Tag Archives: borage

Companion Planting Citrus

Companion Planting Citrus

As our climate appears to be warming up, more and more areas are able to grow citrus trees. To get the best from citrus trees, it’s always good to companion plant and benefit from better pollination and insect control. As you will see companion planting citrus with other semi tropical plants is most beneficial, and as these plants are now easy to obtain it makes sense to apply this method. What Is Citrus? When I refer to citrus in this post I’m talking about all members of the citrus family. This includes:- Oranges Lemons Limes Grapefruit Pomelo Tangerines Kumquat For… → Read More

Plants That Repel Insects ( How To Keep Pests Away)

Plants That Repel Insects

Firstly, not all insects are bad for the garden, and we want to attract the good ones. But there are a lot of insects that cause damage, and even death to our plants. So here’s the growing-guides plants that repel insects(the bad ones). Plants That Repel Insects There are many plants that have the reputation of deterring pests, and here’s a few to get us started. So to start let’s look at how plants repel insects, there are some plants that give off an odour to repel insects, and others that exude chemicals to repel insects. Plants That Repel Insects-Flowers… → Read More

How To Grow More Strawberries

How To Grow More Strawberries

Ask any strawberry grower what they would improve if they could and they will probably say… More fruit. Here in the UK we have a short fruiting season between frosts so it’s crucial to get as much from each plant as we can. Read on to find out how to grow more strawberries. Let’s start with the basics, because if the foundations are right then everything else should just fall into place. How To Grow More Strawberries Strawberries need free draining soil, full sunshine and to be sheltered from the wind. As with all plants the soil is the most… → Read More

Weeds As Soil Indicators

Weeds As Soil Indicators

There is an old story about a blind man who is looking at a piece of land for his daughter to purchase, he asks the seller to describe the land to him. After a short description he asks for a list of weeds growing on the land and makes his decision to buy based on that description. It’s a nice story and whether it’s true or not it does demonstrate the use of weeds as soil indicators. To be that knowledgeable about how plants grow in certain conditions that you don’t even have to see it to know would be… → Read More

Flowers That Attract Bees

Flowers That Attract Bees

We need bees to help pollinate our plants and bees need flowers to survive. Growing flowers that attract bees in the vegetable garden means everybody wins. We get more produce and the bees get nectar to feed themselves and their young. Flowers That Attract Bees There are many flowers that attract bees and during a normal summer they have no problem finding food. Which is good for the bee population however, us gardeners need to be sure of pollination. We need to be proactive in creating the type of garden bees will frequent. To achieve this we have to consider… → Read More

What To Plant In A Planting Box

What To Plant In A Planting Box

My son recently set me up with a vegtrug to make growing vegetables and watering easier for me. After he put it all together I planted it up and now he’s made me a planting box. So what to plant in a planting box. What To Plant In A Planting Box My post entitled vegtrug planting guide gives all the information about what I’ve planted in there. This new one is like a large raised bed, it stands about 3 foot(90 cms) high and is roughly 3 foot x 6 foot (0.9 metre x 1.8 metres) and a depth of… → Read More

Cover Crops Benefits (The Best Cover Crops For Organic Gardeners)

Cover crops benefits

I have had a few people ask me about cover crops, using cover crops is a good habit to get into. Using cover crops benefits your plot in many ways and will improve your yields as well. Cover crops benefits Growing cover crops benefits your garden by preventing soil erosion, wind and rain wash loose top soil from your plot. They soften the rains intensity before it reaches the soil and their roots save soil displacement. Some cover crops help to boost nutrients in the soil keeping it viable for next years plant growth. Cover crops Definition The free dictionary.com… → Read More

Vegtrug Planting Guide

vegtrug planting guide

If you’ve been following my posts for a while you’ll probably be aware that I had a brain bleed a few years ago. What I haven’t told you is last year I had a quintuple heart by-pass and it’s left me very weak. I can’t manage my allotment so my son set me up a vegtrug and here’s my vegtrug planting guide. We went for the medium vegtrug which is actually the largest one they do? It’s 1.8 metres (6 foot) long, 76 cms (30 inches) wide and 80 cms (31.5 inches) high. That’s an area roughly 6 foot by… → Read More

Companion Planting Pear Trees

Companion Planting Pear Trees

The most obvious companion plant for a pear tree is another pear tree to help with pollination. That’s not always necessary though as many pears are able to self pollinate but not without insect assistance. By companion planting pear trees with other helpful plants you will attract many beneficial insects. Not only that but you will repel and/or deter many unwanted pests as well. Companion planting is a scientifically proven way of improving plant health and growth. It also mimics nature as many permaculture growers will agree. Companion Planting Pear Trees There are many plants to grow in companion with… → Read More

Watermelon Companion Plants

watermelon companion planting

I live in the UK and I have dabbled at growing melons in my unheated greenhouse a few times over the years, with mixed results. This year however, I have found a UK based seed company that offers watermelon seeds for the UK climate. So I’m looking at watermelon companion plants and I’ll share them with you here. What Are Watermelons? Watermelons are members of the curcubit family which includes pumpkins, squash, melons, cucumbers, and gourds. They are sweet flavoured and as the name suggests, very juicy. Watermelons develop differently to other members of the same family. They have less… → Read More