What to grow in January 2011?

Happy New Year to all my readers, and my sympathy for all those affected by flooding. January this year is quite a difficult month for gardening in many parts of Australia with large areas being water-logged from copious rainfall and other areas starting the year with extremely hot conditions that place a lot of stress on young seedlings. As the first four days of January occurred during Last Quarter phase, which is not a good time for sowing seeds, I’ve been a bit slow posting the growing notes for this month.
During January and February, gardeners will have to adjust their planting to suit local climate conditions. If it is too hot to grow things in your area, use the time to do a good job of preparing beds for strawberries, leeks and winter vegetables.
The following planting guide is an abbreviated list for vegetables, fruit trees and some culinary herbs that can be planted in January in Australia and New Zealand. A comprehensive guide that includes planting times for the entire garden, as well as when to fertilise, prune, take cuttings or divide plants, can be found in my book Easy Organic Gardening and Moon Planting. If you are not sure which climate zone you live in, please see Climate Zones for more information.

WARM CLIMATE – South of Rockhampton
Before the Full Moon, silver beet (pre-soak seed), and sunflower can be sown directly into beds, as well as a green manure crop of adzuki bean, cow pea, lablab, millet, mung bean, pigeon pea, Japanese millet, or sorghum. Leek can be sown in late January.
During First Quarter phase, eggplant, rockmelon, summer squash, tomato, and watermelon can be sown, also cucumber in late January. Bush and climbing beans, and sweet corn can be sown directly into beds.
During Full Moon phase, lemon grass, mango, pineapple and watercress can be sown or planted out. Beetroot (pre-soak seed), carrot, parsnip, potato and radish can be sown directly into beds, also seed potatoes in Brisbane and areas south.

WARM CLIMATE – North of Rockhampton
Before the Full Moon, a green manure crop of adzuki bean, cowpea, lablab, mung bean, pigeon pea, Japanese millet, or sorghum can be sown in suitable areas. Sweet corn can also be sown as a green manure crop, and slashed when it is knee high.
During First Quarter phase, sweet corn can be sown directly into beds where heavy rains will not damage pollination.
During Full Moon phase, lemon grass and mango can be sown or planted out.

TEMPERATE CLIMATE
Before the Full Moon, Brussels sprouts, leek and spring onions can be sown or planted out. Cabbage, suitable lettuce, and silver beet (pre-soak seed) can be sown directly into beds, (also nasturtium and sunflower in warmer areas), as well as a green manure crop of cow pea, millet, mung bean, pigeon pea, Japanese millet, or sorghum.
During First Quarter phase, bush and climbing beans and sweet corn can be sown directly into beds. Cauliflower, cucumber and leek can be sown or planted out, also rockmelon, summer squash, tomato, watermelon, and zucchini in warmer areas.
During Full Moon phase, beetroot (pre-soak seed), carrot, parsnip and radish can be sown directly into beds, and lemon grass and watercress can be sown or planted out. Pineapple, potato and mango can also be sown or planted out in warmer areas.

COOL CLIMATE
Before the Full Moon, Brussels sprouts, leek, lettuce, spring onions, sweet basil and parsley can be sown or planted out. Cabbage, grain crops, lettuce, silver beet (pre-soak seed) and dwarf sunflower can be sown direct, as well as a green manure crop of mung bean or millet. In colder areas, bulb fennel, open Chinese cabbage, dill, mizuna, and tatsoi can also be sown directly into beds.
During First Quarter phase, broccoli, cauliflower and zucchini can be sown or planted out, and bush and climbing beans can be sown directly into beds (also peas in colder areas).
During Full Moon phase, beetroot (pre-soak seed), carrot, parsnip, and radish can be sown directly into beds, and dandelion, mint, sage, and watercress sown or planted out (also pyrethrum in colder areas).

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Jan 1, Using earthworms castings is a great way to produce organic fertilizer that...

Earthworms, of which there are two varieties that are used, are great for producing Earthworm Castings and compost.

So, let's find out how to make a worm bin and get started making worm poop (Castings).through composting. It does not matter if it is winter or summer, a worm bin will work any time of the year.

Setting up the Worm Bin

A wood container is the best kind to use for a worm bin. This can be one you build yourself or a drawer from an old dresser or chest you are throwing away.

Drill holes in the bottom of your container for drainage. Placing a pan underneath will catch liquid fertilizer for plants. Set up the inside with strips of damp newspaper, straw that has been chopped up or fall leaves.

There should also be some sand - just a couple of cups - to allow the worms to be able to digest their food.

The best two kinds to use are either ( RedWiggler ) (Eisenia foetida) or red earth worms (Lumbricus rubellus).

The number you put into your wooden box will depend upon the amount of waste you are planning to put in the box. The suggested proportion is for every pound of food per day, 2,000 worms are needed.

The food scraps need to be vegetable peels, egg shells that have been mashed, fruit skins, coffee grounds and tea bags. The scraps should be kept to this type of products since meat or grains will attract pests that you do not want.

When placing it in the box, scoop some of the bedding to the side, place the scraps in and cover them up with the bedding. This will keep flies away.

Using the earthworm castings

Using redwiggler earthworms, is a great way to compost and produce a fertilizer that will make your soil rich and more productive. It can be used for your house plants by mixing it with potting soil.

