Blake Whisenant, designer of the Earth Box

The patented EarthBox was developed by Blake Whisenant, a commercial farmer whose research center is a short drive from my home. Through years of experimentation and dealing with the everyday problems of a commercial farm, Blake came up with an amazing growing system. It’s easy at first glance to think it’s just another plant box.

I had the opportunity to speak about the EB design with Blake and some of the staff at the “EarthBox Research Center” in Ellenton, FL. They explained that one of the secrets of the Earth Box is that it allows plants to take as much water and fertilizer as they need, with no guess work on the gardeners part. No over watering or burning the plants with excess fertilizer, and as long as there is water in the reservoir the plant will take what it needs, 24/7.

Seedlings planted in the EarthBox

Once you start a garden, that is not the end of it. Many prefer to have smaller gardens at their homes. This is because the smaller gardens do not require much maintenance, energy, time and money.

Whatever the size of your garden is, it requires special care in order to make it blossom throughout the year. Here are our top 6 gardening tips to help you”

1.  You can mix the plantings of flowers, herbs and vegetables if you don’t have enough space for 3 different gardens.   For those multi-purpose patches, you need to make sure you do not have plants that will attract too many pests to them that might harm the other type of plant.  Aromatic herbs are great to use because they typically deter many types of insects from hanging out in your garden.

2.  Weeding regularly will help make the job easier and your garden look nicer.  Plus it can help keep down on pests and disease that could harm your plants.
3.  One of the gardening tips that a lot of people don’t follow is to make sure you leave enough room in bettween your plants for air circulation.  Circultaion is important to keep down diseases and also the spacing between plants helps to insure each plant can get enough nutrients from the soil and they are not competing with each other for nourishment.

4.  Water your plants carefully.  If you water with a hose, make sure you don’t splash the water on the leaves or flowers of the plant because this can actually invite pests and diseases.

5.   Plan your garden carefully before you go out and buy the plants.  Make sure you know how much room you have and how many plants the garden can accomodate.  Be sure you make not of whether your area is in full sun, partial shade or both so you can buy the right types of plants.

6.  Make sure you fertilize in the proper amounts and use the right type of fertilizer for the plant.  Flowers will need different types of fertilizers than vegetables and there are even special fertilizers that work best on specific plants.

Follow these 6 gardening tips and your garden will be off to a great start!

It is likely that the Romans and Egyptians came up with the idea of container gardens. During the 1950′s, this form of gardening grew in popularity in southern California. Ever since then, the interest has spread steadily. If you are considering this method, then it is important to not only select the right container, but it is also important to select the right locations as well as the plants.

So what kinds of plants can you grow in a container garden?

Sage

This is a perennial plant. This plant should have plenty of sunlight. It is also important to make sure the soil drains well.

Rosemary

Rosemary asks for plenty of attention. This plant also asks for soil that is rich in lime and don’t forget about the sun.

Chives

Chives like having rich soil with plenty of sun. You should also trim it in order to get healthy chives. Chives are generally evergreen when they are in mild climates. In the harsh winter regions, they become dormant.

Dill

This is a popular annual that loves fertile soil. It also requires lots of sun. If your plant seeds out during the early spring, then it will steadily grow.

Basil

This tropical annual is perfect for container gardening. In fact, there are many types of this tropical annual that exist. Most of the varieties are known for growing quickly in soil that is warm. During the season, they should be lightly fertilized. Oh and don’t forget to break out with the Italian supplies so you can prepare a great meal with fresh basil.

Saw Palmetto

These plants like having soil that is well drained, but moist and don’t forget about the sun. They like having a lot of sun shining down on them. This is a tropical palm that bees love going to in order to make honey.

You may think you are limited to the types of plants you can use with container gardening, but honestly, there are so many plants that will work well in containers that you can fill your container garden with virtually any plant you want!

Luckily, just about anyone can have a great flower garden – whether you have a huge plot to plant tons of flowers or just a simple pot to plant a few in.  Flower gardening is pretty simple, but there are a few things to keep in mind if you want to be successful at it.

When you have decided to have a flower garden, it is important that you plan it properly. At first glance, it may seem like a daunting task. However, after you learn some basics of gardening, you will start to see it all unfold.

We have found two basic types of flower gardening methods. The most common gardening that is done today involves using chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. Over the long run, these chemicals are known for destroying the helpful organisms in the soil. It is also known for tossing the plants and flowers away from their natural balance.

This method of gardening will be focusing on treating the pests and plant disease without building up the immune system of the plant. It is also harmful to the environment. Unfortunately, this type of gardening is being practiced by many of the commercial farmers and gardeners.

Another method, the method we really like, is known as organic gardening. This works to made a natural balance for the garden. This approach will be taking the laws of nature and using them to grow healthy plants that are free from pests and diseases.

With this method of flower gardening, you will be focusing on building the soil up and wisely using the plants. You will be maintaining a good balance. Pathogens are known for attacking the weak plants that are living in poor soil.

