It is quite easy to start a herb garden. Herbs grow well in moderate soil conditions and do not need much maintenance. You can grow herbs along with other plants and trees to add diversity to your gardens. Benefits of having a herb garden 1. It is cost-effective Herbs sold in stores are quite expensive. When you grow herbs in your garden, you don’t have to buy herbs from the…
Vetiver is a bunch grass that has an Indian origin. It grows well in tropical and temperate regions. Temperatures must be above 10° C for vetiver to grow. It needs full sunlight to grow well. Growing this grass in shady areas slows down its growth. It can be propagated by division. Planting vetiver grass is an effective way to control soil erosion and conserve water. It can tolerate extreme climatic…
Radish is a root vegetable that is consumed all over the world. It contains lots of antioxidants and minerals such as calcium and potassium. There are several varieties of radish, most varieties can be harvested within 4 weeks. Daikon or winter radish takes about 6 to 7 weeks to mature. This vegetable germinates soon and it is easy to plant radish especially if you are a beginner. Growing conditions for…
Eggplant or brinjal is a vegetable that belongs to the family Solanaceae. It is related to other vegetables like potato, tomato and chilly. Eggplant is a tropical perennial that can grow up to 4 feet. Although eggplant has fewer nutrients it contains average levels of manganese and consuming eggplant can have certain health benefits. Growing conditions for eggplant Eggplant is easy to grow in tropical and subtropical regions. It grows…
Bitter melon or Bitter gourd is a tropical vine that belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae. There are several varieties of bitter melon that vary in shape and size. This vegetable grows up to 5 feet. It grows in a warm and humid climate. It is rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin A and Folate. It contains small amounts of Potassium, Magnesium and Zinc. Growing Conditions for bitter melon It is easy…
Spinach is a leafy green plant that belongs to Amarathus family. There are several varieties of spinach plants and they differ in appearance. Most of them have oval-shaped leaves. There are large leaves at the base of the stem and smaller leaves at the top.Its leaves are edible and it can be either cooked or eaten raw. Spinach plants grow up to 1 foot. It has high levels of Vitamin…
Cilantro or Coriander is a herb that is widely used in a variety of dishes. All parts of the plant (seeds, roots, and leaves) are edible. Homegrown Cilantro is healthier when compared to what is brought from stores. Also, Cilantro is very easy to grow. By following a few steps, you can grow them in containers. Growing Conditions for coriander Cilantro does not grow well in extreme hot and cold…
Creating a diverse garden is a great way to create ecosystems that are sustainable and resilient. Diversity is used in sustainable farming practices such as agroforestry and polyculture. You can create diversity in your backyard gardens too. Growing a variety of herbs, shrubs, trees, flowers and vegetables has a lot of benefits. Benefits of a diverse garden 1. Improves soil fertility Growing different variety of plants leads to a significant…
Permaculture can be described as designing landscapes by replicating patterns that are found in nature that benefit man and the environment. The word permaculture is from “ permanent agriculture”. Bill Mollison and David Holmgren are the founders of permaculture. Permaculture designs can be used in various fields. They are more sustainable and benefit humans. There are 12 permaculture principles and they can be used in any field. Be it having…
Mulching is a process of covering the soil with a layer of material to improve soil health. It can be done using either organic or inorganic material. Organic material includes dry leaves, grass clippings, straw and wood chips. Inorganic material includes pebbles, plastic and rubber. Microorganisms feed on organic mulch and in turn improve soil health. Mulching can be done throughout the year. Mulching the plants during summer helps to…
