Plant Gardens 101

Having sharp, forward-pointing teeth on the margin. Usually refers to leaves.

The botanical name for giant sequoia.

One of the outermost series of flower parts, arranged in a ring outside the petals. It is often small, green, and leaflike but is sometimes large and colorful. Collectively, the sepals make up the calyx.

A term used to describe a plant or plant part that responds to touch. The carnivorous plants that trap insects that land on them are an (extreme) example. The sensitive plant, Mimosa pudica, is another.

A term used to describe mostly annuals or perennials that produce numerous side shoots, form bushy rounded plants automatically, and do not require pinching or pruning. These plants lack apical dominance.

An herbicide that kills some plants but not others. Such herbicides are often used on lawns to kill broad-leaved weeds without damaging the grasses.

“Thank you, good foods from Mother Earth, our life sustainers, for making us happy when we are hungry”. Chief Jake Swamp

Good food from the earth is organic foods. To keep your garden simple and healthy, you must insure that it has a healthy support system. Good soil and plant fertility go hand in hand.

Here are 5 tips to help accomplish your organic gardening goals.

1) Seeds, plants or shrubs must be planted at a particular time. Fruits and vegetables have a specific number of days from planting to maturity. Make a calendar, begin collection planting times, and include instructions for growing by each month of the year. In America there are many different growing zones. There are also frost zones. If you are familiar with these zones, growing and harvesting will be a snap.

2) A garden journal is of immense help. Take pictures of where each plant that produced well is located in the garden. Make note of planting times, where you received the plants or seeds from or any changes that may need to be made. There are many helpful computer programs available that will keep this type of information organized.

3) Using an organic method to grow and harvest foods definitely make a taste difference. Used directly from the garden, these foods can be served raw or with very little cooking, but always must be throughly washed and cleaned before serving. An added plus is no taste of being harvested and shipped green. (more…)

The practice by which growers select seed from only the best plants, continuing the process over the years to produce a superior strain.

Taking advantage of the fall as soon as the weather becomes cool is the perfect time to plant a perennial garden or some cool weather vegetables. Short season lettuces, quick maturing Kales and some fast maturing mild flavored onions, a home gardener favorite such as yellow, sweet Spanish or white also now is also a good time to sow some garlic for next spring’s garden. Plant the garlic in individual cloves so that when it comes up in the spring you will have fresh home grown garlic to enjoy.

Fall is a very under-used season that many people don not take the advantage to enjoy when it comes to gardening. Many novice gardeners don’t realize what crops can be planted late in the season because of their climate zones and miss taking advantage of the cooler temperatures and consistent rains which provide plenty of moisture to the plants. By planting as soon as you have cool nights and frequent rains you can start a perennial garden for the next spring. (more…)

There are innumerable varieties of flowers in all countries of the world. They are grown in different ways according to a particular country’s climate in order to produce high-quality flowers for export as well as for sale in the local market. In some countries, the weather is more extreme, which means that growing flowers is more difficult than in other nations. One such country is Israel.

Israel is a country located east of the Mediterranean Sea surrounded by Lebanon to the north, Syria to the Northeast, Jordan to the east and Egypt to the southwest. It’s a fairly small, landlocked country in the Middle East that has several unique geographical features. To the north of Israel are majestic mountain ranges such as Galilee, Carmel, and Golan. To the south is the Negev Desert which covers more than half of the country’s land area.

The weather tends to be erratic. Summers are long, hot and rainless. Winters, on the other hand, tend to be short, rainy, and cold. During the rainy season, thunderstorms and hail are common. In an environment like this, growing beautiful and export-quality flowers would indeed be a very challenging task. Good thing is that the Israelis are up to the challenge.

Growing flowers in Israel demands a lot of work and dedication from all the people involved. Flowers are grown in a moshav, which is a sort of cooperative agricultural community consisting of farmers. All members are levied a tax in order to pay for a more efficient production of goods, in this case, flowers. Labor and resources are pooled together in order to produce better products. The moshav also receives help from researchers so that their technology is up-to-date, making for a better harvest.

The Philippines and Israel are very similar when it comes to cultivating flowers. For one, both countries have extreme weather conditions; the temperature can shoot up to very high and rain is unpredictable and severe. In the Philippines, the summers can be very hot and the wet season usually brings catastrophic typhoons and floods. Thus, both the Philippines and Israel makes use of greenhouse technology in order to produce beautiful and high-quality flowers. Using greenhouses counteracts the extreme and unpredictable weather of both countries.

