8 Common Mistakes To Avoid When Buying Plants From Nursery

8 Common Mistakes To Avoid When Buying Plants From Nursery | Gardening Mistakes

See how you can buy the best plants in a nursery or garden center by avoiding these 8 common mistakes.

Must remember these tips when buying plants at a garden center or nursery. These tips will help you in choosing the best plants that’ll survive and thrive after you buy them.

1. The quality of the garden center in general

You can get an initial idea of the quality of plants from the first general impression of the garden center or nursery you are visiting. See if there are many pots fallen and there are many kinds put through one another or if the care has not been optimal in recent days or weeks. Also, see the quality of soil in which plants are available or if the plants are bit overpriced. Avoid purchasing plants from such place.

2. The leaves tell you more

You can easily find out how healthy the plant is from its leaves. To learn how to read plant leaves.

Plants with limp, wilted, yellow, brown or black leaves mean that the plant is either thirsty or suffering from a disease or it is root bound. You should avoid buying such plants, buy plants that are healthy with lush green and perky foliage.

3. Look for pests and diseases

When choosing plants from a nursery, look at them closely for the presence of pests or diseases. The pests or insects are usually hidden on the underside of the leaves or at the growing tips of the plants. Look out for common pests like aphids, scales, mites etc. You should also look if the plant has holes on the leaves, black spots, distortion, blisters or feel that the leaves are sticky (honeydew secreted by aphids).

Never buy infected plants because once they enter in your garden, the pests in them will spread quickly to infest other weak plants you have.

4. Avoid leggy and lanky plants

Leggy plants should also be avoided. These plants may have grown up in insufficient light or may be a victim of over-fertilization and will invite pests and diseases to your garden. They may also break easily in wind and or at the time of handling. Instead, buy plants that are grown healthy and have a well-branch structure. These plants are robust, bushy and are generally pests and disease free.

5. Roots will tell you everything

Half the secret to growing healthy plants is having healthy roots. When you choose to pick a plant to check out its roots, examine the color of the roots. Never choose a plant if its roots are soft, brown or easily fall apart when you touch or pull them slightly. Also, remember some plants have fine roots and you have to examine them with care.

6. Ask, ask and ask

Don’t be afraid to ask nursery employees about which plants would adapt best in your garden and their growing requirements and conditions. Tell them about the dimensions of your garden so that they can help in choosing the best one.

7. Don’t buy plants in full bloom

Don’t fall in a temptation of buying flowering plants in full bloom. Instead, choose plants with healthy foliage and vigorous growth with many buds to open.

8. Check out the weeds

If there are weeds in the pot, it is not only indicative of poor maintenance of the plant, but worse is the fact that the weeds for a long time used the nutrients of the desired plant. If there is an option avoid buying such plant. If in case you’re buying that plant remove the weed carefully before planting or else it will spread in your garden.

13 Epsom Salt Uses In Garden That’ll Amaze You

13 Epsom Salt Uses In Garden That’ll Amaze You

Those who use it swear that using Epsom salt on plants make them lush and healthier. Find out yourself, see these 13 Epsom salt uses in garden.

However, there are many positive impacts of Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) but its excessive use must be avoided.

1. To get sweeter fruits

Apply Epsom salt 1 tablespoon per sq ft of fruit trees and shrubs to boost chlorophyll levels inside plant cells, which means improved photosynthesis, stronger growth of the plant, sweeter fruits, and increase productivity. Fruit trees like citrus, apples, peaches, pomegranate, and plums perks up after application of Epsom salt.

2. To help plants absorb more nutrients

If you use Epsom salt as fertilizer, your plants will receive all of the required nutrients adequately. Why? The Epsom salt contains magnesium, a mineral that enhances the absorption of basic nutrients needed by plants in order to grow, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur.

3. To avoid transplanting shock

Help plants to overcome transplant shocks when you plant them into a garden or change their pots, just add a tablespoon of Epsom salt to the soil, then once again add a layer of soil before placing the plant so that roots does not come in direct contact with the salt.

4. To have juiciest tomatoes and healthy tomato plants

Tomatoes suffer from magnesium deficiency, especially when grown in pots. To resolve this, dissolve 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt in 1 gallon of water and apply this solution in every two weeks to your tomato plants.

