Vegetable Garden Planting Guide, Easy To Follow Vegetable Garden Tips

Vegetable garden planting guide, starting and planting a vegetable garden made easy with "how to" articles taking you from A to Z of growing all your own vegetables. Starting a vegetable garden made easy.

Vegetable Gardening Tips and Advice, Starting a vegetable garden? Deciding on a vegetable garden layout

In the previous articles on how to start a vegetable garden we looked at what is necessary in starting a garden in general and more specifically the first steps in starting a vegetable garden, now we are at the fun stage of planting a vegetable garden and where we decide on our vegetable garden layout, which plants to grow where, and of course, how to grow all those beautiful vegetables.

Planning a vegetable garden and planting a vegetable garden

Now we are at the stage of thinking about which vegetables we would like to grow. However, one of the key areas of growing vegetables is an area known as crop rotation.

Basically, all this means is that you do not grow the same vegetables in the same patch of years in sucessive years. This avoids nutrient depletion, and ongoing soil and/or pest problems. It's not complicated and I will provide some sample rotation plans and discuss how to layout your vegetable garden in the article on vegetable garden layout. It is important to do as different plants place different demands on your soil. Your soil can grow depleted and tired if the demands on each patch are not varied over the years.

How to start a vegetable garden, soil care and types

We have discussed the soil types before but it is worth running over again, just a little refresher. As previously mentioned , crop rotation is important. Along with that you will probably be adjusting the soil a little bit one way or another depending on what is growing where.

Once you know the general condition and type of soil you are planting your vegetable garden in, you will be able to adjust accordingly.

A very simple method to test your soil type is to pick up a small handful of soil. Now, wet it and remove any stones. Now, try to roll it into a worm type shape!

If you cannot roll it into the worm shape it means you have a light , sandy type soil. If you can roll it but it then loses shape, you have a good soil, this type of garden soil is often referred to as "loamy".

Vegetable garden soil, don't fight nature when planting a vegetable garden

Don't try to change your entire soil type when planting a vegetable garden. Grow plants that grow well in your particular type of soil. Of course you could change the soil type of smaller areas, but to do so on a large scale would be a huge undertaking.

It is generally easier to adjust what you are growing rather than your soil, smaller bed make it a lot easier if you want to change your soil. With smaller bed you could do it one at a time.

Vegetable garden planting in sandy soil

Sandy soils dry out a lot quicker than clay, so will need careful monitoring for watering. On the plus side sandy soils heat up a lot quicker than clay.

Carrots in particular like sandy soil if its nutrient value has been boosted by adding good mature compost. The compost also helps with moisture retention.

Try to avoid walking on sandy soil as a layer forms on top which makes it difficult for seed to break through.

Starting a vegetable garden with clay soil

Clay soils are really the reverse of sandy, so the opposite of everything stated previously about sandy, with the exception of one thing, try to avoid walking, as much as possible, on clay soils.

Add good rich compost and sharp sand to make clay type soil lighter to work with and better for growing in.

What you are looking for is a nutrient rich, reasonably moisture retentive, workable soil.

If you need more information on soil types you can always refer back to the article, starting a vegetable garden

It's now time to decide on your your crop rotation plan and vegetable garden layout. When that is decided ,come back to this page for links to all the "how to grow" articles for many, many different types of vegetables.

Vegetable Garden Planting, 'How To' Articles

Looking forward to the taste of Asparagus in spring is without doubt one of the great joys of starting a vegetable garden. Discover for yourself how to grow Asparagus

If the thought of growing Broccoli of your own appeals to you, read our article on how to grow Broccoli

Want to know how to grow Cabbage?, use our easy to follow guide to growing Cabbage

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Vegetable Garden Tips, Starting A Vegetable Garden Made Easy

Vegetable garden tips for those just starting a vegetable garden as well as the more experienced gardener. Effective easy to follow vegetable gardening tips. Vegetable garden planting guide, starting and planting a vegetable garden made easy!

