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How to Grow and Manage Sweet Pepper

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010
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HOW TO GROW AND MANAGE SWEET PEPPER

It’s fun and a lucrative home gardening business in growing your own fresh sweet pepper, especially to provide a ready available supply of sweet pepper to your table. Besides being nutritious, it could provide you with a real fresh fruits coming directly from your garden.

You can produce them the way you want it. To grow sweet pepper can be done organically without using chemicals because you’re the one controlling their growth processes.

If you’ll inter-cropped sweet pepper with other vegetables and common herbs, the occurrence of pests and diseases attack could be totally minimized or even none at all. Companion cropping or inter-cropping can control pests and diseases attack since they’re protected by the other plants. Insect pests are crop specific, meaning they only attack to certain crop.

When planted with different crops, the possibility of crop failure could be minimized since you’ve different crops grown in one place. If one crop is attack, other crops would be spared.

How to Grow and Manage Your Sweet Pepper

1) Provide a seed box or germinating tray for sowing seeds. Sow the seeds 12 mm or .5 inch deep in the seed trays or germinating tray. Slightly cover the seeds with thin soil to cover them.
2) Cover the seed trays or germinating trays with newspaper or polyethylene plastic. Germination will take about 7-10 days from sowing.
3) After the seeds have germinated, remove the cover. Gradually expose the growing seedlings to the morning sunlight to harden them
4) Prepare a separate seed trays or germinating trays the same manner as when sowing seedlings. Fill with the growing medium and level at least 12 mm or .5 inch below the rim.
5) Use a dibbl

er to form holes about 36 mm or .5 inch apart, the outer ones 12 mm or .5 inch from the sides.
6) As soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick or transfer them to the individual holes in the prepared seedling or germinating trays. This is to provide the seedlings a wider space to avoid over-crowding while in the seedling or germinating trays.
7) Now set the individual seedlings to a growing bags or pots.
8) Support the plants with sticks tied with wires or strings to hold in place.
9) Feed the growing plants every ten days from planting up to the time when the first truss (bunch fruit) is formed.
10) Remove all shoots growing in the angles of the leaves-snap them sideways. Also, gradually remove the lower leaves to induce ripening of the fruits.
11) Harvest your fresh sweet pepper when they’re ripe or dark green when use for cooking chop suey (a Chinese dish). You can give or sell your surplus harvest to your neighbors. And they’ll thanks for your generosity.
See, it’s very easy to grow your own chemically free sweet pepper for your family’s needs.
Try planting your own home grown sweet pepper to have your ready supply for your kitchen. You’re sure you’ll enjoy it.
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Cris Ramasasa, Freelance writer, writes about home gardening and Internet marketing tips. You can get a copy of his latest ebook “Discover How to get started in Flower Gardening” and “Vegetable Gardening Made Easy”, also get lots of tips, Free articles, and bonuses at: www.crisramasasa.com

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How to Grow Your Homemade Tomatoes

Thursday, June 10th, 2010
Cincopa video hosting solution for your website. Another great product from Cincopa Send Files.

HOW TO GROW YOUR HOMEMADE TOMATOES

Growing tomatoes is fun and a lucrative home gardening business. Besides being nutritious, it could provide you with a real fresh fruits coming directly from your garden.

You can produce them the way you want it. Producing tomatoes can be done without using chemicals because you’re the one controlling their growth processes

If you’ll plant tomatoes with other vegetables, the occurrence of pests and diseases attack could be totally minimized or even none at all. Companion cropping or multiple cropping can control pests and diseases attack since they’re protected by the other plants.

