How to Achieve Healthy Soil

In keeping with our previous post about pest prevention, we bring you another short guide related to garden maintenance: how to achieve healthy soil!

• Unhealthy soil means that you soil has too many rocks, sand, clay or even is too acidic. Keep in mind that different plants require different pH levels, however the ideal range is a pH of 5.5 to 7.0
• Focus on the surface layer (around 6 inches) of your soil because that is where most vegetable plants will have their roots.
• Make sure the soil is ideal for small creatures like earthworms, bacteria, fungi and nematodes that feature actively in healthy soil. This means making sure the soil is well-watered, aerated and has food for them to eat (specifically organic matter)
• Add organic matter that is diverse. Manure, mulch, or moss can keep your soil moist and will help store nutrients. They can also help leave gaps in the soil so that your plants’ roots can stay aerated. Do not include too many carbon materials such as leaves or sawdust because microorganisms may cause your plants to not have enough nitrogen.
• To make sure your soil is aerated, do not step on soil with growing beds and do not work on wet soil. Healthy soil is made up of 25% air since oxygen is vital to the survival of helpful microorganisms.
• If your soil is sandy, water and nutrients drain away quickly. There are many large particles. Add 3 to 4 inches of organic matter and use mulch around your plants.
• Clay soil is sticky and retains too much moisture. Add 2 to 3 inches of organic matter to the surface of the soil and have raised beds to improve drainage.
• If your soil has a lot of silt in it (with larger pieces of rock and poor drainage), this can be remedied by adding 1 inch of organic matter to the soil per year as well as avoiding compacting the soil by stepping on it or tilling it.
• Cover crops can be used to cover soil that you are not using just yet over the winter. You will want to choose crops that are “cold-hardy” or able to withstand cold temperatures. These plants include winter-rye and vetch. They will also provide organic matter for the soil when they are killed to make way for your desired plants.
• Acidic soil (pH less than 6.5) can be fixed by adding powdered limestone. Wood ash can be used too, but do not add more than 2 pounds per 100 square feet, or there will be imbalances in the nutrients.
• Alkaline soil (pH greater than 6.8) can become more acidic if you add ground sulfur, sawdust, oak leaves, or conifer needles.

Sources:

1. http://www.gardeners.com/how-to/building-healthy-soil/5060.html
2. https://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/8-steps-to-make-better-garden-soil-zmaz07jjzsel
3. https://www.thespruce.com/healthy-soil-and-how-to-make-it-2539853
4. http://www.finegardening.com/improving-clay-soils
5. www.cropnutrition.com/efu-soil-ph

Keeping away pests

Pests can often plague your garden and damage the plants you grow. Here are some ways of getting rid of the slugs, bugs, and other creatures that may visit.

1. Spray 1 tablespoon of dish soap mixed into a 1 quart spray bottle filled with water. This is effective in removing aphids, mites, and many other insects.
2. Puree a bulb of garlic and a chilli pepper. Let this sit overnight in your fridge and then remove the solid parts by straining it with a coffee filter. Add the remaining mixture and 1 teaspoon of dish soap into a 1 quart spray bottle filled with water.
3. Some strong-smelling herbs such as fennel, basil, lemongrass and mint naturally deter pests like aphids and potato bugs.
4. If you have clearly identified a pest that is harming your plants, you may want to try to attract some of their natural predators using plants. It is very easy to find this information using the internet. For example, parasitic wasps (microscopic wasps that lay eggs in their prey and do not usually harm people) prey on aphids and caterpillars, and like marigolds and white clover.
5. Salt, flour, and beer can be used to kill these pests. Some recipes for these pesticides can be found at http://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/gardens/planting-and-maintenance/aphids-411-how-to-beat-them-in-the-garden
6. Use crushed eggshells to keep away pests that crawl, such as caterpillars, slugs, or snails.
7. For a rabbit issue, put 1 ounce of a hot pepper sauce and 4 drops of dish soap into a 1 quart spray bottle filled with water.
8. For a deer issue, use 1/4 cup of milk and 4 drops of dish soap all mixed into a 1 quart spray bottle filled with water. Spray every 10 days and make sure to clean the bottle thoroughly after each time.
9. Avoid growing only one type of plant in a large area. It will be more difficult for pests to find a target if there is a diverse amount of plants.
10. For squash bugs, at the end of the growing season, clear or bury all the leaves so they can not repopulate.
11. When dealing with larger pests such as squirrels, you can put mesh wiring over your plants to keep them out.

Tips:

• Test out the sprays on 1 leaf of each plant first to see if it causes any damage.
• Prevent pests by growing disease-free plants. Check the leaves for discolouration or damage regularly.
• When spraying your plants, remember to spray the undersides of leaves as well.
• Weed your garden regularly so that pests do not have a place to hide and breed.
• Spray your homemade pest repellent after you water your plants and after it rains as well so your concoction will not be washed off.
• When dealing with hot peppers, ensure that it does not get in your eyes or harms any of your pets.

