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Cucumbers are easy to grow outside in the garden even if they tend to produce thick skins when grown outside. This plant is often grown because it has so many health benefits. It can be used to make squashes, and the vegetable is to be used in any salad.

VARIETIES/TYPES OF CUCUMBER

1.      Normal Cucumbers

This is the normal cucumber that is most commonly cultivated. It is a large, dark green variety. Since it’s the most common type of cucumber, it is relatively inexpensive and available all year-round. It tastes best during the summer months.

2.      Kirby or Pickling Cucumber

Pickling cucumbers are a small variety of cucumber which is widely used in pickles. They are crisp and firm in nature as they need to retain their crispness properties after being used for pickling. Their crisp nature also makes them taste great when eaten fresh. Pickling cucumbers tend to be seedless as well.

Other varieties of cucumbers include greenhouse cucumber, Orange cucumbers, and Japanese cucumber.

GROWING CUCUMBER

The first thing you have to do when growing cucumber is to decide whether you want to plant it in containers/pots or in the soil. But before you decide on that, you have to make your soil suitable for planting cucumber and how do you go about this?

Loamy soil is the ideal soil for planting cucumbers. Make sure you enrich the soil with organic matter and manure so that the plant gets the kind of nutrients that are needed for growth. Also, you have to remove the weeds from the soil each time they sprout out to ensure healthy growth of the plant.

Sand gives drainage and also prevents a hard layer forming on the surface. If you have river sand in your yard, make sure it is replaced with garden soil. Composts hold and absorb moisture which is very important for growing cucumbers. Home-made compost should be used as it is less expensive. Though wood ash isn’t a necessity; yet, it helps to improve the quality of the soil. Just make sure not to use ash from charcoal, briquettes or anthracites. Also, make sure that you don’t burn any plastic in the fire.

HOW TO START

Cucumbers grow as bushes or vine and the bush variety grow well in containers. Start by choosing the seed variety that is suitable for growing in the soil or in containers. Bush varieties will never overgrow the containers. Every seed you buy usually has information about which method of growing is suitable for it.

Make sure you consider the size of your pots/containers before you choose. You can opt for a larger pot/container that will allow for more water and one that will allow the roots to penetrate deeper in search for more nutrients and moisture.

If you choose to plant cucumber seeds directly into the soil; make sure to plant your seed 2.5 centimeters deep and 30 - 40 centimeters between plants. They should be planted in rows 90 centimeters apart.

Make sure you put the container/pot in an area where the plant can get sufficient amount of sunlight. It is also important to water the plant thrice a week; add enough water to ensure the soil is moist.

AVOID OVERCROWDING AFTER GERMINATION

In order to avoid overcrowding after germination, it is important to thin out the seedlings. This can be done by cutting out the weakest seedlings, leaving only the two strongest. Do not attempt to pull them out; make sure you use a pair of scissors to avoid disturbing the roots of the strongest ones.

HARVESTING

When it is about 50 - 60 days after plating, the cucumber will be ready to be harvested. Only harvest when the cucumber skin is dark green in color. You can remove the cucumber by simply twisting it from the plant.

THINGS TO NOTE WHEN PLANTING CUCUMBER

1.      Cucumbers Need Warm Weather For Planting

Extreme weather, either cold or hot can disrupt the growth of cucumber. If you are planting cucumber outdoor, make sure it is only after all danger of frost has passed. Cucumbers are easily affected by diseases and they can easily fall prey to insects. So, it is important to keep an eye on your veggie while you grow them.

2.      Sunlight

To have a good harvest with healthy plants, make sure your veggie get plenty of sunshine. Most veggies need approximately 6 – 8 hours of sunlight daily.

3.      Watering

Container/pot plants tend to absorb more heat, meaning they need to take in more water than soil-based plants. It is essential that you water your container cucumber plants frequently to prevent them from drying up. Placing your containers to have easy access to water points will make it more convenient for frequent watering.

Growing Cucumbers in Containers Come With Certain Benefits

Benefits include:

It is easier to control the weeds in containers than in a garden

It is easier to move the containers as needed so that they can get sufficient sunlight daily which is needed for good growth

CUCUMBER BENEFITS

1.      Fights Cancer

One of the important benefits of eating cucumber or drinking cucumber water is that it contains cucurbitacins which help in fighting cancer. This will kill cancerous cells and prevent their expansion. Sufficient intake of cucumber also reduces chances of developing urinary cancer.

2.      Gives a Youthful look

Due to their antioxidant properties, cucumbers help your body fight free radicals. By doing this, they slow down the aging process and enhances your body’s ability to fight disease.

Other benefits of cucumber include:

Weight loss, promotes healthy bones, treatment of blood pressure, and much more.

SEED BUYING TIPS

There are different seeds for garden cucumber varieties available. Make sure the seeds are viable and grow well, free of disease or insects. Also, ensure the root neck is completely green.

Lifespan: All varieties of cucumber are annuals.

Season: All through the summer and early fall.

Difficulty Possibility: There is nothing to worry about, in as much as you can provide a suitable growing environment for the plant.

No human-made thing ever can beat the beauty of nature. Having expensive benches and the umbrellas in the garden are just incomplete till the time you add some beautiful flowers to bloom an elegant touch and soothing effect to the eyes. The glory of the fresh flowers is just magnificent as they not only give peace to your soul but also take you close to the ecosystem by attracting a variety of butterflies and birds. Spending a few minutes in the garden full of colorful flowers and the hummingbirds has all the powers to distress the mind while giving a fresh start to the day.

