How To Spot And Destroy Vegetable Garden Pests

Any vegetable gardener will inform you that bugs and pests are their biggest battle. The majority of insects tend to be more of a bother than intentionally destructive, yet when you discover a garden pest devouring your crop, you're not likely to be too happy. Following are several of the most common garden pests and strategies to eliminate them.

A corn earworm will assault your corn cobs and make a meal of the kernels. Likewise, a tomato fruitworm eats the insides of tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. Kill them off by means of an insecticide intended specifically for earworms.

Among the most unsightly garden pests may be the tomato hornworm. It is a fat, white and green worm with a large horn that looks like a stinger. It can be killed by picking it off the plant using gloved hands and dunking it in soap and water. Alternatively, you can spritz the worm with stomach poison insecticide, neem oil, or Bacillus thuringiensis.

The next aggravating bug is the beetle, which loves to dine on the leaves on your plants. You will want to eliminate them because they are able to do a tremendous amount of destruction to your garden. It is possible to either spray them with pesticide or simply pluck them off the plants.

Aphids are frequently present in a vegetable garden as well. Typically, you'll come across clusters of very small insects in various colors. To eradicate aphids, use insecticidal soap or neem oil.

Cutworms are a kind of pest that generally chops off the plant's stem close to the base. The one effective technique for overcoming them is to place a paper collar around the plants.

Snails and slugs can devour the foliage on your plants, and they always leave a slimy trail as evidence. You can buy bait to attract and kill them, but you can achieve the same thing with a shallow container of beer; they'll be drawn to it and drown.

Those plump white worms which you find in the ground are more than likely grubs. When grubs attack your plants they start to wilt and their growth is going to be cut short. Grubs can be held in check by adding milky spore to the soil. Grubs ultimately mature into beetles, which you can eradicate by means of stomach poison insecticide.

Thrips prefer various plants. You'll be able to know if they've been there by the haphazard white marks you see on the leaves. You can wash them off by spraying them with a hose, and then spray contact poison onto the plant.

You'll find borers in thick stemmed vine plants including squash and pumpkin. You have to hack them out of the plant in order to eradicate them. You might end up needing to pull up and destroy the plant it if you discover a borer near the bottom of it. You can typically overcome this type of garden pest by means of pesticide.

Eating healthfully doesn't have to be expensive when you plant a vegetable garden. From container vegetable gardening to edible landscaping, you'll find the information you need at the Vegetable Gardening Site.

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Go Natural With Organic Gardening

Organic gardening is a great way to appreciate nature, without destroying it. You will use compost to build healthy soil and will try techniques like companion planting and ladybug cultivation, rather than using chemicals on your food. As someone who truly appreciates the earth, you feel very strongly about making the world a better place through your gardening experience. The most ardent natural gardeners will even use only manual gardening tools to till and cultivate.

Advocates for growing food organically argue that this method is better for several main reasons. First, gardening organically reduces your exposure to pesticides, which have been linked to everything from skin rashes, eye irritations and neurotoxicity to cancer, birth defects and hormone disruption. Secondly, organic food contains a higher concentration of nutrients like chromium, selenium, calcium, boron, lithium, magnesium, vitamin C, carotene and vitamin B. Thirdly, organic gardeners work with manual garden supplies and tools, so they avoid gasoline-powered machines that leave emissions. At the same time, the organic gardener is getting a great workout in! Lastly, this method for growing plants prevents chemicals and contaminants from leaching into the soil and down to our water table, so this style of gardening is much better for the planet overall.

Soil health is one of the most important focuses of organic gardening. Even though organic matter (made of partially decomposed organisms and vegetation) only makes up 5-10% of the soil, it is absolutely essential in maintaining soil health. A gardening expert will tell you that organic matter is what binds together soil particles to allow the passage of air and water. Humus holds up to 90% of its weight in water, in addition to absorbing and storing key nutrients. Other microorganisms that live within the soil feeds upon this organic matter, which is what keeps the ecosystem thriving. The best way to increase your organic matter is to add organic compost bought from the store and made in your own kitchen.