Sources:

1. https://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/how-to-deter-garden-pests/slide/1
2. http://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/gardens/planting-and-maintenance/aphids-slugs-and-snails-oh-my-keep-bugs-out-of-the-garden-naturally
3. http://www.gardeners.com/how-to/keeping-animal-pests-out-of-your-garden/5426.html
4. http://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/gardens/planting-and-maintenance/aphids-411-how-to-beat-them-in-the-garden
5. https://brunswick.ces.ncsu.edu/2014/04/parasitic-wasps-a-gardeners-best-friend/

Growing Carrots

Carrots are a great source of plant sugar, carotene, and vitamins. And thus, yes, it is true that carrots have many health benefits!

A step-by-step overview:

1. Prepare your soil by making it loose so that the carrots can grow easily. Also, make sure that the soil is free of stones because carrots need to grow deep into the soil.
2. You can start planting them from seed in the late frost (3-5 weeks before) because they are able to tolerate those temperatures.
3. Space your carrots 3-4 inches apart in rows, with the rows being a foot apart. Make sure that they are grown in a good amount of sunlight, though they can tolerate some shade.
4. Water your carrots regularly (depending on the weather), making sure the moisture is at least 1 inch deep.
5. Put manure and fertilize 5-6 weeks after your carrots have sprouted because they will fork (grow side roots) if you put it before you start planting.
6. Mulch the carrots to keep the soil cool and help it to retain moisture.
7. As your carrots mature, pick out the small, dwarf ones as they will take from the soil, and will not be ready for harvest anyway. You could feed these “baby” carrots to your pets (dogs included). Also, maintain a healthy garden by weeding regularly.
8. Harvest your carrots after about four months, or when they are half and inch in diameter. In light soil, grab the top of the carrot and pull it out. In heavier soil, dig around the carrot using a backhoe to get the carrot loose from the ground.
9. Remove all green parts from the carrot as it will take moisture away. Do not wash the carrots before storing because carrots can rot or grow mold. Store them in a plastic bag without moisture in the dryest part of your refrigerator.

Tips:

• If you leave carrots in the ground for another year, the top of the plants will flower and produce seeds.
• Straight and long carrots are produced when it is grown in drained, fertile, and soft soil.
• Carrots become bitter if they are not watered enough, so make sure your carrots have an adequate amount of water.
• If you grow carrots indoors, make sure the pots are 12-18 inches deep. Make sure the pots can drain properly.
• Make sure there is enough space in between carrots so they do not become deformed.
• Carrot roots can split or deform if there are clumps or rocks in the soil. A raised-bed is ideal, but growing carrots in loose soil is sufficient. To build a raised-bed, an informative site is: http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/lawn-garden/how-to/g92/build-raised-garden-beds/
• To prevent disease, do not plant carrots in the same spot for more than 3 years
• Carrots can be planted successively every 3 weeks in order to provide mature carrots throughout the growing season

 

Sources:

1. https://www.almanac.com/plant/carrots
2. https://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/how-to-grow-carrots
3. http://www.vegetable-gardening-online.com/growing-carrots.html
4. http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/scenea765.html
5. http://www.gettystewart.com/how-to-harvest-and-store-garden-carrots/

Growing Bell Peppers

A step-by-step overview:

1. Start growing your seeds indoors (bell peppers like warmth) 8-10 weeks before the last frost.
2. Plant two pepper seeds per pot (in case one does not do well).
3. Move them outdoors once they are 8 inches tall.
4. Outdoors, space them out 18-24 inches apart. Also, the temperature should be at least 13 degrees celsius at night (frost will kill the plants or inhibit pepper growth).
5. Water the plants immediately after planting.
6. Support the plants with stakes or tomato cages (refer to our post on tomatoes for staking tips).
7. To keep the soil moist, use mulch (straws or leaves) around the plants.
8. Harvest the peppers once they are 3-4 inches long (make sure they are firm and don’t feel thin). Use shears or a knife to cut the peppers off the stem.
9. Store peppers in the fridge.

Tips:

• Peppers that are harvested later become more sweet and have more Vitamin C.
• Bell peppers tend to do well when planted near tomatoes. (See our post on growing tomatoes.)
• If there is frost, cover the peppers using row cover fabric.
• If peppers are harvested while changing colour, they will continue ripening if kept in a warm room for 3 days.
• Since peppers are often colourful and juicy, many pests (such as aphids and squirrels) will be attracted to them. To avoid this, spray a vinegar and water mixture onto the plants.

Sources:

1. https://www.almanac.com/plant/bell-peppers
2. https://bonnieplants.com/growing/growing-peppers/
3. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/pepper/growing-peppers.htm

Growing Cucumbers

Cucumbers are fast growing plants (50-70 days) and don’t demand lots of effort. They will make a healthy addition to your menu.