Indeed, we all love to see natural beauty around and once in a lifetime we all must have tried for growing some flowers in the home garden or the fencing area. Many people complain that either the flower plants don't grow well or they die quickly in a month's period killing their excitement of witnessing the bunchy garden with natural colors. In this piece of content, we are going to reveal the top 10 easy to grow flower plants for beginners that you can grow without putting much of your effort and time, and inevitably you will not require pro gardening skills to make them grow.

1. Sunflowers
No one is unknown with the attractive looks of this flower. Sunflowers are super easy to grow, and even the kids can have their separate plants to beautify the garden area. Markedly, ‘Mongolian Giant’ grows up to 14 feet tall with no hard effort. All you need is to put some seeds of this flower plant in the sunny, sheltered space and then enjoy watching them grow day by day. It tolerates most soil types and attracts a lot of bees, butterflies, and birds around. You don’t need to worry if you skip watering them as most of the varieties are heat and drought tolerant.

2. Sweet Peas
The more you pick, the more you get from the sweet peas. These flowers have ultimate fragrance and are super easy to handle. They can be grown best on sunny grounds with plenty of water. All you will need is a supportive fence to give way to spread these climbers and form their dense hub. Usually, they grow as high up to 8 feet and prefer a moist base for fullness.

3. Nigella
Growing nigella is just like magic. You can only spread the nigella seeds in the bare soil and let it rise all by itself. It has jewel-like blue color flowers with delicate and ferny leaves that look simply astonishing and soul-satisfying. It gives you no worry to plan for the next season; it automatically settles its seeds for the following year.

4. Aquilegia
These are plants which can tolerate almost any weather condition and comes back year after year by themselves. If you are a real nature lover, go for this fabulous plant and enjoy growing them in sunny or semi-shade location. Thanks to the remarkable peculiarity, these pretty flowers come in every possible color combination to soothe your eyes.

5. Eschscholzia
If you are the one who is not a fan of watering the plants, eschscholzia will go entirely with you. These multicolor plants grow well even in the poor, dry soil and full sun conditions. Just scatter them in the garden and enjoy the once forgotten corners filled beautifully with the colors of nature. Each year they settle their seeds for the further growth, so you will not need to worry about the next plantation too.

6. Nasturtium
Another category of plants that even small children can grow is Nasturtium. They grow well with almost no effort and can cover the significant patch of your garden with their rapid spread. They fall in the category of edible annual flowers, so you can also use them for salad and enjoy the peppery taste. Available in the shades of yellow, orange, red and cream, they take an average height of 8-10 feet and stand well with the support of trellis or walls.

7. Marigold
It’s one of the most famous variety of flower that doesn't make you wait for a long time in showing its ultimate colors. Marigold grows fast and suits every spot, little or big, for spreading the ultimate shades of gold, red, yellow and mixed. An additional benefit this beautiful flower plant provide is repelling the mosquitoes. You can spread its seed in almost any season to enjoy the fully mature 6-36 inches tall marigold plant within a gap of few weeks.

8. Hardy Geranium
These small plants of 3-24 inches demand a low maintenance. You can use them to decorate your garden beds, window boxes, containers and hanging baskets. If planting them, get ready to see different birds chirping in your garden as they attract a lot of them. They are water lovers but hate it when over-flow.

9. Pansy
Best known for their cheery faces, pansies are hard to resist. These garden favorites are super easy to grow from both seeds and pansy plug plants. With the average height of about 9 inches, Pansy is a large-flowered plant that flourishes well in moderate regions. These plants like through water once in a week and love mild sunshine for their robust stand.

10. Fuchsias
They are best loved for adding elegance to containers and hanging baskets. Available in almost every color and shape, Fuchsias are best suited for professional and ambitious display. With the average height of 1-8 feet, these flower plants attract a lot of hummingbirds.

Many times, weather change completely transforms the look of your home garden making it go dull and tenuous. Flowers add a different grace to your garden but unfortunately, those who blossom well in winters, dry down in the summers. Nature sometimes acts evil however it also provides the alternates to cope with the situation. If you are a real garden lover who just can't live starting the day with the colorful flowers and chirping birds, you really don't need to lose hope. Don't worry if you see summers coming as we have the solution for you. Here we have listed the top 10 summer bedding plants which will again make your surrounding as dense and fill your mood with the colors of happiness.

1.      Begonia

Suitable for beds, hanging baskets, borders, and window boxes, Begonias are renowned for their large, flamboyant blooms. They come in almost every color shade and are among the most versatile summer bedding plants. Although their ability to face the sun is enormous, you can also keep them in the semi-shaded areas. They usually take their average height ranging from 20-24 inches and can handle the dry weather situations very easily.

2.      Sweet Peas

Just scatter their seeds in the bare soil and let them grow beautifully up to 6 feet. Sweet peas grow excellently in summers and need limited water to attain their full-growth. These climbers need trellis or net for their support and mesmerize anyone with their light fragrance. They survive well in the sun and can also be grown in the semi-shaded regions. If you are looking for covering the borders and the beds, try for dwarf sweet peas and allow them to form a fabulous ground cover with their thick leaves and flowers.

3.      Busy Lizzie

Try the Busy Lizzie for a healthy, vigorous display and get the tension of hot weather out of your mind. Elegant flowers of this plant produce the remarkable beauty in the color shades of pink, red, purple and white. They are well known for their characteristics of an extended flowering period and are best suited for filling out the beds and borders. They grow flawlessly in the summers and spread rapidly to fill the charm.

4.      Geranium

These sun-loving, sturdy plants are ideal for dry conditions and hot weathers. They can grow well almost in any pattern and are the best fit for obelisks, hanging baskets, beds, borders, and patio containers. Primarily available in contrast shades of pink, red and white, geranium plants are also available in the marvelous shades of rich burgundy, apricot, and lilac. With almost negligible subsistence and attention, these plants take their average height ranging from 5 inches (dwarf) to 2 feet (tall).

