Gourds do best in open spaces that receive plenty of sunlight. Gourd seeds can be planted outdoors in spring, after the threat of frost is past. Gourds are fast growing veggies and look great when allowed to run along the ground. If you intend to create a gourd trellis or train the vines up a fence, it’s best to have the support structure ready and in place before planting gourd seeds.

Planting gourd seeds in hills is one of the simplest and most popular techniques of growing gourds. Use a shovel to dig a hole in the planting area. The hole should ideally be about a foot deep and a couple of feet in diameter. Fill the hole with humus or rotten compost. Top it with 3-4 inches of soil and sow the seeds around the hill or mound. Cover the seeds with a couple of inches of soil. This will ensure the plants have access to all the nutrients they require for growth.

One of the best things about gourds is that they can also be grown in pots, that too, with a great deal of success. Pick a small pot that has at least 2-3 drainage holes at the bottom. Fill the pot with good quality soil and sow gourd seeds. Place it at a spot that receives 5-6 hours of full sun every day. Once the plant establishes and outgrows the pot, move it to a larger container.

Growing gourds from seed isn’t too hard. Just take care of the plants’ basic requirements and wait for the rewards!

You can start cucumber seeds indoors 6-8 weeks from the final frost date for your area. Plant cucumber seeds at a depth of 1 inch, with a single seed in every pot. Make sure the mix stays moist right until the seeds germinate. Place the pots at a sunlit spot. You can also employ artificial lighting apparatus to keep the seeds warm. For details about the ideal temperature conditions, refer the instructions on the seed packet.

Once the danger of frost is over, you can start acclimatizing the seedlings to the outdoor conditions. I’d suggest you place the pots at a spot where they’re protected from the wind. Once the soil temperature reaches 70 degrees Fahrenheit, you can transplant cucumber seedlings outdoors. Look for a site that offers full sun for 6-8 hours a day. Cucumber plants are quite fond of organically rich soils. I’d hence recommend you incorporate plenty of peat moss or organic compost to the soil.

You can plant cucumber seedlings both in rows and raised beds. And if you’re short on space, you can also grow cucumbers in containers. Allow a separation of 2-3 feet between adjacent plants, and at least 6 feet between the rows. If you’re growing Straight Eight Slicing Cucumber or other vine varieties, you’ll need to use a trellis or tomato cage to support the plants.

Caring for cucumber plants isn’t too hard. Deeply irrigate the plants once every week, throughout the growing season. A week after the first blooms appear, fertilize cucumber plants using a balanced fertilizer. Cucumbers respond well to regular feeding and should be fertilized once every 3-4 weeks.

A little effort, some patience and you can have the pleasure of picking delicious cucumbers from your own yard!

Start eggplant seeds indoors, 8-10 weeks from the final frost date for your area. Refer the instructions on the seed packet for details of the planting depth and spacing. Cover the container with a plastic sheet and place it at a warm location. Once the plants grow about 6-7 inches tall, you can move the seedlings to individual pots. Harden off the young plants by placing them at a sheltered location of your garden. Start by allowing the plants a couple of hours out in the garden and gradually add to this time over a period of 8-10 days.

A sunny site with well drained, fertile soil is ideal for growing eggplants. If the area you live in is subject to strong winds, I’d recommend you plant eggplants at a site that offers protection against the wind.

You can transplant eggplants once the soil temperature reaches 60 degrees F. If there’s any threat of frosts, I’d suggest you wait until it’s over. When planting, allow a separation of at least 18-24 inches between the plants.

Cover the plants with row covers. This will keep them safe from the cold as well as from pests. Irrigate eggplants on regular basis, making sure they receive at least 1 inch of water every week. Mulching the plants is a fine way of keeping the soil moist and repelling the growth of weeds. Use straw, wood clippings and shredded leaves to provide your plants with a 2-3 inch layer of mulch. Fertilize eggplants once every month, using a standard liquid fertilizer.

Growing eggplants from seed is a near effortless way of providing healthy, nutritious food to your family. Also, it’s quite a lot of fun!

