Gardening advice: growing broadbean plants?

Dogface asks: Gardening advice: growing broadbean plants?
I planted 3 seeds about two weeks ago but only 2 germinated they seem to be growing well but now theyve got small black patches on their leaves and theyre kind of curling up and going crinkly what is this? is it some sort of plant disease?? can i do anything about it??? Also what are the best conditions to be growing them in cos at the moment theyre in a small glass jar indoors but really theyre getting too big for it already. I dont know all that much about growing plants at all so any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!(:

The answer voted best is:

Answer by nlmelley
It’s completely normal that 2 out of 3 seeds sprouted. Many people plant more than they need for this reason. It sounds like you have a fungal problem which is common when seeding things indoors. Broad beans (unlike some plants like tomatoes and peppers) are pretty easy to start directly in the ground and they actually like cooler weather. If you can, I would recommend just planting them right into a garden.

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I think one of my tomato plants has blossom end rot?

tasha l asks: I think one of my tomato plants has blossom end rot?
I read it may be from a calcium deficiency my first question is would it effect only 1 plant? Only 1 is like this. Could it be the epsom salt I used ? I used a bit in the soil when I first transplanted my seedlings I also use guano gro an organic fertilizer and rabbit manure. my 3rd question is if it is a calcium problem can I use the same calcium on the plant that I feed to my reptiles? should I apply it to the surrounding soil or to the foliage? would it hurt to try this just to see if I get results? I haven’t tested my soil all of my other veggies are doing very good and I have very minimal bug problems. (I have an organic garden so there are a few pests but not many) thanks for any pointers! sorry this is so drawn out I’m a first timer so any advice is appreciated.

The answer voted best is:

Answer by Jimbo
Garden Safe brand makes a spray for this. What you probably have is botrytis, a type of bud rot. Any veggie safe garden spray for botrytis will help, and most contain sulphur, which is fine for edibles. Sulphur is widely used on grapes and other crops. Good Luck!

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Succulent Plants Gardening – How To Take Care Of 5 Most Common Succulent Plants

Succulent Plants Gardening – How To Take Care Of 5 Most Common Succulent Plants

Succulent plants are quite different from the other normal garden plants. Their special feature is that they can adapt well to arid weather conditions and have fleshy water-storing tissues that also act as water-reservoirs. These are the only type of plants that can withstand the effects of a hot weather without much attention, unlike their many other normal counterparts. Owing to their uniqueness, the gardening tips for succulent plants differ considerably from others and mainly focus on fertilization, water retention and deriving advantage from natural or created shades.

Some other garden plants with similar drought resistant features are as follows:

Aloe Vera – This beautiful plant is counted amongst the best natural herbs due to its medicinal properties like healing wounds and skin burns effectively. Aloe Vera normally has a tendency to grow quite large and hence should be planted in a place that can accommodate it conveniently and provide enough room for growth as well.

Spoon Jade – This tree shaped plant is mainly grown indoors and has thick, spoon like bright or dark green leaves. This variety of succulent plant, popularly known as horseshoe jade can be kept small sized and when put in a container, it can give a bonsai type accent. One essential piece of advise for all forms of succulent plants is that they should be grown in containers and moved indoors when the low temperatures become quite intolerable for them to bear.

Chickens and Hens – These are also popularly known as hens and dogs. The specialty of these succulents is that they are spreading in nature and grow out of their mother plants to roll away and gain prominence in the garden.

Moss Rose – These are endlessly flowering variety of succulents that can be used to beautify hanging containers, borders of the succulent gardens or the patio containers. They can easily survive harsh direct sunlight and require minimal water or care.

Dragon’s Blood – this variety of the succulent plants grows with thick, dropping branches and is extremely red in color. Its hue adds great visual value to a succulent garden and is also great to look at when kept in hanging baskets or containers.

Gardening tips for succulent plants mainly involves the rooting procedure. It is advisable to take a clipping around four to six inches in length and inserting the cut end slowly into the sandy and soft type of soil. To catalyze their growth one can also pick up rooting hormones or compounds and add them to the soil. One must also take care that succulents are not extensively watered. They should be watered only to the extent of moistening the soil and never soaking wet.

You must also constantly keep looking for more gardening tips for succulent plants on internet, gardening stores or through your gardening friends. It will help you to utilize their specialty to your advantage and resultantly derive a much better look for your garden.

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5 Tips In Growing Tomato Plants

5 Tips In Growing Tomato Plants

Growing tomato plants is an enjoyable and worthwhile experience that will give you a good gardening experience. It will also provide you fresh tomatoes whenever you need it. There are many health benefits that you can get from tomatoes especially if it comes right from your own .garden. Tomatoes are grown differently. Some tomato suppliers use organic fertilizers on their tomato but there are also those that use fertilizers laden with chemicals that are harmful to your body. Therefore, having a tomato garden in your home will give you assurance that your tomatoes are organic and fresh.

