Work with an experienced agent for your next Orlando real estate purchase. Ask to view some of the gorgeous luxury homes for sale in Mt. Dora FL.
Vegetable and fresh food gardens are the rage this year. With all the focus on green living and organic foods, it's not surprising there is a push towards growing our own food. If you've ever eaten a fresh picked tomato, you'll know that the flavor just doesn't compare with store bought. In fact, most people probably don't realize how good vegetables are supposed to taste.
For those of you who have never attempted growing anything beyond a few token geraniums or hanging planters, food gardens are not that difficult. If you devote some time to planning, you'll be shocked at how easy it is.
Your first consideration should be in the type of plants you want to grow. One tomato plant can yield as much as 10 lbs. of fruit, so you don't need many to get a good return. Plus, depending on the type of plant, allows you to harvest throughout the season. Other plants such as carrots, radishes and corn produce only once.
The varieties you choose will have bearing on the size of your garden and vice versa. You can use a regular plot, or build raised beds, or even fill a balcony with containers of edible plants. Most vegetables require a minimum of 6 to 8 hours of full sun. Much less and they won't be as hearty as well as being susceptible to disease. You can budget your sunny space by placing some vegetables in part sun such as peas, lettuce and spinach.
Your garden will have to be watered regularly, especially during dry spells. You may want to consider using soaker hoses or a sprinkling system set up on a timer.
Good soil will produce a heartier crop of more nutrient rich plants so it's worth spending some effort in this area. Use a moist, well-drained soil that has been fortified with compost. A good way to test it is to soak a small area of soil, wait one day and then dig up a handful. Give it a good squeeze, and if water streams out, you may have a drainage problem that would require adding additional compost or peat moss.
If, when you open your hand, the soil falls apart, not forming a ball, then you may have too much sand. If the ball holds together and doesn't come apart easily, you may have too much clay in the soil. Adding organic compost or peat moss will solve both of these problems. Ideally, you want the soil to form into a ball and break into crumbs when you disturb it.
Garden Design
There are two basic design when planting in the ground versus raised beds or containers – row cropping and intensive cropping.
In row cropping, you have number of plants, single file in long rows, with room for walking in between. Although most people automatically plant this way, this style is generally used in large gardens where room is required for large equipment. This design, tends to use up a lot of space for walking paths and this eats away at your planting room.
Intensive cropping is where planting is done in wide bands up to 4 feet across. Since this design reduces the space needed for walking, the planting bands should not be any wider than you can reach to weed your garden.
Another version of intensive cropping, divides the garden into small zones (about 4 x 4 feet), throughout your yard. Depending on the size of plant at maturity, you can use one, four, nine, or 16 plants. If you leave part of the area unplanted, then you can add a second planting when the first is finished. It's common to plant lettuce, radishes, green onions, carrots and beans several times a season.
Raised beds are an excellent planting method, especially if you have poor soil drainage. They also help to keep the weeds down and restrain your plants from creeping into other areas of the garden. An easy way to create the bed is to place your frames right on existing lawn, line with plenty of newspaper and top with soil. The newspaper will break down, and attract worms which will provide plenty of natural fertilizer.
No matter which method you choose, once you've loosened the soil, rake it, water it and let it rest for a few days before planting.
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
- Home Improvement Service
- Home Improvement Forums And Other Online Tools
- New Study Shows Home Improvement Intentions Of DIY Loving Brits
- Home Improvement Strategies for You
- Home Improvement TV Shows - Great Source Of Home Beautifying Tips
- Home Improvement Tips 101
- Home Improvement DIY Projects – a Few Suggestions to Get you Started
- Home Improvement DIY Projects - A Few Suggestions To Get You Started




Keeping Your Tree Soil Healthy
By: Andrew Johnson | 14/11/2009A tree is as healthy as the soil it sits in. And yet, a trees soil is often overlooked. So what can you do to improve your tree's soil?
Concrete Floor Coatings
By: Hub | 14/11/2009Another popular concrete floor coating, especially for garages and basements, is concrete floor coatings.
Flowers for every part of our life
By: kalyanchakravarthy | 14/11/2009Flowers, types of flowers and there usages in our day to day life.
