Horticulture has been an enjoyable activity for centuries. Horticulture may be a relaxing hobby for some, or a way of feeding nutritious food to your family. The tips in this article will help to bring additional joy to your gardening endeavors.
You must gradually introduce your plants to changing conditions and temperatures, so you do not shock them. Put them outdoors in the sun for no more than two hours the first day. As you continue the first week of the project, gradually extend the duration of sun exposure. Once the transition is complete, your plants will probably be able to tolerate the outdoor conditions.
Try planting your plants in flower pots first, then transferring them to your garden once they have had a bit of time to grow. By allowing them to sprout first, you are increasing the odds of a seedling reaching maturity. This is also a good way to tighten up your planting schedule. Once you remove the most recent mature plants from your garden, the seedlings are immediately ready to be planted.
Make sure your soil is healthy enough before you start planting anything. A soil analysis is inexpensive and can be used to figure out which nutrients should be added to provide a healthy garden environment. You can often find Cooperative Extension offices that provide this service, which can help to make your garden flourish.
It’s easy to just jump in and start horticulture without thought, but it’s important to plan your garden first. This way, when the sprouts start shooting up, you can recall where you planted each plant. In addition, your small plants or groups of plants that are limited in number won’t become lost if you have a large garden.
Knee Pads
Get horticulture knee pads if you have low-growing plants. The amount of time that you spend gardening on your knees can make your knees hurt by the time you are done. Investing in good knee pads will help cushion your knees so you are more comfortable.
Fertilize your garden. Choose commercial compost instead of homegrown manure to keep toxins out of your plants. There are a wide variety of fertilizing options available, although which type you use is not that important; just make sure to use something.
Two items you need to invest in when working in a garden are a wheelbarrow, and a kneeling stool. Spending time on the ground is rough on the knees, a portable and light stool can help make horticulture easier. You will need a wheelbarrow in order to perform various horticulture chores, it is a good thing to have on hand.
Familiarize yourself with the optimum harvesting time of your vegetables. Each variety of vegetable has a specific time to be harvested so that you may enjoy its fullest flavor. Peas, for instance, should be harvested rather young if you wish to obtain the best flavors and texture. Tomatoes, however, should be plucked from the vine the moment they appear ripe. It’s best to learn when the harvest time is for your vegetables.
More Gardening Ideas & Resources
In closing, gardening has been used and enjoyed since before recorded history. It was a requirement and a way of life a long time ago. Although some people still do it to get food, others do it for fun. Whatever reason pulls you in to horticulture, the information you have read in this article should help you to enjoy the process just that much more. Enjoy the pluses that go with a garden!