• Container Gardening for Vegetables - Friday, July 10, 2009 at 4:50 PM

  • Many living spaces do not have ample room to plant vegetable gardens. One option is container gardening. Nutritious and fresh vegetables can be grown in containers on a balcony, patio or windowsill.

    Crop Selection

    Containers are ideal for almost any vegetable that would thrive in a backyard garden. Vegetables that are specifically suited for containers are peppers, green onions, tomatoes, beans, radishes squash, parsley, cucumber, eggplant and beans. Carrots also grow well in containers if the container is deep enough (eight inches).


    Ideal Soil For Container Gardening

    Container-grown vegetables do best in soil made of woodchips, sawdust, perlite, vermiculite or a variety of other materials. The four most important criteria regardless of the soil mixture are that it 1) be free of weed seeds and disease, 2) can retain nutrients and moisture, 3) can drain well and 4) is lightweight. Many products contain nutrients in the soil so fertilizing is unnecessary.

    Containers

    You can use just about any container to plant your vegetables including bushel baskets, wooden boxes or containers specifically designed for container gardening. Green onions, parsley and herbs thrive in pots from six to 10 inches in size. Peppers, tomatoes and eggplant are best suited in larger containers.

    Adequate drainage is very important for container growing. Place about one inch of gravel in the bottom of the container before adding soil. This will help improve drainage. If your container doesn't have drain holes, drill them yourself-- about 1/4 to 1/2 inch on the bottom.

    Seeding and Transplanting

    You can purchase transplants from your local garden center or nursery to place in your container, but you can also grow the plants from seed at home. Use a baking pan to germinate your own seeds. Fill the pan with soil and plant the seeds to a depth of 1/4 to 1/2 inch.

    Place the baking pan in an area that receives adequate warmth and sunlight about four to eight weeks before planting them in the final container. The general rule is to transplant the seeds once they show their first two or three real leaves. Be careful when transplanting so you don't injure the root system.

    Light

    Full sunlight is ideal for almost all vegetables. However, some plants can do well in partial shade: lettuce, greens, cabbage and spinach. Root vegetables actually prefer more shade than those that bear fruit. An advantage to container growing is that you can move the containers as needed.

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  • How to Plant and Grow Pumpkins - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 5:30 PM
  • Pumpkins are related to gourds, cucumbers, melons and squash. They grow on plants that have long, stretching vines that sprawl across the ground.

    Planting
    The best time to plant pumpkin seeds is during the last part of May to the middle of June.

    Seeds will sprout about seven to 10 days after planting. The seeds will need a lot of warmth and moisture in order to thrive.

    Growing Towards Harvest
    A broad root system develops in the top foot of soil. A strong taproot will grow as deep as two to three feet. As this happens, the vines spread and the leaves develop. These roots, though shallow, will collect moisture, air and food for the plant.

    The blossoms (yellow flowers) will start to appear after about three weeks of growth. The blossoms that produce pollen will appear first. About a week later, the female blossoms will begin to appear. The female blossoms will have a little pumpkin at their base. When both sexes appear on the vines, bees will carry the pollen from the male to the female. The little pumpkin will develop into a full size pumpkin after it has been pollinated. During the pumpkin's growth period, the plant will continue to blossom.

    It takes about three to six months for a pumpkin to grow to its peak size. The seeds found inside pumpkins can be saved to grow new pumpkins the following year.

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  • February Gardening Tips for Southern California - Thursday, January 29, 2009 at 12:26 PM
  • February weather can be a big question mark. The month can bring an abundance of warm, spring-type weather or rain soaked, wintery days. Regardless of temperature and moisture variations, gardeners can get a jump on their spring gardens by planting a variety of flowers and vegetables in February, says a Camarillo-based manufacturer of premium soil products and one of the state's largest green materials recycling companies.

    Summer Bulbs: Time to pull out summer bulbs from the refrigerator and plant them. These bulbs include tulips, crocus, amaryllis, daffodils and delphiniums. Some bulbs can be purchased and planted without the chilling process and should be in stock at nurseries. They include Dutch iris, lily, gladiolus and begonia.

    Plant Vegetables: Warmer temperatures give gardeners the green light to plant asparagus, onions, beets, Brussels sprouts, cilantro, chives, lettuce, rutabaga and morrow squash. These hardy plants can withstand a quick blast of cold temperatures and still grow vigorously. In warmer inland areas, plant tomatoes at the end of the month. Fruit will appear by Memorial Day.

    Save Money, Plant From Seed: One easy way to save money in the garden this year is to plant from seed instead of buying mature plants from the nursery. Flower seeds that can be planted now for spring and summer-blooms include Bachelor buttons, California poppy, larkspur and wildflowers.

    Plant An Herb Garden: Mild winters enable Southern California gardeners to begin planting herbs in February. Plant chive, cilantro, dill, fennel, mint and parsley even if more rain is in the forecast.

    Tackle Weeds Now: Rain promotes winter weeds. Remove weeds with a hoe before they get too big. Don't put weeds in a compost pile. If you do, the resulting mulch will spread weed seeds throughout your garden.

    For more growing tips, go to www.agromin.com.


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    About Agromin:

    Agromin manufactures premium soil products for the agriculture and horticulture trades and for consumer use. For more than 30 years, Agromin has provided quality soil amendments and products to some of California's largest vegetable, citrus, avocado and strawberry growers. Agromin is also the green waste recycler for 19 cities in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Each month, Agromin receives and processes thousands of tons of urban wood and green waste. Agromin then uses a safe, organic and scientific system to formulate its soil products from the processed recycled green waste. The result is more vigorous and healthier plants and gardens, and on the conservation side, more room in landfills and less greenhouse gas emissions.