The placement of the compost on gardens by either mixing it in the soil or putting it on top of the soil will have great results. You will enjoy the healthier looking plants as they pull the nutrients from the soil.

The compost may also be spread on lawns to help condition the soil. Using this compost is an excellent way of maintaining a rich and fertile soil for growing practically anything.

The compost may also be used as mulch either in the garden or for your houseplants. Who would have ever thought this small creature that is blind, by the way would have such as huge role in the environment?

Worm loosens packed soil, dilutes toxins, takes care of organisms we cannot even see that will cause disease in plants and creates a compost that is one of the richest found.

All of this without the need for manufactured compost saves on the use of non-renewable resources of the earth by utilizing one of our natural resources that are plentiful.

Problems with Your Compost?

A common problem that turns people off the idea of creating an compost bin is the smell. But this can be eliminated by following a few simple steps. The most common reason for the smell is the compost does not have enough oxygen.

This can be taken care of quite simply. All you have to do is cut down on the amount of scraps you are putting in the bin. The food sits too long if there is too much. The worms have to have time to eat the waste.

Sometimes the bins will have too much acidic food placed in them especially if you are a big fruit eater. If your earthworms start to crawl up the sides of the bin, this may be a problem. Adjust the amount of citric peels you are using and adding a little garden lime will help immensely.

The whole process of getting the castings and compost from your bin takes about two months. As long as you keep the scraps to a minimum, everything should be fine.

You cannot overload the earthworms or you will end up with a big mess. The process that it takes to end up with the rich dark soil you will use to help your plants grow and stay healthy will be worth the effort.

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To some adults, they are slimy creatures they want to stay clear of. Many children on the other hand find them irresistible weapons to scare other children with, especially their sisters. However, to a serious gardener they are worth their weight in gold.

Benefits of worms on plants Worms are underground dwelling creatures. Deep, dark tunnels are where most of their time is spent. Knowing this, Earthworms should be kept out of sunlight and heat. After a rain is one-occasion they can be seen above ground. The worm is active below the grounds surface. This is where they feed on organic material and soil inside their mined tunnels. Underground the worms feed on leaf, lawn and other organic debris. As foods are digested their nutrient rich waste is deposited back into the earth enriching it with essential plant nutrients.

In soil where worms are present higher concentrations of nitrogen, calcium, magnesium and phosphates are found. Earthworm castings is the term used to describe earthworm waste.

Many experts agree the riches soils of the world are made-up mostly of worm castings. As they move about below the surface they break-up hard soil allowing air, water and nutrients to reach plant roots.

1. Rake-up leaves and grass clipping into a pile. Thoroughly wet down the pile and keep it out of direct sun. The critters don?t like sunlight and need to stay moist to survive. Mulch can also be used to attract the worm.

2. Regularly add kitchen scraps to the compost pile. Instead of just tossing them on the top of the pile, bury them 6 inches beneath the surface. Watermelon, cantaloupe, lettuce, horse manure, and coffee grounds all make good food for the critters.

3. You should regularly add organic material to the compost pile. What you don?t want in pile is anything treated with insecticides or synthetic fertilizers. These chemical will be absorbed through the worms skin leading them to an easily death.

To answer the question Are redwigglers good for plants, yes they are. You can buy earthworms on line if they don?t find their way to your pile.

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Jan 3, Boston Ferns are great for hanging on porches, terraces, patios

Boston ferns are one of the plants that are displayed inside and out probably more than any other plant. With long fronds which have frilly leaves, their look is one that is full and great for hanging on porches, terraces, patios and anywhere else you want to add a touch of class.

Caring for Your Fern When it is Kept Inside

One of the reasons many people do not like to place Boston ferns inside their home is because sometimes they do not do well. Often they will drop all their leaves and start to look really bad.

The reason for this is they are not placed in the right spot and they require a little more special care than when outdoors.

Photo Credit User:Fanghong

They will benefit from misting and they need to be watered regularly. They like to be in a spot where they can get light but not sunlight beating directly on them. The indirect sunlight approach is the best. A window that faces east or west is a good location.

The temperatures they tolerate well are from 65 to 75 degrees. The night temperatures should be between 55 and 65 degrees. The plant should be placed on a stand rather than hung because the temperatures are warmer closer to the ceiling. In a room where it is a little cooler is the ideal spot for your fern. The plant loves humidity and the best way to provide this when grown inside is to either fill a shallow circular dish with stones and water. Place it close to the fern and the water will evaporate and provide the fern with the humidity it needs.

Another way of providing humidity to the fern is to place a humidifier close by and run this all the time especially in the winter. Not only will you help the plant to thrive but this will provide benefits to you and your family as well.

Although misting does help, when the water evaporates from the plant, the benefits are gone as well. The plant should have enough water when it is growing to allow the soil to be moist but not soaked. The water should be lukewarm.

Feeding The Fern

Your Boston fern can be fed with nitrogen rich plant food. This should be the type that is mixed with water. Use it at half the strength that is recommended on the package.

This should only be done during the fall, summer and spring. Do not feed the fern in the winter. The soil should never be left to become overly dry. If you want to encourage your fern to get bigger, it can be repotted. The roots will fill up the bottom of the pot when they are ready to be divided and start more ferns. The size of the pot you use will determine the size of the plant.