5.      Antirrhinum

Much known for their well-shaped flower spikes and comparatively long flowering period, Antirrhinums have fascinating flowers with the resemblance to the dragon face that open up when laterally squeezed. These plants are available in the broad range of vibrant and strong colors that grow pretty well in the dry and warm season. Children love to play with them but beware, keep an eye as these nectar-filled bedding plants attract bees and bumble bees around.

6.      Lobelia

The flowers of lobelia are lovely climbers that efficiently form the waterfall-like pattern with their magical colors. They grow pretty well in baskets and love to spread freely in all directions. With their capability to bloom any summer bedding scheme, lobelia come in the bright shades of blue, purple and white. Considerably, they thrive best in the sunlight and can save you liters of water.

7.      Petunia

Popular for their large-diameter flowers, petunias are hard to resist. They grow in the wide range of bright colors having the different patterns, stripes, and picotees. With the amazing ability to tolerate harsh conditions and super dry weather, they survive even if your water them once in a week. They love to face the sun directly and need at least five hours of direct sunlight on a daily basis.

8.      Rudbeckia

Also known as the Annual rudbeckias or the coneflowers, they are most cheerful and robust garden bedding plants for the months of July to October. With the color combinations of yellow, orange and little red, they look so live and surprising that you can't control yourself touching them. Rudbeckia 'Toto', the compact varieties are best suited for beds and patio containers while Rudbeckia 'Cherry Brandy,' the tall ones perform correctly when planted on borders or between perennials and shrubs. Not only they look excellent in the garden, but you can also take them to an indoor vase to decorate your living room.

9.      Californian Poppy

You just can't beat the vibrant colors of Californian poppy. Traditionally they were orange, but the recent breeding has blessed the flower lovers with the new shades of yellows, reds, pinks, and apricot. Simply scatter their seeds over the dry soil patches in the full sun conditions and enjoy them making their own way year after year. They experience every season and adjust themselves accordingly               

  10.      Cosmos

They are from the family of sunflowers who love to stand in the heat and admire to grow with almost no efforts. Cosmos is one of the fabulous summer beddings available in the shades of white, red and pink; but if you love to see them in yellow, orange and red combinations, go for its next ultimate variety of Cosmos sulphureus. The nectar-full flowers of this plant attract a variety of bees and insects forming a local ecosystem in your area with a bunch of birds chirping for its beauty.

Winter is the best phase considered for growing some of the major plants. As it's the season where one has to take minimum concerns regarding the soil dryness, water level, and erosions, experienced gardeners take full advantage of the dropped temperature and try their hands for getting some of the significant harvests. While the overall aura of the winters turns dull and calm, it feels really nice to grow some of the colorful flowers in the garden area to add a glow to the surroundings.

Note that, plants those who grow well in summers do not necessarily bloom well in winters. People often complain they face difficulty in sustaining their plants during the cool waves, but it's not primarily about the gardening skills or the subsistence, it's something that revolves around the breed or the variety. Winder bedding plants have distinct features to cope with the climate, and they flourish really well in their season. Here is the list of Top 10 Winter Bedding Plants that you should try this season to get the exceptional results-

1.      Pansies

The blooming period of Pansies is much longer than any of the other winter bedding plants. All the way from autumn and passing its colors to spring, these cheery face flowers provide an elegant look to containers, window boxes, hanging baskets, beds, and borders. If taken with care, they grow well almost in any season spreading their vibrant colors of blue, purple, white, yellow, red and orange. Plant the pansies in the sunny or partially shaded position and get ready to see the children playing around with their 9 inch little companions for hours.

2.      Violas

Just like the Pansies, Viola plants grow flowers in abundance and can add beauty to any of the display. Many of these plants have a delightful sweet fragrance which makes them a perfect buddy for the hanging baskets. Being the perfect-winter-bloomers, violas are available in a range of colors and have around 500- 600 species. Gardeners often refer them as ornamental flowers and love to grow them in the beds, borders and window boxes.

3.      Primrose

One of the favorite garden bedding plants, Primrose adds sparks to the surrounding with its beauty and sweet fragrance. Modern breedings of this plant have blessed the flower lovers with the range of colors, sizes, and shades, making it difficult to choose between any two. These plants love dry soil for their seeds and relish to grow with less water and moisture. With amazing handcrafted like flowers, Primroses take the average height of 6 inches to 3 feet on maturity.

4.      Polyanthus

Bright and compact, Polyanthus are versatile winter plants suitable for any area or patch. They glow equally well in borders, window boxes, containers, beds, and pots and usually have short, sturdy stems. Well known for their dense coverage, the taller varieties take an average height of 1 foot and grow really well in the winters.

5.      Wallflower

Even in the poorest of soils, Wallflower plants grow miraculously well and cover the window boxes, containers, and beds with their long-lasting, soul-satisfying display. Available in the shades of orange, yellow, pink, purple and blue they are significantly drought-tolerant but need water regularly until grown.

6.      Sweet William

These deliciously fragrant plants grow on a stiff, upright stem and are superb for cutting and shaping. Sweet William loves to face the full sun and prefers loose, rich soil that drains easily. Their size is the best fit for pots and containers, but they can also be tried at vertical planter and windowsill to add a different charm.

7.      Stock

Passing their way from the mid-spring to the mid-summer, Stock is the renowned winter bedding plant. These upright, neat biennials produce ruffled, large and heavily fragrant spikes. Available in a wide range of pastel colors, flowers of this amazing plant bloom well in winters and spread the sweet fragrance to an open distance. Stock takes the maximum height of 10 inches, but some of the tall varieties cross 2 feet easily.