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  • November Gardening Tips for Southern California - Monday, November 3, 2008 at 9:45 AM
  • Winter gardens have a beauty all their own and November is the time to plant hearty cool season flowers, trees and vegetables, say experts at Agromin, a Camarillo-based manufacturer of premium soil products.

    Certain Flowers Thrive in Cool Weather: Plant fall annuals such as pansies, violas, primrose and calendula so they will be in full fall and winter bloom. Perennials including nemesia, godetia and schizanthus are also good choices for a richly varied fall and winter flower garden.

    Keep Lawns Healthy: Rake falling leaves from lawns as leaves could impede lawn growth. If a lawn is looking "tired," sow in annual rye seeds to cover brown spots and to introduce new growth. After seeding, scatter a light covering of soil amendment and water thoroughly.

    Plant Trees Now: Fall is the ideal time to plant trees. Our fall climate, with cool nights, mild days and moderate rainfall, gives trees a strong beginning that will serve them well when growing season begins in spring. Just about every tree type can benefit when planted in fall. The key to success is to select a planting location that is best suited for the tree type. Take into account the tree's rate of growth, root configuration, leaf type (evergreen or deciduous), tree shape and ultimate height at maturity. Make sure the site you select has enough sun. Other issues: is the selected location on a slope where watering may be difficult? Is it near a walkway or patio where in a few years roots may cause a problem? Will the tree at maturity be too big for the site? Better to answer these questions now or you may find yourself trying to extract a tree and its roots when it outgrows its location.

    Winter Vegetable Garden: You can enjoy fresh vegetables even during winter months by planting cool-season vegetables including beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, celery, cauliflower, lettuce, onions, turnips and rutabaga. Plant fall herbs including oregano, garlic, rosemary and thyme.

    For more planting and gardening tips, go to www.agromin.com.

    About Agromin:

    Agromin manufactures premium soil products for the agriculture and horticulture trades and for consumer use. For more than 30 years, Agromin has provided quality soil amendments and products to some of California's largest vegetable, citrus, avocado and strawberry growers. Agromin is also the green waste recycler for 19 cities in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Each month, Agromin receives and processes hundreds of thousands of tons of urban wood and green waste. Agromin then uses a safe, organic and scientific system to formulate its soil products from the processed recycled green waste. The result is more vigorous and healthier plants and gardens, and on the conservation side, more room in landfills and less greenhouse gas emissions.

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  • September Gardening Tips for Southern California - Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 1:28 PM
  • September can be a question mark when making landscape and gardening plans. In Southern California, summer can easily extend into September or the month can bring cooler temperatures. Still, there is much to do and plant in the garden during early fall, say experts at Agromin, a Camarillo-based manufacturer of premium soil products.

    Lawn Care: Lawns are still growing in September and October. Mow weekly. For cool season grass such as Kentucky bluegrass and fescues, now is the time to fertilize as they grow rapidly in fall. Also, consider aerification (coring) with an aerator that can be rented at equipment rental shops. Coring allows for better water and nutrition penetration.

    Plant Trees: The best time to plant trees is when they are dormant--in fall or early spring. To reduce transplant shock, dig a hole for planting at least three times the size of the plant's root ball is wide, but only as deep as its roots. Don't plant the tree too low in the ground to allow for some settling. Firmly pack the soil around the tree to eliminate air pockets. Cover the soil with mulch to keep in moisture and help moderate extreme soil temperatures. The mulch should be one to two inches away from the tree trunk.

    Flowers for Fall: Warm Septembers allow gardeners to plant flowers for fall blooms. These include chrysanthemums, sweet peas, snap dragons and asters. Also, plant bulbs such as autumn daffodils and crocuses

    Add to Your Vegetable Garden: Some vegetables can still be planted in fall for a winter or early spring harvest. These vegetables include peas, fava beans, kale, leeks beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, radish, carrots, celery and winter zucchini.

    For more planting and gardening tips, go to www.agromin.com.

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  • August Gardening Tips For Southern California - Thursday, July 24, 2008 at 5:10 PM
  • Many gardeners believe that if you don't plant flowers and vegetables by June or July, planting season is over. That's not the case in Southern California, say experts at Agromin, a Camarillo, Calif.-based manufacturer of premium soil products. Many summer flowers and vegetables can still be planted in August.

    Plant Summer Annuals: Plant summer annuals including cosmos, zinnias and marigolds from transplants for quick color. Sow seeds for cool-season annuals including calendula, pansies and snapdragon.

    Plant Herbs and Warm Season Vegetables: An assortment of herbs can be planted in August and still provide a hearty harvest. Plant basil, oregano, parsley, rosemary, thyme and mint from transplants. The plants with thrive through fall. Beans, beets, carrots, celery, corn, cucumber, spinach and squash can all be planted now, as well as cool season crops such as broccoli and cabbage.

    Harvest Your Vegetables: Your summer vegetables are ripening almost daily. Zucchini, squash and cucumber seem to grow overnight. Pick ripened vegetables frequently, whether you use them or not. This will encourage the plants to continue to produce for the rest of summer and into fall.

    Mow Weekly: Lawns grow quickly during the summer months. Grass blades should be at least an inch long to protect the soil from heat, help protect against water evaporation and to stimulate deeper root growth.

    Houseplant Maintenance: Clear out dead foliage and water regularly, especially if plants are in direct sunlight. During summer growing months, plants may outgrow their containers. If a plant begins looking weak or its growth slows, it may need repotting. Gently remove the plant from the pot and examine the root system. If all you see is a mass of roots without soil, the plant needs repotting to a larger pot.

    For more planting and gardening tips, go to www.agromin.com.

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