The Boston fern is a relation of the Sword fern. This plant grows wild in the tropics and Florida. Often the Sword fern is mistaken for the Boston fern.

They were grown in Florida in 1914 for the first time for commercial purposes. (Nephrolepis exaltata cv. Bostoniensis) is the scientific name for this fern that graces many homes. Popular in the Victorian era this plant has been a favorite for over one hundred years. Similar Posts

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Dec 31, Canavalia Rosea:

Beach Bean, Canavalia Rosea

This Canavalia Rosea is called by many names, such as Beach bean, Seaside bean, Coastal Jackbean, Bay bean and MacKenzie bean.

The Beach Bean is valued as a food source and was notable consumed by Captain James Cook and his crew during their voyage around the world in the years 1768 to 1771.

These seeds have been found in ancient sites like Oaxaca, Yucatan, and Peru, dating back from 300 B.C. to A.D. 900. The legumes and leaves are notorious for being used as a marijuana substitute.

Photo By Marcia Stefani Wikimedia

Habitat

The beach bean can be found in many seashores in the tropical areas all over the world.

It also can be found in the coasts of central Florida, southern Florida peninsula, southern Texas and southern California.

These commonly grow in a trailing patter on sand dunes, seaside cliffs and coastal strand.

Description

The Canavalia Rosea is an herbaceous vine with thick and fleshy woody stems. It can grow up to 20 feet long and can have stems up to an inch thick.

It branches out to form mats of semi-succulent leaves. These leaves fold up when exposed to the heat of the midday sun.

The white, pink or mauve flowers that look like pea blossoms appear at during spring to early fall. It has flat pods that are usually 4 to 6 inches in length and are tough and woody when mature.

Cultivation and Care

The beach bean will thrive in sandy soil conditions similar to that of its habitat, though it can also do well with other kinds of soil that has excellent drainage properties. It prefers full sun and is drought tolerant. It will require regular pruning to be kept under control. It is propagated from seed that is can be has to be scarified before being sowed after the cool frosts are gone. The pods have to dry on the plant and seeds are collected by breaking the pod.Mother Nature propagates these seed by floating them in the water and carrying them with the ocean currents.

Photo By Hans Hillewaert Wikimedia

Usage

The beach bean is commonly used as ground cover for areas that have poor soil condition and not enough water. It is also used to stop soil erosion.

Arid areas in the continents of Australia and Africa the beach bean as a biomass cover crop because of its rapid growth.

The pods and seeds are edible, but mature seeds have to be roasted or boiled before being consumed as they are toxic when at their raw state.

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Jan 3, Christmas cactus flowers bloom once a yearin winterin different attractive co

A member of Zygo-Cactus family, the Christmas cactus makes a beautiful decoration for the home.

Native to South American jungles, the cacti flowers bloom once a year?in winter?in different attractive colors such as fuchsia, salmon pink, yellow, and white. Sometimes, the flowers have a combination of such colors.

Christmas cactus plant makes a perfect Christmas decoration especially for hanging baskets. It has densely branching pendant stems characteristically segmented in 1.5 inches long and half of an inch wide. True cacti, another of its names, come with a prominent midrib. The plant has minuscule areoles that bear tiny bristles. These bristles are found in notches along the edges of the segments. The bigger and elongated areoles at the tip of the segment are where the flowers emerge.The flowers are not symmetrical in shape. Rather, they have left and right halves similar to pea flowers or snapdragons. Each bloom, which lasts for a few days, has an inch in diameter and 1.5 inches to 3 inches long.

While these plants are called cacti, they are truly different from the common cactus in all aspects. This cactus plant is also known as orchid cactus because they are found in the same environments as orchids thrive.

They inhabit the forks of tree limbs where they grow in decayed leaves and other debris that naturally accumulates there. Orchid cactus are a tropical plant, hence, their cultural requirements are different from a real cacti plant.

Christmas cactus plant should not have direct sunlight exposure.

It is ideal to place this plant in an area where there is medium light in the morning and afternoon. In September and October, the orchid cactus should be kept in a cool room where the temperatures do not drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Flowers usually bloom in December when it is less exposed to the sun due to winter?s shorter days.

It can also be induced to flower when kept inside a dark room. Ensure though that there is no light turned on inside the room.

Another option is to cover the budding plant with black plastic sheets at least 16 hours a day, and expose them to sunlight for 8 hours only.

As soon as the orchid cactus start budding, it is advisable not to keep them in areas where there are lights in the evening.

Especially during the flowering season should the cactus plant need regular watering. However, it is important to note never to let the pots stand in water.

Suffice it is to mist the cactus plant. After the flowering season, though, the watering sessions must reduce.

It is sufficient that the potting mixture is moistened, and its top portion is dried out before watering the cactus again. Abundant watering is resumed whenever there is a new stem growing. Sometimes, there is a need for the plant to be humidified through mist-spray.

During the flowering season and active growth, Christmas cactus needs food plants. Apply a potassium-rich, slow-release fertilizer once a month, throughout the year, to encourage flowering.

Repotting is required once a year after the plant completed a flowering season.

Propagating Christmas cactus is very easy. It only needs cuttings at any given time. Simply remove a portion of a stem having two or three joined segments.

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Dec 31, Cabbage Plants

Scientific name: Brassica oleracea L

When growing cabbage the most important thing to remember is to plant where there has not been anything of this nature planted in the last three years. This includes plants that are related to it such as Brussels sprouts or cauliflower.

