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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