Whether an experienced vegetable gardener or a starter our vegetable gardening tips will give you all you need to know to get your gardening experience off to a good start. Full of practical easy to follow gardening advice ranging from how to grow all the different types of vegetables. Also included are a vegetable garden planting guide and vegetable garden layout plans to get you off to the best possible start.

There are many practical reason for starting a vegetable garden but the greatest advantage of all is the pure pleasure to be had from growing and eating your very own vegetable.

No matter how little or large your garden is there is always some way of growing vegetables. A little creativity and good solid gardening advice will go a long way. Read our articles below on how to grow a huge selection of vegetables as well as our practical vegetable garden tips and not alone will you know how to start a garden but you will be able to maintain it as well.

Starting a vegetable garden is easy once you follow my guide. Easy to follow "how to" vegetable garden tips that make it easy to be growing your very own vegetables.

Vegetable garden layout guide shows you how to layout your vegetable garden in the most efficient way possible both for you and your vegetables.Vegetable garden planting made easier!

Vegetable garden planting guide, starting and planting a vegetable garden made easy with "how to" articles taking you from A to Z of growing all your own vegetables. Starting a vegetable garden made easy.

Our how to grow Broccoli guide shows you everything you need to growing Broccoli including vegetable garden tips that take you through the whole process of starting a vegetable garden of your own.

Know how to grow asparagus easily with our vegetable garden tips, easy to follow guide to growing mouth-watering tender asparagus in your own garden.

Our growing Cabbage guide shows you everything you need to know whether you are starting a vegetable garden or looking for vegetable garden tips.

Learn how to grow tomatoes and enjoy fresh sweet tomatoes grown in your own garden. Growing tomatoes is simple with our easy to follow guide.

Learn how to grow pumpkins and squashes successfully with our vegetable garden tips and grow your very own pumpkins in your own garden.

How to grow cucumbers made easy is just one part of our easy to follow vegetable garden tips that will have you growing your own vegetables such as the cucumber varieties Burpless Tasty Green and Carmen in no time.

How to grow peppers and chillies provides you with all the basic information you need to start growing your own peppers and chillies such as Purple Beauty and gypsy peppers. Our vegetable gardening tips show you everything you need to know about starting a vegetable garden of your own.

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How To Plant Roses, How To Grow Roses Made Easy

How to plant roses and grow roses easily in borders and island beds, including how to grow climbing roses. All you need to know about growing roses.

Rose Gardening Tips and Advice, How to plant roses, climbing rose bushes and rambling roses

Firstly, you need to prepare a hole approximately twice the size of the roses roots. This hold should be about 18 inches away from the wall.

Try to shape the base of the hole in such a way that it is about 45 degrees running away from the inside of the hole. Now place a generous amount of nice, rich mature manure mixed with soil in the base.

Now place the rose in the centre of the hole and fill in the hole. There should be a mark of old soil on the rose so do not plant the rose so deep that you cannot see that line.

This line/mark should be just above the surface. Now gently firm the soil in around the rose and give a good watering.

Water well in the first year after planting, it is not as important in subsequent years once the rose is established as they are deep rooted plants.

Now you need to place a series of horizontal wires secured to the wall at approximately 6 inches apart. Now you need to tie your climbing roses along the first one or two wires in a fan effect.

Doing this means that your rose shoots are kept horizontally and thus by nature the rose will send new shoots upwards. you then do the same with those. this means you get even and full coverage with on practically all of the area you are growing your climbing rose on. It also makes rose bush care maintenance easier.

How to plant roses as a hedge when starting a rose garden

Planting roses as hedges can work very well in many gardens, especially if you are not looking for a very formal shaped hedge. Another advantage of this is the fact that the care of roses in a hedge is very little other than some deadheading of blooms and a touch of light pruning. As with any plants choosing the correct rose for the job is vital.