5. Yellowing leaves

The leaves of plants and trees turn yellow due to magnesium deficiency as it is an essential component in the production of chlorophyll, to counter this, add a tablespoon of Epsom salt around the base of your plant per 12 inches of its height, once a month until it starts to look green again.

6. Prevent leaf curling

Sometimes due to magnesium deficiency leaves may curl inward or upward. In such case, application of Epsom salt around the base of the plant helps a lot. Alternately, for quick absorption, you can also mix 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt in a gallon of water and spray directly on the foliage.

7. To increase the production of peppers

Give a boost to your pepper plants by adding 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt every week, especially at the time of flowering and fruiting to increase the production of peppers.

8. For better blooming roses

Adding Epsom salt helps in the production of chlorophyll, which favors the bushier growth of the roses. Also, its addition encourages more blooms. Feed rose bushes with Epsom salt at the time of planting and again at the first sign of new growth. Application of Epsom salt when the plant is flowering is also helpful. You can also soak bare root roses in water that contains dissolved Epsom salt before planting.

9. Get rid of weeds

If you want to get rid of weeds in your garden but don’t want to use herbicides. Use Epsom salt. Instead, mix 1 liter of vinegar with 2 tablespoons dish soap and 4 tablespoons of Epsom salts. Stir everything well and pour this into a spray bottle. Spray this solution on weeds. Make sure you don’t spray this on other garden plants.

10. Lawn Fertilizer

Magnesium contained in Epsom salt is beneficial to the lawn! Sprinkle 5 cups of Epsom salts per 100 m 2 of lawn, apply it with a spreader or spray it by diluting in water to get a lush green lawn.

11. Removing tree stumps

Drill a few holes in the tree trunk and fill each hole with Epsom salt. Then pour the water into the holes. The trunk should begin to decompose within a few weeks. Find out more on this.

12. Care for potted plants

Potted plants become magnesium deficient more quickly than plants grown on the ground. Therefore, add 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt to 1 gallon of water and feed this solution once a month to your container plants. Water until it starts to flow out from the bottom of the pot.

13. Healthy and Beautiful Shrubs and Trees

Epsom salt can keep shrubs and trees healthy and in bloom. Work one tablespoon Epsom salt for shrubs and two tablespoons for trees in nine square feet area around the root zone.

How to Make Kitchen Garden in Pots

How to Make Kitchen Garden in Pots | Container Kitchen Garden

How to make a kitchen garden in pots. See tips on growing fresh and organic vegetables and herbs in your container kitchen garden.

A kitchen garden is perfect way to grow your own fresh, healthy and tastiest vegetables, sweet and juicy fruits and aromatic herbs. A kitchen garden is a gardening space nearer to your kitchen where you grow food. If you’re an urban gardener and you don’t have much space or you have a balcony, patio or terrace– you can still make a kitchen garden in pots. For this, you need to acquire a space that is for maximum yield receives at least 6 hours of sun. However, you can also grow a few vegetables in shade. See our guide on vegetables you can grow in shade.

Pots for Container Kitchen Garden

Pots must be chosen according to what you want to cultivate and appearance: Terracotta pots are certainly the most beautiful, but beware of the weight and they are expensive too. If you want light planters opt for plastic pots, they also keep the soil moist, better for plants that require moisture. Clay pots are natural, support good drainage and help in air circulation, thus optimum for plants that like to grow in cool substrate and require good drainage.

Size of the pots rely on things you want to plant in them if you’re growing lettuce or salad greens, choose wide, rectangular container. For plants like tomatoes and peppers, deep pots are perfect.

Growing Herbs in a Kitchen Garden

Herbs must be a part of every kitchen garden, using them you can make your meal more flavorsome. Even for beginners they are simple and easy to grow. Plus, they don’t require a lot of space: A few flower boxes on window sill and railing planters are enough for growing herbs and sufficient for a whole family.

Fruits and Vegetables for the Kitchen Garden

When growing fruits and vegetables it is advised to beginners to start with easy to grow plants. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, beans, lettuce, radishes, zucchini, eggplant and strawberries are readily available and easy to grow. These plants do not require years of experience as a gardener to reap the first success of harvest. Once you start to grow them, picking them fresh, your confidence increases and you feel more motivated.

