The Garden

This is a thread devoted to growing everything! I am an amateur gardener. I have no property to speak of, so I do quite a bit of container gardening. I have two raised beds in my driveway, built 4x4 out of old free pallets. If I can find a picture I will post it. I also have a few lovely herb gardens that do pretty well.
There is a shay small hill on one side of my house, but I dare not plant anything edible. When I bought this house, it was full of poison ivy. I killed it with roundup. This is before I knew the damage I was doing. I do not dare plant anything there, that would be consumed. Scince my property is a difficult one to grow on, my first article will address one of the challenges of growing food.


40 Edible Plants That Will Grow in Partial Shade

We all know that most garden crops want as much sun as possible. Tomatoes, melons and peppers will positively pout if they don’t get oodles of light. What you may not realize is that many other garden crops will do quite well with limited sunlight.

Which plants will put up with lower light levels?
A general rule is that plants grown for their stems, leaves or buds generally tolerate light shade fairly well. Those grown for roots or fruits tend to need more sun.

That said, even many of these crops will also tolerate light shade, simply providing smaller yields. These are noted on the list with an asterisk (*).

The following crops will grow with as little as three to six hours of sun per day, or constant dappled shade. While size or yields may be affected in some instances, taste will be just as good.

1. Lettuce
2. Arugula
3. Spinach
4. Broccoli *
5. Green onions
6. Cabbage *
7. Parsley
8. Sorrel
9. Garlic
10. Mint
11. Collards
12. Endive
13. Cress
14. Cauliflower *
15. Peas *
16. Currants
17. Pak Choy
18. Beets *
19. Kohlrabi *
20. Brussels Sprouts
21. Mustard greens
22. Thyme
23. Coriander
24. Tarragon
25. Radishes
26. Cardamom
27. Potatoes *
28. Rhubarb *
29. Swiss Chard
30. Kale
31. Turnips *
32. Carrots *
33. Sweet potatoes and yams *
34. Gooseberries
35. Cilantro
36. Dill
37. Lemon Balm
38. Strawberries *
39. Beans *
40. Blackberries and raspberries *

Keep in mind:-If trees or other plants are the source of shade, garden plants may not only have to compete for light but also nutrients and water.

-The amount of shade may vary by the seasons when the angle of the sun is different. Study your land carefully and see if sunlight is a bigger or smaller problem than you may have thought later in the season.

-Bright and light surfaces nearby (such as white fences or walls) can increase the amount of light plants get.

-Morning shade and afternoon shade differ in their effects on garden plants. Some cool season vegetables may actually prefer lots of morning sun and then shade during the hot summer afternoons.

-Areas with partial shade in the afternoon can also extend the growing season for some cool season crops that are prone to bolting during higher heat, such as lettuce.

-Pay attention to air circulation. Walls and branches can block air flow, allowing moisture to build up and encourage some diseases. Plant crops with more space between them in shady areas, and be careful to water around the root area and not soak leaves from above.

-It’s even more important to keep weeds at bay for shade crops that are already competing for light, water and nutrients in less ideal conditions.

-Pruning nearby trees and bushes can dramatically help increase sun exposure.

-Light is more important in northern states like Minnesota, where we have shorter growing seasons and cooler temperatures. A southern zone 9 garden can tolerate much more shade than a zone 4 garden in Mankato.

 

I did find it tho, it's right above your last post.

 

ah! I found it!!


How a to Grow An Endless Supply Of Ginger Indoors

Have you ever thought about planting your danger? Growing your own ginger can provide you with a hands on herb, health benefits and it is so easy you will regret not doing it if you use a lot of Ginger.

Ginger or ginger root is the root of the Zingiber officinal plant; it is used in medicine or as a spice. Ginger is indigenous to southern China. Ginger was first exported to Europe for the spice trade. India remains the largest producer of the ginger root plant.

Ginger can help soothe stomach distress, respiratory problems, arthritis, and menstrual pains, you can also use ginger to treat burns. Ginger has been around for at least three thousand years. A pound of ginger could cost as much as a sheet in England in the 14th century.

