Some don’t think twice about gardening in fall. Many gardeners start in spring and have vegetables through the summer. The fact is here in New Jersey we have hard zones from 5 to 7 which makes for great fall family vegetable gardens. You could be planning in fall or planting in fall, it doesn’t matter. Planting in fall has key benefits for gardens and there are a few tips to follow to have a successful fall garden.

There are many benefits to fall gardens. The benefits to a fall family vegetable garden are that it’s cool in the fall for the most part. Insects are usually less of a problem for gardeners come fall. Falling leaves can be used as mulch and compost in most situations. With weather moderately cooling, the bugs will start to diminish, it will be more pleasant to work in the cooler days, soil will become moister and your need to water will be less. The only drawback to fall gardens is you must act fast before it’s too late for many crops. With fall gardens it is usually ideal to start from plantings to avoid the winter coming and destroying your corps.

There are many vegetables that will thrive in a fall family vegetable garden. You can plant summer squash, green beans; cucumbers maybe even another round of tomatoes. You can plant cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, collards, Brussels sprouts, and more. So many plants to start with and the perfect time to do it, with fall being a cooler season in most areas; the whole family will enjoy working together keeping up the garden and eating the fruits of the families labor. What is stopping you? Grab a gardening catalog and see what you can plant in your local area today.

Many struggle with a tight living space or small yard and have the desire to start an herb garden. Some may want their herb garden to spice up their food and some want their own garden for medicinal purposes, whatever the reason is for your desire in creating an herb garden… Don’t let space get in your way. Planting an indoor garden is a great idea for those in an apartment or even for those that live in extreme weather climates.

herb garden

An indoor herb garden is ideal for many reasons. Imagine running out of your favorite herb, most have to run to the local supermarket to grab a dried form of the herb. What better way it would be to save money and time from running to the supermarket then to have an indoor herb garden. Not only are you saving time and money, but you’re getting fresh ingredients.

I’m thinking with all of these great reasons listed in why you should have an indoor herb garden; you’re probably sold to the idea. There are several problems with indoor herb gardening, I tell you this to educate you in how to properly have an herb garden instead of setting you up for failure. The need to pay close attention to temperature and moisture is very important. Pests can become a problem for indoor herb plants as well as it could be a problem for outdoor herb gardens. Winter doesn’t exist indoors so bugs aren’t killed off come winter. Sometimes there will be a large number of tiny insects that will appear around your indoor herb garden. If you see insects flying about, tend to them quickly!

Please don’t let those tidbits stop you from growing your indoor garden; I can easily list a handful of problems that can occur outside if that is where your garden resided. Herbs grow very well indoors. They take no more time and effort than a basic houseplant. Make sure you know what your herbs need and have fun while doing so. What herbs are you planning to grow in your garden? Please share by commenting below.

Planning the landscape of a garden or a yard can be intimidating. Many start off by choosing plants that look pretty in the nursery without looking into which plants are best for the landscaped plan decided upon. In researching the proper plants, you will have better success with your garden.

Don’t only look into the colors and beauty of a plant when choosing plants for your garden, look into the purposes of the plant and how the plant will work with your landscape plans. Plants can be used for screening, shade, erosion control, noise control, and for simple beauty. Use all of these specifications to build a great garden for your home.

Getting started, understand the plants growth habits and requirements to grow properly. So many don’t research the size that the plant can reach, the amount of sun or water a plant may need, tolerance to the weather elements, or the type of soil a plant will need. What about trees that crack sidewalks and bust through pipes, proper planning can help you avoid this. Also, the texture of a plant is of great importance, don’t plant a rough or thorn filled bush in the middle of a walkway.

Things to look into when choosing the right plants are the size of the plant at full maturity, insects that the plant may attract, sun and shade requirements, moisture and drought tolerance, seasons roles in your plants life cycle, planting zones with their specifications, and soil type that best suits your plants of choice. It is vital to understand what is needed for your garden to thrive.

Research a plant encyclopedia or leave plant planning to the experts. Doing your homework or hiring a professional in regards to choosing the right plants will solve this. Why spend so much time and money on a lovely garden that won’t work when you can simply do it right the first time.

Plant seeds can be difficult to grow, although plant seeds are quite manageable if proper steps are taken. Some wonder why people bother in planting from a seed since it takes more time and can be difficult. Planting with seeds can be more affordable and it may feel more rewarding when your plant begins to emerge. I have planted my share of both, seeds and plantings. I agree that it is more rewarding, knowing the time spent, planting something as small as a seed and watching it form into something so grand.

Now that you are aware of some of the benefits that come from planting seeds, listed are simple steps to follow in planting seeds:

• Record keeping – keep records of what worked and what didn’t work whenplanting from seeds. Make sure you label everything; you want to be sure to take proper care of the seeds you’ve planted.

• Follow package directions – some seeds require chilling or light to germinate. Generally the smaller the seed then the closer to the top of the soil it should be.

• Use containers – use small containers to start with, make sure your container has air holes at the bottom. Containers need holes for air flow and proper drainage. Adding holes will prevent disease to your plants. Plant a few seeds per container, some seeds won’t take and this will give you a higher success rate.

• Cover trays/containers to lock in moisture – seeds are delicate, covering your trays or containers will help keep the plants warm and moist evenly. Be sure to remove cover when plants emerge.

• Proper care – make sure your seeds stay the right temperature, usually 65° to 75°F is needed to germinate. Again, follow package instructions.

• Acclimate seedlings – once your plants are ready to be planted outside, acclimate your seedlings. Introduce your plants to the elements of being outside several times before you plant them into the ground. This will help them adjust.

Following these tips will help you plant from seeds the right way and will lead you to successful gardening.

Ever since humankind figured out how to successfully plant and farm vegetables, gardening has been a way of life. Gardens have become not only a viable food source; they have become creations in living art.
Not that you need to make art with your food, but planting a garden can be a cheap source of food, as well as a wonderful therapy.
To plant a garden, all you need is a little bit of sunlit land, some good soil, and some seeds. Then all you have to do is water every day, make sure the weeds don’t take over, watch your little seeds grow into delicious fresh vegetables ready-to-eat.
There are several ways to go about getting the land ready for planting. If you’re starting from scratch, you can either dig it up, turn it over, and mince it into loose soil, or borrow, buy, or rent a rototiller and let it dig and turn.
Depending on where you live, your soil may be already good and rich. If your soil is full of rock, too sandy or full of clay, you may need to add a layer of top soil to supply the kinds of nutrients your plants can use to grow healthy and strong.
Then you need to decide which way the water is going to run. You don’t want runoff to strip away the soil around your plants budding roots will it tries to grow. Water your soil after all the digging and mincing and observe how it flows through your garden. When you start planting your rows of seeds or starter plants, you’ll want the rows to go in the same direction as the water did, so the water runs down your rows, not over them.
Decide which vegetables you want to grow. And plant them at least 4 to 6 inches apart. They look little as you plant, but as they grow, they’ll need room. Water them at least once a day and watch them grow!
Planting some marigolds her and there throughout the garden will help keep pests away. And a good pest repellent made of a little dish soap and water can be sprayed on your plants if they start having little holes.
Yes, this is a simple version, and getting a good garden book will help, but planting isn’t very hard and you can have wonderful fresh vegetables to go along with your natural meats, and enjoy meals that cannot be duplicated!