Home Improvement Information |
|
Turn Your Patio Into A Voluminous Vegetable GardenJill Homer My first apartment was a second-story condo in an urban complex, far displaced from the groomed suburban landscapes and sprawling gardens I had grown up with. My only connection to the outdoors was a small porch, surrounded by brown siding and a fading carpet of artificial turf. To add a little color to the patio, I adopted a few small tomato plants from a friend who had started his garden indoors, and planted them in large pots near my railing. To my surprise, they started to grow. Soon I had filled the 5’ x 10’ space with more than a dozen ceramic pots, plastic containers, and beach pails filled with peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and pole beans. Before I knew it, my porch was a curtain of green and my meals regularly featured home-grown vegetables. Well-planned patio gardens allow gardeners to make the most of a small space while maintaining a degree of control not available to those who plant in the ground. If a plant is not getting enough sun, it can be moved. If it is not draining properly, more holes can be added. Healthy plants prevent pests, and some, such as slugs, are not even a factor. Watering is more efficient, because it must be done by hand, making a patio garden ideal in a drought situation. And at the end of the year, even inexperienced gardeners can enjoy a bounty of vegetables thanks to the built-in advantages of garden containers, which include regular drainage and nutrient-rich soil. Herbs also make great container plants, as they survive in generally drier conditions. Pots offer the opportunity of bringing herbs inside when the weather gets colder. However, many herbs are fast-growing, so it’s best replant the container each spring. Starting a patio garden is not difficult. Here are a few tips: 1. Start with 4” plants, which can be found at most nurseries. With a little creativity, just about any vegetable can be planted in an above-ground container, however, the most common seem to be tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, lettuce, beans, and spinach 2. The size of a plant can vary depending on the variety of seedling used. Make sure containers are large enough to accommodate a full-sized plant. Most tomatoes will need at least an 18” square container. Peppers, however, are perfectly happy in smaller pots. 3. Cover the holes at the bottom of the container with small rocks to improve the soil drainage. 4. Part-fill the container with compost. A slow-release fertilizer can be added at this stage to distribute nutrients as the compost dries out. Fill the remaining space with a nutrient-rich planting soil. 5. Water the plants and let them drain. Take them out of their pots and arrange in the container, packing in tightly. Fill in any gaps and firm all the plants in place. Keep the soil below the rim of the pot for easier watering. 6. Water the container well and move it to its final position. Arrange plants according to their needs. Tomatoes prefer a south-facing porch with full sun, while spinach and lettuce are happier near the house in partial shade. Make sure the place where you want to plant gets at least six hours of direct sun every day. 7. Trellises, cages or poles will be needed for tomatoes, cucumbers, beans and other vines. Patio gardeners can also take advantage of permanent features, such as fences and railings, to support their plants. 8. Containers need to be watered at least once a day in summer. They also require regular fertilization. A fertilizer dilutor can be clipped on to the hose to feed plants as you water. With just a little time and imagination, any drab patio can become home to lush green vines, red peppers, juicy tomatoes, and succulent cucumbers. Why not start today
| RELATED ARTICLES What to feed your fish during colder winter months With air and water temperatures dropping in most parts of the country, now is the time to greatly reduce the amount of food you are feeding your fish. Matching & Co-ordinating Your Home To Make It More Desirable When looking to create that desirable and harmoniousfeeling you get in some properties, making sure youco-ordinate is a key area to keep in mind. The Uglier The Better American Standard Announces the 2002 Americas Ugliest Bathroom Contest How to Identify a Quality Interior Shutter 1. Shutters have proper louver tension Rugs, Rugs And Rugs…Where’d They Come From Rugs are nice to look at and comfortable to walk on. Rugs can really help define a home and especially a room. A well chosen rug can help bring out the wall color and furniture of any room. Rugs come in many different styles and colors today. The quality of rugs, Persian rugs and even kids rugs is excellent, allowing for years of enjoyment. When And How To Prune Roses The following article was written by David G. Hallstrom for and originally published by National Realtors Directory.com. Which DirecTV Hardware Setup Is Best The right DirecTV setup depends on your fancy and your location. Most people will be perfectly served by the multi-room systems promoted by RapidSatellite right now. All the necessary satellite equipment for up to 5 rooms, plus the installation and even a DVD player is yours for FREE. How To Give Your Home More Space Have you been wondering how to free up space in your homeDo you live in a dorm or an efficiency where every inch ofspace counts Rising Damp It doesn’t sound like a particularly interesting topic, however a quick search on the worlds favourite internet search engine will show that in some circles rising damp is a very hot topic indeed. The trouble is that it appears that it could indeed be some type of religion or god; does it exist, or doesn’t it The truth of the matter is that rising damp does indeed exist in one form or another, but it is often misdiagnosed, or you can often pay for expensive treatment that really isn’t necessary. Reduce Your Heating Bills This Winter - Overlooked Sources of Heat Loss in the Home Imagine leaving a window open all winter long – the heat loss, cold drafts, and wasted energy! Well if your home has a folding attic stair, a fireplace, and/or a clothes dryer, that may be just what is occurring in your home! Have you considered Fluorescent lighting for your home Many of us know that fluorescent lighting is common in work areas and schools. It is the long tubes that run in ceilings, right Fluorescent lighting is more then just that. In fact it is one of the most energy efficient types of lighting on the market today. Lemon Tetras Glassily transparent, the lemon tetra hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis could appear to be just a sunbeam flashing through your community tank if not for background elements like plants and driftwood. Another member of the large characin clan, the lemon tetra has a fairly elongated body like its smaller relative the neon tetra and like neons and other characins, the lemon tetra does best if kept in small schools of six to eight fish. Why Are There So Many Different Light Bulbs There are many different types of light bulbs. Each has its own uses and requirements. Some can save you some extra money because they are energy efficient. There are also many different brands. You can also often find discount light bulbs to save some money. Learning the differences will help you choose what is right for you. Carpet Tips: Make Your Carpet Last Longer In this article we outline some tips to help you get more life out of your carpet. Ship Ahoy! The Nautical Touch in Your Outdoor Living Space Would you rather be sailing or are you strictly a shore bird Whether youre land-locked or seaside, you can create a nautical look in your outdoor living space by following a few easy principles. Youll find that even landlubbers can answer the siren song of the sea. 25 Tips and Tricks for an Organized Move Worried because youre moving soon This really doesnt have to be a stressful, chaotic time. Here are some tips to help you achieve a successful, organized move. Gardeners: Contain Yourselves! Whether you live in a tiny city apartment or on a large country estate, gardening in containers is a way to add colour and the beauty of nature to your surroundings. The three main elements of creating successful containers gardens are:Choosing the potsGetting the right planting mediumSelecting the plants Self Storage : 10 Mini Storage Packing Tips Most self-storage companies will offer packing as an additional service, so, in most cases,to save cash, youll be packing up yourself. The packing process is an art and youll need to put some thought into it before you begin. Comparing Types Of Conservatory Blinds The cost of furnishing a conservatory can catch many people out, in fact it can often cost more than the conservatory itself. Conservatory Blinds can be very expensive so it is important to know what the choices are and what value a particular blind will bring. This article looks at the most common types and discusses the individual merits of each one. Using Colors in Your Room Colors play an important part in your Home Decor process. Colors are what give life and personality to your room. |
home | site map |
© 2005 |