This will eliminate the breeding of soil diseases which could harm your Cabbage.

The area should be a soil that drains well and it does not matter if it is particularly rich in nutrients although it will do better in richer soil. They can be added as needed.

When to Plant Brassica oleracea L

The best time for planting is either in the early spring or later in the fall. A winter crop may be grown as long as this is in an area where the temperatures do not get below freezing often.

The crop should not be planted at a time that will mean when the plants mature the weather is hot.

The plants can be started inside first and then transplanted in approximately 4 weeks to give them time acclimate.

Of course you can just start them outside but not until about 4 weeks before you expect the last frost.

When growing vegetable many people prefer transplants rather than seeds. They want to get a head start and therefore they do not want to wait on seeds to sprout and get healthy enough to move.

The transplants should be healthy plants with no insects or brown or yellow leaves.

Where to Plant Brassica oleracea L

Because the plants do not like to be in the full sun, they will take a moderate amount of shade during the day. Working in some compost before the transplant of the plants will help them to get the necessary nutrients.

The crop needs moisture on a regular basis. The best way to accomplish this is to add mulch. The application of about 6 inches of mulch will help to keep moisture around the plants.

Fertilizing Cabbage Plants

The best fertilizer is adding compost or 10-10-10 to the area where you will be planting the vegetable. Work it into the soil and then plant.

When the plant begins to head, add a tablespoon of 5-10-10 or about a cup of compost to the area around the plant. Do not put it against the stem of the plant. Water well to wash the fertilizer into the ground.

Cabbage Plant insects

Cutworms are one of the pests that are prone to the vegetable.

They can be either a gray or brown looking moth. With a shiny or oily appearance they are found in the soil around the plants. They will kill seedlings and younger plants.

The adults will lay eggs starting in May and when they hatch the larvae feed on grass and plants between 3 and 5 weeks. In order to keep them from hatching around your plants, cutworm collars are advised. The best way to make these collars is to cut strips of newspaper

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Dec 28, Birch Herb: The medicinal applications of the Birch herb are many. Here are a fe

Birch Herb, Betulaceae, Betula spp

This tree is has 3 main types identifiable by its color. There are white, yellow and black Birch trees. Though all these types have healing properties, the kind that is most sought after is the one that produces tar. This tar is actually the thick oily sap with has balsamic fragrance.

The sap, which is called Oleum Rusci, Oleum Betulinum, or Dagget, is during the final process of leather-making. It is placed at the last stage to give shine to the leather and to prevent mold.

Other uses for the oil are for fermentation of vinegar, beer, and wine. The oil is also used for its insect repellant properties.

The plant is native to Northern European countries. A soft wood tree, it has reddish brown branches and white trunk bark. The thin white bark was formerly used as writing paper.

Birch charcoal was once used to make gun powder. This plant is hardy and easy to grow. When gathering the brown catkins for seed, place them inside a large bag. This is to prevent seed loss.

If the seeds are to be dried, it has to be spread on a flat surface and dried in the sun for 3 weeks. The fresh seeds are sown in spring or autumn. Dried seeds have to be stratified for 1 to 2 months before sowing. Cover newly sown seeds with a light layer of compost.

The medicinal applications of the Birch herb are many. The leaves can be made into strong tea drank for treatment of urinary tract infections, cystitis, gout, rheumatism, an as a laxative for constipation.

The leaves are boiled and strained for cleansing of boils and other similar skin eruptions. The oil is a remedy for eczema, scabies and related skin disorders. The healing oil of the Birch tree also relieves muscle pain. It is a vital ingredient to many topical liniments and ointments.

There are cautions to be aware of when using the Birch herb for medical applications. It cannot be used externally or internally by those who have aspirin, pollen and nasal allergies.

Birch tree oil and its herbal products cannot be applied on children, pregnant and lactating women as methyl salicylate is highly toxic, can lead to poisoning, and in extreme cases, death. Similar Posts

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Nov 28, Different Kinds Of Plants

Different kinds of plants is for the person who loves the look, feel, and smell of a variety of plants, and is looking for new species and more productive ways of growing them at home.

Just suppose you could go outside, look at an unhealthy plant near death, and kick its growth into overdrive in only a week?s time. How fun would that be? That's what different kinds of plants bring to the table. If you ever wanted to grow a monster crop of tomatoes, bean and broccoli year after year-- no matter if you live in the cold, Northern states or hot, humid areas of South Florida. The Gardening plants section will show you how. Or maybe you want gardenia, ixora, jasmine and honeysuckle to fill your landscape with beautiful flowers and perfume-like aromas that attract bees, butterflies, and other entertaining wildlife to your property. Landscape Plants will open your eyes to these kinds of plants. Perhaps you live in a hot, dry area and would like to grow cacti, succulent and other drought tolerant plants, but don't know where to begin. Desert Plants will hand you everything you need to grow these types of plants with ease...even when others have failed. If you the type of person who loves plants but hates working outdoors getting sweaty while being annoyed by mosquitoes and other pests, the Indoor Plants area is where you want to go to now. Plant Growth Factors is where you'll find tools, tips, and techniques to successful grow virtually any kind of plant. Plus, you'll discover articles on plant roots, stems, leaves and moreCompost section will show you the who, what, when, where, and how about composting. Topics covered include compost worms, compost bins, compost materials and how to build a compost pile to name a few. Do you have a flare for the exotic side of life? If so, Exotic Plants is where you want to be. Bromeliads, Poisonous, carnivorous and other exotics plants are found here. If you are having problems with insects and other plant critters check out Garden Pests section to identify the unwanted pests and...best methods of eliminating them from your garden and plants. And then zip on over to the Natural Pest Control page to learn how to get rid them from your garden naturally. The popularity of herbs have skyrocketed in recent years. If you want to begin growing herbs for health, healing, happiness or to add zest to culinary dishes while saving on grocery bills Growing Herbs is where you want to be. Hydroponics Gardening allows the home gardener or commercial farmer to grow plants, herbs, and vegetables faster than traditional gardening methods. Not only that, but your harvest is considerably larger compared to growing them in soil. Check out the amazing world of Hydroponics Gardening