8.      Bellis

Bellis is famous for growing masses of quilled, round blooms in the shades of red, white and pink. One of the finest varieties, 'Pomponette' matures itself as a real eye-catchy natural beauty with off-white flowers and pink petal tips. Investing in this plant is the real value for money as it grows beautifully and needs a minimum of resources. With the stem height of 3-5 inches, these pompom-like flowers are the perfect companion for winters.

9.      Forget-me-not

These self-seed plants go perfectly with their name. Once they are planted in the garden, no further worries ever exist for planning their next season. With the traditional colors of blue, Forget-me-not plants do come in the newer shades of pink and white. Gifted with the perfectibility of spreading freely, these plants fit well in beds, border, containers, pots, and window boxes and take an average height of 1 foot to 2 feet.

     10.     Cyclamen coum

Cyclamen coum is the true winter bedding plant that eliminates the dullness of winter with its bright color and shade. They grow flawlessly in the chilling temperatures and effectively splash the colors of pink in the surroundings. Well-drained soil and the nearby grass are the two true comrades for this plant that supports its growth and allow it to mature at a steady pace. Not only the flowers, but the leaves of Cyclamen coum are also equally beautiful that vary in the shapes of 'round' and 'heart' among the different varieties.

Growing fruits and vegetables in pots/containers are becoming more popular with home gardeners. This method of growing crops in a limited space is cost effective and requires less work than the conventional method of gardening. Pots planted with a variety of plants add an attractive appearance to your yard while providing a healthy crop for you and your household to enjoy. Imagine the pleasures you get from watching what you plant grow and then come into fulfillment.

HOW DO YOU PREPARE POTS FOR GROWING CROPS?

You should know that crops grown in containers/pots are more restricted than those grown in the soil. Therefore, it is essential that you make use of good quality compost that retains water. Drainage is also very important, so you will need to create plenty of drainage holes in your pot. Covering the bottom with broken shards of pots will ensure proper drainage.

Now we have prepared our pots, you only need to start with one or two plants. Let us consider the top 10 crops that will grow well in pots.

1.      Zucchini

This plant will thrive productively in pots. It is particularly a very productive summer plant that is low on calories and high in potassium manganese and other essential nutrients.

2.      Beans

Beans is another top crops that thrives and flourishes in pots. Mind you, the variety of beans you are planting will determine the supporting structure. for pole beans, you will need some sort of supporting structure as they are climbing plants. Beans of any variety can be grown in small space pots because they are one of the most productive plants in the garden, i.e. they produce maximum return on your planting space. Throughout the summer, it is advisable to make several successive planting, each around three weeks apart.

3.      Capsicums – Bell Peppers

Bell peppers can also be successfully grown in pots. In frost free areas, these plants act as perennials.

4.      Radishes

Radishes are a great source of magnesium, potassium, calcium, and folic acid. They take just 4-5 weeks to fully develop and are one of the easiest veggies to grow, making them an ideal plant for beginners. Radishes thrive best in a damp and colder climate. They require minimal efforts in maintenance, meaning you don’t have to stress yourself a lot.

5.      Chillies

They are easy to grow in a pot and are very productive as well.

6.      Lettuce

Lettuce is a common plant for container gardening. The loose leaf variety e.g. Oak leaf or Buttercrunch, which can be harvested on a regular basis, is even more popular. Lettuce grows best in cool spring temperatures, so planting it early in the year is a great idea. Young plants are available in nurseries for the first 30 – 35 days before the average last frost date. They should be planted in a pot when they are about 6 to 8 inches deep. Since lettuce doesn’t require a lot of space, they can be planted in any shaped pot. After transplanting lettuce, make sure you set the pots in an area that is partly shaded where they will receive part sun throughout the day.

7.      Carrots

There are many varieties to choose from. Marion or Resistafly are the two most recommended varieties of carrot to be planted in a pot. Resistafly, as the name suggests, has good resistance to carrot fly. Marion has very tender roots and is suitable for all year round growing. Mind you, all other varieties can be successfully grown in garden planters.

Another benefit of planting carrots in a pot/container is that carrots can be easily distorted by large clumps of soil or even stones when grown in the ground. This can act as obstructions for the plant. In addition, carrots are prone to attack by carrot fly, but using a pot of about 2 feet above ground level will help terminate their existence since carrot fly can’t travel up to such 2 feet high.

8.      Onions

Growing onions from seed may take a long time. It is best for you to grow small bulbs or onion sets as they grow easily especially with the soil is filled with compost. Onions are very rich in vitamin C and dietary fiber. They also add a decent touch of flavor to salads and sauces.

9.      Tomatoes

Amongst the most popular plants grown in a home vegetable garden, tomato is up there. Like other plants, there are a lot of varieties to choose from, depending on where you intend planting them. They are very rich in essential nutrients such as potassium, niacin, Vitamins A, C, and E, and other antioxidants. Tomatoes are not difficult to grown. Since they love heat and sufficient moisture, they should be planted where the sun shines brightest.

1.                         Herbs

Herbs do well in pots because it restricts their growth. They should be placed close to the kitchen door for easy access when you are cooking. The aroma from basil and curry can be very helpful when cooking your chicken.

BENEFITS OF POT GARDENING

Pots/containers can easily be moved around the garden. This is essential when you want them to be exposed to maximum sunlight or when they need protection from heavy downpour. They can be moved closer to the kitchen for easy access, the sitting room for beautification and so on.

Different varieties can be grown together as well. They create some very attractive settings when vegetables are mixed with beautiful flowers. Let’s say you combine marigolds and salad leaves, imagine the beauty it’ll add to your space.