Ideally when growing roses as a hedge you want to look for the following qualities, hardy, disease resistant, plentiful and continuous blooms with lots of foliage.

For a small hedge you will be single row planting at about 10 inches apart. The best types of roses for this job are patio rose types or dwarf floribunda type roses, these will grow to about 30 inches tall.

If you want to grow a medium sized rose hedge of about 5 feet tall you could choose Hybrid Teas, Floribunda Type Roses or Shrub Roses.

The preferred method for planting rose bushes in this case is to plant in two staggered rows with about 18 inches between them. Some different types of roses that are suitable for this job are are Ballerina, Pink Parfait, Frau Dagmar, Alexander, Icerberg

If you desire a tall rose hedge, i.e. over 5 feet tall, use shrub roses or tall floribunda type roses. Plant these roses in a straight line about 3 feet apart. Suitable types of roses for this purpose are Chinatown, Scabrosa, Rosa Rugosa Alba, Penelope, Roseraie de l’Hay.

How to plant roses in an island bed

The bed of roses as an island surrounded by well tended lawns is a classic scene that has lost none of its appeal over the years.

If this method of growing roses is something that appeals to you there are somethings you should consider.

For the most dramatic effect when growing roses this way, choose one colour, the bigger the rose bed the bigger you will need your roses, this is especially the case if you want to enjoy some of that color from a distance.

If the bed is going to be particularly large you should consider some standard roses or tall roses for planting in the middle. This gives height to the bed and the tiered effect still leaves the shorter roses on the outside more visible.

When looking at the different types of roses for this situation there are some guidelines that you should follow.

Roses need to be repeat and heavy flowering and in quick succession.They need to have plenty of foliage and a good spread of blooms.They should be able to deal with cold weather.They should be able to deal with wet weather.Roses should have good disease resistanceBigger roses for bigger beds, smaller roses for smaller beds

Work out approximately how far your roses are likely to spread out, you want to have the full width of the rose no nearer than about 20 to 24 inches to the rose bed border

Even with smaller rose beds you will need a certain amount of room not just for the rose to grow but also for you to be able to work in around it and possibly underplant it if you wanted to. Make the bed at least 5 feet wide.

To provide full coverage from all angles, stagger your roses when you are planting them. This really cuts down on any possible bare spots.

How to plant roses in borders

Growing roses in borders opens up a world of opportunities for dramatic effects and colour co-ordination.

In general borders are ares of a garden that are only accessible from one side, for example a border grown along a wall. However, you can have borders along your driveway and/or lawns.

Growing roses in borders along walls, sheds and other structures is usually an informal planting scheme. The taller plants including the roses are planted to the back with the other plants generally decreasing in size as they go to the front of the border.

It is also a great opportunity to start growing climbing roses and rambling roses, in fact it is a great opportunity, if your border is large enough, to try out several different types of roses.

Ideas for planting roses in borders

Firstly make sure you have allowed enough room for the eventual size of all plants once they reach maturity.

Use Floribunda type roses and then climbers and ramblers to do exactly as their name suggest, you could even place small arches or other structures with your bed to highlight these roses and add even more dramatic effect.Grow your roses in a mixed bed with other plants and use a group of 5 plants of a particular type and color in a group. This provides a great drift effect of both color and foliageIf you choose the lighter pastel colored roses, shrubs with grey leaves work brilliantly with pastel colored rose types.Evergreen plants with a distinct shape such as conifers are ideal to create a backbone or skeleton to the border.Underplant your roses with possibly bulbs or smaller evergreen plants to provide some colour when the roses are not in bloom.

Remember the general rules for how to plant roses regarding preparing your soil, digging your hole and watering as described in the article on Growing Roses

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Growing Roses, How To Plant and Grow Roses Like An Expert

Growing roses is my complete guide to growing roses for beginners and experienced alike. From how to plant roses, how to prune roses, rose bush care maintenance as well as growing roses from seed and cuttings and how to grow roses in containers.