Composting is an essential part of organic gardening because it ensures that your soil will be healthy and fruitful. You can add compost, aged animal manure, green manure (like cover crops), mulches, peat moss and kitchen scraps. Be cautious about adding high-carbon material like straw, leaves, wood chips and sawdust because microorganisms will consume a lot of nitrogen to digest these materials, which could deplete your soil. You can add natural nitrogen with hoof/horn/fish meal, natural potassium with granite dust/potash rock, and natural phosphorus with bone meal/finely ground phosphate rock. For more information and gardening advice on building healthy soil and improving existing soil naturally, visit www.gardeners.com/Building-Healthy-Soil/5060,default,pg.html, where you can read about the organic style of gardening in more detail.

Pest control will be another concern for your garden. Believe it or not, marigolds are some of the best pest controls in organic gardening. Marigolds keep away aphids, earworms, leaf hoppers, Mexican bean leaf beetles, rabbits, squash bugs, thrips and tomato heartworms. Aphids are also deterred by rue, dill, catnip, fennel, mint and chives. Other natural home vegetable gardening pest deterrents include basil, green beans, nasturtium, tomato, wormwood, anise, borage, sage, thyme, radish, garlic, onion, potato, turnip, oleander, hyssop, rosemary, lavender, pennyroyal, mint, tansy, coriander, cilantro, horseradish, geranium, butterfly sage, larkspur, cloves, petunia and parsley.

The benefits of a vegetable garden can't be beat. You'll get to enjoy fresh picked produce and you'll get some great exercise at the same time! From fall vegetable gardens to a raised vegetable garden, you'll find the information you need at the Vegetable Garden Site.

Tags: Gardening, Gardening Articles, organic gardening, vegetable gardening

Vegetable Gardening: The Basics

Local experts can be a great place to start your vegetable gardening odyssey. You may not get the one-on-one garden advice you need from a place like Home Depot, but local nursery store owners and master gardeners are great sources of gardening information. Be sure to visit the Farmer's Almanac page to learn about your local growing season and when the last frost is expected to arrive. This can help you plan when you'll begin your gardening season. If you're beginning in late spring or summer, there are still a few quick-growing crops like lettuce and transplanted tomatoes that you may be able to salvage.

The first step in starting a vegetable garden is choosing the best location and size. Firstly, make sure your site gets as much sunlight as possible. Most vegetables require around six to eight hours of direct sunshine each day for the best results. If you have a shadier location, you can plant your spinach and lettuce there. As you evaluate your yard, make certain to take into consideration the shade cast by your house, trees and storage buildings during specific times of the day.

In a perfect world, the garden will be conveniently located near the kitchen, so you can tend to it with less effort and bring in your crop without traveling a long way. The best soil will be full of nutrients and drain properly, so you might need to add organic compost and use the right tools to aerate the earth before you start.

First you must plan how large your garden will be. Usually, several beds in a 20 x 20 plot for space hogging vegetables like corn, tomatoes or squash is good, or a 12 x 16 plot for cucumbers, peppers and herbs. Once you plot out your garden, you'll need a few garden supplies, such as a tape measure, string, 12 to 18-inch stakes and a hammer. Situate the rows running from east to west, with the taller plants on the north end. Stake down the four corners of your garden and then set to work roto-tilling to turn up the soil. Get rid of all the weeds and test the soil before your vegetable gardening can officially commence. Ideally, you want a pH between 6 and 6.8. For low pH, use limestone. For high pH, use sulfur.

Over the years, you'll begin to fine-tune your vegetable gardening. You may find some crops do extraordinarily well, while others are a flop. You may decide to add new veggies to the mix or plant more of a certain crop that worked very well. Once your cool season crop finishes its season (like peas), you can try planting a warm season crop (like zucchini). You may also try a technique known as "interplanting," which involves planting a quick-maturing crop like lettuce next to slow-growing broccoli. The idea is that you'll harvest all your lettuce by the time the broccoli is looking to stretch out. Try growing plants from several different varieties to increase your chance of success and to find the best performing types.