Pot gardening is a great way to get your kids involved in growing plants. They get to learn about how plants grow from seedlings to the point of maturity. This gives them the basic understanding of how to grow crops and also how the ecosystem works naturally. No one knows where this knowledge will take them to in the nearest future. It is also a great time to relate to your kids as well.

Raised bed gardening is the most convenient way to garden your favorite vegetables and plants in small space. It is best suited for the people who love to have their kitchen garden but feel trouble in bending, stooping and kneeling. The significant advantage of this method extends in fact; you can adjust the size and height of the raised bed according to your ease and comfort. In comparison to the row cropping method, raised beds efficiently delivers four times the amount of produce that too with the minimum efforts.

As a gardener, we all love to see the early season growth and distinctly, this is possible with the help of the raised bed gardening method. You can quickly decide on the size of the beds and cover them beautifully with the rock, wooden or metal frames, but the primary step resides in filling your fabulous creation with the right soil. It is true, raised beds can do wonders, but only when you have the right soil mixture prepared in them. Notably, soil mixing is a crucial step that lays the strong foundation for healthy plants and vegetables, so make sure not to make any mistake preparing the best-suited soil.

Further, if you plan to grow a variety of plants and vegetables in your kitchen garden, make sure you settle the soil mixture separately for each bed.

To clear all doubts, let's understand the procedure of mixing the soil in detail-

Step 1 | Focus on the growing medium

Be clear with this; add approximately 50 % of your growing medium with the compost to get the best results. Compost, also known as black gold is the rich organic matter that boosts the health and growth of the plants. The primary purpose of adding compost is to provide the perfect platform for microbial growth.

You can go for the two types of compost available:

Animal-Based Compost: It provides the vital nutrients that are required for the healthy growth. Animal compost adds much of organic matter to the soil which in turn improves the overall soil structure, water drainage, and the microbial activity. Please note, not all animal composts are good. For an example dog, cat, and pig manures are not at all usable. You can seek the best results from the compost obtained from worms, fish, livestock and even bats.

Plant-Based Compost: It is the mixture of wood chips, straws, grass clippings, kitchen scraps, leaves, and sometimes the egg shells. Plant-based composts have low to moderate values of Nitrogen-phosphorous-potassium, but their nutrients become quickly available for the plants to flourish the rapid growth.

For the remaining 50 %, you can prefer adding coconut coir which is a natural fiber obtained from the coconut husks. The idea of mixing coconut coir is to make the soil aerated while capturing the best of the moisture and nutrients.
Coconut coir helps in attaining a neutral pH level for the plants which demand non-acidic environment for their growth. Further, if you are planning for the plants like strawberries or blueberries, employ peat or sphagnum that significantly helps in creating an acidic environment fit for them.

Step 2| The Plant Food

Now when you have prepared your soil with mixing the growth medium, it’s time to focus on the other important parameter- the plant food. Adding the below-mentioned products will ensure the best growth for your seedlings to turn them into a mature and nutrient-rich plant.

1. Azomite: It is necessarily the rock dust that has lots of trace elements and minerals needed for the healthy growth.

2. Fish Emulsion Water: The use of this is optional, but it can rapidly boost up the level of potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus along with the trace elements.

3. Worm Castings: Great food and soil-enricher for your plants that provides a better source of nitrogen and aid in attracting more worms to the garden.

4. Mycorrhizal Fungi: Normally, it is already available in the soil, but the external addition helps in creating a strong fungus web that further supports in feeding the roots of the plants.

After getting the soil ready, you can start the plantation process bringing the suitable varieties of plants which you want to grow. While filling the beds, always remember to leave a gap of an inch or two for adding the mulch. The mulch does not need to be added early in the season when the weather remains mild, and you focus on drying the soil, but surely, you will wish to add it later to combat the weeds and summers. Additionally, it also helps to retain the moisture and minimizing the nutrient loss of the soil.

Considerably, preparing the soil for raised beds is easy if you have the right information in hand. It should always be contemplated what crop you are planning to grow in the beds as some require less water with an acidic environment, while the others need more water with a neutral environment. Notably, not all the plants grow with the same soil composition, for excellent results, the soil should be prepared by keeping the separate needs of the plants in mind.

Also, while layering the soil, make sure you do not pat it hard to form an even and tight surface. Plants always prefer to grow and spread in the loose soil that can provide them enough aeration and space with the minimum hindrance. So, try to keep the soil as fluffy as possible and get ready to enjoy the ultimate result of your efforts.

Having the chilled slices of the cantaloupe on a hot sunny day; what can be better than this? People all over the world love this amazing fruit and are very much aware of its impressive health benefits. Considering its ability to fix the dehydration problems and the low energy issues, dieticians often recommend to include cantaloupe as the significant element in the diet. Points not over, it has beauty benefits too. Putting a slice of the fruit on the eyelids can cure the red eyes and rubbing the piece on the skin rashes gets relief to the affected area. Isn't it an incredible gift from nature?

If you landed on this article, then you must be having some active taste glands for cantaloupe. We all have eaten this fruit which we probably have taken from the nearest store or the fruit corner, but have you ever wondered to grow it on your own! Yes, you read it right, it is about raising the vines of cantaloupe in the backside garden or the side space near the wall. Considerably, growing cantaloupes is easy once you have the right information in hand.

Well, we know, you must be excited for the further details to give it a try. So, let's be straight and get onto the steps.

