31Mar 2023 by user
How to regrow potatoes from scraps

How to regrow potatoes from scraps

Starting your home garden
Adaptability is one of the potato's great strengths. It is why you can find them all over the world today. China is the world's largest potato grower, followed by India and Russia. The United States is the fifth largest, and Canada is the eighteenth. The potato is essential in feeding the earth's population, a true staple food rich in vitamins and minerals. Why should you grow your own potatoes? Is there a reason for growing your own when potatoes are so readily available and cheap? It's not that you can't buy organic potatoes, nor that you can't find the variety you want. It is for the pure pleasure of the experience, the satisfying process that begins with those old potatoes at home, that otherwise will end up in the rubbish…
Read More
23Mar 2023 by user
Top 6 Benefits of Growing Your Own Food at Home

Top 6 Benefits of Growing Your Own Food at Home

Starting your home garden
Over the last few years, there has been a surge in the popularity of growing your own food. In many instances, this trend has been fuelled by concerns about climate change, rising food costs, 'air miles', and the simple desire for fresh, healthy, 'real' food. It is probably no coincidence that this has occurred during a time of global economic crisis. Although growing some of your own food won't solve your financial worries, any gardener will tell you that gardening makes you happy and, keep you sane. Add to that fun, sense of satisfaction, and utter joy that eating something you have grown yourself brings and it is no wonder so many people are giving it a go. This trend is probably here to stay. Apart from the fact that…
Read More
22Mar 2023 by user
Solving common garden problems with succulents

Solving common garden problems with succulents

Gardening Tips
While looking good in pots, most succulents generally perform better when planted in the garden. This is because the roots are unrestricted and have access to more nutrients and water. As a result, plants grow more vigorously, producing flowers on a regular basis. In sunny locations, growth will be compact and colours will be bright. With good drainage, many succulent plants will tolerate more water outdoors in summer than many gardeners realise, allowing them to be used in high-water areas, especially those watered by drippers or micro-sprinklers. Succulents thrive in areas not covered by water systems and will be able to compete with most weed growth. Remember that weeds grow well only when watered, and by reducing the moisture in the soil, weed growth will slow, giving slower-growing succulents an…
Read More
16Mar 2023 by user
Cacti and succulents in containers

Cacti and succulents in containers

Container and Small-Space Gardening
The slow growth and long display life of cacti and succulents make them ideal plants to grow in the limited space of a container. Potted plants can also be moved indoors or outdoors, depending on the weather, which suits varieties that are susceptible to cold, dampness, and frost. What are the benefits of growing your succulent plants in containers? Potted plants grow differently when given more room. Succulents grow far more quickly when in-ground or in large beds. A 200 mm tall ten-year-old potted plant can suddenly transform into a 600 mm tall specimen within a few months as a result of being released from the bondage of the pot. While this fast growth can be seen as a positive, potted plants hold their shape and form better. They also…
Read More
06Mar 2023 by user
Best materials for outdoor planters or plant pots

Best materials for outdoor planters or plant pots

Starting your home garden
There are so many different materials for outdoor planters nowadays that it makes it difficult to decide which one to choose. In this article, we will talk about which are the best materials for outdoor planters. Things to consider when choosing the right planter or plant pot When choosing containers, you should do it carefully as the right ones can greatly improve the chances of having a successful container garden. The following are some of the things to consider when deciding which kind of pot to choose: How frequently do you water your plants? If you water them frequently, you could choose a porous material such as terracotta or cement that will dry out quickly. Otherwise, it will be best to get a less porous material such as plastic, glazed…
Read More
04Mar 2023 by user
The Ultimate Guide to Growing Boysenberries

The Ultimate Guide to Growing Boysenberries

Gardening Tips
Boysenberries are a hybrid of European blackberries, European raspberries, American dewberries and loganberries and they look like a plumped version of a blackberry. They are high in Vitamin C, folate, and manganese, and rich in fibre and Ellagic Acid, a compound that is anti-carcinogen, anti-viral and anti-bacterial. Boysenberries are perfect for desserts, jams and preserves. Their taste is a mix of both raspberry and blackberry, they are plump and juicy. You probably won't find boysenberries at the supermarkets, because they are fragile berries that cannot be handled carefully and start to decay within a few days of being harvested. Boysenberries are abundant during the warmer months, especially in summer. They are best eaten fresh and as soon as they are harvested but they can last up to a week in…
Read More
02Mar 2023 by user
Companion planting: Best plants to grow together in containers

Companion planting: Best plants to grow together in containers

Companion Planting
Certain plants can be grown together so that they benefit each other in some way. Such companion plants are believed to encourage beneficial insects and help repel or deter pests by masking the smell of a host plant, or even sacrifice themselves by attracting pests away from a neighbouring crop. In this article, we will talk about the best plants to grow together in containers. What is companion planting? Companion planting means placing plants together which are beneficial to each other in some way, this could be by deterring pests (aphids, whitefly, blackfly, hornworms), improving soil nutrients, attracting beneficial insects (ladybirds, hoverflies, lacewings) that will help with pollination, or by providing a support structure in which to climb on. An easy way to do this is to mix things up…
Read More