Overwatering:
Neglecting Sunlight Requirements:
Poor Soil Preparation:
Planting at the Wrong Time:
Overcrowding Plants:
Failure to Weed and Maintain:
Lack of Patience and Observation:
By being aware of these common mistakes and taking proactive steps to avoid or correct them, you can set yourself up for a more successful gardening experience. Remember to do thorough research on the specific needs of your plants, seek advice from experienced gardeners, and learn from your own observations and experiences. Gardening is a continuous learning process, so don't be discouraged by mistakes—view them as opportunities to improve and grow as a gardener.
]]>Insufficient Light:
Inadequate Humidity:
Improper Watering:
Lack of Air Circulation:
Pests and Diseases:
Nutrient Deficiencies:
By addressing these challenges and providing the necessary care, you can create a favorable environment for your indoor plants to thrive. Remember to research the specific needs of each plant you have, as requirements can vary significantly depending on the species.
]]>Use cold frames: Cold frames are simple structures with transparent tops that capture solar energy and create a microclimate for plants. They act as miniature greenhouses, providing protection from frost and cold temperatures. You can start seeds earlier in the spring or grow cold-tolerant crops well into the fall using cold frames.
Install row covers: Row covers are lightweight fabrics that can be draped over plants to create a protective barrier. They help retain heat and provide some insulation, extending the growing season by a few weeks. Row covers come in various thicknesses, so choose the appropriate one for the level of cold protection required.
Build a greenhouse: A greenhouse is a more substantial structure that offers greater control over the growing environment. It provides insulation, traps heat, and protects plants from extreme temperatures. With a greenhouse, you can start plants earlier in the season and grow crops that wouldn't typically survive in your climate.
Try container gardening: Container gardening allows for more flexibility as you can move the containers indoors or to a sheltered area when temperatures drop. This way, you can protect your plants from frost and extend the growing season by bringing them inside during colder nights.
Use mulch: Applying a layer of mulch around your plants helps insulate the soil, regulate temperature, and retain moisture. Mulch can prevent rapid temperature fluctuations, keeping the soil warmer for a longer period. Organic mulches like straw or leaves work well in cold climates.
Take advantage of heat-absorbing materials: Utilize heat-absorbing materials such as rocks, bricks, or containers filled with water. These materials absorb heat during the day and release it at night, providing some thermal mass that can protect plants from frost and extend the growing season.
Select cold-tolerant varieties: Choose plant varieties that are specifically bred or known to tolerate colder temperatures. These cold-hardy varieties can withstand colder conditions and continue growing even when the weather gets chilly.
Start seeds indoors: Begin your gardening season by starting seeds indoors. By giving your plants a head start, you can transplant them into the garden once the risk of frost has passed, effectively lengthening the growing season.
Plant in raised beds: Raised beds tend to warm up more quickly in the spring as the soil drains and warms faster. The elevated position can provide a few additional weeks of growth at the start and end of the season.
Optimize sunlight exposure: Make sure to position your plants in areas that receive maximum sunlight. Trim back any overhanging branches or structures that may cast shadows and block sunlight, as this can hinder plant growth and reduce the effective growing season.
By combining these techniques, you can successfully extend the growing season in colder climates and enjoy a longer harvest from your garden. Experimenting and adapting these methods to your specific climate will help you find the best strategies for your gardening needs.
]]>When you first think of gardening or see pictures of gardens, in-ground gardens laid out in rows are probably what comes to mind. And it’s for a good reason. This is a cheap and straight-forward approach that can yield large amounts of produce. If your soil is good and you’re willing to work to keep the weeds down, this might be the best method for you.
If you only have poor soil to work with, a raised bed might be a better option. You can use many materials to create beds in any shape that suits your needs. You can then fill those beds with your own mix of rich soil, and it will be much easier to keep weeds away from your plants. Square-foot gardening takes this method a step further—using a grid of square-feet to guide your planting optimizes your space to yield the most produce possible.
Container gardening is a lot like raised-bed gardening in that you bring in your own rich soil, but instead of needing a larger space for a garden box or in-ground rows, you only need a container (or as many as you like), and you can put them anywhere you have the sun to grow plants. This method can be used on small patios, balconies, and even indoors. Weeds will definitely not be a problem with this method, and it works well for people who want to keep their harvest manageable.
If you want to get creative, or you want to grow plants that could benefit from a slightly different approach (like tomatoes or strawberries), consider upside-down gardening or having hanging plants.