Ginger can take up to 10 months to completely mature if growing at home. If you live in a climate where it gets cold often it is preferred to Plant your ginger root in a pot and keep it in your house.

When planting ginger at home, you need to find root stems that are thick and smooth. Shedding skin or thinning roots are signs that the ginger may have been stored too long to effectively sprout. When wanting to plant ginger it is best to purchase from a garden center or a seed catalog.

When you have the correct root and are ready to plant, you will want to soak the roots in water overnight and then cut the roots into pieces. You will also want to make sure that the segments have at least a few bumps that are the buds from which new plants will grow.

Ginger likes a sheltered spot, shallow but wide pots, warm weather, humidity and moist soil. Here are the steps to planting your ginger:
1. Soak the ginger roots overnight in warm water to get it ready for planting.
2 fill your pot with rich but well-draining potting soil.
3 stick the ginger root with the eye bud sticking up in the soil and cover it with 1 to 2 inches of soil and water it well.
4. Place the pot in an area of the house that stays considerably warm and does not get much bright sunlight.
5. You must keep the soil moist to do this use a spray bottle to mist the soil or you may water it lightly.
6. After a few weeks, you will notice a shoot popping out of the soil continue to water the plant regularly by misting it with a spray bottle and keeping it warm.

Harvesting:
Ginger can take 8 to 10 months to mature completely however you can still use the root for whatever your need before the eight-month mark. When you want to use ginger before it is completely matured just be sure to dig carefully at the side of the comp and then cut off whatever, you need.

After 8 to 10 months have passed, you can dig up the whole plant. If you would like to keep your ginger growing, you can dig up the plant and then repot it and do this process all again to keep your ginger harvesting.

Sources:
Http:// www.tropicalpermaculture.com/growing-ginger.html

Http:// organichealth.co/how-to-grow-an-endless-supply-of-ginger-indoors/

Http:// naturalcuresnotmedicine.com/how-to-grow-an-endless-supply-of-ginger-indoors/

 

I cannot find the original article, but this vid looks pretty good. Damn! I am so sorry I lost that article!

 

sorry, forgot about the ginger, I am sure I can find it.

 

How To Grow A Lemon Tree From Seed

Growing a lemon trees from seed is surprisingly easy. Generally, lemon trees flourish outdoors year-round in hot areas, but they can also grow indoors as edible houseplants. They can be easily grown from seed and are a nice looking plant. It requires very little equipment and a few seeds from an organic lemon.


Step 1
Slice the lemon in half and pick out the seeds.Rinse the seeds with warm water. Rub off the as much flesh as possible off the seeds to prevent rot. It is important that you plant the seeds right after you take them from the lemon fruit. They will not tolerate drying.


Step 2
Plant the seeds approximately one-half inch deep in the potting soil, moisten the soil slightly, cover the top of the pot with plastic wrap to keep the soil and seed moist. Check the moisture in the soil daily.

Step 3
Put the plant in the sunlight. It will take time for the plant to outgrow the cup. You should see a sprout in a month to two months.

Step 4
Move to a bigger pot as the lemon tree grows.

 

How To Easily Grow an Endless Supply Of Onions Indoors
JANUARY 13, 2015 / 35306 VIEWS

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How awesome would it be if every time you needed an onion for your recipe or meal, you just reach over to your window and pluck a fresh one out!

Sure, you can find them in every supermarket, but you could never have enough information about their origin. I know I would gladly grow them year around outdoors if I could, but that is not a choice for me living in Minnesota. Maybe you are fortunate to live in a climate that allows you to grow year around but then there may be the problem with space. Well, I have found a solution for all!

This Is What You Need

5 L plastic bottle

pair of scissors

onion bulbs

soil

water

Directions

Start by cutting the neck off the plastic bottle.

Cut some holes in it, with the scissors. The holes should be big enough for the onions.

You then make sure the onion sprouts are positioned through the holes.

Put layers of soil and sprouts, adding them until the bottle is full.

You can add the neck back on (simply tape it around) or leave it like that.




Water the soil and set it on your windowsill.

In no time, onions will sprout out the bulbs, you can watch them grow, and eventually flavor your dishes with them. Enjoy!