How to use diatomaceous earth in the garden
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a powder that is made from naturally occurring sedimentary rock. This sedimentary rock is formed from fossilized remains of hard-shelled microalgae. Diatomaceous earth consists of 80 to 90 % of silica. It can be used for various purposes and one of them is in gardening. It is non-toxic to pets. Here is how to use diatomaceous earth to control pests in the garden. How to control insects using Diatomaceous earth? Diatomaceous earth can help control pests such as mealy bugs, aphids, thrips, spider mites, beetles etc. Simply sprinkle some DE powder on the plant’s base and foliage. DE is not toxic and cannot harm the soil.…
12 Best companion plants for beetroot.
Introduction Practising companion planting is a great way to plant more in less space and improve your yields. Beets require shade and cold climatic conditions to grow well. Planting them near certain vegetable plants can benefit both of the plants in some way. Here are some of the best companion plants for beetroot. Best Companion Plants for Beetroot 1.Radish Radish and beetroot are both root crops that grow in similar conditions. Radishes can be harvested sooner and they help to loosen the soil for your beets to grow. Make sure the soil is fertile before planting them together. 2.Corn Corn and beets make great companion plants. When you plant beetroot and…
How to use neem oil as a pesticide.
Neem oil is a natural pesticide used in gardens. It is extracted from the seeds of the neem tree. Neem oil contains a substance called azadirachtin which helps to control pests such as mealy bugs, thrips, spider mites, whiteflies, fungus gnats, leafhoppers and Japanese beetles. It can also be used to prevent fungal diseases such as powdery mildew, leaf spot, scab anthracnose and black spot. Things needed to make neem oil pesticide for your garden. Spray bottle Cold-pressed neem oil Liquid soap How to use neem oil as a pesticide. How often to use on plants? You can use neem oil on your plants once in 3 weeks as a…
Why is my cosmos not flowering
Cosmos is a low-maintenance annual flowering plant that is grown in many gardens. It belongs to the Compositae family and there are about 20 varieties of cosmos. The commonly grown cosmos varieties include cosmos sulphureus and cosmos bipinnatus. Cosmos sulphurous comes in colours such as yellow, orange and red. Its leaves are opposite and pinnately divided. Cosmos bipinnatus flowers come in pink, purple and white colours. Its foliage has a fern-like appearance. Cosmos are low maintanence flowers that grow well in average soil conditions. Here are some of the reasons why your cosmos may not be flowering. Reasons why your cosmos is not flowering: 1.Overfertilizing Cosmos grows well and produces…
How to prevent blossom drop on tomato plants.
Blossom drop on tomatoes is a common problem many gardeners face. You will find flowers blooming one day and the next day they will dry and fall off. Here are a few reasons why this problem occurs and here’s how to prevent blossom drop on tomato plants. Reasons for blossom drop on tomato plants: 1. High or low temperatures Daytime temperatures that are greater than 85°F(29°C) and lower than 55°F can stress your plants. When the temperatures are too high your tomato plants focus on survival dropping its flowers. When temperatures are low your plant eventually dies. Grow tomato varieties that are more suitable to your region’s temperatures. If you…
How to use bone meal for plants.
Bonemeal is fertiliser that is made by drying and crushing animal bones into powder. It contains several nutrients and minerals that benefit plants by improving soil structure and quality. Bone meal is rich in phosphorus, calcium and nitrogen. It contains trace elements like magnesium, iron and zinc. The NPK ratio of bone meal is 3:15:0. Root crops like radishes, potatoes, beetroots and carrots benefit from bone meal. Vegetable flowering plants like tomatoes and peppers also love bone meal. Here is how to use bone meal for plants. How bonemeal benefits your garden: Although bone meal can improve plant’s overall health it should not used in soil that has a pH…
How to use Aloe vera as a rooting hormone.
Rooting hormones are used to stimulate root growth on plant cuttings. They prevent fungal and bacterial infection on the plant while promoting root growth on the plant cutting. They can be used for plants that can be propagated by cuttings such as woody shrubs, herbaceous plants and trees.There are commercial rooting hormones and natural rooting hormones. Aloe vera gel is a natural rooting hormone that can be used on your plants. How to use aloe vera as a rooting hormone for your plants. If you found this article helpful don’t forget to share. Check out other articles below. Read more:
How to fertilise container plants.
Plants grown in containers need to be fertilised regularly when compared to plants grown in the ground. This is because plants grown in containers get access to less soil and nutrients get depleted within 6 weeks. Knowing how to fertilise your plants can help you to get a healthy plant that gives good yields. Here is how to fertilise container plants. How to fertilise container plants Basic nutrients that plants need The basic nutrients that plants need are nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. These are macronutrients for our plants. The basic micronutrients that plants need include calcium, magnesium, manganese, boron, and zinc.Nitrogen is essential for foliage growth in plants. Phosphorous is…
Flowers that bloom from spring to fall
If you want your garden to produce flowers throughout the year, then you must grow perennials in your garden. By growing a variety of perennials in your garden, you get blooms from spring to fall and perennials are low maintenance compared to annuals. Here are some flowers that bloom from spring to fall. Growing conditions for perennials Soil: Perennials need well-draining fertile soil to grow well. Amend the soil with compost or aged manure before you grow perennial flowers. Sunlight: Perennials grow well when they receive 4 to 6 hours of sunlight every day. Grow your flowers in a location that gets sunlight in the morning and shade in the…
Best companion plants for tomatoes.
Companion planting is a technique where two plants are grown near one another so that they benefit from each other. Practising companion planting in your garden is an excellent way to attract pollinators, beneficial insects, and repel pests. When herbs and flowers are grown near vegetables they help to improve the flavor of these vegetables. While certain plants benefit from each other certain plants don’t benefit when grown next to each other. Growing certain herbs and flowers near your tomatoes can improve the flavour of the fruit, increase pollination and repel pests. Best companion plants for tomatoes Flowers 1.Cosmos Growing cosmos near your tomato plants helps to attract bees and…