Rose Gardening Tips and Advice

With so many rose types to choose from your choices are endless. It can be a little overpowering at first, especailly when you consider that there are almost as many places to plant roses as there are different types of roses.

How to grow roses, colour choices

For many rose growers the idea is to plant roses of one colour. This is fine if it suits but it is neither always practical nor desirable. Others choose to go the complete opposite, in that case they choose a large selection of different coloured roses. Personally, my choice lies between those two options.

The choice of colour is your own decision but I would plant roses in grouping of 3,5 or 7. This way you get a strong representation of each colour and you can also co-ordinate your colours. This is probably the best of both worlds when it comes to choosing your rose colours.

Growing roses and underplanting with other plants

The bareness associated with the part of the rose nearest to the soil can easily be solved by sowing other plants around the base of your roses.

The main advantages of this are that there is colour when the roses are out of bloom and the underplanting hides the bare lower parts of growing roses. Opt for plants that do not have to be lifted and are shallow rooted. Bulbs are usually an excellent choice.

If you choose to underplant be aware that rose bush care maintenance can be a little more difficult because of the reduced amount of space between the roses, mulching will have to be done a little more carefully. Also be aware that other plants will avail of the nutrients in the soil around your roses so you need to make up for that by keeping the soil reasonably rich.

Different types of roses to choose from

Types of Hybrid tea roses, especially the rose types known as Floribunda are perfect for beds. These roses work very well when planted as a large grouping of the one color rather than a combination of differnt colours. The Floribunda and Hybrid Tea rose type are also excellent when used in borders.

Climbing roses and Rambling roses can be grown up through and over practically anything, so everything is up for grabs. Walls, trees,pergolas,screens and arches. just be aware that ramblers are best avoided for growing on walls as the reduced air circulation sees Mildew become a problem.

Shrub rose types are generally for borders and several different types of shrub roses are also excellent for use as hedges e.g. Rugosas are particularly good as are some of the Gallica rose types.

Ground Cover roses vary from very low growing, almost ground hugging, to about 5 feet tall. Very disease resistant they are great roses for covering those parts of your garden that you wish weren't so obvious.

Miniature roses usually do not exceed 14 inches in height. These rose types are rapidly becoming a household favourite because of their versatility. They can be used rose beds as well as edging of lawns and borders. Also a very useful way of growing roses in containers. A great way to start out for the novice rose grower useful for growing roses for beginners. Thinking of growing roses indoors? with the right conditions these types of roses can be used for growing roses indoors.

Patio roses are different types of roses to miniature roses, in fact they are smaller versions of Floribunda roses. They too can be used in beds, for growing roses in containers and as edging on paths, driveways.

How to buy roses for growing

Opt for a rose that has a nice uniform shape, for many the ideal shape is that of a goblet, or wine glass, and that has 3 or 4 good stems. If possible stay away from roses that have been pot bound i.e. in the pot for a long period of time, often years.

Pick a rose with a well developed and healthy root ball. Look for 2 or more stems about the thickness of a pencil, there should be no white stems.

One method of judging if a rose is pot bound is if you can see roots growing out through the bottom of the pot. Moss like growth around the base of the plant is also a tell-tale sign. It's not totally critical, but if you can you are better to avoid them. Bare-root roses ( roses not in pots) are the cheapest and these types of roses can be planted anytime from November to March.

Preparing soil for growing roses, how to plant roses

Plant your roses in a site that has a reasonable flow of air but at the same time is not exposed to very strong winds. Roses prefer a lot of sunlight to perform really well. Watering roses in the first year is very important but it is not a a big problem after the first year as their roots go deep and this makes them reasonably drought tolerant.

Of all the different types of roses that exist they all have one thing in common, they prefer a well draining soil. They will survive on most soils but they won't thrive if there is poor drainage. Dig the soil to a size approximately twice the size of the roots. Now add in lots of good rich compost and a good rose fertilizer.