Steps in growing tomatoes…

1) Provide a seed box or germinating tray for sowing seeds. Sow the seeds 12 mm or .5 inch deep in the seed trays or germinating tray. Slightly cover the seeds with thin soil to cover them.
2) Cover the seed trays or germinating trays with newspaper or polyethylene plastic. Germination will take about 7-10 days from sowing.
3) After the seeds have germinated, remove the cover. Gradually expose the growing seedlings to the morning sunlight to harden them
4) Separate seed trays or germinating trays the same manner as when sowing seedlings. Fill with the growing medium and level at least 12 mm or .5 inch below the rim.
5) Use a dibber to form holes about 36 mm or .5 inch apart, the outer ones 12 mm or .5 inch from the sides.
6) As soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick or transfer them to the individual holes in the prepared seedling or germinating trays. This is to provide the seedlings a wider space to avoid over-crowding while in the seedling or germinating trays.
7) Now set the individual seedlings to a growing bags or pots.
8) Support the plants with sticks tied with wires or strings to hold in place.
9) Feed the growing plants every ten days from planting up to the time when the first truss (bunch fruit) in formed.
10) Remove all shoots growing in the angles of the leaves-snap them sideways. Also, gradually remove the lower leaves to induce ripening of the fruits.
11) Harvest your fresh tomatoes when they’re ripe. You can give or sell your surplus harvest to your neighbors. And they’ll thanks for your generosity.
See, it’s very easy to grow your own chemically free tomatoes for your family’s needs.
Why not try planting your own homemade tomatoes. You’re sure you’ll enjoy it.
______________
Cris Ramasasa, Freelance writer, writes about home gardening and Internet marketing tips. You can get a copy of his latest ebook “Discover How to get started in Flower Gardening” and “Vegetable Gardening Made Easy”, also get lots of tips, Free articles, and bonuses at: www.crisramasasa.com

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Posted in Featured, Gardening Tips | 1 Comment »

How to Grow Bromeliads the Easy Way

Wednesday, June 9th, 2010
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HOW TO GROW BROMELIADS THE EASY WAY

Bromeliads are native of South America. Growing them are quite easy as long as they are provided with the basic growth requirements. They have several genera. Some are giants while some are tiny. Many of them though are in between.

This plant is very versatile and sturdy. They can be grown even without soil. They require very little insecticides and minimal fertilization.

They are also prized for their colorful foliage. Some have also very long-lasting flowers that are not only colorful but also have usual shapes.

Common genera of Bromeliads

• Aechmea
• Billbergia
• Cryptanthus
• Neoregelia
• Nidularium
• Tillandsia
• Guzmania
• Vriesea
• Ananas or ornamental pineapple

How to Propagate Bromeliads

The most common way of propagating bromeliads is through separation of their suckers or pups as soon as

Bromeliads plant

Bromeliads in bloom

they are 1/3 the size of the mother plant. Usually, bromeliads produce a lot of pups (sometimes more than 10 pups) as soon as they flower. Others produces suckers or pups before the produce flowers.

To produce more suckers from your mother plant, you have to remove the suckers or pups as soon as they are ready for separation. If you’ll not remove them, only few pups will come out.

Other method of propagating bromeliads is by seeds. But not all bromeliads produce seeds. Some Aechmeas readily produce seeds which could be grown in fine chopped fern chips or chopped coconut husk that are constantly kept moderately moist.

The problem with those grown by seeds, because it will take more than a year to grow the seeds into a medium- size plant. This will delay your venture for a faster way of producing more plant especially if you’re on commercial production.

Use the right potting medium

You should select a potting medium that easily drains and does not easily deteriorate. If you have a fern tree in your country, you can chopped them. They are ideal as potting medium.

You can also use a mixture of coconut coir fiber and coconut coir dust. You have to use more coconut coir fiber so that the medium will not breakdown fast. You should repot the plant once the medium becomes soggy.

If the above potting mediums are not available, use a chop dried coconut trunk. If you’ll use the fresh ones, dry them before using.

Where to place your bromeliads?

To get a more attractive foliage colors of your bromeliads, place them under proper light conditions. You can attain this by placing them under a three layers of fishnets. Guzmanias and vrieseas generas requires more shady conditions.

You can readily see if your bromeliads are under proper light conditions. If under too much shade, the colored ones will become green. If placed under too much sunlight, their leaves becomes scalded or bleached.

Another important requirement in growing bromeliads is proper air ventilation. Good air circulation will bring out the best color of the plants and will also prevent fungal infection that could eventually result in rotting.

To attain a proper ventilation, place your plants atop a bench. If that is not possible, seat them atop inverted clay pots so they will be at least one foot above the ground.

Plant nutrition

Fertilize your bromeliads so they will grow faster and healthier. Don’t over-fertilize them in order not to lose their bright colors.

A sign of over-fertilization, the leaves becomes too long and they will not look attractive.

Use a slow-release fertilizer. If not, use the ordinary urea or complete fertilizer and apply them to the potting medium. Or you can apply foliar spray.