You can plant bush cherries in spring, after the threat of frosts is past. Bush cherry plants are pretty tolerant when it comes to soil conditions and will do well in almost every type of soil. A few days before planting, remove all weeds and debris from the planting site and dispose of. If you’re planting more than one bush, make sure to allow a gap of 6-8 feet between them. Adding a layer of straw mulch will help conserve moisture and check the growth of weeds.

Water your plants regularly, right through the growing season. Use a balanced fertilizer to fertilize bush cherry plants. For best results, administer small doses, every 3 months. Bush cherries are low maintenance plants. They seldom face any disease related problems and can flourish without regular pruning. I’d still recommend regular inspection to keep an eye on caterpillars and other insects. Most of these pests can be washed off or removed by hand with relative ease. Use chemical insecticides only in case of severe infestation.

Growing bush cherries is nothing short of a celebration. If you’re looking for beautiful surroundings, truck loads of excitement and plenty of fresh, yummy cherries to munch on, growing bush cherries is just the thing for you!

Watermelons do best in locations that offer full sun in addition to shelter from the wind. Most varieties of watermelon require wide open spaces for their success. But that doesn’t mean you can’t grow watermelons if you’re short on space. Sugar Baby Watermelon is one variety that does remarkably well in limited spaces. These wonderful watermelons can be spaced 3-5 feet apart and have compact vines that produce plenty of 6-10 lbs fruits. Watermelons relish light, fertile soil with good drainage. I’d recommend incorporating plenty of organic material to the soil at the planting site. You can plant watermelon seeds directly in the ground when the soil temperature is about 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit. Refer the instructions on the seed package for the right planting depth and spacing.

Newly planted watermelon seeds call for careful irrigation. Make sure the soil remains moist at all times. Remember, presence of excessive moisture can slow down seed germination. Slightly increase the water application after the plants develop a pair of true leaves. The vines will be out and running within 2 weeks of planting. Pinching off the tips of the vines is a great way of encouraging branching. The vines are pretty easy to control too. You can just move the tips of the vines and guide them in the desired direction.

There’s nothing quite as exciting as harvesting watermelons from your own garden. On second thought, there is – eating the watermelons you’ve picked from your own garden!

Climbing roses relish rich, well draining soil and while some varieties, like the Blue Angel Climbing Rose require full sun, there are others, like the Blaze Climbing Rose that can also be grown in sites that offer partial shade. Once you’ve picked the roses you’re going to grow, decide how you want to use them in the given setup. Climbing roses require some sort of support structure to help them up. It’s best to make sure the structure you choose is strong enough to bear the weight of the mature plants. Also, it’s important that the structure is in place (about 2 feet from the planting spot) before the time of planting. The period of late winter to early spring is ideal for planting climbing roses. Set the rose plant at 45 degrees, with the roots spreading away and the canes bent in towards the support structure. Pack the soil firmly around the plant’s base and water well.

Young plants need adequate moisture for their growth. Water them lightly everyday, making sure the soil remains moist. Start training climbing roses along the support structure once the stems are strong enough. I normally use wooden stakes to link the stems to the support structure. You can also use a piece of string to guide the stems into the desired direction. Climbing roses thrive on regular fertilization. Use a balanced rose fertilizer and feed the plants at regular intervals.

It does take a little care but the joy of watching these lovely plants in bloom is well worth everything that goes into growing climbing roses!

Picking the Right Planting Site

Strawberry plants are very versatile. I’ve seen them flourish in terraced gardens, hanging baskets and in small to king-sized pots! The key thing is sunlight. Strawberries will do well in almost any location that offers full sun for at least 5-6 hours a day. The plants relish loamy soil with good drainage. If you’re planning on growing strawberries in a container, make sure there are ample drainage holes at its bottom.

The Right Time for Planting

Early spring offers the best time for planting strawberry plants. Never compromise on quality. Pick only the best quality plants, from a trusted supplier.

Preparing the Planting Location

If you’re looking to plant strawberries in your garden, it’s essential to clear out all weeds. Carefully remove all the weeds and debris and dispose of them at a safe distance. I’d recommend adding good quantities of peat moss to the soil. This will add to the soil’s nutrition bank and help the young plants to establish. Alternately, you can also use a high nitrogen fertilizer.