The benefits of a vegetable garden can't be beat. You'll get to enjoy fresh picked produce and you'll get some great exercise at the same time! From fall vegetable gardens to a raised vegetable garden, you'll find the information you need at the Vegetable Garden Site.

Tags: Gardening, Gardening Articles, vegetable garden, vegetable gardening, vegetable gardening basics, vegetable gardening for beginners

Raising Fresh Veggies all Winter Long With Greenhouse Vegetable Gardening

You can cultivate vegetables in the dead of winter making use of greenhouse vegetable gardening methods. To cultivate vegetables in a greenhouse is almost the same as raising them outside throughout the summer. There are just several extra things you will need to do to imitate what nature would do naturally.

To cultivate vegetables in a portable greenhouse you can use two techniques. The first uses the sun's energy during the day to heat up the structure and is known as the cold method. When the temperature drops, a heating element will turn on to keep the temperature to a minimum of 45 degrees F. In this technique plants do not grow; instead they are just maintained until they can be placed back outside in the summertime.

To cultivate vegetables in a garden greenhouse in the wintertime you need warmth and accordingly you would use the warm greenhouse technique. This method does tend to cost a bit of money since the least temperature that can be maintained is 55 degrees F and therefore a heating system has to be available. Most heating systems for greenhouses are either gas, propane or electric.

There is scarcely a vegetable that can be grown in a garden that can't be grown in a greenhouse. Look in seed catalogs to find seeds specially developed for greenhouse use. If you can't find those get plants that maintain a compact size or that can be pruned back to be smaller than the outside plants. There's little room in a greenhouse and you do not want it to be taken up with merely a couple of kinds of vegetables.

Pollination is one of those things that you will have to do for your plants. Pollinating insects do not exist in greenhouse culture in most cases so you need to do it for them. Pollinating a vegetable isn't difficult. Tomatoes, for one, should be tied to bamboo stakes and the stakes can be jiggled in the morning and once in the evening in order to pollinate. You'll need to watch the flowers carefully to discover when you need to do this. When the flower opens and the petals all bend backwards it's time. You will only have three days to pollinate the tomatoes so take a look every day.

Because there is not a good deal of sunlight throughout the wintertime you must add sunlight by using grow lights. The majority of vegetables require at least eight hours of light a day. Naturally, the plants will also need to be watered and fertilized on a regular basis.

Greenhouse vegetables throughout the wintertime can be difficult to work with, more so than in the summer, but it can be very enjoyable. Tomatoes can be picked out of the greenhouse in the dead of wintertime. You'll be able to have fresh vegetables any time of year.

Greenhouses are easy to build and maintain, and are available in an assortment of sizes and materials to suit every home and budget. You can even get an indoor greenhouse if you don't have a backyard. Learn more at Garden Greenhouses.

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Organic Farming vs Agribusiness

People all over the world are extremely concerned about our environment especially as how it relates as to what we put into our bodies and also how it affects our earth. Many are turning to organic, holistic, natural, back to the earth, and homesteading, which are all disciplines of agriculture that are growing in popularity each day.

As the world's population explodes,we have learned that American farmers over the years have done a wonderful job of providing substantial amounts of nutritious and healthy food for a growing world , but is this scenario of farming sustainable?

Organic farming largely excludes the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, plant growth regulators, and livestock feed additives, such as hormones. Organic farmers rely on crop rotation, crop residue recycling, animal manure and mechanical cultivation to maintain the soil and to control weeds, insects and other pests.

Enhancing and maintaining soil health and productivity is the mainstay of organic farming. Many natural methods are employed including crop rotation, green manure, cover cropping, application of compost and mulching, Organic farmers also use certain fertilizers such as seed meal and mineral powders such as rock phosphate and greensand which are naturally occurring forms of potash.

Organic farming began as a protest against the industrialization of agriculture in the early 20th century. Research produced hybrid seeds, fields and harvests grew in size and cropping became specialized in order to make efficient use of machinery, irrigation, fertilization and the use of chemical pesticides. Nitrates which were used during World War I and II as munitions became an abundant and cheap source of nitrogen.