Remember this, to get a better result, fertilize only at half the usual dose.

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Cris Ramasasa, Freelance writer, writes about home gardening and Internet marketing tips. Get a copy of his latest ebook “Discover How to get started in Flower Gardening” and “Vegetable Gardening Made Easy”, also get lots of tips, Free articles, and bonuses at: www.crisramasasa.com

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How To Establish A Rock Garden

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
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HOW TO ESTABLISH A ROCK GARDEN

A rock garden is a re-creation of a natural landscape in a small scale. It may be a rocky hill, a winding creek or a path on the mountain side.

All rock gardens should be built as natural as possible.

Don’t paint rocks or cemented paths as they are against the principle of rock garden construction.

How rock garden is constructed

The ideal soil medium for any rock garden is a fertile, mellow loam or sandy loam soil.

If you’ll use a miniature hills as the site for your rock garden, you should filled it with stones, rocks, and concrete debris to provide drainage and save the cost of buying garden soil which is quiet expensive in the city and suburban communities.

Sketch a layout plan of your rock garden to be constructed. Indicate the different parts of the landscape , including the plants to be grown.

Mistakes and unnecessary expenses in labor and materials can be avoided this way.

Make your rock garden small as it’s easier to maintain and for rather than a big one.

Plants ideal for rock garden

Small trees and shrubs found in your locality can be planted in your rock garden. Cactuses and other succulent plants, hardy vines and creepers, mosses and lichens expertly blended with the flowering herbs will create in your garden an atmosphere closest to nature.

The suggested plants for rock garden…

Trees and Shrubs

1) Small pine trees 7) Camachile

2) Araucaria, Norfolk Island pine 8) Chaang gubat

3) Agoho 9) Stick plant

4) Dwarf bamboo 10) Phylanthus myrtifolius

5) Certain species of cypress 11) Thuya orientalis

6) Pomegrenate, persimmon 12) Thuya occidentalis

Leafy plants

1) Corazon de Maria 6) San Francisco

2) Mayana, coleus 7) Baston de San Jose

3) Copperleaf, scalypha 8) Corn plant

4) Maranta, prayer plant 9) Spotted dracaena

5) Papua

Vines and Creepers

1) Creeping fig 5) Tribulus

2) Metal leaf 6) Snail plant

3) Mint, herba Buena 7) Rose moss, portulaca

4) Verbena 8) Wandering Jew

Cacti and other Succulents

1) Opuntia, dilang-baka 5) Sabila

2) Echinocereus 6) Siempre viva

3) White torch cactus 7) Episcia (silvery, common)

4) Dwarf snake plant 8) Peperomia

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How To Establish Urban Gardening For Fun And Profit

Sunday, May 16th, 2010
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HOW TO ESTABLISH URBAN GARDEN FOR FUN AND PROFIT

Urban gardening is ideal in the city or town where your space for planting is limited. If you’re employed in the city and you’ve no time to go to the province to do your farming activities, then urban gardening is best for you.

Benefits you can get from urban gardening:

• It could be therapeutic. Tending your plants early in the morning or after office hours relieves you from stress in the workplace and in the home.

• It could be enjoyable. When you see your plants with attractive flowers and vigorous growth, your imagination wanders like you’re in heaven with a happiness and satisfaction you can’t explain.

• Generate additional income. You can sell your extra plants to others if you think they are surplus for your personal needs. The city is a ready market because there are plenty of people and there’s the purchasing power.

• Reduce waste accumulation. You can recycle used materials such as; tin cans and plastics, sachets, tin foils for potting, Styrofoam for seed boxes, biodegradable products for composting, and others.

Strategies in Urban Gardening

• Select the right crops to grow, depending on the purpose or purposes of going into urban gardening.
• Identify a particular target market if you’re into commercial production.
• Develop your own passion or specialization and concentrate on that line.
• You can rent or borrow vacant lot.
• You can use your roof top if you have any.
• You can create plant boxes along your fence and walkways.
• You can grow plants in pots and other containers.

What kind of plants are ideal for urban gardening

You can grow all kinds of plants from fruits, vegetables, and ornamental.

• Fruits. You can grow fruits if not in the ground, you can plant them in containers, e. g. citrus, guava, lemon, balimbing, etc.

• Vegetables. Many varieties can be grown both in the ground and in containers.

