Suburban Vegetable Gardener

Soil amendment preserves moisture, improves infiltration of rain or irrigation water, and “unlocks” existing nutrients in the soil. With this practice, nutrients are more readily absorbed into the soil and fewer run-offs take place.
One of the things to be considered in amending the soil is checking the PH level the correct soil pH is essential for optimum plant growth. Lime and sulfur are common amendments used to balance soil pH. pH is defined as measure of the soil acidity or alkalinity. The scale goes from 1.0 to 14.0, with 7.0 being neutral. The lesser the numbers go from 7.0, the more acidic the soil. The higher they go above 7.0, the more alkaline. The reason why soil pH should be taken into consideration is that nutrients in the soil are only available to plants if the soil pH is within a certain range. One myth which is not true, about all plants- is that many plants like a pH in the low acid to neutral range (6.2 – 6.8),
There are several types of amendments that are available for a gardener. Just like with the use of ashes. Using wood ashes increases soil pH, but you must apply twice as much ash as limestone for the same effect. It should be applied in a thin layer and be incorporated it into the soil. In using this method, the PH shall be checked yearly.
Greensand and granite meal are sources of potassium. Amendments like these two are added specially to improve soil nutrient levels. Granite meal is finely ground granite rock which releases its potassium slowly. Greensand is moderately low in potassium, which is readily dissolved. Other nutritional amendments that can be purchased for garden use include cottonseed meal, kelp and other synthetic fertilizers.
The most commonly used amendment is animal manure. Fresh horse, sheep, rabbit, and poultry manures are reasonably high in nitrogen and may burn plants if applied directly to a growing garden. They are best applied in the fall and tilled under.
One should always bear in mind that soil is the base for plant growth, and a great deal of attention should be paid to getting and keeping the soil in its best condition.

If you are looking for some fall vegetable plants to start with, there is a wide variety of vegetable suitable for fall gardens. And here are some additional tips which might be of help to you:

If you have interest for root vegetables rutabagas and turnips are easy to grow and can be harvested long after the last frost. You can boiled and peel and mashed them just like potatoes.

If you love the color of green and is into leafy vegetables, I suggest try Kale and collards. These two are rich in Vitamin C. Spinach, too, grows best in fall. For a simple and nutritious dish, just sauté in olive oil or steam these vegetables with garlic and sea salt.

Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower can also be a great option. These vegetables are contains nutrients that helps fight cancer and other diseases. For broccoli and cauliflower to grow best, they should be in cool temperatures. Potent cancer fighters, broccoli and cauliflower grow best in cool temperatures. Both vegetables can be steamed, boiled, baked or fried as to what suits your taste.

While, Salad greens can be planted in cooler places but not cold temperatures. Grow them in partial shade for great texture and color. Some popular varieties include escarole and endive.

Cabbage and Brussels sprouts are also cool weather crops. Cabbage is an excellent source of Vitamin C. It also contains large amount of glutamine, an amino acid which has anti-inflammatory properties. Though not commonly appreciated, but if appropriately they are nutritious and delicious. Usually these vegetable are used in making salads.

These vegetable is often used as a minor ingredient in dishes, they can be grilled, roasted or baked as a side dish. Leeks can withstand hard freezes. Leeks are rich in allicin, an organosulfur compound that has been shown to inhibit the growth of certain cancer cells, including breast, endometrial, and colon cancer cells. Leeks also contain calcium, iron, vitamin C, and fiber.

Who says you can only grow plants and vegetables in plots? One liberating truth is that even in the smallest patio or porch can boast a crop of vegetables or a garden of flowers in containers. Planter boxes, wooden barrels, hanging baskets and large flowerpots are just some of the containers that one can use. The container gardener’s limit is his imagination.
For those who are interested of having a late summer vegetable garden, one thing about it is that your garden a beautiful place. Most of the crops are harvested during late summer while some fall bearing crops are also planted at this time.
To plant vegetables in late summer, start with seeds. Plant them deeper in late summer than you would in spring to ensure they remain cooler. Keep the plants well watered throughout the first several weeks until they establish themselves in the garden.
For late summer vegetables you can try planting garlic, leek, onions and onions. Meantime, you can also choose from the squash family—you can explore from pumpkin, butternut acom and delicata. For root crops, choose from turnips, radish, beet and parsnip. Others which are best during late summer include Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, Lettuce, Spinach, Chard and Broccoli rabe.

A container garden must always bear in mind that the container garden will need at least five hours of direct sunlight each day, and many plants will benefit from even more. As a general rule, leafy vegetables like cabbage and lettuce can stand for the most shade; however root crops have a different case. Roots crops such as beets and carrots require more sunlight. Also, stay guard for weeds. Of course, nobody likes to weed, but it’s imperative. Weeds take water and nutrients from the garden that your vegetable plants could otherwise use. Another important thing is the application of fertilizers. Weed frequently to remove invaders especially during late summer fertilizer will give plants extra boost.
Happy late summer gardening.

Vegetable gardening is gaining its popularity nowadays. Even if technology has advanced, people now tend to find means to go back to some basics that fast-paced has deprived us from enjoying.

If you are wondering why vegetable gardening works, here are the reasons why:

1. Your food is safe. Advance technology gave the farmers more yields than they had before. However, there are also consequences of this benefit. We always hear genetically modified plants, harmful pesticides, processed foods loaded with preservatives, and a whole lot more. Most of the time, we are not so sure anymore about the food that we eat. With vegetable gardening, you are sure of your product since you have been taking care of your plants since day 1 until harvest. It will also ensure the freshness of your food.
2. It is economical. Saving seeds or buying them is much cheaper than buying vegetables in the market. Now, vegetable gardener is not just for the summer season. You can plant all year round. This is made possible through vegetable gardening in containers. This also means that you will be getting fresh vegetables all year round.
3. It is profitable. When you harvest a lot of vegetables in a particular time, you can sell it to your neighbors and in the local market. You can make a very good business on it. If you belong to an organization in the community or in school, this is an excellent income-generating project.
4. It is a form of exercise. Vegetable gardening involves a lot of physical activities like walking and stretching your muscles. You will save a lot of time and money as compared to gym work-outs.
5. It serves an ornament. A vegetable garden in your backyard or balcony is pleasing to the eyes. It adds a lot of vitality, color and texture into the whole design of your house.
6. It makes you learn new things. Vegetable gardening doesn’t just include planting and harvesting. You will meet challenges like how to improve the quality of the soil, how to get rid of and present pests and other interesting activities. If this is not within your vocabulary until now, then this is the chance to learn something new in a cool, fun way.

Aside from these benefits, you will find a new sense of fulfillment every time you achieve something new. Vegetable gardening provides tons of possibilities that will benefit you.