As a means to insuring a successful crop, the usage of genetically modified organisms (GMO), human growth hormones (HGH), sewage sludge and antibiotics in the production of our food supply gained a foothold and can now be considered a threat to our health.

Organic farmers depend on natural fertilizers such as manure which contains fixed amounts of various elements which can not be adjusted. The most common problem is over application of these organic fertilizers because of their relative lack of potency. These over applications can very easily lead to pollution of the water supply. Conventional farming allows farmers to precisely apply only the necessary fertilizers to the soil in order to minimize waste pollutants.

Can agribusiness change to large scale organic farming and still be able to make a profit without raising the consumer's cost to unacceptable levels?

The current food distribution system favors high volume production with large farming corporate operations and cannot be easily altered. What we know as organic farming may change very dramatically in the coming years. A growing consumer market is a driving factor in our society and will encouraging conventional farmers to convert to organic agricultural production methods. I believe this trend will continue.

Tags: agribusiness, Gardening Articles, health, holistic, home and garden, Organic, organic farming, organic pest control, sustainable, Vegetable, vegetable gardening

Organic Farming or Conventional Farming? The Debate Goes On.

People all over the world are extremely concerned about our environment especially as how it relates as to what we put into our bodies and also how it affects our earth. Many are turning to organic, holistic, natural, back to the earth, and homesteading, which are all disciplines of agriculture that are growing in popularity each day.

American farmers over the years have done a wonderful job of providing substantial amounts of nutritious and healthy food for a growing world population, but is this scenario of farming sustainable? At the present time there is a tremendous amount of debate between organic farmers and conventional farmers who are both looking for common answers to this question.

Organic farming largely excludes the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, plant growth regulators, and livestock feed additives, such as hormones. Organic farmers rely on crop rotation, crop residue recycling, animal manure and mechanical cultivation to maintain the soil and to control weeds, insects and other pests.

Many methods are employed by organic farmers including crop rotation, green manure, cover cropping, application of compost and mulching,as a method of enhancing and maintaining soil health which is the mainstay of organic farming. Organic farmers also use certain fertilizers such as seed meal and mineral powders such as rock phosphate and greensand which are naturally occurring forms of potash.

Nitrates which were used during World War II as munitions became an abundant and cheap source of nitrogen. This situation impelled the industrialization of agriculture in the early 20th century. Research produced hybrid seeds, fields grew in size and cropping became specialized to make efficient use of machinery, irrigation, fertilization and the use of pesticides.

As a means to insuring a successful crop, the usage of genetically modified organisms (GMO), human growth hormones (HGH), sewage sludge and antibiotics in the production of our food supply gained a foothold and can now be considered a threat to our health.

Standard farming allows farmers to precisely apply only the necessary fertilizers to the soil in order to minimize waste pollutants. Organic fertilizers such as manure which contains fixed amounts of various elements which can not be adjusted. The most common problem is over application of these organic fertilizers because of their relative lack of potency. These over applications can very easily lead to pollution of the water supply.

Can agribusiness change to large scale organic farming and still be able to make a profit without raising the consumer's cost to unacceptable levels?

The current food distribution system favors high volume production with large farming corporate operations and cannot be easily altered. What we know as organic farming may change very dramatically in the coming years. A growing consumer market is a driving factor in our society and will encouraging conventional farmers to convert to organic agricultural production methods. I believe this trend will continue.

Tags: agribusiness, Gardening Articles, health, holistic, home and garden, Organic, organic farming, organic pest control, sustainable, Vegetable, vegetable gardening

What are Weeds?

We often think of weeds as isolated plants, but an 'underground view' shows that they're more like a tree on its side. The 'branches' are just the weed part that sticks up above ground. The 'trunk' is the web of material that connects them all. Getting one just disconnects that 'branch' from the 'trunk'. But the smaller they are the less time they've had to branch out. Getting one helps prevent their spread.

Weed Control Methods

Keeping weeds down is more than just an aesthetic issue. Weeds consume space, water and soil nutrients needed by growing vegetable plants. They also act as vectors for insects and disease, as well as provide cover for mice and other pests. When they grow out of control, they can even block needed sunlight.