Some Basic Tips to Make a Kitchen Garden in Pots

Choose the best location for the plant by doing research on specific plant.

Ensure sufficient sunlight and proper drainage.

Protect container kitchen garden from prevailing winds.

Opt for easy to grow and native plants in the beginning.

Water only when soil is dry to avoid overwatering.

Prefer organic products. Use compost and aged manure.

Hello New Comers!

Assalamoalikum Warahmatul Lahi Wa Barakata Hu

Hello New Comers!

We welcome you to our little community of Nature lovers. Your very own online community of Gardeners.

Member's privacy is of utmost importance to Us. However, if you willingly decide to introduce yourself from the onset of this online gardening journey, it would help us to know you better, understand your interest and growing conditions. Thereby more fulfilling journey in terms of what we can learn from you and how we can be more helpful to you.

How you decide to introduce yourself is how you like it to be....However few suggestions( Everything is optional, except that you must make your own post)

Start your own new post for introduction.

Your Good Name and anything that you would like to share.

Your Interests in Gardening( Plant types like bulbs, Roses, climbers or fragrant plants)

Your location ( it Could be city, hardiness zone or anything that can explain your growing conditions)

If you Like briefly describe your garden or growing area( May include area/exposure etc)

Some pictures of your garden and your gardening area.

What is blooming in your Garden?

Or Any Other Interests.

Thanking You,

Bilal Mirza

Dear All

Assalamoalikum Warahmatul Lahi Wa Barakata Hu

Dear all,

It is great to see the growth of our little gardening community and there are few important things i would like to discuss.

First, we need to propagate our page to as many gardeners as we can. And believe me not even 5% of gardeners know about this page. Our goal is that every gardener of pakistan who grows even just motia at home knows about our page. The more the people will know about this page, more chances of new things and more experiences.

We intend to take this page to greater heights not keep it just a discussion page. Insha Allah there would be many events in which page members/management will participate representing the page but in future there will be events held by page itself. It is you guys who make this page a great gardening community.

Growing Potatoes in Containers

Growing Potatoes in Containers | How to Grow Potatoes in Pots

If you’re short of space growing potatoes in containers is a great idea. Whether you own a tiny balcony, roof top garden or small urban patio or terrace you can grow your own potatoes.

If you have had ever grown your own tomatoes you are aware of the fact that how fresh and organic, homegrown tomatoes taste like. Similarly, the soft, fluffy and young potatoes taste heavenly. The freshly picked spuds have the sweet and nutty flavor that you will not find in store bought potatoes.

How to Grow Potatoes in Pots

What is Seed Potato

A potato that is replanted and used to grow potato plants is called seed potato.

How to Get Seed Potatoestuber-in-potato

Buy seed potatoes from local nurseries or online. You can also use the main crop potatoes (table-stock potatoes) that you buy from supermarket or grocery stores to eat, but seed potatoes are best for this purpose as they are of great quality and come from disease-free sources. Also, note that supermarket potatoes are sometimes treated with sprout inhibitors to prevent the emergence of sprouts.

If you are unable to find the seed potatoes, plant the supermarket potatoes. For planting, select healthiest potatoes that are not bruised or rotting and appear free from soft spots.

Once you have selected your potatoes, keep them in a cool, dark and dry place so that they develop eye buds (Potato eye is a dimpled spot in potato from where the bud appears and grows into a new plant). Check back your potatoes each day, once a few buds appear they are ready for planting.

Pick potatoes with more than one eye buds. Remember the more eye buds will result in more spuds, but smaller in size. So keep balance and choose those that have 2-3 buds. Rub the rest of the eye buds or cut them deeply to remove them.

Cutting the Seed Potatoesseed-potato

*As you are growing potatoes in containers for a smaller yield you can skip this step if you want.

Cut the large seed potatoes (larger than chicken eggs) with multiple eye buds in half to get more plants. Once done, allow them to dry out so that the wound will heal for a few days before planting otherwise your cut potatoes will rot. When you are cutting the potatoes ensure both the sides have at least two sprouts.

Pre-sprouting (Chitting)Sprouting potatoes

Pre-sprouting is not important and you can skip this step too, but if you are living in a climate that has short summer or if you want early harvest then it is recommended. In this step, 2-3 weeks prior to planting the seed potatoes are kept in a cool and dimly lit place with the eye buds facing up to develop sprouts.

