Hypertufa Pots - Martha Stewart Home and Garden You can use almost anything that has an interesting shape for a mold, such as an old tub, bin, or nursery pot. Keep in mind that this mixture is an approximation, and not an exact science -- you can play around with the measurements. This recipe will make really light pots; if you want heavier, sturdier pots, simply add more cement to the mixture. Tools and Materials Rubber glovesDust maskPerlitePeat mossPortland cementCement pigment (optional)Acrylic fibers (if making larger-size pot)Plastic tubWaterSpray cooking oilMold (Martha used a nursery pot)Small wooden dowel (optional)Plastic bagsWire brush or sandpaperButtermilk (optional) Hypertufa Pots How-To1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. ResourcesPeat moss, perlite, and Portland cement are available at The Home Depot or your local hardware store or garden center. When planting, be sure to cover the drainage hole with a pottery shard to prevent soil from washing away. Arrange succulents on top of soil.
Omega Hydroponic Garden Gets Five Times As Much Food Per Watt We often wonder about the benefits of indoor hydroponic gardening, given that the sun is free. After all, Illegal hydroponic installations are often discovered by their abnormally high electricity use. Last month Sami introduced us to the Omega Garden system; looking at it a bit more closely I wonder, can it make high tech urban gardening economically feasible and actually more energy efficient than growing outdoors? But Vancouver based Omega Garden's Carousel system rotates the plants around the bulb. They claim a lot of advantages; the light is always even and exactly the same distance from every plant, at a close enough distance to get maximum light efficiency. They also claim that it reduces water consumption by 99% and eliminates runoff. But the most interesting claim is that the rotation of the plants actually increases the yield significantly: Geotropism relates to the effect of gravity on plant growth hormones called Auxins.
drycrikjournal | Perspectives from the Ranch Great Gardening Gifts For Mother's Day 2011 - PlanterTomato This year, Mother's Day falls on Sunday May 8th. With the holiday just around the corner, I thought I'd provide a list of gift ideas for your special gardener. Here are my top ten Mother's Day Gift ideas. They range in price from $10-$200. Salt & Pepper Shakers -These salt & pepper shakers in the shape of watering cans are a nice table addition for the dedicated cook and gardener. A Garden Hod - I have one of these garden hods and love it. Garden Scoot - This garden tractor lets you work in the garden while sitting close to soil level. Tea Rose Perfume - Tea Rose is an oldie but goodie. Mango Body Gel & Scrub - Rose scented perfume is a bit of a stretch as a gardening gift but with this one I'd admit I'm out on a limb. King Sized Hammock - After a day gardening Mom deserves a bit of a break. Felco Prunners - These pruners are the gold standard. Self-Watering Tomato Planters - I'm really a big fan of these self-watering planters. Pen Knife - This is a nice item for Mom's key chain.
Gardening Tips - 7 Habits of Successful Gardeners Originally published January 2009 Or is it the Seven Pillars of Horticultural Wisdom? As everyone's resolutions remind us, we love attaching a number to advice, a number smaller than the one I regard as most realistic: The Twenty Three Thousand Four Hundred and Sixty-Two Things It's Important to Remember Before Getting Out of Bed. So be warned: I haven't really honed it down to only seven; these are just the first seven essentials that came to mind when I decided to do this. Make CompostUse CompostPlant Crops in Wide BedsMulchFeed the Soil, Not the PlantsShare SomethingBe There Photo: The compost bins at Stonecrop Gardens in Cold Spring, N.Y. 1. Short version: Mother Nature never throws anything away. Longer version: Composting is the rare silk purse from sow's ear, something for nothing, win-win. It's easy to fall into thinking that compost's last name is bin, and that careful layering and turning are part of the deal. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. If you've got a garden, you're rich. Got seeds? 7.
6 Months In the Greenhouse & The Door Garden My little greenhouse is cram packed in April. I built my 50 dollar greenhouse about 6 months ago and I thought some of you might be interested in what I’ve done with it and how it’s performed so far. I have not used any artificial heat in my greenhouse at all – so it does get cold in there – but the climate in the greenhouse is much more temperate than it is outside. I’ve found that even in the worst weather we have here in zone 6 cold hardy things like spinach and lettuce keep on growing all winter long – although at a slower rate than if it were warmer. I haven’t installed any kind of automated ventilation system so far – I just watch the weather forecast and if it’s supposed to be a warm sunny day I open one of the doors in the morning, and close it in the evening. In Middle Tennessee (zone 6b) you can’t grow tropical plants or produce fruits like tomatoes through the winter in an unheated greenhouse like this. What I’ve Used My Greenhouse For So Far Things I haven’t done yet Weeds Pests
Top 50 Landscaping Sites for Help and Inspiration | HomeownersInsurance.org Landscaping your property is the absolute best way to improve the “curb appeal” of your home. Whether you’re looking to improve the property value, or you just want to make your lawn & gardens look nice, it sure isn’t easy. It’s tough enough coming up with inspiration for the look you desire that will work with the challenges of the land you’re working with. Professional Landscaping 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. DIY Landscaping 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50.
How to Grow 100 Pounds of Potatoes in 4 Square Feet | Apartment Therapy Re-Nest On many occasions, we've been tempted to grow our own potatoes. They're fairly low maintenance, can be grown in a pot or in the ground, last a fairly long time if stored properly, and can be very nutritious (high in potassium and vitamin C). Here's more incentive: according to this article, you can grow 100 pounds of potatoes in 4 sq. feet. Learn how after the jump... According to this article from the Seattle Times, potatoes planted inside a box with this method can grow up to 100 pounds of potatoes in just 4 square feet. Lumber Seed potatoes Soil Careful attention to watering The Times' guide for building a potato growing box yields up to a 100 lbs. of potatoes in a mere 4 square feet is shown below: Plant as early as April or as late as August 1, with an approximated 3 month till harvest turnaround time. Here are some pointers from the article: Cut apart larger seed potatoes, making sure there are at least two eyes in each piece you plant. Seattle Times via LifeHacker.
Construction Management Degree& Blog Archive & 101 Hacks for the... Growing plants at home can be a great way to spruce up your space and provide healthy and readily available foodstuffs. While gardening has its benefits, it can be challenging– even for veteran gardeners– and problems with pests, withering leaves and poor production can leave gardeners pulling out their hair. Luckily, there's a wealth of advice online to help gardeners improve their green thumbs. Design Try out these tips for better garden planning and layouts. Try out virtual garden. Planting Before you put your plants in the ground, read through these hacks to get the most from your garden. Pay attention to growing seasons and characteristics. Watering Like humans, plants need water to survive and thrive. Use water from boiled or steamed veggies. Fertilizing and Soil Care Prep your soil for the best plants by trying out some of these fertilization hacks. Use leftover tea and coffee grounds in the garden. Pests Bugs, bunnies, rot and fungi can do a great amount of damage to your garden. Weeds