THE MEDICINE HAT NEWS — Thursday, May 13, 2010
The 7 easiest
The 7 easiest vegetables to grow at home
vegetables to grow at home
Rising costs at the supermarket and worries about unhealthy pesticides or preservatives on foods has led many people to start a vegetable garden at home.
Growing vegetables is easier than one would think. Plus, you don't need an expansive plot of land to grow a garden. Many popular varieties can be grown right in containers or in compact spaces.
Perhaps you're wondering what vegetables are the easiest to grow if this is your fi rst attempt at a food-based garden. There are several to try.
1.
Tomatoes: While commonly
considered vegetables, tomatoes are actually fruits. But tomatoes can be an integral part of a vegetable garden. Tomatoes are high in lycopene and other antioxidants. There are also myriad varieties to tempt your palate. Tomatoes can be planted after the soil has thawed and there is no other chance for frost. They'll require plenty of sunlight. Fruit will be available to harvest toward the latter part of the summer.
2. Zucchini: Zucchini are an Italian squash variety that appear similar to a cucumber. They can be green or yellow in colouring. This vegetable is full of potassium, folate and manganese, making it a great addition to your menu. Zucchini take about a month to mature and be ready to harvest. They grow on vines and produce large fl owers before bearing fruit.
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3. Beets: Root vegetables like beets and radishes work well in the garden as well. The bright purple color of beets indicates they are full of many essential vitamins and minerals. Toss beets in salads or use them in the traditional soup, borscht.
4. Carrots: Another subterranean- growing veggie, carrots require moist soil as they germinate, but as the plants mature need less water. Carrots can be enjoyed in a number of ways and are a staple of cooking year-round.
5. Peas: Peas grow inside the pods of legumes. These plants like moist soil that drains well. Water frequently but make sure the soil doesn't become fl ooded if you want peas to fl ourish.
6. Peppers: Peppers come in so many varieties it's easy to fi nd ones that appeal to your taste in cooking. Generally peppers thrive in soil high in magnesium. Using compost and Epsom salt in the soil can help achieve the environment peppers desire.
7. Lettuce: Lettuce is another staple and the basis for many salad dishes. Lettuce also tops sandwiches and can be fi lled and wrapped for other recipe ideas. Seeds should be planted between eight and 16 inches apart. Water in the morning instead of at night to prevent disease from developing.
Pruning tips for trees and shrubs
Homeowners typically spend lots of time caring for their property. Be it a modest ranch house or a mansion on top of a hill, a home's outside appearance is often a point of pride for homeowners.
One commonly overlooked element of an aesthetically appealing home is the role trees can play. Trees can add an element of beauty to a yard while also playing a practical role, such as shading the grass from intense summer sun and acting as great support for hanging a hammock.
While trees can add appeal to a homeowner's property, they can also be an eyesore if not properly pruned. Homeowners hoping to get the most out of their trees should consider some pruning guidelines.
• Fruit trees. If the buds on a fruit tree have already started swelling, you've waited too long too prune. In general, fruit trees are best pruned in late winter or early spring. When pruning, be sure to remove
all branches growing inward as well as limbs growing straight up.
• Berry bushes. Berry bushes are typically pruned in late fall or early winter, once you have fi nished harvesting the berries. When pruning berry bushes, keep in mind the importance of shape with respect to a berry bush's aesthetic appeal.
• Rosebushes. Rosebushes are generally best pruned in late winter, with early spring the latest possible cutoff date. Remove any older shoots and leave between four and eight canes while removing any that are growing inward. When cutting them down, try to cut them to right around two feet above ground, and cut close to an inch above a bud or strong shoot.
• Evergreen shrubs. Evergreen shrubs won't fl ower, but they can be pruned after they have produced cones or shrubs. That typically occurs between late winter and early spring, so this can be done as
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• Evergreen trees. In general, evergreen trees do not need to be pruned. It's generally obvious when an evergreen does need to be pruned, as the tree will be noticeably larger and in obvious need of pruning. Evergreens that do need to be pruned typically need it in late spring or early summer, and they will likely not grow much after a good pruning.
• Deciduous trees. Deciduous trees are generally only pruned for shaping. For those looking to shape, mid to late winter is the ideal time to do so.
• Deciduous shrubs. Mid to late spring is often the best time to prune deciduous shrubs. That's generally after they have fl owered, and it will be obvious when they are in need or pruning, as they will likely have lots of unsightly branches evident to the naked eye.
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Information on these two events can be obtained from
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