Different kinds of plants will adding new plant types and sections frequently, so stay in touch. Enjoy!

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Jan 3, Bone Meal Powder

Bone meal powder is a organic fertilizer derived from the bones of animals such as cows, although other animals slaughtered can also be used to prepare the fertilizer.

It is a steamed meal in powder form because the animal bones are ground.

For many centuries, it has been used by farmers as a nutritional plant supplements. Even today, using it as plant fertilizer is widespread.

Also, the meal has been used to feed animals as an additive to their feeds. However, it is questioned by people who are concerned about food safety as it can post threats such as spongiform diseases like the bovine spongiform encephalitis.

As a organic fertilizer, bone meal for plants is slow in its release, particularly the phosphorous, which is abundant in the meal.

Its NPK ratio is normally 4-12-0, but there are also steamed bone meals with 1-13-0 ratio. The phosphorous is an important nutrient in plants especially the flowering plants such as Roses, Bulbs, Tulips, Hyacinths and Daffodils because it makes the blooms plentiful and large.

Besides the phosphorous, the bone meal is also a rich source of calcium.

Calcium plays an important role in root development of plants, its growing points or areas of quick dividing cells like the tips of stems branches. A plant deficient of calcium has bulbous, thick and short roots

Because the pace of releasing the nutrients is rather slow, bone meal powder makes an excellent natural time-release fertilizer classically employed to prepare the soil for planting.

Generally, gardeners rake the bone meal fertilizer into the soil, or layered into a hole previously prepared for transplanting.

For growing bulbs, the bone meal fertilizer is used to provide nutrients essential in healthy growth.

There are conventional and organic bone meal powder available in the markets today. The organic bones come from slaughterhouses which handle only organic meat.

There are also manufacturers of such meals that include additional vitamins and minerals to augment its quality.

The additional vitamins and minerals are usually indicated on the label so gardeners would know which product to choose for their respective needs.

Bone meals vary in texture. Some are coarse, while others are fine. Bones that are finely ground are quick in breaking down and releasing the nutrients.

Bones that are coarsely ground are slow in its release because it is also slow in breaking down.

Gardeners can also prepare their own bone meal and customize the texture to meet their requirements. It is done by crushing and cracking bones, and scattering them onto the garden.

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Jan 4, Lawn fungus treatment

Lawn fungus treatment

Even the healthiest lawn can get fungal attack. Lawns may at first appear healthy and lustrous. Yet, as spring draws near, it starts to turn brown. By mid-summer, it is pockmarked.

A lot of reasons can be attributed to such incidence including close mowing, lack of plant foods, soil compaction, insufficient water, insect infestations, and extremely high temperatures which may render some types of grasses dormant.

When spores are present on weak grasses, fungal disease is likely to develop. Such is particularly true in an environment conducive to fungal growth, like warm temperature and high moisture.

Lawn fungus is due to the thread-like microscopic organisms that scatter through water or airborne spores that are likened to seeds which carry the fungus to other plants where they can freely grow and propagate.

Once fungal infestation strikes, it can scatter quickly throughout the lawn and when it does, it may be hard to control it.

Before deciding on the best treatment, it is best to identify the types of fungal infection. There are common and uncommon classifications.

Among the common lawn fungus are leaf spot, necrotic ring spot, fusarium blight, brown patch, dollar spot, rust, red thread, smut, and yellow patch, and snow mold.

Some uncommon fungal lawn includes brown patch, fairy ring disease, ring of mushrooms, leaf smut, and leaf spot.

Also called summer patch, brown patch can kill thin grasses of up to 2 feet in diameter. The dollar spot makes tan or straw-colored circles of silver dollar size on the lawn.

Appearing as a bright green spot, the fairy ring disease has an outer ring that turns brown and it spreads quickly onto nearby areas.

Growing around the edge is the ring of mushrooms, while the leaf smut begins with pale-green dwarf-like growth that features black stripe on the grass? blades.

The necrotic ring spot is due mainly to poor aeration, which would cause a shredded appearance on the lawn. Brown rings across the lawn also characterize the necrotic ring spot.

Using fungicide for lawn fungus treatment is the most common solution that lawn owners have in mind when confronted with fungal problems.

However, most Agriculture department of a state believes that not at all times are chemical fungicide necessary. Nor is it available all the time.

Lawn fungus treatment chemicals

A few of these chemicals used in fungicide are chlorothalonil, benomyl, anilazine, and thiophante.