•         Choosing the Right Location

Cantaloupes love summer and grow best with the high temperature, therefore, put the seeds only when the ground temperature is at least 70 degrees. If you are living in the colder region, you can start your seeding process indoors and then transfer them outdoors before they began to grow as big. Make sure the walls do not hinder the growth; for best results you can also let them go vertically with the help of the trellis. They can be grown either in pots, containers or trellis but make sure to consider the material and the variety of the cantaloupes as bigger sizes are usually heavy and can break the support system easily.

•         The Soil Preparation

Now when you have chosen the location and have decided to control the growth pattern, it's time to prepare the soil. Cantaloupes love to grow in warm temperatures so you will need to amend the soil with organic fertilizer, organic compost, or the aged manure. For best results, add the mentioned to the first 6 inches of the soil.

•         Planting Process

A gap of 36 inches is recommended with every plant when you grow them in the traditional way. However, if you are planning to make use of the trellis, keep a minimum of 12 inches gap (also known as the square foot gardening).

After the plantation process, mulch down the area to keep the new plants warm. Mulch also prevents weeds from blocking the growth and aids to hold maximum moisture.

•         Pest Care/Companion Planting

Take note, cantaloupes have some pests of concern.  If not taken with proper care, squash bugs and the squash vine borer may even munch your entire plant to make it dead. You may also see cucumber beetles attacking the plant as it starts growing. The best way to defend your baby plant is by giving it a companion to fight. Notably, Tansy flowers and Nasturtiums both can help you for the purpose. Further, we recommend you to inspect your plants twice in a week with a sharp eye on the vines, flowers, and leaves.

•         Watering

For watering the plants, always prefer soaker hose or the drip irrigators and avoid the use of sprinklers. Watering is essential to make the plant grow strong but soaking it to the leaves often causes the spread of diseases and fungus. Supply water to your plants in the morning and make sure you keep it till the base only. Notably, morning is the best time suited as you will not need to worry about the excess water at the base as afternoon sun automatically dries up the extra moisture.

To note, do not worry if you see the leaves a little wilt in the sun; it is pretty normal.

•         Fruit Care

You need to protect the newbie fruit as it develops. Gently put a melon cradle or the piece of cardboard under the fruit to protect it from the pests. This step will also help in promoting the ripening process.

VARIETIES TO CHOOSE FROM

If you are planning to grow your plant in the container, you may need to consider the smaller variety of fruit.  Prefer Minnesota Midget which is comparatively a smaller type that fits easily in the palm.

Other varieties to consider:

Planter’s Jumbo

Hale’s Best Jumbo

Honey Rock

•         Harvesting/Storage Rules

If you want your cantaloupes as sweet and good, let them grow naturally on their vine. Do not pick them at an early stage as picked melons do to ripen much after. A ready to pick fruit has always its rind changed from green to yellow/tan yellow. Additionally, sniff well before you go to pick them up; if it smells sweet and ripe, it is safe to be picked.
For maximum sweetness, store it for one or two days before eating. Concerning more extended storage, you can even freeze it or can make the preserves.

In essence, growing cantaloupes is not as difficult as it seems. With the right process and the time to time checks, you can quickly grow sweet and watery cantaloupes in your home garden.
Further, we hope that the steps mentioned above have given you enough idea about the overall growth process. So don't wait, show some skills and help others by sharing your experience with the active blogs.

Raised bed gardening is one of the most exceptional ways of gardening that makes it much easier to grow and maintain plants within smaller areas. Usually, for preparing the beds, the soil is raised to approximately six inches above the ground and is walled by the rock, wood or concrete frames/blocks. As the gullies are kept broad, and there is a space planned between the beds, the gardener can easily avoid his/her footsteps from the bed-surface and take care of the plants from a distance.
This method of gardening prevents the soil compaction to the maximum extent and makes it easy for the roots to grow faster in a much free environment.

Raised bed gardening is also renowned for its benefits of preserving moisture, better weed control, and aeration. It majorly helps in controlling the soil erosion and saves many liters of water. Due to its overall advantages and easy to handle subsistence, it is highly in trend these days, and people all over the world love to have their separate raised bed gardens for growing vegetables and plants. Considerably, the central privilege is one can comfortably decide for the height of the bed as per his/her convenience and age.

Markedly, you can grow almost anything with this approach, but few vegetables rise above the rest. These real-stars are best suited for the raised bed gardening and can give you the ultimate results in substantially fewer efforts.

•         Root Vegetables

Beets, radishes, parsnips, and carrots are perfect for raised beds as they flourish very easily in the loose and rock-free soil. These vegetables mainly require space for their root to grow and love to spread freely without any hindrance. Keep this in mind when you prepare the soil for them, and rest assured you will get the best results.

To emphasize, while it may take several months for the root vegetables to mature, pests can eat and destroy them to the full in merely few weeks. For better growth, try to keep a sharp eye on these enemies and choose the varieties such as 'Paris Market,' 'Little Finger' that evolves pretty fast providing less exposure to the germ attacks.

•         Leafy Greens

Greens such as spinach, lettuce, and kale grow fabulously in raised beds. As these are the cold weather crops, they need to be planted as soon as you get a trowel into the soil. Notably, the soil in the raised beds warms comparatively more quickly, so for taking several great harvests, plant these crops before the summer hits. Always remember to prepare the bed with quick-draining soil as roots of these plants love to stand dry.

•         Onions

Onions are the ideal vegetable to be grown in raised beds. Three reasons make onion the perfect crop to grow very easily with minimum effort- they need quick draining soil, they usually take a long time for growth, and they like plenty of organic matter. As the soil of the raised beds can be catered as per the needs, when planning to grow onions, make sure to rich the soil with plenty of compost. From seeds to reach maturity, onions take around 100 days to germinate properly. Therefore, when mapping for the raised bed gardening, you can give the onion bed a head start.