Planting Potatoes in Containers

Choosing a pot

Choose a pot that is of at least 10 liters in volume (2.5 gallons) and 24 inches deep. A 40-liter (10 gallons) bucket can contain approximately 4 whole or cut seed potatoes (tubers). Large, black plastic colored buckets are recommended if you are growing potatoes in pots in a temperate climate because black color provides more warmth than any other color and plastic pot keeps the moistness.

Potatoes can be grown in any type of containers, growing bags and even in polyethylene bags, dustbins, sacks, and tires. The container must be large and there must be sufficient holes in the bottom to drain excess water.

Planting Seed Potatoesseed-potato-planting

Do not rush off to plant before the last frost date has passed. The soil must be sufficiently warm before planting potatoes, at least above 40 F (4 C). Fill the container up to only 4-6 inches with a quality soil.

Place the tubers (seed potatoes) on top of the growing medium with the majority of the eyes facing upward.

Now cover up the tubers with another 4-5 inches of nutrient rich soil.

A rough estimate is that if your pot is 12 inches in diameter then don’t plant more than 3 tubers.

Requirements for Growing Potatoes in Containers

Location

Choose a location that is sunny and receives at least 6 hours of sunlight daily.

Soil

Wet, clayey soils should be avoided. Light soils that are rich in organic matter is preferable. Growing potatoes require acidic soil with a pH level around 5-6.

Watering

Drought and lack of water for the long period are detrimental for growing potatoes in containers. When growing potatoes, regular watering is essential. Keep the soil evenly moist but not wet.

Temperature

Potato is a cool season crop but it requires the frost-free period of around 75-135 days or more, depending on the type of variety you are growing. The optimum temperature for growing potatoes ranges between 45-80 F (7-26C).

Potato Plant Care

Growing potatoes in pots require some care and tricks to improve the productivity and flavor.

Hilling potatoes

When your potted plants grow up to 6-8 inches high, earth up the soil around their base until when only an inch of the distance left to reach the lower leaves. Repeat this process in every two-three weeks until your pot is not filled up to either 18-24 inches of soil depth or when only two inches of free space left to fill the pot. Don’t overfill the pot. You can use well rotted manure or compost instead of soil for hilling, this way your potato plants will get the steady supply of nutrients.

Hilling prevents the developing potatoes from being exposed to the sun, which turns them green and bitter. It is important to know that green potatoes contain a chemical called solanine that is considered toxic.

Fertilizer

For growing potatoes in containers, natural fertilizers are sufficient. Add well-rotted manure or compost to meet the need of your plant. You can also apply organic liquid fertilizer once a month.

Also, note that potatoes have high potassium requirements and too high nitrogen fertilization can be counterproductive and promotes foliage growth.

Pests and Diseases

The best way to avoid diseases is to avoid having a water stagnant soil and wetting the foliage. Plant quality seed potatoes and obtain them from the reliable source.

Potato beetles, Aphids, Flea beetles are some of the common pests that may infect your container grown potatoes but you can get rid of them using organic fertilizers.

Harvesting

There is no need to harvest potatoes before blooms appear and leaves are yellowed. But be careful, if you let the plant dry out completely it would be the sign that you have waited too long.

How to Grow Bitter Melon

How to Grow Bitter Melon | Growing Bitter Gourd in Pots

How to grow bitter melon. Growing bitter gourd is easy. This healthy vegetable grows up quickly and fruits productively. You can also grow it in pots.

Bitter Melon is one of the most popular vegetables grown in South-East Asia. Like cucumber, melon or pumpkin it belongs to the gourd family. A native of Indian subcontinent it is used in Asian delicacies. It one of the healthiest vegetables and has many medicinal uses. It has a uniquely bitter and crunchy taste.

Bitter Melon (Bitter Gourd) Information

This very short living tropical perennial climber with thin stems can grow up to 5 m in length. Like other plants of this family, it needs support. Both the stem and lobed leaves are hairy. Bitter melon produces yellow flowers, male or female, which are pollinated by insects.

Bitter taste fruits are eaten unripe when they are still green or slightly pale. They have delicate skin and can be eaten after cooking. Inside there are large seeds. The flesh somewhat resembles a cucumber and is watery and crusty.

