Upside Down is “growing” in Popularity

Posted By Gravity Gardener on May 25, 2010

Source - NY Times

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Pardon the pun, but the idea of upside down vegetable gardens is “growing” more popular and becoming more mainstream.

See the picture to the left of some creative techniques using the 5 gallon bucket approach…

click here for actual article from the NY Times

Home & Garden
Growing Vegetables Upside Down
By KATE MURPHY
Published: May 19, 2010
Devotees say that plants grown dangling upside down save space, and are less vulnerable to pests and weeds.

Motion Activated Electronic Repellent for Rabbits, Deer or any other pests in the Garden

Posted By Gravity Gardener on May 20, 2010

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This little gem (Contech Electronics CRO101 Scarecrow Motion-Activated Sprinkler) activates when an animal is gets within range of your precious garden or shrubs and sends out a burst of water to send them packing.
A nice little invention that has many applications, and is a cool conversation piece.
Try it out!

Upside down Planter Contraption

Posted By Gravity Gardener on May 14, 2010

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I like the use of materials and ingenuity.

I thought it was an interesting concept for peppers or tomato plants…

Tired of Staking your Tomatoes? – Try a Spiral Stand

Posted By Gravity Gardener on May 10, 2010

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Some people like to hang their tomato plants upside down, others like the traditional approach.

Instead of using the classic tomato cage, this spiral device just might be what you are looking for…

The spiral device can support tomato, pepper, and other top heavy plants. The simple design does not need ties that can eventually cause damage to plant stalks. The material used in the construction do not rust and can stand up to heavy rain and wind properly supporting the plants as they grow heavier fruit.

The spiral effect gives a non traditional look to your garden without looking out of place. The visual appeal of these stands give your garden a bit more flair while still providing functional sturdiness.

And because the plants grow up and are well supported, you can grow more in a smaller space. Well worth having over the flimsy wire based tomato cages.

Garden Greenhouse Tips and Ideas For Building One of Your Own

Posted By Gravity Gardener on May 9, 2010

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Greenhouse kits can be easily put together from a pre-made materials or from materials you already own…

While gardening can be a satisfying and beneficial pastime, many of us reside in climates that only allow us to garden outside a few months annually, due to seasonal temperature changes. These temperature restrictions can severely curb our ambitions, and may frustrate many people enough to discourage them from the practice altogether. This is why so many people in recent years have decided to build a garden greenhouse of their own in order to extend the growing season throughout the year.

Simply moving your crop indoors for part of the year can allow you to put your green thumb to use virtually year-round. In fact, in addition to greatly increasing the length of your growing season, a properly configured garden – greenhouse can even allow you to grow flourishing plants that would not naturally reside in your area.

Before you can successfully begin to grow your plants in a greenhouse setting, there are some things that you should keep in mind. For example, the very aspect of greenhouse gardening that makes the practice so attractive in the winter-time (the higher than ambient air temperature inside) can actually kill your plants off during the warmer months.

The fact is that, on average, the air inside a greenhouse is 35 degrees warmer than the air outside. This is a pretty drastic difference, and during the warmer months, it can make your greenhouse inhospitable. The solar power that you depend on in the winter can actually work against you in the summer months. That is why it is important that you take measures to monitor and maintain proper temperatures at all times.

One of the best ways to modify the temperature of your small garden greenhouse without using electrical power or other potentially expensive energy sources is to simply utilize a blanket or sheet as a shade source. When the sun is prevented from entering the structure, the temperature is lowered.

Another important thing to consider when planning out a hobby greenhouse project is your new growing season. If you are using the garden for food, you will be able to substantially cut down on the cost of plants by starting from quality garden seeds rather than purchasing costly young plants from a commercial nursery or garden supply center.

In order to determine the appropriate planting dates for your climate (to ensure that your budding plants are transplanted to your outside garden at the right stage of their development and at the right time of year), you may want to consider investing in and inexpensive (and generally very accurate and resourceful) farmer’s almanac.

Finally, in many cases, individual plants can not only be brought from your garden greenhouse to the outside each spring, they can also (in many cases) be transplanted from the garden back to the greenhouse for the summer. This allows you to harvest fruits and vegetables off of the same plant(s) for several growing seasons, and can be another way to help you cut your food budget. In addition, many people opt to do the majority of their gardening in the confines of a greenhouse because it cuts down on pests and makes organic -gardening a snap.

Dave Pierson is a professional nurseryman and master gardener, and has been teaching people how to build garden greenhouses for over 15 years. He is also editor in chief at http://gardengreenhouseinfo.com, an information rich site concerned with all things “greenhouses”.

For more in depth information and ideas on how to make your own garden greenhouse, please visit our site. There you will find many more practical tips on greenhouses… and hopefully a little inspiration too!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Pierson

New E-Coli Contamination in Lettuce

Posted By Gravity Gardener on May 7, 2010

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For all of the readers who eat lettuce @ restaurants, a new outbreak of E- Coli contamination is being issued… Click Here for more info.

Another reason to grow your own food in your back yard.