When getting started in aquaponics, it’s hard to know where to begin. It’s a more complicated way of growing than soil gardening or even hydroponics, so it’s natural to feel confused. Table of Contents When I first started growing in aquaponics systems, I turned to some of the best aquaponics books to show me the way. Reading these books gave me all of the information I needed to get my first systems up and running....
Crown gall, caused by the crown gall bacteria, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, is an unsightly plant disease found in soil. While in most cases crown gall is not fatal to plants, this disease disrupts water transport and nutrient flow throughout the plant and can lead to stunted growth and malnutrition. Crown gall impacts over 600 plant species, including many important crops like stone fruits and grapes. Table of Contents These tumor-like growths were observed on grape vines and woody plants and documented starting in the 1800s throughout France, Italy, Germany, Canada, and the U....
New to gardening and wondering how to start seeds? Maybe you’re someone who thinks you just don’t have a green thumb. Maybe you killed the last few plants that you just glanced at. Table of Contents Have no fear…Epic Gardening is here! I was just like you. In fact, I only started gardening about two years ago, so I’m still pretty new to it all. Prior to that, the last thing I grew was grass for a fourth grade science project…and let’s just say I didn’t get an A on that project ;)...
Growing fruit trees has its own set of unique challenges. Leafrollers are a family of insects that attack the leaves of fruit trees like apples, pears, and peaches. They also target some ornamental trees like ash, poplar, and oak as well as some ornamental plants like canna lilies. Unlike leaves that curl because of disease or environmental stress, leaves that curl because of leaf rollers are healthy leaves that physically wrap around an insect and are secured with silk or webs....
In March 2021, the UN accepted a proposal made by India to declare 2023 as the International Year of Millets. India’s proposal outlined how the millet plant can be a sustainable solution to food insecurity across the globe. As a crop, millet is very climate-resistant. It does not require a lot of water or very fertile soil, both of which are always in short supply anyway. Because of its ability to thrive in harsh climates, it costs less than quinoa to produce and uses less water....
It’s very common for the new vermicomposter to ask “What kind of worms can I use in my worm bin? They’re kind of all the same, right?” Table of Contents No. Not at all. There are between 7000-9000 species of earthworms, but only about 7 of them are any good as composting worms types. And of those, only 4 are readily available in the US. We’ll cover those below. But before we identify which species are suitable, it’s helpful to understand how earthworms can differ from one another....
Gardens just wouldn’t be the same without the friendly chattering of songbirds. We love their flashy colors, contagious spirits, and appetite for insects. As gardeners, we’d love to return the favor, and what better way to do that than providing the best bird bath? Table of Contents Setting out fresh water for the birds gives them a drink and a place to cool off. This is especially helpful in desert areas or during the winter where resources are scarce....
If you live in a region that has distinct seasons, you’ve developed strategies for protecting plants from the cold for some time. But if you’re like me, and you live in an area that increasingly gets hit with cold weather in the winter as the climate changes, you may have been improvising. Whether you’re experienced with winterizing your outdoor garden or not, a frost blanket is something useful to have on hand....
How do you plant potatoes in a way that maximizes their production? Potatoes are a garden favorite that are easy to grow but require a little advance planning. But when you grow potatoes, spacing is key. Let’s talk about the best spacing for a bountiful harvest! Potato Plant Growth Despite growing underground, potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) aren’t root vegetables, they’re tubers – starchy, thick, underground stems. And unlike roots that burrow further into the soil, potato tubers grow up and out of the soil....
Today I’ll show you how to go about separating onions and maximizing the value of your store-bought seedlings! Table of Contents When you go to purchase onions, leeks, garlic, or other alliums at a nursery or garden center, they often come in a six-pack container that’s just crowded. Even if you started your seed at home, this can become an issue. It’s essential to separate them to promote development. Large onions simply won’t form if you have a clump of plants jammed into one space!...