The challenge in having a tomato garden is not in growing it. Tomatoes are resilient plants which can basically grow in any climate and soil type. What is difficult however is choosing the right tomato variety to plant since there are hundreds of varieties that you can choose from. Here’s how you can make things easy.

1. Choose a determinate variety of tomato. Determinate tomatoes require less maintenance such as pruning or staking. They also require less space in your garden plot. This means that you will be able to plant more tomatoes in a single plot using a determinate variety rather than the indeterminate variety.

2. There are many hybrid tomatoes that you can purchase at your local garden depot. These hybrid tomato varieties are easy to grow and are inherently resistant to various diseases. Although some do not like hybrid tomatoes because of its bland taste, there are pure strain hybrids that taste as good as natural tomatoes.

3. Plant tomatoes seedlings instead of saplings. This will give you the experience in dealing with the various problems related to having a tomato garden. These seedlings are available in your local nursery. The local nursery can also advice you on which variety is best for your garden and how to grow them. You can also get essential gardening tips from the experts at your local garden center such as tips that can help you minimize plant deterioration and maximize growth.

4. Start small. Instead of putting up a gardening plot, plant your tomatoes in containers first. This way you can plant more than one variety and organize each variety easily. You can use various soil types that are ideal for each tomato variety you are planting. You can also easily transfer the pots or containers to expose your tomatoes to sunlight if needed. When choosing a container, just make sure it is big enough to accommodate the growth of the tomatoes.

5. Do not just use any fertilizer, use organizer fertilizers. Tomatoes that are grown using organic fertilizers are known to have a longer shelf life, healthier and tastes better than those who are grown in an inorganic way.

Following the 5 tips above will help you have fresh and healthy tomatoes in your own backyard in no time.

Gardening Information – Add Color and Variety with Container Plants

Gardening Information – Add Color and Variety with Container Plants

Container Gardening Tips for Newbies

Even if you are a city person in the center of everything, container gardens an add a real splash of color and life on a busy street, rooftop, or balcony. You can make any space be it patio living room or rooftop more inviting and refreshing with beautiful containers of flowers and green foliage. No only will you be delighted at the effect of adding a plant here and there or grouping containers where there is space for a garden area, you will also have the enjoyment of choosing, planting and taking care of your plants.

The really cool thing is you can vary the color scheme of any area with flowers, the color of your choice to fit your mood. When the plant is done blossoming you can always replace it with another annual or store the container till next season. You may choose to harmonize or contrast colors and heights of your plants. You get to choose the shape and texture of leaves, tall thin leaves can contrast short wide ones the variety is endless. If you have the space you can
you can germinate seeds and start new plants. With containers and electric lighting you can garden all year round.

The containers themselves permit you to flex your creative muscles and really let yourself go. You can of course go to the store and buy the containers and there is a wide variety of pre-painted and decorated pots available. You may also use old bowls or urns you can create your own with tiles and wood there again, no limits to what you can do.

If you do buy ready-made pots terracotta look great and many are brightly painted to add a festive atmosphere without plants. If you like you can use dried flowers and make a beautiful corner piece, no watering, no fuss. Cheap plastic pots can be hand painted as you desire. You must have some saucers for the bottoms so water doesn’t damage or stain your floors and window sills. Don’t forget the benefits and possibilities of family togetherness or “quality” time when gardening. You spouse and children can all get in on the fun.

Good quality potting mix is available for your containers and insures you plants are happy and well fed. You will see signs of yellowing if you over-water or if the plants need more nutrition.

Healthy plants on the ends of each step leading to the front and back doors are pleasant can colorful ways to add a sense of welcome and hospitality to your home. Depending on your personality you can plan on where you want o put a flower decide which kind and color and then order the plant and have it delivered or you can order a bunch of plants and then decide where they fit the best. The “shotgun” method. You should at least have an idea of whether you want sun lovers or plants requiring shade, however or you may waste some money of plants that won’t do well fo you.

Try different combination of plants together in groups of even and odd numbers and see what you like many say that groups of odd numbers are more attractive but I think it is up to you. Say isn’t that just so.. you decide which flowers, which pots, where you place them, how many you place, boy are you feeling the power here?

No doubt you will have a garden your friends will admire and, sadly, some poor souls will envy, boo-hoo.

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How To Create New House and Garden Plants By Using Stem Cuttings And Rooting Hormone

How To Create New House and Garden Plants By Using Stem Cuttings And Rooting Hormone

A good gardening tip is that you can make more plants from your existing house and garden plants. This will cut out the expense of buying new house and garden plants. Look around for healthy plants to take the stem cuttings from to plant in a peat moss mixture using rooting hormone. This is what is called the mother plant. Make sure the mother plant has enough stems so the cutting will not kill the mother plant.

