How to Grow Bamboo

Bamboos are nice ornamental plants. When fully grown, it can easily turn a plain and boring garden into something that is more interesting and stylish, with an oriental twist. But more than aesthetics, bamboo can also provide good shade to your garden. If you have plants that need enough shading because it cannot grow under direct sunlight, planting them beside the bamboo will help you give them natural shading without completely shutting the sunlight.

 Choosing The Type Of Bamboo

If you are planning to grow bamboo in your limited space yard, you might want to deal with a variety that clumps together when fully grown, and not something that grows from one place to another, unless you want to crowd your lawn with bamboo. Two of the most ideal types of bamboo that is perfect for home lawns would be the Clumping type and the Running type.

You might also want to seek assistance when choosing your bamboo, because there are several types of bamboo that cannot grow in colder areas. If you live in areas where the climate is cold, then you need to get a variety that is not intended for tropical climates.

 Choosing The Spot Where You Will Be Planting Bamboo

Ideally, most bamboos need at least 8 hours of sun every day. So you have to take this in consideration when choosing the spot at home where you want to plant your bamboo.

 Preparing The Soil

The nice thing about bamboo is that they can work with any type of soil. However, if you want to get the best for the results, you might want to plant them in maryl or loam, with a mixture of compost and other soil nourishing agents that will give all of the nutrients that your bamboo plant needs.

Just in case you live in an area where there is strong winds, you might want to provide your bamboo with some sort of support. Bamboos grow very tall, and strong winds can knock them down, even when their roots are tightly holding the soil. Placing a fence around the bamboo cluster will not only hold them together on the ground, but also make sure that there won’t be unwanted growths.

Ideally, planting bamboo starting from small sprouts is ideal. You can buy bamboo seedlings online, from nurseries, or from a local farmer’s market. There is a high chance of success if you plant them starting from seedlings, rather than starting off from seeds. Early spring is also the best time for you to plant bamboo. This is because bamboo loves the warm weather. Planting them early on spring will allow them to develop healthy and strong roots that will keep them standing when the frost comes.

Water your bamboo regularly. Since they are always exposed to sun, the soil can also be prone to drying. Keep the soil moistened as often as you can, but not to the point of drowning the bamboo with water. This will not do good as well.

image courtesy of quinn.anya/flickr

How to Grow Asparagus

Ideally, asparagus are planted when the soil can be managed already. The best time for planting asparagus is any time during the spring. Early spring is better. The soil where you will plant asparagus should also have a good mix of compost, manure, and garden soil in order to provide proper nutrition and nourishment. These are just some of the basics that you need to know, if you want to grow asparagus.

To give you a more detailed guide on how to grow asparagus, please see the list below:

You know when spring is coming when you start seeing asparagus all over the market. But have you ever considered growing some for your own consumption? Actually, if you are conscious about your health, growing your own food provides better results, since you know what comes into your mouth. Of course, you would like to stay away from foods that are contaminated with chemicals, and choose foods that were organically grown, which translates into food that is safe to eat.

The first thing that you have to know about asparagus is that it is very choosy when it comes to climate. Asparagus grows better when you live in areas where the ground freezes during the winter time. But it can also grow equally good in areas where the land is super dry during the summer. Anywhere in between (ex. Wet summers, mild winters) will not be good for growing asparagus. So what I am saying is that you have to know whether or not your area can grow asparagus.

The second thing you need to understand when it comes to planting asparagus is that they take a lot of time growing! Let’s say you want to start from scratch (seeds), this will take you 3 years at the very least to start seeing the long strands. Now, if you want to shorten the growing period, then you can start with the crowns already, which is possible, because crowns can be purchase from farmer’s market, garden supply stores, or even online. Growing asparagus from crowns will only require 2 years, which is still lengthy, but at least you were able to cut a year of waiting.

 Harvesting Asparagus

After waiting for 2 to 3 years, you will be able to harvest asparagus already. However, it can be hard to tell how much harvest will you yield, as the procedure of growing asparagus can be a bit challenging, wherein transferring the asparagus into a different soil (which is needed when the asparagus have already developed roots), can still damage it and kill the spears.

Normally, you know when your asparagus is ready to be harvested when the tips are kind of loosened already. Another sign is its height. If the spears have already reached at least 6 inches, then this is the right time for you to cut it, and enjoy your long awaited harvest.

These are the different ways and tips that you might want to consider, if you want to know how to grow asparagus the right way.

image courtesy of one|27/flickr

Why Your African Violet is Not Blooming

There are several reasons why your African Violet may not be blooming. Under normal conditions it should bloom year round. If it isn't blooming the first thing to check would be the light. It may be that the African Violet isn't getting enough light. Try moving it to a bright window or try to put it under florescent growing lights.

 

Another thing to try is giving it a bit of fertilizer. Every time you water it, give it a bit of fertilizer. Dilute it to ¼ the strength listed on the packaging. Sometimes repotting the African Violet will give it the boost it needs to start blooming again. Do this only if it has been in its pot for a long time.

 

Sometimes African Violets will get suckers on them the will use up all of its energy and keep it from blooming. Try removing these suckers, and see if it starts to bloom. African Violets also bloom best when they are root bound. So, you will want to make sure it is potted in a pot about 1/3 the size of the plant.

 

If you are having issues with your African Violet not blooming make sure to give these tips a try.

What to Do if Your African Violet Forms a Long Stem or Neck

If your African Violet gets a long neck or stem what you will want to do is re-root it. Using a sharp blade or your fingernail scrape the stem to expose the inner tissue. Put a bit of rooting hormone on the stem. 

Now you will want to bury the stem in the soil. You will more than likely need to cut off some or even all of the root ball. The buried part of the stem will begin to produce new roots. 

You will also want to remove all of the blossoms so all of the energy goes to forming the new roots.

What is a Chimera

A Chimera is a very unique type of African Violet. With this type of African Violet you cannot reproduce it from a leaf. The blooms are also rather unique, they have a pinwheel type pattern to them. It is a rather unique and beautiful African Violet.

Quick Way to Dry Herbs

Here is a simple and quick way to dry your herbs.

 

Just place a sheet of newspaper on the seat of your car and place your herbs in a single layer. Keep your car out in the sun with the doors closed and the windows up. In no time your herbs will be dry.

 

An added side-effect of drying your herbs this way is your car will smell great.

Control Damping Off Fungus

If you have any issue with damping off fungus attacking your seedlings, I've got a simple solution for you.

 

If you are an herbal tea drinker, then you might already have the solution in your cupboard. Chamomile tea can be used to control damping off fungus. To use it just put a bit of the chamomile tea on the soil around the base of the seedlings. 

Another way to use it is to add the tea to a spray bottle, and spray the seedlings.