By Patricia Wainwright

Outfitting your greenhouse with grow lights can be a big investment. Formulas exist to help do-it-yourself gardeners figure out how much wattage is needed and then the cost of running greenhouse grow lights. Beyond cost there are green house grow lights considerations as to how you will manage adjusting the distance between the lights and the tops of the constantly growing plants. With the cost and engineering done the long term benefits of being outfitted with greenhouse grow lights are great.

photo credit: DVS1mn

When thinking about putting grow lights in your greenhouse it is important to decide what plants you will be growing in the “off” season that greenhouse grow lights allow you to produce. The light requirements are listed for plants in garden books and on information sticks that come with nursery plants. Plants in the vegetable group that require less than full sun are few but there are many what will grow indoors with greenhouse grow lights just fine. Leaf lettuce is a great example of an easy edible plant to grow. Although it lists full-sun for good growth leaf lettuce does green in the solid shady area. There are such abnormalities and only trial and error will determine what grows well in your greenhouse. It is generally common knowledge that metal halide lamps are excellent for growing veggies and high pressure sodium lights are the type of light to be given flowering plants. Some greenhouse grow lights fixtures allow for changing the out the two types of greenhouse lights out to provide the specific color spectrum of light needed during the different phases of the vegetation’s growth. Blue spectrum light promotes foliage growth while red spectrum light supports blooming flowers and ripening vegetables.

The latest in greenhouse grow lights technology are the LED lighting configurations that provide non-polluting full spectrum lighting while generating the least amount of heat. Due to the heavy cost of setting up LED greenhouse grow light systems they are mostly found in large commercial or industrial growing operations. The front loaded cost is offset by the fact that LED plant grow lights last for over 50,000 hours each. There are LED lights still working today that were plugged in during 1970.

To calculate just how much it will cost to run the greenhouse grow lights once they are installed you begin by combining all the individual lamp wattage and divide them by one thousand. The results are the amount of kilowatts you will be energizing. Multiply that number by the cost per hour of electricity in your area to get the operating cost per hour. To get the total operating costs per month multiply the number of hours used by the operating costs per hour.

Greenhouse grow lights can be a great addition to your gardening experience. Different plant needs as well as budget are greenhouse grow lights considerations you need to think of. If cost is no object or a large nursery operation is being planned the LED plant grow lights would definitely be a good way to go.

Author Patricia Wainwright Resource: Get all the facts about greenhouse gardening and organic gardening at GreenThumbArticles.com!

Article Source: Greenhouse Grow Lights Considerations

Article From: Organic Gardening Articles

The trees are budding, the grass is growing, and you’re thinking of all those wonderful garden plans you never got around to last year. This year, get a head start on the season with a few tips to help save time and avoid disappointment. And don’t forget to involve the kids—this is one of the few times you can give them permission to play in the dirt!

photo credit: GardenFocus

Its time to start thinking about a vegetable garden! Don’t ignore the plot of land you’ve always pictured as the ideal spot for a vegetable garden. Your dreams of a summer bounty full of vine-ripe tomatoes, fresh zucchini, crisp snap peas, and succulent green peppers can be realized. With a few simple guidelines for planning the perfect vegetable garden, you can enjoy a delicious harvest in summer and beyond! Don’t make your first veggie garden too far from your house or water source. Don’t make it too big. A small garden, planted correctly and maintained will give you plenty of produce.

Pick a Plot

The first step in successful gardening, and arguably the most important, is picking a spot. Make sure the area is large enough to accommodate the vegetables you want to plant, has good air circulation, and receives both sun and rainfall. Here are some tips to keep in mind when choosing your garden plot:

• Try not to plant too close to any large trees or hedges, as they can shade your garden and take the moisture and nutrients from the soil that your plants will need.

• With stakes and strings, mark off the areas where you will walk in your garden, and where you will plant your vegetables. You want to make sure you have enough room to move around without hurting your plants. It can also help to draw a rough diagram, and indicate where you want to plant certain vegetables.

• Allow enough growing space for your larger vegetables.

• Remember—it helps to provide stakes or trellises for vine plants.

