Using A Backyard Greenhouse To Grow Your Own Food

There has been increasing interest in the growing of a range of fruits and vegetables at home, using a Backyard Greenhouse as the central point of a family Grow Your Own Food project. This often becomes a wider project involving several families and even entire communities. There are also many crops which can be grown outdoors.

Farms, like any business, have to show a profit, and the way fruits and vegetables are grown reflects this fact of life. The grower, naturally, is seeking a good return on his investment of time and labour, and to this end will be inclined to use significant amounts of artificial fertilizers.

In recent years there has been a reaction against the overuse of chemicals to increase the size of crops. This has encouraged many people to grow their own in a natural setting in their own gardens.

A Backyard Greenhouse takes up little space in your garden and can be planted with exactly what you and your family require. There are a vast range of Greenhouse Kits available in every garden supplies store at reasonable prices. These are usually sold as flat packs and are easy to assemble. This is the ideal solution for the small scale gardener who is more interested in a Hobby Greenhouse, rather than growing fruits and vegetables to feed the family.

Sensitive plants such as tomatoes do not fare well outdoors but are an ideal indoor crop. Of course, planning ahead is important and will be based on the size of the greenhouse. For example tomatoes grow upwards, trained to climb on poles. A range of different plants can be side by side, growing upwards, and using all three axes of the greenhouse, height length and width.

Outdoors, on open ground, some herbs and spices have proved beneficial in reducing (and even totally preventing) the spoiling of certain crops by insects and other problems. Marigold and oregano will repel cabbage moths and other pests. Lettuce can be safeguarded by planting chives between rows, and the whole of the cabbage family can be safeguarded unwelcome visitors by planning a tasty and useful row or two of garlic or onions in between rows.

More and more people are rediscovering a degree of independence through the Grow Your Own Food movement. Knowing that the food you grow is healthy and additive free is a good feeling. And a the same time, you can enjoy the fruits of your labours better when you know that they were certainly cheaper than if you had bought them at a supermarket.

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The Worth Of Carnations In The Home Garden

Planting Process

In preparing the soil for the flats to grow carnations, use two parts fresh garden soil to each one part of coarse sand and one part humus or compost. Carnations are one of the few plants which should not be potted firmly. The soil should be shaken down, but not pressed. A good method of scattering the small seeds is to use a salt shaker; then after the seeds are in place, a kitchen sifter may be used to shake just enough soil to hide the seeds. This soil should be pressed lightly. Then the pots or flats may be placed in a container of warm water for several minutes, just enough to soak the soil well, but not to run over the edge of the flat.

Plastic bags make good coverings for the flats. This provides warmth as well as proper humidity for the seedlings. If the bags do not contain holes for ventilation, punch several openings before covering the flats.

Later watering may be done through a piece of burlap to prevent washing the tiny seedlings from the soil. Plants tray be thinned by using a pair of tweezers so that other plants will not be damaged when removing unwanted growths. The flats should be reversed every day to prevent the seedlings from leaning toward the light. When four or more leaves develop, transplant the seedlings two inches apart into larger flats or small pots.

Although carnation plants, especially the new improved strains, may be lifted in the fall, cut back, and potted up for indoor winter flowering, the small greenhouse gardener will find they are impractical for indoor cultivation. For the average gardener, outdoor planting is preferable.

Permanent planting for carnations should be about six inches apart with rows at least 12 inches apart. I also do this in caladium planting. I consider planting caladium as an easy but needs so much care and preparation. This is also like permanent planting for carnations, it should be done as early as spring weather permits. It is important that the plants not be set too deeply, or stem rot may result. Soil in which carnations are planted should be moderately rich and loose, perhaps two feet deep, giving the plants ample feeding room. A copious supply of well-rotted manure or other fertilizers should be worked into the soil before the transplanting is done. The soil should be moist at the time of transplanting, but not wet. The newly set plants should be kept uniformly moist, but never over-saturated.

Beginning about eight weeks after transplanting the small plants to their permanent location, monthly applications of a commercially prepared fertilizer should be used, preferably the type which is dissolved in water and poured around the base of the plant.

Soon after transplanting the carnations permanently, pinch the plants back to about three inches in height. This pinching will develop sturdy bush-like plants. Occasionally it becomes necessary to stake a plant to prevent its spreading flowers over the ground.

Bedding carnations will bloom from seeds in six to eight months. However, growers often prefer to treat them as perennials, expecting top flower development only from the two year old plants.

As may be expected, there are certain enemies to the cultivation of carnations. However, if the seedlings are carefully protected, the plants are sturdy enough to resist most plant problems.

Carnations deserve a chance to prove their worth in the home garden. The rewards are certainly worth the minimum of care and attention required. Although it might not be feasible to plan a do-it-yourself corsage for junior's Big Moment, at least Mom can expect a plentiful supply of fragrant flowers for the house throughout the summer.

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