Horticulture is something people have loved doing for centuries. Horticulture may be a relaxing hobby for some, or a way of feeding nutritious food to your family. You can get even more joy out of horticulture after reading this article.
You must gradually introduce your plants to changing conditions and temperatures, so you do not shock them. Place them outdoors in the sun for about an hour or two on the first day. Then over a weeks time, slightly increase their time outside. By the weekend, the plants can make that big move without a problem!
The first thing you should do when planning a garden is test the soil. You can get a soil analysis, and if you find your soil needs a supplement, do it! Several Cooperative Extension locations offer this service, and it’s advantageous for you to know what type of soil you have, in order to avoid growing faulty crops.
If you’re like many gardeners, autumn means that it’s time to get some delicious fall edibles growing in your garden. This year, instead of using your regular clay pots to plant your kale and lettuce, use a pumpkin as the container instead! Once you’ve cut its top and scooped the insides out, spray the edges and inside with Wilt-Pruf to prevent rotting. When this is finished, you are now ready to plant.
In a dark area, pre-soak your seeds overnight. Place some seeds in your smaller pots and add water almost to the brim. This will hydrate your seeds and it will cause them to grow faster. This will also give your seeds a much better chance to survive and mature.
If you have planted vegetables within your garden, make sure that they are getting at least six hours of sunlight each day. If you neglect this, it is likely that you will notice slow growth and reduced quality in your vegetables This is true of some flowers.
If your soil has high alkaline amounts, mix some coffee grounds into it. This affordable trick will give back the acid that your dirt requires. When you use them, you will start to notice that your vegetables are tastier and more vibrant in color.
Shelter your deciduous shrubs. If you have tender shrubs in pots, they need to be protected in the cold weather. With a sheet or blanket, you want to loosely cover the wigwam after you tie the tops of the canes together. In contrast to wrapping the plant with plastic, this method promotes air circulation, which stops the plant from rotting.
If you are planning on growing peas, start them indoors before putting them outdoors in your garden. If you plant them inside, they might germinate more effectively. You will also have hardy seedlings that will be able to resist disease and pests much better. When these pea plants are sturdy, you can place them outside in your garden.
Know when to harvest your vegetables at precisely the right time. Every type of vegetable has a different moment of ripeness. Veggies such as zucchini or baby peas, for instance, taste their best if they get picked young. The opposite is true of tomatoes. They taste their best if you allow them to ripen on the vine as long as possible. So, it is good to learn about the best time to harvest your vegetables.
To keep dogs from disturbing your garden, spray some old aftershave, cologne, perfume or other strongly-scented products in the dirt or grass surrounding it. These scents overpower the garden’s scents, which causes your dog to lose interest.
Just as when outside, plants kept inside need varying degrees of sunlight, which can be harder to obtain from indoors. If your apartment or home does not receive a huge amount of sunlight, you might want to grow plants that adapt to medium and low light environments instead. If your plants still need more light, there are always artificial light sources that you can use.
As mentioned, the pleasures of horticulture have been enjoyed throughout the ages. It used to be a necessity and some peoples’ way of life. In modern times, however, horticulture is done for primarily three reasons: profit, pleasure or necessity. The information above will increase your enjoyment of horticulture, regardless of your reason for wanting to garden. Enjoy reaping the benefits of horticulture!