How and when to start summer garden

Hello Everyone

Now summers are on the way .So this is the perfect time to start your summer garden.In north India when chill winter is gone and winter is decreasing day by day generally in month of February and march you can start your summer garden.

 You can have 

• Flower Garden

• Vegetable garden

Flower Garden

It is time for us to discover what’s perfect for the over 30 degree weather. The summer season spreads from March to May with monsoon season beginning in June. Even though gardens require comparatively more nurturing and care during summers, the variety of flowers that bloom in this particular season make it worth the effort.

• Sunflowers

Sunflowers grow best in locations with direct sun (6 to 8 hours per day); they prefer long, hot summers to flower well.
Sunflowers have long tap roots which need to stretch out so the plants prefer well-dug, loose, well-draining soil.
Sunflowers are heavy feeders so the soil needs to be nutrient-rich with organic matter or composted (aged) manure. Or, work in a slow release granular fertilizer 8 inches deep into your soil.A light application of fertilizer mixed in at planting time will encourage strong root growth to protect them from blowing over in the wind.Tall species and cultivars require support. Bamboo stakes are a good choice for any plant that has a strong, single stem and needs support for a short period of time.

• Lilies
• Zinnia

• Zinnias are grown from seed; they grow very quickly in the right conditions. Zinnias do not like to be transplanted.
• Full sun is essential with a minimum daylight temperature of 60 degrees F.
• If soil is amended with compost, the flowers will grow more quickly.
• Sow seeds ¼-inch deep.
• Deadhead to prolong flowering.
• Maintain moderate soil moisture and fertilize lightly.
• Zinnias will die with the first frost.

• Pansy

1. You can start pansy seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before you plan on transplanting them.
2. Plant seeds in late winter for early spring and summer flowering, or plant seeds in the summer for winter flowering.
3. Plant in moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil. 
4. Pansies like sun and cooler temperatures.
5. Space the plants about 7 to 12 inches apart. They will spread about 9 to 12 inches and grow to be about 6 to 9 inches tall.
6. Remember to water your pansies regularly.
7. One of the most common reasons pansies fail is because they are not watered enough, so if your pansies are not doing well, try watering them more.
8. You can use a general, all-purpose fertilizer around your pansies to help them grow.
9. Remove faded/dead flowers to prolong blooming and encourage more flowers to grow.

Marigold

• Marigold requires mild climate for luxuriant growth and flowering.
• The optimum temperature range for its profuse growth is 18-20°C.
• Temperatures above 35°C restrict the growth of the plants, which leads to reduction in flower size and number.
• In severe winter, plants and flowers are damaged by frost.
• Marigold can be grown in a wide range of soils, as it is adapted in different soil types.

• Lotus.
• Roses
• Hibiscus
• Portulaca
• Aster
• Daisy
• Calendula

Summer flowers


Rest flowers we will talk next time.

Beautify your home with Hanging Baskets

Hello Everyone

When you have space problem you can fulfill the desires of planting plants by hanging them on wall or roofs in a basket or similar container which can be suspended from a building by a small rope or chain and in which decorative flowering plants are grown,which is called hanging baskets.But there is limitation all plants cannot be planted in baskets ,still lots of variety can be planted in hanging baskets.

Different types of basket

Coco fiber pot in wire Basket

Wire Basket

Plastic Basket

Coco liner Basket

You can create vertical gardens also.You can use your waste for making different types of planters.

Vertical Garden

Glass planters

Coco liner Basket

The sheets of brown coconut fiber mold to the container, which is usually a basket made from wire. The natural fibers in coir allow for extra drainage and air circulation for the plants, but they'll also need extra water. Coconut fiber pot is also available which we can use alone or with wire basket.


Wire Basket

In wire we need to give base. Base can be of coco liner or moss grass, Moss grass gives less absorption to water.


Plastic Basket

It is same as we plant in containers.

Line the basket. Lining a basket helps to keep the soil in place and reduces the need for watering; it also neatens the appearance of the basket. The best lining for a hanging basket is sphagnum moss. This works especially well with hanging baskets that are wire based. Another lining that can be substituted for sphagnum moss is polythene; be sure to punch some holes in the base of this lining to allow the water to seep through and ensure good drainage.

How to plant in basket

The potting mix or compost  used  for basket should be of a good quality  for hanging baskets. Add a slow-release fertilizer and mix well before filling the basket.

Plant  selection for basket

Flowering Plants

• Petunia
• Portualca
• Salvia
• Verbena
• Begonia
• Geranium
• Baby's Breath
• Fuchsia
• Nasturtium
• Pansies
• Polyanthus

View Flowers

• Parsley
• Basil
• Mint
• Sage
• Chamomile
• thyme
• coriander
• Boston fern
• Asparagus
• Philodendron and Spider Plant
• Ivy

Problems

Hanging baskets rely most on the gardener to ensure they don’t dry out. However, poor flowering can be remedied by trying the following:

• Ensure the baskets stays moist but not soggy
• Feed once a week with a liquid fertiliser

Winter hanging baskets do greatly benefit from a sheltered, sunny spot. If the position is exposed, consider giving the basket some protection in the coldest weather. Use either a layer of fleece, or sit the basket on a bucket in a cool greenhouse for just the worst days

Watch out for common pests such as aphids, slugs, snails and vine weevil. Diseases that may be troublesome include powdery mildew, pelargonium  rust , fuchsia rust and impatiens downy mildew.