Choosing Your Crop

Once you’ve selected your garden spot, you can start choosing the vegetables you want to grow. However, your local climate will determine when you can plant your seeds. You can find the information you need regarding when to plant on the back of your seed packets, and on many agricultural websites. Remember that some vegetables need to be started inside before they can be transplanted outdoors.

Cool versus Warm

Planting periods are determined by your choice of cool-season vegetables and warm-season vegetables. Cool-season vegetables are generally not harmed by light frost, but won’t do well with extended periods of warm temperatures. They can usually be planted earlier in spring. These include cabbage, mustard, lettuce, celery, carrots, kale, onions, peas and spinach. Warm-season vegetables generally need a soil temperature of at least 50°F and can be killed by frost, so they need to be planted a little later in the season when there is no more danger of frost. These include cucumbers, sweet potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, squash and sweet corn.

If you are starting seedlings in vermiculite to get a jump on the season, great! But be sure to transplant them as soon as the second pair of true leaves form, or they’ll starve.

Preparing the Soil

The soil must be the right temperature and consistency for planting. Soil that’s too wet, too cold, or too warm (depending on your plants or seeds) won’t produce a good crop. Before you plant, use a shovel to remove grass, weeds, and rocks from your garden plot. In addition, turn over the soil to break up any big lumps.

Get Your Vegetables in a Row

You can plant however you wish, but to get the best results, consider planting in rows or raised beds. Planting in rows is the more traditional method, and rows are easy to organize, maintain, and plant. Raised beds use space more efficiently, and you might not have to weed as much. However, raised beds take more initial time and money to prepare. Whichever route you take, make sure when you’re planting to walk around the perimeter of your garden or in the pre-made walkways to avoid damaging your plants.

Hoe, Hoe, and more Hoe:

Your vegetable garden will need regular upkeep and removal of weeds to thrive. Weeds reduce the available nutrients, sunlight, soil, and space your plants need. There are many different ways to control weeds in your garden—including pulling, and hoeing.

You can also try to stop the weeds before they start. A nice trick is to plant vegetables that suppress or shade weeds, which prevent further growth. You could try cucumbers, tomatoes, and squash. For this to work properly, it’s best to make sure your suppression (or shading) vegetables have become established in the garden before weeds start to arrive.

Pests

Try to keep your garden organic. There are many ways to foil pests. Herbs are nature’s insecticides. Basil planted near tomatoes, for example, will repel worms and flies. Nothing beats the fragrance of fresh herbs, and they’re decorative as well. Some people like to use straw or mulch. However, mulches can keep the soil from warming up. So wait to apply organic mulches after plants are 3 to 4 inches tall and the soil is warm.

Watering

In addition to weeding, make sure your garden is properly watered. On average, plants need approximately one inch of water a week. If a plant starts to droop, revive it by watering right away.

There you have it—the simple basics you need to start the vegetable garden you always dreamed of having. With just a little time and effort, you can enjoy the fruits (and veggies!) of your labor.

Author Arlene Wright Correll Resource: Resources: Excerpted from “Food For Thought Series” by Arlene Wright-Correll

For more gardening or cooking information click http://www.learn-america.com/ and click on Arlene’s Books you can download or buy my gardening & cook books. All my royalties from the sale of my books go to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and we thank you for your attention to this site.

Article Source: Planting a Vegetable Garden

Article From: Organic Gardening Articles

By Patricia Wainwright

How to store cantaloupe seeds

photo credit: apple_pathways

Cantaloupe prefers a rich soil and to be planted in full sun. They like warm weather, and you need to water them regularly so that the soil is moist. The easiest source of cantaloupe seeds is from a cantaloupe you have already grown yourself or one a neighbor has grown or that you have bought from a farmers’ market. You do not want a supermarket cantaloupe as they will be hybrids and you will not know what will grow, unless you are up for a surprise. Having eaten your delicious melon and decided you want to grow more that taste like that chosen variety, you scoop out the seeds from the inside of the melon and put them in a jar with some warm water. Leave them in the jar for two days as this will kill any melon viruses and separate the pulp from the seeds; stir the water occasionally. Any seeds that float to the top of the water can be discarded because they will not germinate. Dry your seeds on kitchen towel, and leave them to dry out for a day, turning them over once, then pop them in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for two days. You now have sterilized dormant cantaloupe seeds ready for planting next year. Store them in an envelope, plastic bag or jar out of light and away from the heat or they will start to germinate.