Some fungi require digging up of the entire lawn and ground. In fact, it is among the best solutions because it covers all areas, ensuring zero-rate for fungal recurrence.

Another best lawn fungus treatment is prevention of lawn infestation. Lawn must be properly cared to keep it healthy. Maintenance such as mowing, watering, and aeration is necessary

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Dec 26, Growing Beets: How to Grow and Care for Beets

Beets are a favorite food of many people. Did you know they are available in more colors than red? Yes, there are purple, white and gold varieties. The colors are not the only difference. The shapes can be oval, round or cylindrical.

They are a nutritious and healthy vegetable and if you want to learn how to grow and care for them in your own garden, take a look at the following.

Planting

The best soil for growing is a sandy soil that allows the roots to grow. The pH level is important so it should be tested. The best level is 6.0 to 6.8. The soil should drain well and be fertile and must be kept moist.

The best way to ensure the soil is rich enough for the growing season is for every 100 square feet of planting space add about 20 pounds of compost. The soil should not be compacted. In fact, it should be loose to the depth of 12 inches at the least.

If the soil is hard to drain or is compacted, you can make your own raised beds for growing the plants. Full sun is preferred by beets but they will put up with some shade.

The rule of thumb for growing to feed everyone in the family is from 5 to 10 feet per person. If you plan to can them, a 10 to 20 foot row is required for each person.

When placing them in the ground, space them about 3 inches apart and anywhere from a foot to 20 inches should be spaced between rows.

The plants can be thinned when they are about 3 inches tall and should end up being about 6 inches apart.

They should be planted when the air temperature is between 50 and 65 degrees and the soil temperature is 45 degrees or above.

The best time for growing is when the soil is around 80 degrees.

Planting in the early spring is the best time. The soil should be rich in nitrogen. The best way to ensure this is to plant them where peas or beans have been grown before. The spots where you have planted melons or potatoes should be avoided.

The seed may be soaked for about 15 minutes before planting. Compost tea is the best thing to soak them in and then they can be placed into the soil about a half of an inch down.

Keep them going by planting about every 30 days once you start planting. You can continue this until the middle of summer.

Caring for Beets

By keeping the beet soil moist but not soaked, the plants will get the right amount of water. They should have mulch added to help hold the moisture and keep unwanted weeds out of the plants.

Its roots are not very deep so if you have to weed, do it by hand. Once the leaves have developed fully use a solution of seaweed fertilizer and liquid fish oil to soak down the beet plants.

If you do this once a week until the plants are about 3 inches tall the roots will not get hard, black areas. They will also get the right amount of boron to keep the roots from being stunted. About a cup every two feet will suffice. In about 56 to 70 days, the beet roots will be ready for harvesting.

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Jan 8, Buttonbush attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and bees to its flowers

Although it can grow to be as tall as 20 feet, the buttonbush is usually 6-8 feet tall. It ordinarily also has a spread of about 6-8 feet, thus it needs a pretty large amount of room from other bushes.

Some have described it as having a scrubby look, and there are often dead branches in its natural state.

It has what?s called deciduous leaves, which means that it normally sheds its leaves once a year.

Mostly, the leaves grow in opposite pairs. However some of them are in whorls or circular arrangements, but not all, thus why it is described as being ?scrubby.?

The leaves are best described as being oval or elliptic. Ordinarily the leaves are long, 3 to 6 inches, and they can be 2 to 4 inches wide.

Its flower formations are decidedly of interest, for it makes a pincushion-like ball, onto which are attached creamy white or greenish white, extremely tiny flowers.

Those little flowers rise up from the ball in scattered clusters, hence giving the appearance of a pincushion.

The flowers are very sweetly scented, and arise out of the ball in summer and late spring. Eventually the flowers turn into reddish brown nut shaped growths, which are in actuality fruit balls.

They have an extremely rough texture, and at times, the hanging balls may last through the winter season.

There are many varieties of the bush, but one thing is very certain, and that is the fact that the best species grow in wetlands.

It grows extremely well in marshlands and in swamps.

Or you can find the plant located along the banks of various streams or ponds. The bush will easily grow where there is standing water for parts of the year. Naturally it grows all along the East Coast of Canada and the US.

It also can be found in its natural state primarily in Minnesota, Mexico and Texas, though it also grows in its natural state in California.

The buttonbush, when it grows in standing water, will occasionally form pure, but very dense strands. The plant is quite important to swamp life.

The submerged portions of the buttonbush provide habitats for countless micro and macro invertebrates, which are creatures without a backbone.

From there, the food chain system allows these invertebrates to be used in turn as food by various kinds of fish as well as amphibians such as ducks and reptiles.

Even the seeds provide food as ducks and many different kinds of birds will eat them. The plant itself provides nesting areas for birds due to the manner in which the leaves grow into a thicket.

If you wish to attract hummingbirds, butterflies or bees, the buttonbush?s flowers actually smell like honey.

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Dec 26, The begonia plant can be a beautiful part of any garden or houseplant

The Begonia plant is a member of the class of plants known as angiosperms. In basic terms, angiosperms are flowering plants.

There are many other important features of angiosperms, however, that anyone who is thinking of growing a Begonia plant should know about ahead of time.

Angiosperms have six basic characteristics: flowers, stamens with two pollen sacs, reduced male parts, closed carpel around the ovules, reduced female gaetophyte, and endosperm.