As you expand your knowledge about growing cucumbers, you may be interested to learn about cucumber companion plants. Cucumber plants are one of the top five vegetables found in a vegetable garden and thrive when planted near beneficial plants. Companion planting is not a new concept, with evidence of its use by the ancient Greeks and Romans. Table of Contents Native to India, the cucumber has been a food source for well over 3000 years....
Spade vs shovel? Wait, aren’t those the same thing? The English language would have you believe so, but we’re here to set the record straight. Table of Contents The names spade and shovel are often used interchangeably, even in stores, so it’s no wonder people are confused! There is a difference between these two, and it’s a pretty big one. We’re here to share which is which and when to use them, saving you time and effort in your garden....
English Ivy A house with ivy-covered walls is charming, but appearances are deceiving. English ivy is a viciously invasive plant. At best, it can take over your yard with little chance of reclamation. At worst, its roots can wriggle into and break apart brick, mortar, fencing and even concrete. Japanese Barberry Japanese barberry is readily sold at home improvement centers as a “deer-resistant” plant, and well-meaning gardeners often think of its berries as food for wildlife....
A legume with clover-shaped leaves, fenugreek microgreens add an unusual flavor to meals. A mainstay in Indian cooking, chhoti or samudra methi as they’re known in India are often paired with potatoes as tasty microgreens. Fenugreek is used as a spice in its seed form and as an herb or green in the leaf form. You might be more familiar with fenugreek as a spice, which is used in curry powder and garam masala....
Table of Contents Schefflera plant, also called umbrella tree, is a fantastic houseplant and landscape plant. It’s known for being hardy even in cases of neglect or poor growing conditions. Not picky, it produces beautiful foliage. Whether it’s used to create bonsai or simply to perk up a dark corner, dwarf umbrella trees are great to grow. Let’s go over the history of this fantastic plant and all the best schefflera plant care tips!...
Due to the globalization of our society, it’s become very easy to get plants from different areas of the world, grow them, and sell them to gardeners everywhere. Here’s a list of 16 of the most commonly sold invasive species. Watch out for them next time you’re browsing for a new plant for the yard! Wisteria sinensis (Chinese wisteria) Source: imgur It was introduced from China to Europe and North America in 1816 and has secured a place as one of the most popular flowering vines for home gardens due to its flowering habit....
When I first started growing plants indoors and in hydroponic systems, I had no clue what I was doing. Table of Contents There are a lot of concepts to learn as a beginner to hydroponics, but lighting is by far the most complex. There are so many different types of indoor grow lights, let alone learning about the properties of light itself and how plants use it to grow. I decided to start with the cheapest, most basic types of light out there: compact fluorescent bulbs, or CFLs....
The forget-me-not flower is pretty unforgettable. Those dainty blue (or sometimes pink or white) flowers sure do make a garden look its best! However, some people can’t forget them because they spread like crazy and quickly become invasive! If you’re not careful with the beautiful blooms of forget-me-nots, you’ll find yourself wishing you could forget. Table of Contents If you have bad luck with keeping plants alive, you may want to welcome this relentless flower into your empty flower beds....
Table of Contents LED grow lights are a tough thing to understand – there are hundreds of companies selling through different brand names, making outlandish claims, and so on… What’s a grower to do? Today, I’m reviewing one of the most accessible options in the industry. I’m talking about MarsHydro, a Chinese company whose very affordable LED grow lights have slowly gained acceptance among growers. As a Chinese manufacturer of lights, you still have to bridge the America-China gap in communication with the company sometimes, but they are coming a long way....
Table of Contents Your garden is your pride and joy, and you put a lot of time and effort into making it flourish. So you’re going to want a rat proof garden. As a gardener, rodents are one of your biggest nightmares. They eat your crops, leave droppings everywhere, spread disease, and hide in the most inconspicuous places. Not only that, but they multiply insanely fast. In fact, a rodent only has a three-week gestation period....
