Onions are one of the most popular vegetable that forms a very important form of daily diet. This is an extremely versatile crop that can be used throughout the year. Onion is the first crop that can be harvested in spring and they can be stored for whole of winter. These crops are highly adaptable towards home garden conditions and it is possible to raise high quality crops. Onions can be consumed either in raw or cooked manner and this forms an important culinary product.
Sowing of onions
Onions can be grown either with the help of seed or with sets. Using sets for growing of onions will have its share of advantages since there will be reduced risk of attack from pests. Though onion sets will be slightly more expensive than seeds, this option is capable is capable of providing you efficient results that will produce healthy crops. If you have decided to sow onions seeds in drills, it is essential to make 2cm depth hole an should be paced 1 inch apart. If you are considering growing in rows, it will be better to space them with 30 cm gap.
Another important requirement is to maintain soil in damp condition when the seeds are sowed. You can check condition of soil a day before sowing of seed and water soil if it is not wet. For sowing of spring onions, you can place them during April and repeated staggering of plant should be incorporated to obtain continuous harvest during growing season.
Soil conditions
Onion
Onions plantation prefers soil that is slightly on acidic side ( pH 5.5 to 6.5). Range of soil conditions can support growth of onions ranging from heavy clay to sandy loams. There will be better growth if plating is being done on firm soils. If soil lacks moisture retaining properties, it is essential to make use of manure and organic compost.
Tending of plants
Tending is an important process that will enable more amount of light to enter into this plant. Tending is a process of removing various kinds of weeds that grow between the spaces of plant. When the plant is being grown through seeds, tending should be done when plant reaches height of 5 cm.
Harvesting of onions
Onions are ready to be harvested about one week from the time leaves start to fall from plants. You can make use of fork to lift plants and remove bulbs, as well as make sure that skin does not get damages to maintain good freshness.
Growing cucumbers is not hard. Some say that growing cucumbers need spacious space, but today you can do it in less space, too.
Before you start growing cucumbers, here are few things you need to know about these plants:
- Cucumbers are members of the Cucurbitaceae family.
- Cucumbers are climbing vines so once you grow them, they will grow up higher and higher.
- Cucumbers have two types of flower: male and female. The female ones have tiny cucumbers at their bottom.
- Cucumbers love a warm, well-drained soil.
- Cucumbers can be eaten fresh (slicing varieties), or pickled (pickling varieties). The pickling varieties can grow up to 7 – 10 cm long and 2.5 wide, while the slicing ones can grow even bigger (up to 35 cm).
- It is recommended to highly consider growing cucumbers and put them in your daily diet since their properties will help you improve the health of your skin, hair and nails.
Growing cucumbers begins with a good preparation. Put a fair amount of organic compost into the soil. Always keep the soil well-drained. Raise the beds around 6 inches high.
Next step in growing cucumbers is sowing the seeds in biodegradable seedling pots, 2.5 cm deep. It will keep the roots safe when you plant out the seedlings. Do not plant them outside before the last frost.
Also, when you sow the seeds, keep the holes apart at about 40 cm between each. Three seeds in each hole is a best trick to increase the success rate of germination. Keep the rows apart at about 90 cm between each.
Growing cucumbers in a green house is a good idea, too, since they enjoy sunlight and a warm environment. Make sure you spare enough space up high that they can reach around six feet. Another way of growing cucumbers is, should you do not have enough space for them to grow up high, letting them spread over the ground, against the wall, stakes or trellises.
Weed the cucumbers regularly, but be careful not to go below a couple of centimeter with your hoe. Damaged roots will slow down their growth.
Growing cucumbers also means that you have to water them well each week. They love water!
Help them pollinate by transferring the pollen from male flowers onto the center of female flowers, use cotton bud to help you out.
Harvest your cucumbers by twisting them off the plant, or by cutting the stalk just above the tips. Do this when they reach suitable size, normally 50 to 60 days after planting. The ripe fruits should be dark green. Do not wait till they turn yellow, it means they are overripe and their flavor declines.
Tomatoes are one of the most used vegetables all over the world. They are very quick growing plants and are a favorite among most amateur gardeners. Once we understand the quirks and tricks of growing tomatoes, we can successfully and easily grow them in pots or our backyards. The aspect we just have to bear in mind before mastering the art of growing tomatoes are the following: [click to continue…]