A step-by-step overview:

1. If you start the cucumbers from seed indoors, start 4-6 weeks before the last frost date.
2. Make sure that you begin planting your cucumbers outside when the soil is in the 20 degrees celsius range (and around 2 weeks after the last frost). To help the heating process of the soil, you can cover it with black plastic or mulch. Also, check to make sure that your soil is in the 6.0 to 7.5 pH range.
3. Choose the desired cucumber variety, depending on what you want to use to cucumbers for (such as pickling) and how much space you have. There are vining cucumbers (which provide more cucumbers) and bush cucumbers (which take up less space). Of these two types of cucumbers there are many varieties that can be grown. The seeds/seedlings can be found in catalogues, online or in grocery stores and plant nurseries.
4. Put compost or manure in the planting area to make the soil more fertile.
5. Space your seeds 3-5 feet apart or 1 foot apart if they are of the vine variety and in holes a half inch deep.
6. Water your cucumber plants regularly so that there is an inch deep of moist soil.
7. Cucumbers can be harvested when they reach a desirable size. To harvest, cut the stem above the cucumber to harvest (pulling may damage the vine). Generally, it is best to harvest cucumbers before they get very large (because they will have many seeds).

Tips:

• If there is limited space, use a trellis so cucumber vines can climb upwards (see our previous post about tomatoes for trellis tips). Lying on a damp ground causes damage to the cucumbers.
• Do not let cucumbers grow too large because they will be bitter.
• Avoid watering the leaves because leaf diseases are caused by wet foliage.
• Do not over-fertilize because the plants will have stunted growth.
• If you are having troubles with pests such as squirrels, you can use a spray made up of vinegar and water on the plants (though do not spray right before rain is expected and do not spray on the parts that you want to consume). You can also install wire netting for protection around your plants.
• If there is a lack of fruit, this can be caused by lack of bee pollination. Colder temperatures, insecticides, or rain. You can hand-pollinate by using a q-tip to transfer pollen to the flower.

 

Sources:

1. https://bonnieplants.com/growing/growing-cucumbers/
2. http://savvygardening.com/how-to-plant-cucumber-seeds/
3. https://www.almanac.com/plant/cucumbers
4. https://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/growing-cucumbers
5. https://bonnieplants.com/library/keeping-squirrels-out-of-the-garden/

Planting Tomatoes

Now that we’ve covered all of the basics of the benefits of gardening, we will be posting about some common types of vegetables that one can grow. Also, there will be tips on indoor and outdoor gardening.

Tomatoes

A step-by-step overview:

1. Pick out which tomato varieties you want to plant. Seeds and seedlings can be found in grocery and dollar stores, plant nurseries or even ordered online and through catalogs. If starting tomatoes from seed, plant the seeds indoor 6-8 weeks before the date of the last frost. This gives the tomatoes ample time to germinate and grow so that they are ready to be planted outside during the growing season.
2. Fill the pots with potting mix up until there is 1/2-inch of space between the soil and the top of the pot. Put two seeds (in case one does not germinate) in the center and then cover them with a 1/4-inch layer of soil.
3. Space the seeds 3 inches away from each other. Overcrowding can inhibit their growth and lead to/help spread disease.
4. Water whenever the top soil looks dry, but be careful not to water the tomatoes too much as the seeds may rot.
5. Provide lots of light for your tomatoes. These seedlings require direct lighting.
6. Preheat the planting area weeks before you plan on planting by covering the soil with black or clear plastic. This will accelerate the growth of your tomatoes since they love heat.
7. When all threat of frost has passed, begin planting the tomatoes outside, still keeping them well-spaced. Dig deep holes and cover the plants to cover some leaves. This helps them to grow more roots on their stems.
8. Water the tomatoes regularly and deeply. Make sure the tomatoes have at least 1 inch of water per week. If the plants wilt, add more water.
9. When the tomatoes are 3 feet tall, remove leaves from the bottom feet of the stem. This will prevent fungus problems.
10. Remove leaves that appear between two branches because they will not have fruit and will be absorbing energy from the rest of the plant.
11. When the tomato vines begin to get taller, they need to be supported or staked. This can be done in a variety of ways. This website has an informative guide: https://bonnieplants.com/library/how-to-support-tomatoes/
12. To harvest tomatoes, pick ones that are firm and very red. Grab the tomato and gently pull it off the stem while holding the stem with your other hand.

Tips:

• You may want to look for tomatoes that mature early (which means generally avoiding heirloom tomatoes), so that you can harvest before the September frost.
• If you want to grow your tomatoes indoors, make sure that they are by a window. If you are growing in the winter season, you may need to invest in some artificial lights to ensure that your tomatoes will be stocky.
• If growing indoors, also make sure to turn on a fan. This will help to circulate the air which happens naturally outdoors, and thus, your tomatoes will have stronger stems.
• Put mulch on the plant bases only after your plants have had a chance to adapt to their surroundings. Mulch is beneficial in that it helps to conserve water and prevent unwanted soil and soil-borne diseases from reaching the stem, however, it will cover the soil and thus cool it if placed too early.
• Look for variety-specific tips. They are very easy to find on the internet.

Sources:

1. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/planting-tomato-plants.htm
2. https://www.thestar.com/life/2011/04/15/how_to_have_success_growing_tomatoes.html
3. http://www.latimes.com/health/la-hm-planting-tomatoes-20170315-story.html
4. https://www.planetnatural.com/tomato-gardening-guru/planting-tomatoes/
5. https://www.thespruce.com/top-tomato-growing-tips-1402587
6. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/harvest-time-for-tomatoes.htm
7. https://bonnieplants.com/library/how-to-support-tomatoes/