credit: skypilot2005

Today I have been selecting shrubs for the yard. I will probably need to remove the trees by the road. I want a tree or shrub that will provide more privacy and act as a noise and wind barrier. It also needs to be tougher than the average plant.

I think I will go with Spartan Juniper. It grows 15 foot tall and 3 foot wide. I need a shrub that will not interfere with electrical lines and this should do well. It will also provide more privacy and act as a break for noise. My first search has not found any problems with this shrub but I will look one more time. It’s best to really research a new plant, shrub or tree before you add it to your yard.

Mountain Laurel
Creative Commons License photo credit: dougww

I also want to get a few Mountain Laurel shrubs. I have always liked the colors and look and they will be good for naturalizing the backyard down by the creek.

I will place my order this weekend so that my selection will still be available. They will ship my order in April.

I also started Rose of Sharon shrub seeds a few weeks ago. They are about one inch tall and look healthy.

Tip: for Rose of Sharon seeds I place then in a wet paper towel and let set for 3 days then plant in soil. This softens the seed casing and the seedling usually emerges in a week. My success rate is very high using this method.

Around the Spartan Juniper shrubs I will be growing a few ground covers so that will be my next backyard garden project this weekend. Selecting a few groundcovers that will grow well with junipers.

Unknown
Creative Commons License photo credit: cliff1066™

And after I have groundcovers and shrubs selected, its time to get the few fruit trees I need.

Even in the winter months there are garden projects that can be planned and taken care of.

Posted by Denise at 8:01 pm  Tagged with: , , ,

Winter Backyard Design Plans.

 backyard design  No Responses »
Jan 062010
 

The snow is higher than I want to look at but I have to admit the view from the window over the backyard is breath taking. The snow is sparkling on the branches and the reflections in the Conewango Creek add charm and mystery to the day. It’s a great view from indoors where it’s warm.

Sugar Creek in winter 5
Creative Commons License photo credit: eeyorerox

Winter is a perfect time to make new plans for your backyard oasis.

  • Do you need a fresh look to the patio or deck?
  • Have your children grown and the play areas need to be redone?
  • Would new plants, shrubs and trees add more of a feeling or relaxation to your yard?

Without the added chores of mowing, picking up sticks, weeding or many of the other backyard chores, this is the perfect time to sit down with paper and pen and plan changes for the backyard.

I like to start with small changes, usually the least expensive plans and branch out after that.

January is the perfect month for selection new flowers, perennials and herb varieties. I like to order my seeds and plants as soon as I can so the selection is still available.

Next I think about my shrubs and trees. Do any need removed or replaced. Would I like to try a new flowering shrub or a smaller tree?

I know I need to remove one damaged shrub and one tree. I also want to replace a peach tree that suffered from blight and died.

So I will check out Seeds of Change, Richters and Pinetree Seed catalog. These are a few of my favorite places to order from. Tip: see if your friends also want to order and share seed packets or shipping costs.

I also want new gourd varieties and some heirloom tomato seeds.

When making changes in your backyard its best to look at what worked and any changes you want and go from there.

I like to keep a backyard garden journal of my plants, hardscape and how we use the yard. This helps me with my planning.

One area I have overlooked is the backyard in the winter. There are shrubs and trees that will add color and interesting lines and by setting up a patio area you can use it a little more, even in my cold zone 5 climate. Varieties of hardscape landscaping also add interest in the winter months.

And the addition of coldframes, a mini greenhouse or workshop will add more use and interest to your backyard in the winter months.

If you are planning on large backyard projects this is the time to start making you plans and contacting anyone you need fro contracting and prices before the busy season starts and you left behind.

I find planning and designing the backyard takes my mind off the cold and gets me ready for the upcoming gardening season and changes I would like to make in the backyard

Posted by Denise at 7:54 pm  Tagged with: , ,

3 Common Indoor Houseplant Diseases

 backyard oasis  No Responses »
Jan 042010
 

Houseplant care is very important. In an article the other day, root rot and fungus disease were covered. Today three more houseplant diseases will be discussed.

