Many people are afraid of growing plants from seed but it's really very simple and anyone can do it. All you really need is patience and diligence.There's nothing more rewarding than scattering a few seeds in a box and seeing them grow into real flowers or vegetables. In addition, it's much less expensive to buy a few packets of seeds and some compost than to buy the equivalent number of plants from a garden centre. This is particularly true if you have a large garden and need plenty of plants to fill the spaces but if your garden is small, why not share a few different packets of seeds with a friend or two. If, say, three of you each grow one variety then you can all have three different types of flowers in your garden or window boxes.So, to get down to essentials: it has to be the right time of year. Most annual flowers and summer vegetables such as tomatoes, salads, beans, cucumbers, etc. need to be planted in late winter or early spring but perennial plants and vegetables like spring onions should be planted in autumn so you must check the seed packet. You also need good
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Tags: Compost, Quality Seed, Spring Onions
There is nothing like picking fresh vegetables out of your garden and preparing a meal with them. Everything tastes better when it's fresh and home-grown! Raised bed vegetable gardens are becoming quite popular, for a number of reasons. You may want to consider a raised bed garden if:o You want easier access to your vegetables with less bending, or if you or a family member are confined to a wheelchair. o You want greater visibility and a better view of your vegetables and their growing stages. o You want fewer weeds in your garden, as a raised bed means importing soil and making it less compact than traditional vegetable gardens.When planning your raised bed vegetable garden, choose a spot that gets lots of sun, and good drainage. You may want to plant away from deep-rooted trees and shrubs as they can compete with your garden for soil and nutrients.You will also have to decide on how much to raise your garden; generally a foot or two is sufficient. Keep in mind that the higher you raise it, the more soil you will have to put down. You need about a foot of soil to get deep-rooted plants.Next, choose the materials .. more »
As your herbs begin to age and become woody and lose their capacity for producing the essential oils that you must have for culinary and medicinal use, you have to replace them with new plants.Certainly not the easiest of ways, but with a little knowledge and plenty of care, growing garden herbs from cuttings can be done even by a novice gardener.Good preparation is the key to growing garden herbs from cuttings - never skimp on the basics of good husbandry. (Strange how that word is used in this context of nurturing: would it be sexist to suggest "wifedry" would be more appropriate? - Perhaps we had better not go there!) Cleanness is the most important factor.Propagation trays from garden supply stores can be used again and again so are quite economical, but must be sterilised before every use. Always use a well sterilized container that is about three inches deep. Any type of tray that is the right depth, sterilizable and has drainage can be used for the purpose.Cuttings like a light soil so a normal seed growing compost from your garden store would be too heavy. So make up your own mixture using the lightest compost you can 
5.Cabbage Root Fly The cabbage root fly is an almost ever-present threat. The female cabbage fly lays her eggs near the stems of a brassica. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae then enter the stem and roots and feed, thereby destroying the fragile root system and either killing or greatly weakening the plant. The solution is simple; a so-called brassica (or cabbage) collar can be purchased, or made from an old piece of carpet underlay. To make one, cut a square of the material and then cut a slit from one edge up the middle of the square. You can now slide the square collar around the stem. When the cabbage fly lays her eggs near the brassica, the larvae will not be able to get access to the soil due to the barrier and therefore they cannot reach the roots.4.Carrot Root Fly The larvae of the carrot root fly eats into the carrot leaving tunnels through the carrot. These tunnels frequently blacken and rot leaving the only option after a bad attack to dig the whole crop up and throw it away.The simplest treatment is prevention; the carrot fly is low flying and generally cannot fly above 18 inches