Weed control is an ongoing task, but one that is made easier by employing a battery of methods.

One of those methods begins before the first seed is planted. Proper soil preparation can help reduce the problem before it begins. Churning the soil by a good tilling prevents weeds from getting started and disrupts the growth cycle.

Seeds will remain, but putting down a weed control fabric over the topsoil can help. It blots out needed warmth and light and provides a physical barrier that makes it more difficult for them to rise. Mulches provide a natural cover that will help suppress weeds. Manure, bark chips, sawdust, leaves and other forms can block sunlight.

Laying down a pre-treatment, such as a pre-germinating herbicide can prevent weeds from ever developing that might already have seeds in the ground. Exercise care to get the proper one. You don't want to make the soil inhospitable for your new vegetable seeds and transplants.

Proper seed selection will help, as well. Some fast growing, shading vegetables will block sunlight that weeds need to develop. They're sometimes called 'smother crops'. As they spread out under the soil, they help crowd out the weed roots, thus providing double prevention. Planting them at the correct depth, with the right fertilizer and water, will give them a head start against weeds. Their action can sometimes even help over winter to suppress weed development.

When weeds do get started, it's best to try to remove them mechanically and right away. This could prove more difficult because there is less to grab onto, but the larger they grow, the more their roots spread. When weeds grow big, hoes, weeding forks and other tools can be a big help.

But when all those methods still don't entirely eliminate weeds - as they probably won't - don't be afraid of using a chemical herbicide. Take care to find one that will take out the weed and not your vegetable plant. But once you do, they can be used safely and effectively. Chemistry has developed a great deal in the past fifty years and there are many that are actually less harmful to you and the environment than some natural methods.

Tags: Gardening, Gardening Articles, growing vegetables, planting seeds, planting vegetables, vegetable gardening, Weed Control

Suggestions for Safe Gardening

Even though there is not any kind of large risk or danger involved in gardening, it is still important to be as safe as possible and thus avoid some possible safety issues. When you work in a larger scale garden, it is especially important to be careful while gardening. The plants you grow in your garden and your location will also affect the type of safety practices that you should keep in mind while gardening.

Making Your Garden Safe

Staying safe while gardening is easiest when you are dealing with an indoor garden where all the plants grow in pots. The only real danger that you need to beware of are the chemicals that are present in the herbicides and fertilizers that you use on your plants. There are many more diverse issues to keep in mind in order to enjoy outdoor gardening safely. For example, you will need to beware of certain insects and animals that may be attracted to your garden. In some areas, spiders and snakes can become a problem for a gardener.

If you do not organize your tools while working in your garden, this can create a safety hazard. This is because tools that are strewn about the garden may be difficult to see and thus easy to step or trip on. You will also want to keep an eye on any fertilizers or other chemical substances that you are using to make sure that no children get into them.

Some plants with thorns can tear up your skin. Digging out roots can also cut up your hands. These are two examples of why wearing gloves while gardening is an important part of gardening safety. Since there are stones and pebbles present in many gardens, using kneeling pads while working down on your knees is a great way to stay safe.

Keep in mind that cutting and pruning plants is also potentially hazardous. Sometimes pieces of the plant you are cutting can fly out at you unexpectedly. This is the case even more so if you are using an electric or gas powered tool. Such tools can also be dangerous because they often make use of sharp cutting instruments.

The best way to stay safe while gardening is to prevent as many potential problems as you can. One way to do this is to keep all of your gardening tools well maintained.

Just being aware of what possible dangers are involved with gardening will help you to be safer while enjoying your hobby. Dangers often arise from a lazy attitude towards safety.

Tags: backyard gardening, garden layout, Gardening Articles, gardening safety tips, growing a garden, planting a garden, vegetable gardening

Gardening Safety Tips

Even though there is not any kind of large risk or danger involved in gardening, it is still important to be as safe as possible and thus avoid some possible safety issues. When you work in a larger scale garden, it is especially important to be careful while gardening. The plants you grow in your garden and your location will also affect the type of safety practices that you should keep in mind while gardening.