Types of cantaloupe seeds and edible seeds

You can buy cantaloupe seeds growing them in your garden but for the first time it may be best with named varieties and helpful instructions on a seed packet. There are varieties of giant cantaloupe seeds that produce monster cantaloupes, such as Gurneys which are popular in fruit and vegetable growing contests. Another very popular variety is ambrosia cantaloupe seeds which grow a red fleshed very sweet and juicy melon with very few seeds and as it is a hybrid it will not grow true from its own seeds. Are cantaloupe seeds edible? Most people scoop out the middle and throw it away, but some varieties of cantaloupe seeds can be dried and eaten, they are used on naan bread in India and cantaloupe seeds nutrition value is high in minerals and vitamins, so if not growing them, dry them and eat them

Planting cantaloupe seeds

You should start sowing your seeds after the frosts have passed and expect germination in 2 to 3 weeks. You could start the seedlings indoors, or in a greenhouse, they are tender annuals so if frost is predicted, cover them up. Cantaloupe seeds need space to grow, are often planted in hills six seeds together or 2 or 3 seeds a few inches apart in rows. They will need to be watched for signs of disease and the vines trained or else you will have a mass tangle of greenery.

Author Patricia Wainwright Resource: Get all the facts about seeds and organic gardening at GreenThumbArticles.com!

Article Source: Eating and Growing Cantaloupe Seeds

Article From: Organic Gardening Articles

photo credit: frankenstoen

Bergamot. While this plant is not one you’ll want to eat, per se, it is great for making tea, and you can use the entire plant for brewing. Bergamot helps to reduce fevers, relieve colds and treat insomnia. You can also drink some of the tea if you have a stomach ache. This is a great plant to add to your container garden as well, since it is an edible plant you can use often.

photo credit: jjspirko

Wild ginger. This warm, sweet and spicy plant root is used for tea and flavoring food and is great for the respiratory system. It is used as an expectorant, and you may want to try planting these in your garden wall planter as well, so that you will have the root available whenever you feel yourself coming down with the flu.

photo credit: turtlemom4bacon

Wood sorrel. You can eat the green leaves of this plant for a great boost of iron and other nutrients, or you can steep the leaves for drink that is cool and slightly sour. Sorrel is also rich in vitamin C and can be used to treat canker sores, nausea and a sore throat.

photo credit: blumenbiene

Growing these plants yourself in your backyard garden could be rewarding and truly organic.

edited for Functional Gardens

Indoor container garden

Herbs are probably the easiest plants to grow indoors because they do very well indoors. To go super simple, choose a basil plant. Once the basil grows, you can use this herb for pasta dishes, salads and more. Besides basil, you can also grow mint. You can use the mint for iced beverages, desserts and more. These herbs are versatile, and you can find many recipes on the internet for them. Herbs like rosemary and thyme need more sunlight and more care, but if you have a big window where they can get direct light, these herbs can work for you.

You have many choices of vegetables to grow in a container. Garlic is very easily grown by planting a couple of gloves in the pot with the tip up. In only a week’s time, you’ll already see green shoots. These green shoots can be used in salads, soups, and meat dishes. Green onions can also be grown in a similar manner in a short amount of time if you prefer to grow these.

Other vegetables you can try your hand in container gardening are spinach, butter head lettuce, arugula and parsley. You can visit your local garden center to find specific vegetable seeds that are meant to grow in pots like dwarf carrots and radishes. All of these vegetables mentioned are popular and can be used in a variety of ways once they have grown to its size.

Some novice gardeners may think growing fruits can be difficult but it’s not once you research what you would like to try growing. Grow things that you would only eat and use. Homegrown fruits are delicious whether it’s indoors or outdoors. Strawberries are popular with most and can be grown in several hanging containers. If you are interested in growing some citrus fruits, there are citrus trees that you can order from special places online if they are not available locally. These include kumquats, mandarins and lemons. Just remember if you opt for the trees, it can take a great length of time before you see any fruits.