Place a mound of nutrient rich compost at the bottom of the hole. If drainage is poor make the hole a little larger and add a few shovels of sharp sand at the very bottom. Place rose in hole and fill back the hole. Firmly, but gently firm up the soil around the base. The best time for planting roses is in late October or November when there is still enough heat in the soil to encourage new root growth.

Now place several inches deep, of good rich mulching around the base of your rose.

This is going to be your roses home for a long time to come, so get them off to the best possible start.

Rose bush care maintenance

the trick with rose bush care maintenance is doing the right jobs at the right time. Once you have a general plan of action and stick to it a lot of the hard work is taken out of growing roses.

We have now had a general look at the different types of roses and what to look out for when buying them as well as giving you an idea of what soil type is necessary.

The articles below will take you through everything you need to know on how to grow roses and as you read them you will see that growing roses is indeed far easier than you might have heard.

How to plant roses

This article shows you how to plant roses in a bed, as well as growing rose hedges and of course how to plant roses in borders.

How to prune roses, pruning climbing roses and rose bushes

Over the last 20 or so years a far simpler but equally effective method of rose pruning has evolved. No longer is there the great mystery of how to prune roses.

A great economical and fun way of increasing your stock of roses

As time passes on you might be interested in how to grow roses from seed.

Growing roses in containers

Whether for space reasons or for variety rose growing in containers is fun and beautiful. You could also consider rose growing indoors.

The link above takes you to a page that explains the traditional methods of pruning roses bushes and climbers but also shows you and equally effective but far simpler method of pruning roses.

Taking care of roses is easy using the year round calender which lays out month by month the various tasks for rose bush care and maintenance all year round.

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Growing Roses From Seed, Growing Your Own Types Of Roses

Growing roses from seed is easy and great fun with our easy to follow guide to growing your very own different types of roses that will be distinct to your garden.

Rose Gardening Tips and Advice, Growing your own types of roses

Roses in general have received a bad reputation as being difficult to look after and the whole process of gardening and caring for roses deters a lot of people from even trying to grow roses.

As with many things associated with gardening a little planning and preparation goes a long way and the rewards far outweigh any effort you might need to put in.

The great thing about growing roses from seed is the fact that you never quite know what type of rose you are going to end up with. There are often some very odd results and it is this very fact that makes the process so appealing. Roses grown from seed are far more likely to be different than most other types of roses. These can be roses that add a distinct visual appeal to your garden and of course there is also a good story attached to it.

How To Grow Roses From Seed

You can choose two different types of roses or you can choose two different varieties of roses from the same rose types.

The seed parent acts as the female. This will be fertilized to produce the seeds. The pollen parent acts as the male providing the pollen to the female for fertilization

Plant your two roses for growing from seed into separate 9 inch pots. Put these in a cold frame or cold greenhouse in February.Late May or early June is the time for the next stage in growing roses from seed. This is referred to as the pollination process.Gently remove all the petals from a half open flower on the chosen seed parent.Remove all the antlers and place a small clear plastic bag over the remains of the flower and gently tie it closed around the stem.The next step in the process occurs the next day and is known as pollination day. Remove a flower from your chosen pollen parent rose.Remove all petals.Remove the bag from the seed parent. Now brush the antlers of the pollen parent off the stigmas of the seed parent. This is transferring the pollen. Replace the bag over the seed parent.If you are feeling confident and want to try to grow a lot of roses from seed it is a good idea to label them with details of the specific rose types used.Leave the seed parent (bag) for a few weeks until early autumn. At this time the rose will have had time to grow 'hips'. These hips will be full of seeds. Now remove the hips and put them deep under compost in a pot. Label the pot and leave outdoors for the winter.In February bring in the hips and get a bowl of water and squeeze the seeds from inside the hips into the water. Some seeds will float, some will not. You need the seeds that do not float. These are the fertile seeds.Get rid of the seed that do float, these are not of use to you.Using specially formulated compost for seeds and cuttings gently place the seeds a little under the surface of the compost. As soon as the first true leaves appear move each one to a pot of its own.It won't be long until some blooms appear. Some will produce blooms others will not. This is now the time for choosing which roses you want to continue growing and which you don't.Continue growing your roses as container grown roses until the following season.Next season you will have the choice of continuing to grow your roses as normal or to bud them onto rootstocks in July. Growing roses from seed can be a little bit of a lottery but well worth trying.