• Ornamental. There are many types of ornamental you can grow, depending on your target market, capital required, and your inclination in urban gardening.

Requirements you need to know in urban gardening

Before you enter into urban gardening, strictly observe the following requirements in order to be successful:

• Water. Water is the most important item for any kind of plant. Without it, your gardening activities will be amiss. You have to consider the cost and continuous availability of water.

• Soil media. If you intend to grow your plants in containers, soil or potting media are important. You should have available supply of it all the time.

• Source of pots and containers. Try to know where to get the cheaper source and continuous supply for pots germinating trays of different hole sizes, and containers.

• Tools and implements. All of these should be at hand for your gardening activities, such as shovel, hoe, pick mattock, spade, trowel, sprayer, tractor (with accessories for bigger areas), and others.

• Manpower. Provide yourself with available workers to help you in the garden. Though you can do it yourself, but at least there is one you can trust to tend your plants when you’re out for some other business.

• Materials and seeds. See to it that you have available of these materials and seeds in your nursery such as; seeds and other planting materials. Get your planting materials from reputable source or certified seed suppliers.

Improving unsuitable soil

When your place is stony or adobe and you think there is no more hope for the plant o grow, don’t panic, there is still remedy to improve it. The strategies to undertake are:

• Look for plants that will grow in rocks or adobe stones (rock gardening). There are plants that grow vigorously on rock such; balete tree, some cactus species, etc). Arrange them in such a way that they will not compete with space and sunlight.

• Add garden soil or organic material such as manure, compost, and others. You can make holes on the rock just enough to hold the soil media in place for specific plants. For larger plants you can make bigger holes so that more soil media may be placed to sustain the growing period of the plants.

• Look for possible sources.

How to earn profits from your urban garden

There are so many ways you can promote your urban garden to make it known to the public and earn you a profit.

The following tips can enhance your promotional strategies:

• Attend garden shows or trade fairs. You can bring and display your exotic plants in the garden shows or trade fairs so the customers will see them. Display your gardens’ name, location, proximity to the market, and plants grown.

• Publish in all media outlets. Submit pictures of your garden and plants in magazines, TV, Internet, and newspapers to have a wider dissemination to the reading public.

• By word-of-mouth. Often times you invite some visitors for some special occasions like; birthdays, get together, Christmas parties, or any occasions you may establish.

Show to your guests your beautiful urban garden plants. You may give them
as a token out of your plants and tell them your plants are for sale if they
have some friends interested to buy plants from you at discounted price.

• Send brochures of your urban garden to gardening sites. Invite site owners to help you promote your urban garden plants for a percentage fee say 50-60% for the gross sale of your plants. This methods is called affiliates, resellers or partners wherein both of you earns an income. A win-win strategy.
• Accept consultancy or speaker ship. As an expert you can accept consultancy in symposia to those interested in urban gardening. While at this event you can insert your garden in your talks. You can tell your audience about your urban garden, what plants are grown and they are for sale. You may also bring with you your sample plants to the events and sale or give them to your audience.

In urban gardening you can enjoy the work in your garden, feel the freshness of the surroundings because of the smell of sweet flowers, the vigorous growth of your plants, and at the same time it can provide you with additional income.

Enjoy urban gardening and let your expertise flourish for the benefit of others while giving you fresh vegetables and fresh flowers. Above all gives you an income out of your plants.

Come on, stretch out your aching back and body and let the soil and plants in your garden provide the solution to relieve your pain and at the same time earn you an additional income.

What about that, are you serious in urban gardening?

Then, come on let’s go, roll out your sleeves.

_________________________
Cris Ramasasa, Freelance writer, writes about home gardening and Internet marketing tips. You can get a copy of his latest ebook “Discover How to get started in Flower Gardening” and “Vegetable Gardening Made Easy” and also get lots of tips, Free articles, and bonuses at: www.crisramasasa.com

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Hello world!

Sunday, February 14th, 2010
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Welcome to Gardening Tips. Come join me to teach our fellow senior citizens and beginners how to start flower and vegetable gardening. Let’s help them grow their own garden plants using the latest methods without using any chemicals, but rather using the organic way of growing vegetables and other plants.

Share your expertise to our fellow home gardeners. If you have your knowledge and passion for plants, come on in to this blog. The more you share, the more you’ll get exposed and more will ask your help.

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