Another great space-saving method is vertical gardening. In this method, a vertical space such as a fence or vertical frame supports smaller pockets or containers of soil for smaller plants or supports climbing plants as they grow vertically. Much like container gardening, you can bring in healthy soil and tuck plants into whatever space you have. Even traditional rows and raised beds can benefit from vertical gardening to keep vine plants from hogging all the space, keeping your garden space tidy and efficient.
This creative method requires that you spend a few days conditioning the straw bales with fertilizer and water. After the bales are ready, plants are placed right into the bales without soil. Weeds aren’t a problem (which is why straw and not hay should be used), and like square-foot gardening, it’s easy to plan your space. This is a great option if you have poor soil conditions and little space. If you keep the bales nice and moist, you can grow most vegetables without much fuss.
Lasagnas have layers, and so does this gardening method. It is another great option to use if you have poor soil and want to block out pesky weeds. Like building a compost heap, this method requires that you layer brown material (like dry leaves or pine needles) and green material (like grass clippings or vegetable trimmings) alternating until you have a pile about two feet deep. This compost lasagna then breaks down and provides a beautiful soil to start planting in.
Keyhole garden beds have their own little compost piles right in the middle of the keyhole design. They benefit from being directly connected to an active compost cycle that feeds the beds with nutrients. The layout is much like a raised bed; usually circular with a wedge opening to the center for easy access to the bed and its compost heap, keyhole garden plants can benefit from square-foot planting methods.
Greenhouse gardening can incorporate any other method, but if you want to extend your planting season, this method is for you. Greenhouses can be built out of any material that allows sun to enter into the space and warm the planting area. Inside greenhouses, you can use rows, raised beds, containers, anything! Underground greenhouses, which are basically dugout areas that are then covered by glass or plastic can provide year-round harvest even in the coldest areas.
No soil? No problem! Hydroponic gardening uses flowing, nutrient-rich fertilized water to feed plants as they grow. Contrary to what you might think, this actually saves a lot of water. You’ll need a controlled environment and a specific set-up, but the results are healthy, thriving plants. Setting up a hydroponic system might be costly, however, but it is a hyper efficient and environmentally sound way to grow food. Once you have a system in place, it takes very little maintenance to keep it going.
This method combines hydroponic gardening with raising fish or other aquatic food. The waste that the fish create become fertilizer for the plants you’re growing, and when connected in a continuous system, plants thrive just like hydroponic plants, but the water can be reused indefinitely. The harvest of fish this method yields make it a truly complete food source. Within this method, there are other methods of getting the fish waste to the plants’ roots, but this will depend on your setup. It can be done expensively or cheaply depending on what you want to do and the materials you choose to use.
Also known as edible landscaping, this method produces food while still looking beautiful. Many plants like strawberries and sweet potatoes look right at home nestled around a porch among other plants. Front yards are often wasted space when it comes to raising produce, but choosing the right plants can make use of this space. This method does require you to companion plant with especial care, but if you want more space to grow food, and you still need to keep the neighbors happy, this is a great method to add to your home garden set-up. Container gardening can be a part of your edible landscape, of course, but fruit trees as well as fruit and vegetable plants can increase your front yard yield while still maintaining curb appeal.
Many of these methods can be combined or changed in many different ways to meet the needs of your zone, soil conditions, and available planting space. Any of these methods can take into account the amount of money you have to invest in these systems or the amount of time you have to dedicate to the care of your garden. Which methods have you tried? Which of these methods are you most interested in trying?
]]>Improve Soil Structure: Gypsum, being a natural soil conditioner, helps to break down compacted or heavy clay soils. Clay particles in the soil tend to pack together tightly, limiting root growth and water infiltration. Gypsum works by separating these particles, creating pore spaces in the soil and allowing roots to penetrate more easily. This improves the overall structure, making it easier for plants to access water and nutrients. Mix the gypsum powder into the soil before planting or apply it as a top dressing and water it in.
Correct Soil pH: Soil pH is a measure of its acidity or alkalinity. Gypsum is neutral in pH, so it won't significantly alter the soil's pH level. However, if your soil is too acidic (low pH), adding gypsum can slightly raise it to a more neutral range, making it suitable for a broader range of plants that thrive in neutral to slightly alkaline conditions. Before applying gypsum for pH correction, it's important to conduct a soil test to determine the actual pH levels and the appropriate amount of gypsum to use.