Flowers are enduring symbols of love and peace all over the world. It doesn’t matter where or how they are grown—they will grow, and more beautifully than ever. However, a bit of help from ingenious human hands wouldn’t hurt, especially in extreme conditions.

About the Author:
This article was written by Timothy Spencer for Island Rose – Flowers Philippines. We hope you enjoyed this article and encourage you to visit our website. Through Island Rose, you can find Florist Philippines or simply browse through our blog for more informative articles.

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Portable greenhouse kits are a gardener’s best friend. They allow you to continue gardening well into the fall, and even let you get a head start on the growing season by protecting delicate seedlings from frost, harsh winds, and heavy rains. They are usually inexpensive and are a good investment for the serious gardener.

Portable Greenhouse Kits: from Sturdy to Flexible

Portable greenhouse kits are available in varieties that are sturdy enough to stand up to bad weather, and others are flexible enough to fold up for storage in a small space. They are versatile enough to meet a variety of greenhouse gardening needs. Some portable greenhouse kits can even be used as an inexpensive permanent greenhouse!

Portable Greenhouse Kits: Hobby Starters

Portable greenhouse kits are a great way to start a new hobby as a greenhouse gardener. They make perfect gifts for recipients of every age. You can give a portable greenhouse kit as a retirement present, or as a gift for the school age child looking for a science project idea or new hobby. Portable greenhouse kits are the perfect way for a gardening enthusiast to share a love of gardening.

Portable Greenhouse Kits: Easy Set Up

Most portable greenhouse kits are extremely easy to set up and can be ready for use in a matter of minutes, right out of the box. Portable greenhouse kits are even available that are self-erecting, only requiring the insertion of a stabilizer bar once set up is complete. This makes portable greenhouse kits attractive for gardeners with physical disabilities or generalized physical weakness.

Portable Greenhouse Kits: Overwintering Paradise

Portable greenhouse kits are perfect for overwintering those delicate plants in a mild region, some plants can even remain outdoors during the entire winter. A portable greenhouse kit eliminates the need to cram your living room with all of your favorite perennial plants during the colder winter months.

Portable Greenhouse Kits: Helpful for Starting Seeds

Portable greenhouse kits can help you get your seeds started earlier. They provide added warmth during germination and help retain extra moisture for delicate sprouts. Portable greenhouse kits also protect fragile seedlings from downpours, heavy winds, and even trampling by the family dog. You can replace those plastic terrarium trays and peat pots, letting seeds grow in their natural environment without transplantation.

Portable greenhouse kits are versatile and useful tools for the gardening enthusiasts. They make perfect gifts and are a welcome addition to any gardener’s potting shed.

About the Author: Michelle Torres has nearly 20 years experience using and designing greenhouses and is an avid gardener. You can find additional useful information about greenhouses and greenhouse gardening at The Greenhouse Catalog.

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The botanical name for running bamboo.

As a species name, means “cultivated.” Often refers to food crops or culinary herbs, such as garlic, Allium sativum.

Compost is a great tool for any gardener. It helps your garden hold just the right amount of water, makes it the right texture for optimal plant growth, and provides it with beneficial natural organisms. While you can buy several different types of compost products at a retail store or gardening center, it’s much cheaper to make your own compost. Not only will you save money, you also get the added benefit of knowing that you’re not just throwing your yard waste away; it’s actually doing something beneficial for your garden and for your health.

Before getting started on building your compost pile, you should know what to put in it. To get good compost you need four elements: carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and water. Grass clippings from your yard provide the carbon. Nitrogen comes from leaves in the fall. To make sure your pile gets water, build it somewhere where it will be rained on; just be sure it’s not completely soaked with water. Lastly, you can add oxygen simply by mixing the pile regularly. Just turn the soil over once a month with a rake or garden shovel. Don’t worry if you can’t provide enough nitrogen or carbon to your compost pile through your yard waste, you can always add a little fertilizer. The type of fertilizer you select will depend on what nutrient you’re lacking. (more…)

The botanical name for savory.

A wasplike insect whose larvae feed on the foliage and fruit of many trees and shrubs.

As a species name, means “found among rocks.” For example, basket-of-gold, Aurinia saxatilis, grows well along the top of a rock retaining wall.

An accumulation of rocky detritus on a hillside or at the base of a slope. In gardening, scree is a mixture of gravel, small stones, and sand for growing alpine plants.

Growth in vascular plants from production of secondary tissues by a lateral meristem, usually resulting in wider branches and stems.