How to keep the enthusiastic gardener busy in the winter.

There are a lot of people that hate to see the gardening season come to an end every year with winter. This is a big hobby among a lot of Americans.  "The exact number of people on planet Earth who garden remains to be exactly calculated, but the increasing interest of gardening, for various reasons, is hard to deny. Poll numbers taken in 2008 show that up to 43 million households reported they planed to grow some type of their own food, and increase pf approx. 19% from the year prior." (Excerpt from ask. com). There are a lot of people who have not looked at the possibility of gardening indoors year round. With a couple of steps and some planning it is possible to keep the most avid gardener busy in the winter months.

Of course there is always planning to do before starting any garden. A couple of things that will be needed are as follows: A good area to lay out your garden which can either be a utility room or a warm basement. Seed trays are a necessity as goes with a good starter soil. An electric heating mat will be useful in helping the seeds germinate if the plants aren`t transplanted from the outdoors. Interior growing lights will help to feed the seeds uv rays after they have sprouted.

After you have laid out your area, its time to plant.  Always check your seed packet recommendations when it is a good time to plant. Starting seeds outside first can always be difficult with how the weather changes before the winter months.  As mentioned before, starting seeds indoors isn`t that hard with a heating mat. A heating mat will give the seed a good start and guarantee germination when the soil remains warm. After the seed has sprouted is a good time to install the growing lights and have them remain on 15-17 hrs a day. A crucial time to monitor the soil moisture comes into play once the lights are starting to be used. The lights do help the plant but in turn can suck the moisture away just like the sun.  A seed tray cover can help to retain moisture in the soil. Daily watering is a good thing to practice with indoor seedlings. The heat mat can be removed at this time once the seeds have sprouted and the lights and watering have been applied.

This a good way to extend you harvest season year round and to always have gardening at your finger tips.


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How to make a compost bin.

Compost is a mixture of different materials that turns into a good soil amendment. This is a good way if you like to garden organically without chemicals.  There are really only 3 key things to remember when starting your own compost bin.  They are simple to maintain and in return makes great harvests for your garden.

First thing is to build a structure to house the compost in. They can be built yourself or pick one up at your local gardening center.  They range from tumblers to simple wire meshing holding them together.  When building a structure, keep in mind how much waste is at your disposal and how fast you need the after product for gardening. Once a structure is decided on, try to place it in a sunny spot in the yard. A warm compost bin will decompose a lot faster than one in a shady area in the yard.

Next, is the key ingredients for a good compost. There are two key factors that consist of brown and green matter. Brown matter can be twigs, dried up leaves, wood chips.  Green matter consists of grass clippings, food waste.  Keep away from things like meat & fish as this can invite in unwanted critters.  Mixing brown and green matter in equal intervals is a good idea to keep a good balance in the compost.

Third thing is just a few rules for housekeeping. Turn the pile over every week or two to make sure there is a good blend of ingredients. Feel the pile after turning it to see how much moisture is at hand. Add a little water if it feels dry to the touch, too much water can turn your pile into a pile of mush though. Add new green and brown matter regularly to keep the feeding bacteria feel at home. The final product should be a dark, matter that looks like soil. This usually tends to take a couple of months depending on the factors as mentioned above.

Lastly,  if you hire a landscaper or lawn service, be sure to let them know you have a compost so they don't dispose of your yard waste which can be a valuable source of ingredients for your compost.

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