Reduce Soil Erosion: When applied to the soil, gypsum helps stabilize its structure, making it less prone to erosion. This is particularly beneficial in areas where heavy rainfall or watering could lead to topsoil being washed away. Gypsum helps maintain the integrity of the soil, preventing erosion and preserving the nutrients necessary for plant growth. Apply gypsum to areas prone to erosion, such as slopes or bare patches, and incorporate it into the soil or cover it with mulch to protect against erosion.
Enhance Nutrient Absorption: Gypsum provides essential nutrients like calcium and sulfur to plants. Calcium is crucial for cell wall development and overall plant structure, while sulfur is vital for enzyme functions and protein synthesis. Gypsum helps release these nutrients, making them more accessible to plants. Apply gypsum according to the recommended rates for your specific soil and crop needs.
Remediate Soil Salinity: In regions with saline or sodic soils (containing high salt levels), plants struggle to absorb water and nutrients. If your soil has high salt content, gypsum can help leach out excess salts and improve soil conditions. Gypsum helps alleviate this issue by displacing excess salts in the soil, effectively lowering the soil's salinity. This improvement enables plants to grow more effectively in these challenging soil conditions.
Aids in Seed Germination: Gypsum aids in creating an optimal environment for seeds to germinate. It encourages the formation of a crumbly, loose soil structure, providing seeds with the necessary space to sprout and roots to establish themselves. This supports successful germination and early growth stages of plants. Incorporate gypsum into the soil or mix it with the seedbed before planting to enhance seedling establishment.
Mitigates Aluminum Toxicity: In some soils, especially those with a lower pH, aluminum can become toxic to plants. Gypsum reacts with the aluminum in the soil, forming a compound that's less harmful to plants. This process reduces the availability of toxic aluminum ions, making the soil more conducive to plant growth.
Increases Plant Yield: By improving soil structure, aiding drainage, enhancing nutrient absorption, and mitigating toxicity, gypsum ultimately leads to increased plant yield. Plants grow more vigorously, develop stronger root systems, and produce better quality fruits, vegetables, or flowers, resulting in higher overall productivity in your garden.
Calcium Supplement for Livestock: Gypsum can be used as a calcium supplement for livestock to address calcium deficiencies. It is often added to feed to enhance the health and productivity of animals.
**Realistically, gypsum should be applied after performing soil testing to know exactly where your deficiencies are and to calculate a proper usage amount. The following are very vague and general usage instructions.**
For indoor houseplants, the usage rate of gypsum will depend on the size of the pot and the type of soil mix you're using. A typical recommendation is to incorporate about 1 to 2 tablespoons of gypsum per gallon (3.8 liters) of soil mix. Here's how to apply it:
Preparing the Soil Mix:
Repotting Established Plants:
Watering:
For small-scale outdoor gardens, you can follow these guidelines to apply gypsum effectively:
Soil Preparation:
Usage Rate:
Mixing Gypsum:
Planting:
Remember, it's essential to adjust the usage rates based on your specific plant types, soil conditions, and local recommendations for optimal results.
It's important to note that while gypsum offers several benefits, it may not be necessary or suitable for every situation. Conducting a soil analysis and consulting with local agricultural experts can provide valuable guidance on whether and how to use gypsum effectively in your specific homestead.
Composting is a great way to create a nutrient rich, humus component to add to your garden. Once broken down, the compost serves as a great way to improve the soil structure and increase water retention. Compost also adds a beneficial bacterial community full of microorganisms that can help your plant be able to access and use nutrients more efficiently and create a stronger plant with more natural resistances.
Composting (though it does take a small amount of work occasionally on your part) is free and helps keep a little bit of extra waste from going to the landfill. The resulting improved structure of your soil after using compost will also help fight soil erosion and there's comfort in knowing that if it did wash away, it can't harm or contaminate water supply.
There are only 4 basic things you need for a good compost:
*It's important to add that materials will break down faster and easier if they're shredded or somehow pulverized into smaller pieces.
Rake up the leaves in your garden, gather the grass clippings and dedicate a bucket indoors for your kitchen scraps and you can be well on your way to creating nutrient rich compost that your plants can thrive in.
]]>
Companion planting is a gardening technique that involves planting different types of plants in close proximity to one another to take advantage of the beneficial interactions they can have. There are a few different ways plants can form symbiotic relationships with each other:
Soil improvement: Different plants have varied root structures and nutrient requirements. Companion planting can help optimize soil health by creating a balanced ecosystem where certain plants add or take specific nutrients from the soil, preventing depletion of essential elements.