Sowing Strawberry Seedlings

Dig a hole that’s just enough large to accommodate the root ball. This way, the top of the crown would end up just below the ground level. Pack the soil firmly around the plant’s base and water well. Allow a gap of 15-18 inches between adjacent plantings.

There you go. Not a hard job! Plant them right, give them a little care and you’ll soon be eating from your own strawberry plants!

June bearing Strawberries

Junebearing strawberries bear fruit early in the spring season, very often in the month of June. There’s a single, large crop in a year and the berries are big. The harvesting period lasts for about 3 weeks. If you’re interested in a big supply of strawberries for freezing or making jellies, I’d recommend growing June bearing strawberries. Two of my favorite varieties are Sparkle Supreme June bearing Strawberries and Honeoye strawberries. Plants from both these varieties are self pollinating and highly resistant to diseases.

Ever bearing Strawberries

Everbearing strawberry plants are relatively smaller than the June bearing varieties. The plants can offer up to 3 harvests in the first year. The first produce is often in June followed by a second produce in the summer season, and another in the beginning of fall. The total produce in case of ever bearing strawberries is often less than the single produce of June bearing strawberries. Ever bearing varieties have fewer runners and are much easier to manage. If you’re interested in near carefree strawberry plants that provide decent produce at different times in a year, I’d recommend growing Ever bearing strawberries. Ozark Beauty are one of my favorites in this category. They’re deep rooted, vigorous, and resistant to most diseases. A great pick for those living up north or in the southern mountain regions!

Deciding the type of strawberries to grow isn’t that hard really. It’s just a question of your goal and requirement. June bearing strawberries or Ever bearing strawberries? Choose for yourself!

History of Goji berries

Goji berries are considered native to the Himalayas. For decades now, the Chinese, Tibetans and Indians have been aware of the amazing nutritional wealth of these berries. The natives have always believed the berries possess miraculous healing powers. Ancient medical texts found in China speak of their anti-ageing properties. There’s also an old Chinese poem that speaks of a magical well back in the time of the Tang Dynasty. This well, located close to a Buddhist temple was completely covered with Goji vines. Natives who used to drink from the well are said to have retained their youth even at the age of eighty and above! As the locals came into contact with foreigners, the knowledge of the plant’s medicinal worth traveled to rest of the world.

Benefits of Goji Berries

Goji berries are considered very beneficial to the liver and eyes. Regular consumption is said to enhance immunity and slow down the effects of ageing. Scientific research has revealed that the berries have a high nutritional quotient. In addition, they’re packed with antioxidants that promote good health.

Uses of Goji Berries

Goji berries are slightly sweet, with a refreshingly tangy taste. You can consume them as fresh fruit, make goji berry juice or use them in salads. Goji berries can also be used in making herbal tea and wines. Dried goji berries, much like raisins, can be used for seasoning a variety of prepared food items.

Millions around the world are benefiting from this miracle food. It’s about time you had your first mouthful of goji berries!

1. Do not plant strawberries in soils where eggplants, peppers, potatoes or tomatoes have been recently cultivated. All these plants are likely to host Verticillium albo-atrum and V. dahliae, fungi that causes Verticillium Rot in strawberry plants. Make sure the site you’ve picked for planting strawberries hasn’t been home to any of these plants for at least 3 years.

2. Do not over fertilize. It’s one of the most common mistakes that gardeners make, and end up with more flowers than fruit. I’d recommend mixing good quantities of organic material to the soil a couple of days from planting. Fertilize twice a year, once at the start of the growing season and then after harvesting the strawberries.

3. Do not allow the sun to harm the yield. Strawberries do relish plenty of sunlight but too much heat can affect the fruit. I’ve seen gardens filled with soft, pink strawberries that just don’t turn red. This is caused by sunburn. If you live in a warm region, I’d suggest you use canopies to protect the fruits from the afternoon sun.

4. Do not over irrigate. Strawberries normally require about 1 inch of water every week during the growing season. Time successive waterings such that the soil is always moist but never wet.

5. And finally, do not neglect your plants. Strawberries thrive on regular care. Show them some affection and they’ll reward you well!