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How To Grow Asparagus, Guide To Growing Asparagus Easily

Know how to grow asparagus easily with our vegetable garden tips, an A to Z of starting a vegetable garden and growing your very own vegetables.

Vegetable Gardening Tips and Advice, Starting a vegetable garden and growing Asparagus

Looking forward to the taste of Asparagus in spring is without doubt one of the great joys of starting a vegetable garden.

One thing you need to be aware of when groing this plant is that it is perennial. i.e. it will come back year after year. So, ideally you need a place to grow it undisturbed for a few years.

If you give it the care and attention it deserves, Asparagus could reward you with a bountiful crop for up to twenty years.

Vegetable garden planting tips for how to grow Asparagus

This plants demands good quality, rich soil. It will thanks you for many years to come if you plant it in a free draining, nutrient rich soil. Do make sure to keep the area around your Asparagus weed free.

The best way to start gardening with asparagus is to buy root systems, which are known as crowns, in mid spring. If you feel you have the space and want a plentiful supply try planting a dozen crowns. Younger crowns, i.e. one year old, will transplant far easier than older crowns, but you will have to wait two years to let the plants establish themselves, then you can harvest.

Older crowns (two or three years old) can also be got, and these can often be harvested the following year, however they do not always transplant as well as the youmger roots.

Plant in early spring if the weather is not too cold or wet.

Dig a trench that is comfortably wide enough for the roots of the crowns to be well spread out,now, make a ridge in the centre. Prior to planting Asparagus crowns soak the crowns for a couple of hours,now, place each crown on the ridge, 45cm (18inches) apart. Cover the crowns well with loose soil, to a depth of about 10cim (14 inches). Rows should also be spaced roughly 45cim (18inches) apart.

Growing Asparagus, aftercare tips

This plant owes its origins to the Mediterranean and as such watering is not top priority. However, keeping the bed weed free, certainly is. The best way of keeping the weeds down is to apply a good thick layer of mulch, 3 to 4 inches. The added bonus is that it will maintain moisture around the plant so watering will rarely be an issue.

As mentioned before, these are perennial plants, so they prefer not to be moved. Be prepared to give over a portion of your vegetable garden to these plants for some years to come.

Asparagus beetle is is a serious threat and unique to this plant. The adult beetles are 1/4inch long and black with yellow blotches on their wings, while the larvae are grey in color. These love nothing more than feasting on the leaves and bark of the asparagus in both Spring and Summer. Beetles and larvae can be hand picked off the plants, and the damaged plants should be burned. Violet root rot, is another serious threat, it is caused by a fungus that attacks the roots of asparagus. The signs that this root rot is present are unhealthy-looking, yellow fronds in summer. If you dig up your Asparagus plant, you will find purplish-brown thread-like filaments across the roots. Get rid of affected plants and burn them.

If you are planting in a slightly exposed site the plants will appreciate the support of a stake to stop their roots rocking in the wind.

How to grow Asparagus from seed

Growing asparagus from seed does require some effort and patience, because of the fact that you have no Asparagus roots to start off with. It will be at least three years before you can start harvesting. Sow into a seedbed in late spring. Sow 1 cm (1/2 inch) apart and thin to 15 com (6 inches). Leave the plant to grow on for a year. Lift the crowns the following year, planting them in their final growing position as described above

Harvesting Asparagus

Harvest your Asparagus spears by cutting them in mid-spring, when they are about 30-45 inches high.Using a sharp knife, cut carefully about 2.5cm(1 inch) below the soil surface

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