How to Grow Bitter Melon

Propagation

Seeds can be purchased online or in garden shops. You can also use seeds you get from ripe yellow fruits. Ripe seeds have a crimson red color coat. Germination is not difficult, but there are some tricks to make it faster.

Seeds will germinate slowly in 3-4 weeks if you directly sow them without pre-treatment, especially in low temperatures. But to increase germination rate and for the faster germination, you have to scarify them to remove seed coat. For this, rub the seeds from one side without making any damage to endosperm inside the seed coat. Soaking seeds for 24 hours in water before sowing will also help.

Planting Bitter Melon

Sow seeds 2 cm deep. Seeds can be sown directly into the ground or in the containers but only when the risk of frost has passed and the soil warms up enough. Seeds require the temperature above 70 F (20 C) for germination.

In temperate regions best seed sowing time is summer, usually between late April to May. Whereas in tropics you can start seeds anytime.

Types and Varieties

There are two types of bitter melons. One from India, which is smaller in size and has spiny skin and the other one is from China. Chinese bitter melons are milder in taste, generally large and smoothly ridged. If you want the higher yield, choose hybrid variety.

How to Grow Bitter Gourd in Pots

Growing bitter gourd (bitter melon) in pots is easy. Similar to squashes, cucumbers, and melons. You’ll need a 12 inches deep pot and a sturdy trellis. However, the bitter melon vine can grow more than 5 m (16 feet) long. A trellis or any other support structure that is at least 5-6 feet tall is required. Once the vine has reached that height you’ll have to redirect it.

Requirements for Growing Bitter Melon

This plant is cultivated in the same way like squashes, melons or cucumbers.

Position

Provide full sun to this vine and it will produce heavily. Also, as it is a tall vine you will need to provide it a support. A tall trellis or a garden fence. If you want to grow it on your patio, terrace or balcony grow it near the wall so that it can go up along with it.

Soil

It tolerates a wide range of soils, but prefers permeable, sandy loam soil that is very rich in organic matter. Bitter melon grows in slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil. The pH range around 6 to 7.1 is ideal.

Watering

It can tolerate drought like conditions for a short time but regular watering to keep the soil evenly moist is essential to ensure a good yield.

Temperature

In the initial phase of growth, growing bitter gourds require a temperature more than 70 F (20 C). Humid and warm temperature accelerate the growth of the plant. It is more resistant to low temperatures than other plants of this family but requires the hot temperature and humidity to grow.

Bitter Melon Plant Care

Fertilizer

Overuse of nitrogen-rich fertilizers should be avoided, which could encourage the development of foliage at the expense of fruits. At the time of planting, you can mix slow-release complete fertilizer in the soil. Enriching the soil with compost or well-rotted aged manure and regular inputs of organic matter will be enough later. Still, if your plant is not growing well, you can feed it with liquid vegetable fertilizer once in a month.

Trellising

Bitter gourd perks up very quickly and within two weeks after planting you must arrange something to support it. You can also grow this vine on pergolas, arches or arbor.

Growing bitter gourd vertically increases the yield and fruit size, moreover, in the case of growing horizontally on the ground, there is a high risk of fruit rot and fungal infection to the plant.

Pruning

The plant produces numerous side shoots, which must be removed to improve yield, remove the side shoots (lateral branches) until the runner reaches the top of the trellis. Leave only 4–6 laterals and cut the tip of the main runner to improve the productivity of the plant.

Overwintering

In cooler climates bitter gourds are grown as annual so you may not need to care about overwintering.

Pollination

Pollinators like bees will do the pollination for you so be good to them. If you don’t find pollinators around the flowers you may need to hand pollinate them in the morning.

Pests and Diseases

It is prone to diseases like watermelon mosaic virus, other cucurbit diseases, and powdery mildew. In pests, it gets affected by aphids and spider mites.

Harvesting

Bitter melon starts to fruit quickly in 2 months. Harvest fruits when they are green, little pale and unripe and about the size of 3 to 6 inches (depending more on the variety and type). Within 6 to 8 weeks after the germination, you’ll see the blossoms and in the next 2-3 weeks, fruits will appear and are ready to be picked.