Flowers of angiosperms are the organs that are responsible for reproduction. Many other types of plants that are not angiosperms reproduce through seeds.

But flowering plants have actual reproductive organs that allow them a much greater degree of hybrids and other evolutionary advantages over seeding plants.

Angiosperms also have stamens with two pollen sacs and closed carpel around the ovules. The pollen sacs of the angiosperms and thee closed carpel around the ovules have developed over the years to prevent self-fertilization.

This is an important trait because it makes angiosperms have a greater diversity than those plants that engage in self-fertilization.

The reduction of the male parts, or the gametophyte, as well as the reduced female parts, are also advantages in the angiosperm reproduction. The smaller parts mean less time between pollination and fertilization.

The less time between these two stages means that the plants will seed much more quickly, thereby ensuring a continual development that the later seedings of other plants do not have.

The final important trait of an angiosperm plant is the development of the nourishing endosperm. Endosperm is a tissue which provides needed nutrition for the embryo and the seedlings of the angiosperm plants. This tissue typically develops just after fertilization takes place in angiosperm plants.

The begonia plant is one of the most well known and well loved of all angiosperm plants. As a result, the begonia enjoys a rich and diverse evolutionary heritage.

Trying to classify the begonia plant can be difficult. It is estimated that there are over one thousand of the species of the plant available. Still, for category purposes, there are primarily nine different styles of begonias plant available.

These styles are tuberous begonias, semperflorens begonias, cane-like, rex begonias, hiemalis begonias, trailing-scandents, shrub-like begonias, elatior begonias, and thick-stemmed begonias.

The first of these, tuberous begonias, are known for their large blooms and grow well in shade, though they need to be protected from high winds.

Originating in Bolivia and Peru, the tuberous begonias perfer warm weather and are intolerant of frost. Likewise, however, they do not tolerate extremely hot weather.

The second grouping, semperflorens begonias, are also called wax or bedding begonias.

These types of begonias are often grown in large groups in home gardens, which works well to showcase their brilliance of colors. Semperflorens begonias come in a variety of colors, along with their bright green or bronze leaves.

The appearance of cane-like begonias isn't hard to determine. As their name suggests, these types of begonias are known for their long, stiff stem that gives the appearance of a cane.

They are plants that can be either potted or outside plants, though wherever you grow them, you should be aware that they can reach up to ten feet high. These begonias are also called "Angel Wing" or tree begonias.

Rex begonias are among the hardest plants to grow, because they require very specific growing environment. When it comes to humidity, rex begonias require a 69% humidity in order to grow, which is difficult for most casual gardeners to maintain.

Still, these plants produce a gorgeous foliage in the hands of the right gardener, and it is for this reason alone that many grow this fussier breed of begonias.

Hiemalis begonias, also called rieger or blush begonias, originate in New Zealand, where they make wonderful winter plants.

They are known for their soft colors of pinks and pastels. The biggest problem a gardener will have with hiemalis begonias is overwatering as this plant can be very susceptible to root rot.

Trailing-scandents are a fairly hardy style of begonia that can be grown either in hanging potted plants or outdoors. If grown outside, they make beautiful growing plants for your landscape.

Shrub-like begonias are well named, as they are small, bushy plants. They require a decent fertilizer to flower well, and despite their name, make excellent potted plants.

If you are looking for a begonia to flower throughout the year, the elatior begonia is your best bet. They will flourish particularly well if you make them a houseplant.

Thick-stem begonias are a small group that most do not know about, though they do make excellent houseplants. You'll need to allow them room to grow, however, as they can reach heights of six feet.

The begonia plant can be a well-loved and beautiful part of any garden or houseplant collection. Picking the right one to suit your growing environment, however, is the key to a successful begonia experience.

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Nov 28, Hydroponic Nutrients

Hydroponic Nutrientsbody {background-color:#fff;}body, td {font:13px Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#000;margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {margin:8px 0px 14px 0px;}h1 {font-size:26px;}h2 {font-size:22px;}h3{font-size:18px;}Hydroponic Nutrients ? their presence, how they can be obtained and their benefits discussed

Hydroponic Nutrients

Hydroponics is the method of growing plants with mineral nutrients in water (instead of soil). To this day, the method popularized the ?soilless culture? of agriculture and went on to become a standard technique in researching and teaching in the field of biology.

Through this method, mineralized nutrients are dropped into the water supply in an artificial manner and then get absorbed by the plant through its roots.

Not only is hydroponics an effective way to grow plants, it is also cleaner and non-polluting by nature (no soil, no pests and no pesticides).

To ensure a good supply of nutrients, one can rely on commercially released nutrients that are available everywhere and in wide variety no less.

These nutrients and solutions are essential for any hydroponic system or indoor gardening operation as they already have complete and balanced formulas, as well as the specific minerals needed to grow plants.

In the market, any crop grower can buy a container of Calplex which is specialized to correct calcium deficiencies of varied plants.

To ensure healthy root systems of plants, BioRoot ($15) is the recommended plant growth supplement to use.

For anyone using over 200 ppm worth of tap water, the FloraMicro Hardwater is best.

To help plants maintain growth and achieve better blooms in the long run, Spray-N-Grow is the top ?plant vitamins? to spray with.