Trying your hand at indoor gardening can be a fun hobby and just remember that most plants need at least six to eight hours of sunlight. Turn the container so that each side gets the same amount of sunlight. Also, because homes have a lower humidity inside, be careful not to over water the plants. Indoor gardening is simple with quick results.

edited for Functional Gardens

Hydroponics gardening involves growing plants in a nutrient-enriched liquid. As the gardener, you’ll be able to control the amount of nutrients and oxygen that your plants will receive. You’ll need to choose plants that grow well in this type of environment in order for your garden to be successful. Vegetables like lettuce, cucumbers, and peppers are usually good choices, and you can grow a variety of herbs using hydroponics gardening as well. This way, you can add your own special touches to your dishes, and you’ll definitely taste the difference in terms of freshness.

Hydroponics gardening with a Hyacinth

To get started with hydroponics gardening, you can find a small hydroponics system in a garden center or online specialty store. (You can also start out by using an opaque glass container and try growing one plant. Use vermiculite to anchor the roots of the plant in the glass.)

Hydroponics gardening requires that you give your plants lots of oxygen. You can use a fish tank bubbler for smaller gardens, and the bubbler will provide the right amount of oxygen for all the plants in the garden space. Oxygen is what keeps the plants healthy and gives them their rich color. Of course, you’re going to need ‘fertilizer’ as well. There are 13 essential micronutrients and macronutrients that are needed for your plants to grow healthily, and you can find special hydroponics liquid nutrients from stores that carry the hydroponics systems. It’s also a good idea to purchase the tool(s) that you’ll need to monitor the pH solution of your fertilizer; the levels shouldn’t reach a level of more than 6.0.

After you try hydroponics gardening and decide that you like it, you can find a larger hydroponics system and grow an abundance of vegatables, herbs, and even flowers.

Large scale hydroponics gardening with lettuce

edited for FunctionalGardens.com

Attracting butterflies to your backyard

Pollinators include wind, water, and animals. Most grasses are wind-pollinated. Many water plants are water pollinated. (Some plants are self pollinated, such as Sweet Peas and Tulips.) And the other plants are pollinated by animals. In Pollination and Plant Families, Stein Carter writes that, “certain types of animals such as birds, butterflies, moths, bees, beetles, wasps, bats, and flies, typically pollinate certain types of plants.” He further writes that, “some plants are very specific with respect to what animal is able to serve as a pollinator, and have special modifications (special shape, etc.) to attract that pollinator or exclude other would-be pollinators.” This concept is what you need to know in order to attract butterflies, but maybe not so many of the other pollinators (maybe you’d like a butterfly garden, but not a bee garden, for your children).

What flowers attract butterflies? According to Carter, because butterflies don’t have a good sense of smell, but do have a good sense of vision, they mostly seek flowers by sight. Butterflies like brightly-colored flowers. (Note that they can see red while bees cannot—something to keep in mind if you’d like to exclude bees from a particular area.) Butterflies also like flowers that have a landing platform for them to stand on while they’re gathering nectar. Flowers that are clustered together are really helpful for butterflies, too, since they can land on one flower and then easily walk around to visit more flowers. Carter writes that great flowers for butterflies are “many members of the plant family Compositae, where many small flowers are arranged into a flat-topped head, and other plants, such as the milkweeds, where the flowers occur in large clusters.” In summary, butterflies like plants that are brightly-colored, provide a landing pad, and have many flowers arranged together.

Favorite nectar plants of butterflies are:

• Aster (Asteraceae Compositae, not Callistephus chinensis “Chinese Aster”)
• Zinnia (Asteraceae Compositae)
• Goldenrod (Asteraceae Compositae)
• Perennial Sunflower (Asteraceae Compositae)
• Gazania (Asteraceae Compositae)
• Milkweed (Asclepias Asclepiadaceae)

Note that butterflies may just be visiting your backyard for some much-needed energy as they are migrating to a different climate for the next season. Would you like to encourage butterflies to stay and make a home in your backyard? You’ll need some plants that provide food and homes for butterfly caterpillars.