Herbs Gardens Delights
By: Sonny Chenoweth | 14/11/2009An introduction to herb gardening including a review of the various uses of herbs and their historical importance to mankind.
Gardening Tips and Advices
By: George Sandler | 14/11/2009Here are some tips on gardening that I have worked very well. I am sure this will help too. If you want to know about the resources to get great gardening tips, try the internet, gardening clubs, books, magazines and of course the local nursery. What is the principle that the information you need to know: The amount of sunlight the plot may have and advice on fertilizers, manure and soil management.
Building a Grow Closet for Your Growing Needs
By: Lovely Andy | 14/11/2009If you are lucky enough to have all the money in the world then you should probably go ahead and buy yourself the ready built grow closet, but if you are one of the less fortunate who don’t have all the money in the world then read through this article because you need this information. Just follow the simple steps listed bellow and you will surely have a grow closet of your own that looks as good as a ready built grow closet and functions as well if not better than a ready built grow
A Grow Cabinet for Indoor Growing
By: Lovely Andy | 14/11/2009You can also put into practice hydroponic gardening with a hydroponic grow cabinet. You can set up your reservoir on a shelf or on the bottom of the cabinet, so that the plants will receive the nutrient, light and oxygen that they need in order for them to grow. A grow cabinet presents a self-contained and a better quality option for growing vegetables and flowers inside your home.
How to Preserve Your Fresh Cut Flowers
By: Douglas Johnson | 14/11/2009This article is about how to preserve cut flowers.If you interested in it,you can read this article.
Stay Safe With Your Christmas Tree!
By: Lee Cameron | 04/11/2009 | Real EstateA fire in your home can be devastating, especially during the Holidays. Follow these simple safety tips to make sure that your Christmas tree is safe in your home.
The Death of Your Cherished Hopes
By: Lee Cameron | 03/09/2009 | Real EstateLike a lot of people on a budget, the first thing you probably do on the MLS is look at the price. Oooo! This one is only ten bucks! That’s my house! That is, until you realize that the foundation is sinking into the bog where the home was constructed or that the roof is managing a slow descent into the kitchen. When major repairs are needed, the house is often priced accordingly; unfortunately these aren’t always repairs that can wait until you “have the money”.
6 Things You Should Not Have in the Home You Hope to Sell
By: Lee Cameron | 09/06/2009 | Real EstateWhile many people are gun enthusiasts or knife enthusiasts or hunting enthusiasts, many people are not. Many people will not feel comfortable in a home filled with guns and this could have a material effect on their choice to buy yours. While your tastes should not be considered indicative of the entire neighborhood, many people may look at your lovingly tended collection of .357 Magnums and decide that this neighborhood is a little too trigger-happy for them. It's probably not true (we devoutly
Cut Your Closing Costs by Getting Rid of Junk Fees
By: Lee Cameron | 23/04/2009 | Real EstateMany first-time home buyers are dismayed at the sudden appearance of closing costs that seem to come from every conceivable avenue. They also can be beset by fees that seem to have no real explanation and cost them hundreds of dollars. Many people accept this as part of closing a real estate deal, but if you want to save as much money as possible, you will want to carefully evaluate each fee and find out which ones can be waived or eliminated.
Simple Green Substances to Clean Your Home With
By: Lee Cameron | 23/04/2009 | DIYWhile many people want to improve their cleansers' eco-friendliness, many don't realize that "green" cleaning isn't reaching for that bottle of "Eco-Kleen" on the shelf. products. The happy news is that there are several substances that can materially help you clean your home that don't cost a lot and don't take a lot of
Vegetable Gardening 101
By: Lee Cameron | 18/03/2009 | GardeningYour first consideration should be in the type of plants you want to grow. One tomato plant can yield as much as 10 lbs. of fruit, so you don't need many to get a good return. Plus, depending on the type of plant, allows you to harvest throughout the season. Other plants such as carrots, radishes and corn produce only once.
Light Your Home In Layers
By: Lee Cameron | 16/03/2009 | Interior DesignThere is More to Lighting a Home Than Hanging a Single Fixture From the Middle of a Room. Proper Lighting Can Create a Mood, Update a Home's Style, and Just Make Everyday Life a Lot More Comfortable.