For specific needs, for specific types of plants, and other related purposes, commercial hydroponic nutrients can help a lot and their presence on retail shelves offer crop growers a lot of choice.

One can also check with the different nutrients and gardening solutions providers for specific purposes (example: a single brand offers products specially formulated for growing vegetables hydroponically).

Other than buying nutrients in containers, you can create your own nutrient reservoir. Not only does having a reservoir make it convenient for the crop grower or gardener to access (it can be placed near the plants that need nutrients), it can give him or her better control when dealing with the hydroponic systems and batches of plants.

A reservoir can be established by having water, the nutrients, an aquarium air pump, a TDS/EC meter, a PH testing kit and more. By consulting with a professional, the establishment and maintenance of the reservoir can be done and in the long run it can serve as an instant source of not just nutrients but also help on using the hydroponics system itself.

It is also important to learn the specific types and amounts of nutrients crops need, as well as managing their distribution. Whatever the method a crop grower uses to keep his or her plants growing healthily, hydroponic nutrients are essential to have at all times.

A large supply of these nutrients is needed whether one would use a reservoir or stockpile lots of them from the market. True enough, without hydroponic nutrients, any hydroponic system will fail.

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Jan 8, Carnivorous plants consume insects, worms, and other small animals.

Carnivorous plants are a focus of fascination.

Many science fiction movies have shown the plants to be a major plot point, often to the degree of eating people and large animals.

In actuality, the main foods these types of plants consume are insects, worms, and other small animals.

They are also actually very hard to keep on average, because of their high soil demands. The type of soil they grow in naturally has to be replicated in order to ensure a decent growth and their natural soil is often lacking in nutrients, which is why the plants are carnivorous to begin with.

While most plants are a pain to attempt to grow, one notable exception is the cobra lily.

The cobra lily will still be more difficult to grow than the average houseplant, but it will not be as fussy as most other carnivorous plants.

Photo by Avishai Teicher via the PikiWiki - Israel free image collection project

Its ease to grow can be attributed to the fact that it grows naturally in soils such as those found in southern Oregon and northern California.

Unlike the science fiction trope, there is no magic trap door on the cobra lily. The cobra lily functions by tricking insects into falling into a body of liquid acids that help the plant digest the insects.

These are located at the base of the leaves, and trappage occurs when the insects start looking for a way out of the plant and instead fall into a long tube that it cannot climb out of due to the slippery surfaces of the inside of the cobra lily.

To grow a cobra lily, you will need to need to place the plant in reasonably humid conditions with the roots being kept cooler than the rest of the plant.

This can be accomplished through placing ice cubes directly on the soil and away from the leaves. Cobra lilies also need to be kept in a warm area with plenty of sun.

In order to be successful, your plants will need to have moss to grow in, in order to duplicate the conditions of the peat they grow in naturally.

The Cobra Lily will need to be given fresh water every day and a diet of fresh insects every six weeks.

Anyone who is attempting to grow a cobra lily is going to face plenty of difficulty, because it is not a plant for beginners. It is, however, one of the easiest of any Carnivorous Plants to cultivate in the home.

Venus Fly Trap Image

There are many different species of carnivorous plants, and they range in their specific requirements for soil, humidity, and sunlight.

Still, despite these differences, as a whole, carnivorous plants have many features in common when it comes to attempting to grow them as house plants.

The major requirement for these unique plants is that they require water that does not come from the tap.

Water from the tap may be fine to drink for humans, but these plants are used to growing in soil that lacks any type of nutrients. Tap water comes full of minerals and these can build up in a small space of time. Watering with tap water is the number one reason that carnivorous plants die. Instead, unusual plants need to be watered with distilled water, every day. Additionally, their roots should be kept cool with the placement of distilled ice cubes on their soil. An additional concern is making sure that the plant is only fed fresh insects. Fertilizer will kill the plant, because again, it needs soil without nutrients. Additionally, people have been known to try to give the plants all sorts of odd items like meat and cheese, and those will kill the plant. Plants do not have to have insects to grow, but if you do feed them insects, it should be approximately once every six weeks. Despite the fact that carnivorous plants eat insects, they can still be susceptible to some insect outbreaks. These include mealybugs and aphids.

Since this kind of plant is so hard to grow, the best bet is to purchase an insecticide at the very first sign of either mealybugs or aphids. However, for some types of scale insects, small amounts of rubbing alcohol have been known to be affective, too.

Though difficult plants to grow at home, carnivorous plants can be kept care of through using the proper water, food, and maintenance procedures.

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School gardens update

Dec 20

Posted by: lyn in: Garden projects

Recently I visited Westport Public School at Port Macquarie to see their school garden. The garden is cultivated according to the lessons in the ‘Organic School Gardens’ program that I wrote for BFA and is available free to all Australian schools on the internet. Although, to look at the website, you would think the program was all the work of the Victorian government.
I was delighted to see how much the children and the dedicated staff at Westport have achieved in a few short months during what has been a very busy year. The Holiday Coast Credit Union and the local Bunnings store have shown great generosity of spirit in providing funding, equipment and labour to get the garden started. The children have had fun discovering how good organically-grown vegetables and strawberries taste and how vigorous and pest-resistant plants are when using organic cultivation methods, and are justifiably proud of their efforts. Well done, to everyone involved.

You can find the program at organic school gardens

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