Weed suppression: Some plants have allelopathic properties, which means they release natural chemicals that inhibit the growth of certain weeds. By incorporating these plants into your garden, you can help suppress weed growth and reduce the need for manual weeding.
Increased biodiversity: Companion planting encourages biodiversity in your garden, promoting a healthier and more resilient ecosystem. A diverse range of plants attracts diverse wildlife, beneficial insects, and microorganisms, contributing to the overall health of the garden.
Disease control: Certain plants produce compounds that have antifungal or antibacterial properties, which can help protect neighboring crops from diseases. Companion planting can act as a natural defense mechanism against plant diseases.
Aesthetic appeal: Combining different plants in the garden can create beautiful and visually appealing arrangements. Mixing flowers, herbs, and vegetables can add color and texture to your garden space, making it an attractive and enjoyable place to spend time.
Any garden will benefit from companion planting but organic gardeners will find this practice especially useful. When you can repel pests without toxic pesticides by planting certain species together, you save yourself a lot of effort protecting your garden!
It's important to note that successful companion planting requires careful selection of compatible plant combinations and understanding the specific needs and interactions of different species. While companion planting can offer numerous benefits, it may not guarantee complete pest or disease control and should be combined with other integrated pest management practices for the best results.
The above companion planting chart is now available as a physical poster print. CLICK HERE to see it in the shop.
]]>
Spinach is a cold-hardy vegetable that can be planted in very early spring as well as fall and winter. It is easy to grow and does well in cool spring and fall weather. Though it has a good yield and is slow to bolt, it is best to plant spinach in successive plantings to keep growing garden fresh spinach all season long. With similar growing requirements to lettuce, it is higher in iron, calcium, and vitamins than most cultivated greens, and one of the best sources of vitamins A, B, and C.
Harvest
Growing Tips
Pests to Watch For:
Indoors
Outdoors
Transplanting
Harvest
Growing Tips
Pests to Watch For:
Indoors
Outdoors
Transplanting
Harvest
Growing Tips
Pests to Watch For:
Indoors
Harvest
Growing Tips
Pests to Watch For:
Indoors
Outdoors
Harvest
Growing Tips
Pests to Watch For:
*Dill does not do well when transplanted so we recommend direct sowing outside in the garden. Unless of course you plan to keep it in a container.
Outdoors
Harvest
Growing Tips
Pests to Watch For:
Indoors
Outdoors
Transplanting
Harvest
Growing Tips
Pests to Watch For:
Outdoors
Harvest
Growing Tips
Pests to Watch For:
*Because Cauliflower is sensitive to both heat and cold, most cauliflower is grown commercially. Should you choose to grow your own, it is generally recommended to get transplants instead of starting from seed. Should you choose to start from seed anyhow, we’ve compiled information for you to get you off on the right start.
Indoors
Outdoors
Transplanting
Harvest
Growing Tips
Pests to Watch For:
Outdoors
Harvest
Growing Tips
Pests to Watch For:
*Seeds do best when sown directly into warm outside soil once all danger of frost has passed.
Pea seeds are nice and large so they’re a good seed for little gardeners to help plant.
Indoors
Outdoors
Transplanting
Harvest
Growing Tips
Pests to Watch For:
*Eggplant seeds do best when started indoors with a soil temperature of 70-75 degrees.
Indoors
Outdoors
Transplanting
Harvest
Growing Tips
Pests to Watch For:
*Broccoli can germinate in soil temperatures as low as 40 degrees, but we still like to start ours indoors.
Indoors
Outdoors
Transplanting
Harvest
Growing Tips
Pests to Watch For:
Indoors
Outdoors
Transplanting
Harvest
Growing Tips
Pests to Watch For:
Outdoors
Harvest
Growing Tips
Pests to Watch For:
*Bell Pepper seeds do best when started indoors with a soil temperature of 75-80 degrees.
Indoors
Outdoors
Transplanting
Harvest
Growing Tips
Pests to Watch For:
*Seeds do best when sown directly into warm outside soil once all danger of frost has passed.
Bean seeds are nice and large so they’re a good seed for little gardeners to help plant.
Indoors
Outdoors
Transplanting
Harvest
Growing Tips
Pests to Watch For:
*Banana Pepper seeds do best when started indoors with a soil temperature of 75-80 degrees.