If you start your house and garden plants from stem cuttings instead of seeds it will take half the time to root. There a just a few things you will need : a mother plant, a flat for potting with a peat moss mixture, a sharp knife or razor blade, rooting hormone, containers for holding water and rooting hormone, alcohol, pencil or a stick, and a plastic bag.

Common sense tells you that you should take a stem cutting from the plant’s thickest green non flowering stems. The spot where the leaf attaches to the stem, known as the node, are the best place for you to take the stem cutting. The plants growth rooting hormones are concentrated there. Choose green, non-woody stems for taking the stem cuttings from the mother plant. Newer growth is easier to root than woody stems.

Cut with a sterilized instrument, either a very sharp knife or a razor blade, just below the node and then make another slanted cut about two or three inches further up the plant. This should provide you a stem cutting about three inches in length with two or three nodes. Trim off the side shoots and remove most of the leaves leaving a few since the stem cutting will need the leaves to provide food. Any large leaves must be removed as their wilting stresses the stem cutting and will definitely slow down the rooting process.

With your sterilized instrument make a clean cut in the bottom node. The roots will be formed from the sliced node.

Fill a clean plant pot or container with a peat moss potting mix to hold your stem cuttings for rooting. By using a peat moss potting mix you are giving the plant an atmosphere where the cutting will stay moist, not wet and sloppy.

You can make your own peat moss mixture; here are a couple of recipes:

½ sand and ½ peat moss or
½ perlite and ½ peat moss or
½ sand and ½ vermiculite or
½ perlite and ½ vermiculite or
Equal parts sand, perlite, vermiculite or peat moss instead of vermiculite.

Start by dipping the bottom inch of the stem cutting into the water and then the rooting hormone. This will help to speed up the creation of roots. The rooting hormone stimulates the stem cutting to send out new roots from the node. You will need to dip the cutting into the water and then into the rooting hormone. Tap off the excess as to not jeopardize your success with this stem cutting. If, after you have finished with your stem cuttings you have some of the rooting hormone left, throw it away. Once a stem cutting has touched it the rooting hormone becomes activated.

Moisten the peat moss potting mixture and poke holes in it to accommodate your plants. By making holes in the peat moss rooting medium with the pencil or the stick it will ensure that the rooting hormone remains on the cutting, not on the potting mixture surface. This will improve chances of rooting the stem cuttings and creating new house or garden plants. After you have successfully placed the stem cutting in the medium, gently press the potting mixture around it. You should plant your cuttings about 4-5 inches apart to allow for air circulation and room to root.

Place the container into a plastic bag and put it in a warm spot in the house. The reason for the bag is to keep the stem cuttings in high humidity and to hold in heat. You are creating a mini Greenhouse that takes up very little space. Don’t seal the bag as you need to allow for air circulation. Only after you see new growth should the cuttings be placed in a sunny area. Keep checking you stem cuttings. If the bag shows condensation you are likely giving it too much moisture. Take off the bag and let it dry out a little.

The way to test for new root growth is to gently pull on the plant after a few weeks. If there is resistance the plants are ready to be transferred into individual pots. Now you will have a new plant that you have cultivated from the mother plant.

Now use all these gardening tips and grow some new plants using stem cuttings.

Happy Gardening!

Copyright © 2006 Mary Hanna All Rights Reserved.

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.

Tomato Planting Tips That Lead To Healthy Tomato Plants

Tomato Planting Tips That Lead To Healthy Tomato Plants

You can’t use ‘magic’ to gain healthy tomato plants. You need time, patience, and hard work to ensure that you’re able to give your plants the right tomato plant care and make them live longer and healthier so they can give you juicy fruits. Below are several gardening tips and tricks, specifically tomato planting tips that, when followed, will make you feel like an expert gardener, not to mention, enable you to have ripe and juicy tomatoes on your dining table:

If you’re a first timer when it comes to planting tomato seeds, you have to keep in mind that you should not crowd the seeds if you wish for them to grow into healthy tomato plants. If the seeds are planted too close to each other, their growth will be thwarted and may even cause them to die early, or worse, not even develop leaves. Planting them a few inches away from each other is part of effective gardening tips and tricks. Included in tomato plant care instructions is also for you to transplant the little plants e.g. ones that sprout 2 – 4 leaves for them not to fight over nutrients, water, and sunlight.

One of the tomato planting tips to be followed is also to prepare good soil and compost prior to planting. Adding in some fertilizer, to be specific, one of organic variety is also highly recommended if you desire healthy tomato plants. When purchasing fertilizers, make sure to read the instructions and follow them to the letter so as not to burn or kill the roots.