•         Tomatoes

Being the heavy feeder, tomatoes need nutrient-rich soil for its proper growth. For growing them, you will need to customize your soil putting a lot of compost or organic manure. The overall process is pretty simple, but you need to take proper care when watering the plants. Do not use the water hose to sprinkle around as they may cause a lot of soil based diseases to the leaves. Instead, try to supply water only to the base. Surely it will consume time, but the grown-up plants will be healthy to deliver high-quality tomatoes.

•         Potatoes

Looking for something that can be grown easily without putting many efforts! Go for potatoes. Comparatively, potatoes take a larger bed to grow correctly, and the recommended size floats around 4*4 ft. with 12 inches of depth. For plantation, you will need to fill the raised bed with mushroom compost, topsoil, and a little quantity of perlite to aid the moisture retention. Once the soil smoothed out, you can create trenches of 4 inches depth keeping a separation distance of around one foot.

After you seed the potatoes, cover them up and water the bed thoroughly to sustain the moisture level. Later when the plant began to grow, make soil hills around the plant covering all but not exactly the leaves. Potatoes love water but make sure not to overfill them as it can even rot down the roots.

In essence, raised bed gardening requires a lot of patience and faith to deliver the expected results, but once you get used to it, it is as simple as any other thing in daily life. Markedly, try to choose the varieties that have short maturity cycle as those who take months to grow, have greater chances to attract the diseases and pests. As a step ahead, read thoroughly for the varieties and prepare the soil best suited for them.

Often people make a mistake while watering the plants. Some of the plants require a high level of moisture while the other needs nearly dry soil to boost their growth. Learn, watering the plants as per their requirement not only helps them to grow as healthy but also keep them away from the diseases and the fungus.

Low hygiene lifestyle and poor environmental sanitation are the main causes of mosquito infestation. The best way to prevent any mosquito-borne disease outbreak is to ensure you have a clean environment. Mosquitoes reproduce through stagnant water that can be found anywhere within our homes. The bite can incur skin irritations which includes itching, redness, and swelling of the skin.  

Who has the time to chase mosquitoes around with a spray bottle? Of course, not you! Therefore, you are definitely going to look for a safer way to eradicate mosquitoes in your surroundings. Different mosquito repellents serve different purposes: some kill mosquitoes on contact; others produce scents that suffocate mosquitoes. Insects have the natural habit of staying away from things with scents they despise.

They tend to stay as far as possible when this occurs. Mosquitoes repellent can be made from chemicals, essential oils, and plant derivatives such as marigold, garlic, and mint. Chemicals, as always, have negative impacts on our health and the environment at large. Therefore, growing crops that have mosquito repellant property close to the house will help you ward off your local mosquitoes. These repellent plants will put up an invisible screen in your garden. Some of these mosquito repellent plants are:

1.      Mint

Mint is very easy to grow and maintain. They grow fast and smell fresh when you rub some leaves on your skin. Mint can also be used in cocktails for celebration with friends and family.

2.      Geranium

Geranium is a very popular plant. It comes in various colors and can withstand the sun too. Geranium should be planted close to the window or door in order keep mosquitoes from coming in.

3.      Horsemint

Horsemint is a fast growing plant that is resistant to drought. It can be likened to citronella because of its strong scent that will repel mosquitoes. It can easily grow in dry and sandy areas.

4.      Catnip

Catnip is also known as a plant for cats; however, this isn’t something you’ll give to your cat as a treat. This plant is very handy in repelling mosquitoes. To most people, catnip is the most potent yet beautiful repellant plant that you can use in the garden.

Since it is easily grown, it doesn’t need much effort to get it growing. Grow catnip in a pot or in the front yard and see the repelling wonders it’ll provide your garden. Consider this plant as it is up to 10 times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than chemical products.

5.      Lime Basil

The lime basil is a culinary herb. It is a medicinal plant which is very effective as an organic mosquito repellant.

6.      Marigolds

Marigolds have been used to repel not only mosquitoes, but other insects (including aphids) as well. In fact, mosquitoes do not like the scent of this plant. They are available in many color varieties, including gold, orange, red, and yellow. Since marigolds is attracting, it can be planted on balconies. Other repellent plants can be rubbed on your skin against mosquito; you shouldn’t try that with marigolds.

7.      Rosemary

Though this herb is used for certain food dishes; yet, it is effective at keeping mosquitoes at bay. This plant can be grown in a pot during the colder climates or in front of your home during the warmer months.

8.      Garlic

Garlic is a very good mosquito repellent. When ingested, it will eventually find its way into your system, thus keep the mosquitoes at bay. Alternatively, you can plant garlic all around your garden to keep the bugs away during the summer. More so, garlic oil can be sprayed around your yard.

9.      Citronella

Citronella is another popular mosquito repellent plant which is used in many commercial products for controlling mosquitoes. Because of its oil (citronella oil), this plant is used for many natural mosquito repellents. It can be applied to the skin and can work well just as a candle repellent. Citronella as an environmental-friendly method of getting rid of pests has been proven to have no side effects. When applied to the skin, the scent hides mosquitoes from you.

1.                         Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexosus)

Though the fresh scent of lemongrass is good for people; yet, it is annoying for mosquitoes. Lemongrass can be grown from seeds, but it is best to buy fresh lemongrass in the supermarket or shop. Plant them close to the window in a pot with water. Roots will appear within a few weeks and then you can move them to a sunny jar.

1.                         Lavender

Lavender not only repels mosquito bites, but it also calms and soothes the skin. It can be grown indoor or outdoor. You can also protect your skin by applying the flowers to sensitive parts of the body, such as the arms and ankles.