Favorite plants for butterfly caterpillars are:

• Veronica (Speedwell)
• Hibiscus
• Spiraea
• Betula (Birch)
• Citrus
• Salix (Willow)

Note that some plants can provide both nectar for butterflies and food for butterfly caterpillars, such as Aster and Milkweed.

According to the National Wildlife Federation, you can add some additional garden elements to make a haven for butterflies. Because butterflies like to bask in the sun to warm their wings and to gain a sense of orientation, you can provide flat rocks for them among the flowers. You can also provide drinking water by placing a shallow container of water and course sand in the butterfly garden.

Attracting butterflies to your backyard will add something special to your outdoor space.

By Shannon Mendez

Pleasant outdoor spaces for eating

Did you know that some plants attract flies? The otherwise wonderful Euonymus ‘Manhattan’ shrub, for example, attracts flies when it blooms during the summer. Why? According to Leslie Land in The New York Times 1000 Gardening Questions and Answers, the Euonymus is pollinated by flies instead of bees. Other plants that attract flies are hollies, hawthorns, and willows. Land writes that “flies are major pollinators if the flowers are white, pale yellow, or greenish; if they are more wide open than tubular; and if their aroma is more musky than sweet.” This is something to keep in mind when trying to create comfortable outdoor spaces. 

Another pest that you probably don’t want to invite to your party is ants. Ants love the sticky stuff that some flowers secrete. The Peony, for example, attracts ants—as do Penstemons and some tropical plants. In What good are bugs?: Insects in the Web of Life, Gilbert Waldbauer writes that some plants attract ants to help defend themselves against chewing insects. Good for them, but bad for you if you don’t like ants. You may also find ants around Roses, Clematis, Cosmos, and other flowers, but they’re probably there because aphids leave behind honey dew that the ants love. If you want to avoid attracting ants to your outdoor spaces, then you probably want to avoid flowers attractive to ants and to take care of any aphid problems.

In addition to attracting annoying pests, some flowers actually stink. The unique Petunia ‘Pretty Much Picasso,’ with its purple and lime green blooms, is beautiful in every way—except for its aroma. Its aroma has been described as rank sneakers and dog poop. Other flowers that smell bad—and that you may find in your local nursery—are Skunk Cabbage and Crown Imperials. Also keep in mind that some trees emit an unpleasant smell when they’re in bloom, such Ginko, Dogwood, and Pear trees. (The Asakawas write in California Gardening Rhythms that you can avoid the smell if you get male trees.)

What about bees? Yes, many flowers attract bees because flowers are pollinated by bees. But you may not want them flying around your BBQ during a party. You can plant ornamental grasses (they’re pollinated by wind) and plants with colored foliage (that have no flowers). You could also try flowers that aren’t generally pollinated by bees. Based on A Spring without Bees: How Colony Collapse Disorder Has Endangered Our Food Supply, flowers with long tubes and double varieties with “extra petals instead of anthers” aren’t favorites of bees. Also keep in mind that bees prefer flowers that are blue, purple, and yellow. Flowers that are typically pollinated by hummingbirds or butterflies instead are Columbine, red Salvia, and Fuchsia. You could also try self pollinating flowers that do not need help to pollinate, such as Sweet Peas and Tulips.

With these tips in mind, you can create very pleasant outdoor spaces for entertaining humans.

By Shannon Mendez

If you have fish in your water garden, you may have to contend with birds who want a tasty meal. One of the ways you can save your fish is to make your pond deeper. Many types of birds like to stand in water to fish, but if the pond is deep, it will be difficult for the birds to stand. (Raccoons may also go into your water garden to get fish, but if the pond is deep, they will leave since they don’t like to swim. ) Koi castles are another way to keep birds away since the castles will provide koi with a place to hide in the pond. Pouring some fish-safe dye into the water will also help to hide the fish from their feathered predators.

On the other hand, you may have a water garden specifically setup to attract birds to your backyard. One way to make your water garden more attractive to birds is to provide shallow areas where birds can stand to drink water. Try adding bricks, rocks, and even garden artwork to create shallow sides or islands for feathered friends.