Indoors
Outdoors
Transplanting
Harvest
Growing Tips
Pests to Watch For:
Bees are pollinators, which means that as they travel from one flower to the next they transfer pollen, which sticks to their fuzzy coats. Moving pollen between blossoms like this means that crops will produce bigger, larger and healthier crops. The most common pollinator bee is the common honey bee. Without these pollinating workers, our entire global food supply will come under threat, so providing a safe and healthy environment for them to live and thrive in is essential to the health of our planet, and the human race!
How to attract bees to your home garden
Bees are homely little things, which means that when they find a place that is safe and with a plentiful food supply, they will stick around. This means that it is easy to attract bees to your garden and get them to stay with just a few new additions to your garden. Here are some tips for you to make your garden more bee friendly –
Create a bee smorgasbord
Plant plants that bees love to snack on to encourage them into your garden.
Avoid using pesticides
Harmful pesticides and chemicals in your garden not only negatively impact your own health and the health of your family, but are also detrimental to the bee population. Make using natural pest control a priority in your garden. The bees (and your body) will thank you for it!
Plant variety
There are around 4,000 species of bees in the US alone, all with different tastes, needs and work cycles. Some bees will be active all year round, while others only get busy during the spring and summer months. To cater for all bee species, plant a variety of plants that flower throughout the year.
Got a question or some tips for encouraging a thriving bee community in your backyard? Leave a comment below!
]]>*Disclaimer -- With something like gardening, there is no 100% black and white wrong or right way to do things. We don't write these guides a definitive way to do things, but rather as a way to share how we do things and how it works out for us (or doesn't!).
These greenhouse starter kits are ridiculously easy to use. Simply add warm water when you're ready to start your seeds and watch them grow before your eyes. I believe we used at least a quart or so, but you'll know if you need to add more by how quickly the pellets absorb it.
You can either plant your seeds directly into the little pods or you can take it one step further and use these prepared starters in conjunction with other elements that are helpful for the germination and sprouting process.
We wanted to try doing some of the starts with additional components. Our elements of choice were worm castings and Azomite powder. The castings are a nice boost of fresh, biological life and with no harmful side effects, and we helped produce them ourselves so we know they're extremely pure. The Azomite is excellent for coating seeds or irrigation for maximum germination and initial growth. Azomite is a good amendment for crops, compost and potting soil and is used to increase size and yield of fruit as well as to help plants fend off disease.
Scoop the prepared mix into cups and place the moistened peat pellets in the center.
*Helpful Hint: Label cups while empty. This will help avoid accidental spills earlier or unintelligible handwriting. ;)
Place seeds in the center. We chose to do two seeds per cup just in case some didn't germinate.
Cover seeds with 1/4 - 1/2 inch of soil.
Poke holes along the bottom of the cup to allow for drainage. Too much moisture can lead to seeds not germinating or molding and contracting diseases. Water just until a few droplets seep from the holes.
Place your cups in a safe spot where your starts won't get too cold but can still catch some natural sun if possible. If you just don't have any natural sunlight available, be sure to use a growing light to help encourage plants to grow.
If you do choose to keep your seeds growing in the greenhouse container provided be sure you create a visual chart of what is planted. ;)
About an hour after we planted this first greenhouse batch our 1 year old, K, tipped them all over onto the floor. So, our chart is pretty useless but for everyone else, just do it for your own sanity later on.
^^The individual photos were taken at 5 days after planting. The group photo was taken at 7.
Arachnids
The humble spider, spinning its web among the green leaves is doing important work. Spiders are predators, able to eat a huge number of pest insects that trouble us. Aphids that attack vegetable gardens and rosebushes are one of their favorite foods. Wouldn't you rather have a few spiders than have to spray chemicals on your plants? Put down mulch to attract them!
Bees and Butterflies
Bees can be a problem for those who are allergic to their venom, but they play an essential role in pollination, both of food crops and of ornamentals. As they bumble among the flowers, pollen attaches to their bodies and gets rubbed off as they move from plant to plant. This pollen transfer causes seeds to grow and species to survive. Butterflies do the same thing and are prettier to look at! Plant plenty of bright-colored flowers like hollyhock, coneflower, sunflowers, geraniums, and butterfly bush to attract bees and butterflies to your garden.
Earthworms
Slimy and wriggling, earthworms can make some gardeners queasy. These creatures are actually a sign of healthy soil. As they tunnel through the dirt, they aerate and fertilize it, keeping your garden rich and full of oxygen and nitrogen.