Safer Garden

Staying safe while gardening is easiest when you are dealing with an indoor garden where all the plants grow in pots. The only real danger that you need to beware of are the chemicals that are present in the herbicides and fertilizers that you use on your plants. There are many more diverse issues to keep in mind in order to enjoy outdoor gardening safely. For example, you will need to beware of certain insects and animals that may be attracted to your garden. In some areas, spiders and snakes can become a problem for a gardener.

If you do not organize your tools while working in your garden, this can create a safety hazard. This is because tools that are strewn about the garden may be difficult to see and thus easy to step or trip on. You will also want to keep an eye on any fertilizers or other chemical substances that you are using to make sure that no children get into them.

Wearing gloves and using kneeling pads can also be beneficial when you are pulling out tough roots that can injure your bare hands or when dealing with thorny plants. Gardening safety can also be maintained by using kneeling pads because some gardens have sharp stones or pebbles that can injure your knees and legs.

Keep in mind that cutting and pruning plants is also potentially hazardous. Sometimes pieces of the plant you are cutting can fly out at you unexpectedly. This is the case even more so if you are using an electric or gas powered tool. Such tools can also be dangerous because they often make use of sharp cutting instruments.

The best way to stay safe while gardening is to prevent as many potential problems as you can. One way to do this is to keep all of your gardening tools well maintained.

Just being aware of what possible dangers are involved with gardening will help you to be safer while enjoying your hobby. Dangers often arise from a lazy attitude towards safety.

Tags: backyard gardening, garden layout, Gardening Articles, gardening safety tips, growing a garden, planting a garden, vegetable gardening

Fertilizer and Irrigation Ensure Gardening Success

Loamy soil, which is a mixture of sand, silt, and clay, is the best kind of soil for producing a healthy garden. It crumbles easily in your hand, and does not have too much clay, which retains moisture and messes with drainage. It is also not too sandy; therefore it provides adequate support for growing plants, and the needed nutrients.

The key to achieving loamy soil is twofold: quality fertilizer and proper water supply.

By testing the soil before you start, you will know what things you need to add to balance it out. A simple testing kit checks nutrient and pH levels. When growing vegetables pH levels are very important because some prefer acidic soil, while others thrive in a more basic setting. In general, most do best when grown in soil that tests between 6.0 and 6.5.

To adjust the pH level sulfur or lime, nutrients found in most fertilizers, should be added. These adjustments should be made several months before you plan on planting, which, in Northern climates, may mean after the fall harvest.

Compost piles are a great source of nutrients, and should be added to the topsoil three weeks before planting. Tilling the compost into the top layer of soil helps to speed up the introduction of the nutrients into the soil. Organic and artificial fertilizers, such as NPK 8-8-8 can be added right before planting to supplement the soil. In general, about twenty pounds per thousand square feet is sufficient.

Vegetable plants love water, however sitting in a bed of water can cause root rot. By maintaining moist soil, plants can receive the proper amount of water they need to grow and support themselves.

Water helps out plants in a number of ways. It aids in the carrying of nutrients throughout the plant, plays a part in the process of photosynthesis, and helps the cell structures to remain stiff and firm. Most gardens need about an inch of water per week, which equates to 65 gallons per 100 square feet. The amount of water, of course, depends on the type of soil. From spring to fall it is vital to monitor the rainfall and supplement any additional water that your plants may need.

This, thankfully, is not difficult.

When water is applied to vegetable plants under moderate temperatures, they do not wilt like flowering plants do; however, it is still necessary to water with care. By watering early in the day the top layer of soil and leaves can dry out by the time cool night temperatures arrive, keeping fungi at bay. Some choose to build modest drip irrigation systems out of rubber tubing. These effect and inexpensive systems should be placed at the base of the plant to ensure the roots are receiving a proper supply of water.

With a drip irrigation system in place, only the occasionally traditional watering is necessary. This serves to clean the leaves and keep their pores open. Watering when it is hot outside is unproductive as it causes the pores to open, and evaporate more moisture then they have been given. Water droplets may also act as miniature magnifying glasses and burn small holes in the leaves.

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