African violets
Creative Commons License photo credit: Kyknoord

Bacteria

Bacteria are a household plant disease that can do the most damage to a plant. And there are no chemical sprays that can combat bacteria, so the best control is to stop it before it happens.

In bacterial leaf spot, the plant will develop yellow or yellow orange spots. They can be small like a pinhole or as large a 3/8 of an inch. They will grow and eventually cover the leaf.

Erwinia is another form of bacteria. It will appear as spots on the leaves or rot out the main stem. New leaves will turn yellow and wilt away, the plant will have a foul smell and eventually die. The best prevention against bacteria disease is to keep humidity low and moisture off the leaves.

Nematodes

Nematodes are tiny roundworms that can cause plant diseases. They can cause stunted plant growth by weakening the roots. They also can live in the leaves themselves, causing the leaf to die. Nematode disease is rare in house plants, but will occur especially if you bring other plants in from outdoors.

Also, make sure that you do not use garden soil for your indoor plants. Garden soil is free of insects and has a better soil consistency for indoor use. Use a commercial potting soil or a mix of compost and potting soil.

Viruses

Viruses enter the interior of the plant through the cells and live off of the interior structure. A virus will easily spread from one plant to another by insects.

Unfortunately there is no treatment for viruses and the plant should be removed from other plants in order to stop the spread. I usually find I have to get rid of the infected plant so I am very careful to prevent plant virus problems.

The main reason for any plant disease is either lighting or watering problems. Too much or little of either will weaken the plant and make it susceptible to disease.

My advice is read up on your plants and keep a garden or houseplant journal of their needs that you can refer to if needed.

Posted by Denise at 12:45 am  Tagged with: , ,

Backyard Oasis: Indoor Houseplant diseases

 backyard oasis  No Responses »
Jan 022010
 

With the Backyard Oasis either setting in snow or temperatures being colder in many areas, people have turned back to indoor gardening. One of the most popular forms of indoor gardening is raising houseplants.

DSC_2750
Creative Commons License photo credit: jfinnirwin

Plants were mean to be grown outdoors, but people enjoy plants and have adapted them to live indoors. When we bring them inside and plant them in small pots, we need to remember it’s a shock to the plant and must be done with care.

Indoor environments are also a place where fungus and other plant diseases thrive, making indoor plants susceptible to a variety of diseases. By tending your plants carefully you will notice if the plant has a problem and cure the cause.

Two common problems to watch for on indoor plants

Root rot is the most common of the diseases of indoor plants. There are two types of root rot, wet and dry. Wet rot begins at the tip of the root and moves to the stem. The roots will become brown or black and the outer layer may become so mushy it will fall off. Dry rot appears as reddish brown lesions right on the soil line.

The most common cause of root rot is improper drainage and the roots having to sit in water. With proper planning this problem is easy to solve. I always sit all my plants on trays or dishes with decorative pebbles. This will help with drainage and will also supply additional humidity around the plant.

Fungus infections are also a  common disease of indoor plants. Listed below are several types of fungal infections.

  • Anthracnose, which has small lesions with a raised, edge that form on the leaf or stem.
  • Cephalosporium affects young leaves with small red spots that have dark edges. The leaves will turn yellow and drop off.
  • Cercospora has tiny pinpoint size lesions that will form on the backside of the leaves.
  • Fusarium leaf spot attacks the plant where it is growing and it can completely rot away. It has yellow or red round spots. It’s a more difficult fungus to notice.

Cutting away and burning the affected parts and using a fungicide can cure most fungus infections.

aloe in chip dish
Creative Commons License photo credit: back_garage

By providing proper lighting, clean soil and clean potting containers you can prevent most plant rot and fungal problems.

I try to repot my plants in the spring. This lets me change the soil, clean the pot and check the roots to see if they are healthy.

Also, if you clean your plant leaves once a month you will notice if the plant has any health problems.

There are three other indoor plant problems. They will be covered in a future article

Posted by Denise at 12:00 am  Tagged with: , ,
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