Reptiles
Snakes won't bother you if you don't bother them. Garter snakes and black snakes may sometimes come out and sun themselves on a rock. The rest of the time, they slip through the garden, searching for mice, rats and other nuisance animals that gnaw on your tender plants and eat up your lettuces! Best of all, snakes eat slugs, one of the worst pests in any lawn or garden.
Turtles are another reptile that is endlessly interesting to watch. They patrol water gardens, eating a little bit of greenery and a great number of bugs. Just don't try to pick up snapping turtles. They are remarkably agile and their bite is ferocious! Stick to simple, docile box turtles instead.
Amphibians
Toads and frogs are also beneficial in the garden. The eat pest insects like mosquitoes, aphids, cutworms, slugs and tent caterpillars. A source of clean, fresh water and plenty of sheltering foliage, water lilies and stones will attract toads and frogs.
Birds
Birds are attracted to bright colors and strong scents. Plant the same way you would for butterflies and they'll come in flocks. Berry bushes and small fruit trees like cherry and mulberry will also do the trick. Birds will help cross-pollinate plants and blossoming trees, their droppings are good fertilizer, and they feast on problem insects like grasshoppers. If your garden has a water feature, you'll see plenty of songbirds and sparrows bathing. If you have the great good fortune to have a water garden or pond on your property, you may see larger water birds like herons and hawks hunting, or ducks and geese, which keep algae under control.
Every animal and insect has its part to play in a healthy garden environment. Cultivate them along with your plantings and you won't need chemicals to make everything thrive!
]]>By the time I got around to my second year of gardening, I had already been using essential oils to clean our house, heal our wounds, and help my family through all sorts of ill times. No matter what I used essential oils for, they seemed to always do the trick. I became addicted, and couldn't understand how everyone in the world didn't know about the awesome ancient powers of these oils! Once again, my second go at gardening brought me more problems, but this time I decided to try and look up these problems and get some answers.
With so little space of my own, I am only able to garden in containers, but that doesn't stop me from trying to have my own farm; even if it is all in containers. One of my plant's containers became infested with fire ants the first day I put that darn plant in the back yard. Down here in the state of Texas, bugs come in large amounts...and they're all meaner too. Having used peppermint essential oil all over my house to keep these hellion ants away, I wondered why couldn't I use it in the garden too? I was suddenly in scientific mode and needed to try it out. I decided the best method to rid the entire container and plant of these ants, was to use the essential oil in the watering can, 6-8 drops per gallon of water. Being the hater of fire ants that I am, I didn't really want to stop there; so, knowing that orange oil kills nearly all bugs by dissolving their waxy coating on their exoskeleton, causing dehydration and asphyxiation, I added 1 oz. (1/8 cup or 2 Tbsp.) of orange oil per gallon, and then watered the plant, soaking it thoroughly with the concoction. I came back the next day and all the ants had left the container!
You can repel many different bugs in your garden by picking the essential oils that repel the corresponding problem you are having and use them in the watering can (6-8 drops per gallon) or to spray upon the foliage.
This experience led me to experiment more with essential oils in the garden. I figured, if tea tree oil (10 drops per gallon) is so awesome for fungus and bacteria, it should be able to help with blight and fungus/bacteria problems for the plants as well. Thieves oil also works extremely well in the garden to protect and defend against bacteria and fungus growth. Oregano oil is also said to be very effective against bacteria and fungus problems. Cinnamon oil not only deters bugs extremely well, but it too has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties.
Tomato and basil are a culinary combination that rocks in a salad and you can enhance that combination before the tomatoes ever leaves the vine; to achieve this, put (6-8 drops per gallon) basil essential oils into your watering can. This will make your tomatoes absolutely delicious, especially if you can your own tomato sauce. You can use other essential oils to change the fragrance or flavor of flowers, fruits, and vegetables!
If you know something to be a companion plant to an ailing plant, and you happen have the essential oil on hand, you can just add it to the watering can and spray the foliage as well as water around the plant. Lavender and Thyme are both great at protecting vegetables in the garden!
Vegetables
Fruit
Flowers
Cereals:
What other ways do you use essential oils in your garden?
*Guest post contributed by Christina of The Hippy Homemaker, where she shares her journey to a healthier and more conscious lifestyle for her family, through vegan and vegetarian recipes, healthier and greener ways to clean, non-toxic beauty products that you can make in your own home, and non-toxic cheaper diy kids crafts.
]]>