Many mammals—mice, rabbits, cats, and dogs—also like water gardens, so check to see that both the creatures and your water garden are safe. For example, make sure that rocks around the water feature won’t easily tumble in if a creature stands on them. If you want to keep creatures away from your water garden, consider installing a sprinkler that is motion activated and will spray animals with water whenever they get near the water garden. Or you can simply plant taller flowers and place larger rocks around the water’s edge.

You’ve probably seen ponds and water features with large nets over them to deter unwanted creatures and to keep pets safe. There is a way to use pond netting and keep your water feature looking as nice as possible. If you place the netting to where it can be tight and submerged just slightly below the water level, it might not look too bad to humans. 

Bugs will be attracted to water gardens as well. You can use a strong hose to get rid of any pests. You can also visit your local gardening store to find organic herbal sprays that will rid your pond plants of pests. You could try using a solution of 1 teaspoon mild detergent in 1 quart of water, but you may have a bubble fountain for a while.

Sharing your water garden with creatures may cause a few challenges, but the rewards of having a water garden will probably be well worth your efforts.

By Stephanie Sommer

Imagine enjoying a meal with vegetables picked from your own yard

Have you ever thought how nice it would be to go out into your garden, pick some organic vegetables, and then make a meal? Are you considering planting a vegetable garden for the very first time? Here are some tips to help get you started planting a vegetable garden.

Preparing Soil for Your Vegetable Garden

The first thing to know about gardening is soil preparation. This is one of the most basic things that any new gardener needs to learn. Whether you plan to use a plot of land in your backyard or start a container vegetable garden on your balcony, soil preparation plays an important role in whether or not your vegetable garden will survive. There are three types of soil that you need to be familiar with: sand, clay, and silt. Sandy soil is loose and helps the roots of plants breathe because it lets the air pass through easily. Clay soil absorbs water faster and keeps it inside longer.  A soil composition that has more clay particles in it would be ideal for places that are too hot and the soil dries up quickly. Silt is a fine mixture of sand and clay particles.

When preparing the soil for your vegetable garden, dig up the soil and break off the lumps. Take out any rocks, roots, and weeds while you’re at it. Check if you have just the right mixture of sand, silt, and clay before you begin planting vegetable gardens. Ideally, silt and sand should both be 40%, and clay should just be 20%. This is to make sure that the water isn’t trapped inside too much that the roots will choke. Also, if the water is trapped too long inside the soil, the roots will rot. One good way to test whether the composition of your soil is good is by scooping out a handful and forming a ball with it. The soil should hold the shape of a ball without too much difficulty. If the soil cannot hold the shape, you might have too much silt or sand in the mixture. If the soil holds the shape but does not crumble easily when you poke it, it might have too much clay in it, which you need to balance out with a little silt or sand.

Choosing Vegetables for Your Vegetable Garden

Once you have finished cultivating the soil where you want to plant your vegetables, pick what kind of vegetable you want to grow there. Keep in mind that some vegetables don’t grow well when you plant them too close to certain types of other vegetables. Potatoes, for example, shouldn’t be planted too close to squash or tomatoes because it inhibits their growth. They can be planted in the same garden; just don’t plant them beside each other.

Some vegetables to consider growing together:

• tomatoes, peppers, and basil
• carrots, lettuce, and radishes
• celery, onion, and spinach
• cucumber, corn, and peas

(You’ll find some specific information about growing different types of vegetables throughout our website.)

You can choose to begin with seeds or container plants. Seeds will be more economical but also require more patience. If you choose seeds, follow the directions on the package—as seeds should be planted at different depths depending on their type.

Watering Your Vegetable Garden

After you have decided on the kind of vegetables you want and have planted them into the cultivated soil, you’ll have to learn about watering them properly. Vegetables need to be watered consistently. When planting vegetable gardens in a big space, you might want to consider using a soaker hose. A soaker hose has many holes along its body that waters your garden by letting the water seep through its holes.

Maintaining Your Vegetable Garden

In addition to watering your vegetable garden, you’ll need to pull weeds and check to see that everything is going well. Some obstacles you may encounter are bugs and furry creatures who want to eat your garden before you get a chance to.

You’ll learn some things along the way, one of them being patience. But try to remember the rewards of having a functional garden in your outdoor space.

By Shannon Mendez