Mosquitoes are a disturbance which is the reason bug repellant is very important in every household. Using a bug repellent with DEET might seem effective yet, the side effect associated with using it is enormous. As mentioned above, some plants work better when turned into oils that can be applied on the skin, while others burn to make the aroma that repels mosquitoes.

Many of these smells and scents are found in mosquito repellent plants. They are easy to plant and maintain; and they are environmental-friendly. Apart from the plant mosquito repellant, an ideal means of warding away mosquitoes is by keeping the air in motion on the outdoors or in your room. Mosquitoes are not designed to tolerate moving air; therefore, keeping the fan on while on the move would prevent the mosquito bites.

Having perfectly blooming flowers with the bunch of birds singing around, who doesn't want to start the day with such a beautiful aura? A home-garden not only distresses us from the hustles and bustles of our daily life but also brings us closer to nature. People nowadays favor having a green area in their home where they can spend time maintaining the plants and can sit in the lap of scenery. Distinctly, we all love to do hard work to cherish colorful flowers and greenery for tomorrow, but equally, hate it when seasonal plants die with the change of temperatures.

Seeing the garden as pale and the plants becoming dull is the worst feeling for a true gardener. Often people leave their passion for gardening just because they see their seasonal plants getting dull and the overall garden standing as blank. To get the perfect solution for these situations of weather and temperature changes, we have some of the evergreen vines which can add colors to your home or garden area with their amazing growing patterns throughout the year.

Here we have 10 best evergreen vines to make your gardening charm as never-ending and exciting experience.

1.      Fiveleaf Akebia or Chocolate Vine

Evergreen for the areas with a milder climate, you can plant Fiveleaf Akebia to forget about the blankness-worries in your garden. Featuring bluish-green foliage, it blooms the light fragrant clusters of pink or purple flowers in the mid to the spring. This twining vine loves to face the sun and just in a few days grows up to 30 feet. Since the growth of the chocolate vine is kinda fast, it works excellently for covering the fences, arbors, pergolas or trellises. Moreover, it can also provide you edible seedpods similar to the taste of tapioca pudding, but for that, you will be required to plant more than one vine at a place.

2.      Bougainvillea

Ideal for covering the windows and the greater area of the side lobbies, bougainvillea easily touches the 20-30 feet mark with its dense spread. It blooms impressive vivid-pink flowers and love to get an extended exposure from the sun. Available in a variety of colors and types, you can also go for the dwarf- forms or the ground cover if you don't want to monster plant. These plants love water till the time they grow well, later they become drought tolerant.

3.      Rosa Banksiae "Lutea"

Renowned for producing beautiful buttery-yellow flowers, Lutea happily blooms in spring and early summer. As it's not self-supporting, you will require some structure or trellis to provide a gentle support to its slender branches. With the full growth, these dry roses reach to the height of 15-20 feet and spread wide to around of 6-10 feet. Its pale yellow, multi-petalled, 3/4 inch wide double flowers are perfect to give anyone a soul-satisfying peace. Slender branches are thornless which cuddles the rich green foliage of tiny, smooth-edged leave and displays the ultimate beauty of nature.

4.      Gelsemium Sempervirens or Carolina Yellow Jasmine

Twining vine with trumpet-shaped yellow flowers, Gelsemium Sempervirens love to spread and reach the heights of 20 feet quickly. It blooms well in early spring or later winters with its yellow producing light lemony fragrance. Love to be grown in the gardens or the entrance of the home, this vine also serves the indoor need if given a proper care in pots and hanging baskets.

5.      Jasminum Polyanthum or Pink Jasmine

Opposite to its name, the flowers on Pink Jasmine are more like white than pink. It blooms well from spring to the midsummers and spread its fragrant flowers to the height of 20 feet. Thrive best in the sun, this plant just grows and grows. Each day you will feel it denser and once mature the subsistence is quite low.

6.      Clematis Armandii

Prized and praised by the gardeners for its ultimate showy flowers, Clematis Armandii produces 2.5-inch white flowers that bear fragrance in the late spring. Not just the flowers, the dark green leaves of this plant also add a different charm to its overall beauty. It grows well and looks best, but to note, most of its species are toxic.

7.      Virginia Creeper

If you need shaded three, five or seven leaflets leaves that can cling well to the wall and other surfaces, go for Virginia Creeper. It grows wildly well and can even cover the most of your garden or the front face of your home. This vine produces small greenish flowers in late spring and hard purplish-black berries that attract a lot of birds and bees around.

8.      Wisteria

This vine loves the sunny environs and grows best in the well-drained but moist soil. It rises as high as 66 feet and prefers to climb the walls, trees, and trellis. Wisteria floribunda and Chinese wisteria are two invasive species of wisteria that are typically famous for home gardens. The beautiful lavender or violet-blue flowers of this lovely vine blooms in mid-late spring. While growing Wisteria is quite easy, but proper care should be given as it slowly covers all the area around.

9.      Jasminum Nudiflorum

Having none of the characteristic scents from its family, Jasminum Nudiflorum or Winter Jasmine is among the earliest flowering plants that begin to bloom with the start of the New Year. This vine with yellow star-shaped flowers typically spreads around, but if you want to grow it vertically, seek support from the trellis and trim the side shoots to prepare for the more extended base. On an average, it takes the height up to 15 feet.

1.                         English Ivy

The evergreen perennials English Ivy or Hedera helix are suitable for ground covers, but additionally, they are good climbers too. With their aerial rootlets, they cheerfully climb an average height of 50 feet or more. Though their small greenish flowers are insignificant; they are best known for the beauty of their leaves. As this vine grows extremely fast and dense, you can even think to cover the entire wall area with this natural green-cluster.