Proper tomato plant care also means making certain that your plants receive a sufficient amount of light, either from the sun or from artificial lighting (grow lights). If you have an outdoor garden, then, you won’t have sunlight shortage problems, except in winter. For gardeners who have their plants indoors, fluorescent grow lights will surely do the trick, as long as the young plants are left under the grow lighting for more than 10 hours.

Other tomato planting tips that help bring about healthy tomato plants also include: watering the plants regularly e.g. on a weekly basis; seeing to it that the soil is moist and NOT wet; getting rid of aphids or white flies as they can really damage your plants; among others. These are just some of the most effective tomato plant care techniques that you should perform if you wish to have juicy and sweet tomatoes on your table.

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What kind of plants and fertilisers should I use for an organic medical garden?

Pooh Bear asks: What kind of plants and fertilisers should I use for an organic medical garden?
I know I want to grow peppermint(for the oil) and aloe vera(for the gel)

What else should I use. I want to all be organic and the fertiliser needs to be organic too, Do you know a good fertiliser?
What plants should I grow? (I need some for colds and headaches)
Where can I buy seeds? and how should I care for my garden?

Can I leave it outside, water it everyday and use fertilizer and let nature do the rest?

The answer voted best is:

Answer by Hillman
I can answer a couple of the questions.
Try planting a herb garden, Oregano, Basil, Thyme, Parsley, Chives, Rosemary. And for more choices of medicinal plants and what they treat check out the article in the first link below.

The second link is for a very good organic fertilizer – that I personally use.

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Tips On How Plants Grow

Tips On How Plants Grow

Like any thing you can think of, whether it be people, pets or plants, their basic needs must be met to ensure a happy, healthy life.

Plants, of course, are alive, and so have both general and specific needs, depending upon the variety of plant in question.

In this article, we’ll learn about the different parts of plants – root, stem, leaf and flower – and how they work together.

Roots

Most often overlooked and neglected, the root system of any plant plays a critical role in overall plant growth, health and vigor.

The root system is responsible for supplying a plant with water, vitamins and minerals, all necessary ingredients that promote and maintain healthy vigorous growth. As the nutrients around the plant are consumed, the roots will continue to grow out and down, searching for new sources of food and water.

Gardening Tip: Adding a granular or slow-release fertilizer to the soil before you plant will ensure a steady supply of nutrients throughout a plant’s growing season, especially important for vegetables and flowering plants.

Gardening Tip: Growth above ground mirrors growth below ground. For example, if your bell pepper plant is 1 foot tall and 1 foot wide, its root system is 1 foot deep and 1 or more feet wide.

Gardening Tip: Always follow the directions for any gardening product (fertilizer or pest controls). Although if you’re not sure, using less is always safer than using too much. Using the right amount however, will help ensure consistent results.

Roots and Soil

As you may have guessed, the type of soil in your garden plays an important role in overall plant health and vigor.

In general, most plants like a loose, well-drained soil with lots of organic material. Organic material can be peat moss, shredded bark, composted or decomposed plant material, some form of manure (generally cow manure), or even worm casings or rice hulls to name a few.

Potting soil is usually some combination of the above list and may have little or no actual “dirt” in it. Organic material helps to maintain moisture content levels in the soil and helps to prevent soil compaction.

Stem

The stem, stalk or trunk is the “super highway” of the plant. It starts at ground level and supplies the food and water from the roots to the leaves and flowers or fruit.

Leaves

The leaves of a plant take the food and water from the roots through the stem and with the help of sunlight will turn the water and nutrients into energy. That energy is then sent back through the stem to the entire plant, including right back down to the roots. Natures example of Solar Energy at work.

Flowers

The flower or fruit of a plant is responsible for the reproduction of the plant. Whether it’s strawberries, lemons, tomatoes, pansies or pine-cones, their sole purpose in life is to reproduce more of their own kind.

Humans have found over time that various plants either taste good, have a nice scent or are pleasant to look at and have therefore selected out of millions of varieties just a few types to cultivate.

The Gardening Tips and Advice found throughout Your Healthy Gardens are written with the beginning gardener in mind. However, as time passes and the seasons change more and more detail will be added to help any home gardener improve their gardening skills.

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Gardening. Can you name any type of plants that re-grow every year? ?

~xLeannex~ asks: Gardening. Can you name any type of plants that re-grow every year? ?
I am new to gardening and I love it. Problem is im not to keen on planting every year. I would prefer to plant a rose bush that dies every winter and flowers every spring. Plants like that,

Flowers, fruit, Trees, anything.

Thank you

The answer voted best is:

Answer by Ragman
have only got Fuschias in my garden and they are annual

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