Sweet Basil

These plants will make your garden look attractive. When we plant the seeds, we prefer planting them where they will be growing in the garden in the middle of May. Germination for this herb generally occurs in seven to ten days. When it comes to transplanting these plants, we have found that it is not difficult at all. It can grow up to eighteen inches.

They need to have around twelve inches of space between plants. The Dark Opal Basil has a deep red foliage with pink flowers. This would make an excellent herb to grow along a walkway. You can use basil to flavor tomato pastes and tomato juice.

Borage

Herb gardening can be beautiful especially if you grow borage which has blossoms that are pink in color, which turn blue like a perennial pulmonaria. This is an annual and you should plant it directly in your garden during the first part of May in the North. They can grow up to two feet and they should be spaced ten inches apart.

The germinating period is seven to ten days. You shouldn’t transplant them except when they are small. You can use this herb in tossed salad to add some tasty flavor.

Chervil

This plant will germinate during the fall and can live during the winter. If you are an inexperienced gardener, then we recommend you growing the plant as an annual. You should plant the seed in the middle of May. This herb can grow up to two feet and should be planted eight inches apart. It grows quickly as it is mature in as little as six weeks. With this, you should resent transplanting. You can freeze the fresh leaves in small packages after you carefully wash them. Chervil is popular for flavoring egg dishes.

Chives

This plant is a perennial and is good for herb gardening as well as a fun addition to your flower garden!   They start growing from bulblets. We have found that they are easy to grow from seed. Ours started growing under fluorescent lights and germinated in only ten days. They look like fragile pieces of grass. When you transplant them, expect them to slightly wilt. During a long drought, they will continue to grow well. You can use them in a rock garden or as a border, because the flowers are very pretty. Chives go great in egg dishes, salads and sauces.

Growing your own vegetables can seem exhausting when you first think about it. However, once you learn how to go about doing it, you will find that it can be fun and overall, a rewarding experience.

There are two ways you can grow your vegetables. You can either grow them the non organic way, which is full of pesticides or you could grow them the organically way. By growing them the organic way, you will have healthy plants and good vegetables to eat. You can also kiss those high price of organically grown produce goodbye.

When you first start thinking about planting a vegetable garden, what is the first thing that crosses your mind? The first thing you should think about is the seeds you will be using as well as the placement of those seeds.

When you create your garden, it should be placed in a place where the sun is shining. The time of the year you start growing the garden is important as well. We recommend you starting early in the spring. It is important that you continue planting throughout the summer. This is so that something tasty and fresh will always be ready to harvest.

When we first created our garden, we placed it near the kitchen. This way, when we were cooking, we could easily run out and pick a couple of things we needed. Plus, we could have fun watching our garden from the kitchen window.

In order to get a jump on the season, we recommend you soaking the seeds. Before germinating, the seeds will need to drink up the moisture like they have been drenched by the rains during the spring. Once they have swollen and became plump, the little embryo that is inside of that seed will start to grow.

Seeds such as cabbage, broccoli and arugula will use the wetness efficiently and promptly germinate without having to pre-soak. Slower starting parsnip and parsley are going to benefit from pre-soaking. For a couple of hours or maybe even overnight, dunk the seeds in water.

The water should be room temperature. Make sure you do not forget the seeds and leave them in the water for too long. Drain them and immediately plant them.

Planting a vegetable garden isn’t as hard as it seems. When you have the garden planted, make sure you water it regularly and do the maintenance that is needed.

Organic gardening may look a bit complicated at first glance, but once you familiarize yourself with it, you will find that it really is not that difficult. Below, we are going to tell you more about this subject:

Today, organic gardening has become quite popular and there is good reason behind this. This type of gardening does not use synthetic chemicals so there is no toxic substances going into the ground or your food.  Organic gardening is really not much more difficult than regular gardening but you must take care when it comes to fertilizing the plants and adopt natural methods of pest control.

Composting can be an important part of organic gardening as it can provide you with nutrients for your soil. When starting a compost pile, it is important for you to make sure you get air into the compost pile. You can do this by putting the PVC pipe down in the middle of the garden.

It is important that you remember the soil is the life force of your garden. When it is rich with organic matter, the soil will be moist, airy and fertile. This is perfect for healthy plants. It will also bring about a rich population of organisms that are beneficial. These beneficial organisms include earthworms.

Are you looking for the ‘lazy’ way to make compost? All you have to do is layer lawn clippings, leaves and kitchen waste. Leave it there until it is ready to be placed in your garden. Nature will take this organic matter and turn it into dark compost.

In order to aerate the compost piles, you can use perforated PVC pipes. Ideally, the compost pile should be around four feet high. This would make it big enough to get the warmth from the heat of the decay. Is this important/ Yes. In high temperatures, it will help semi-sterilize the compost that is developing.

This will kill hibernating bugs, kill disease sports and weed the seeds. In order for it to work to create heat, it is important that it gets plenty of air and not just as the top of the pile. Traditionally, you can aerate it by plopping of fluffing the compost with a pitchfork and that can be tough work.

Organic gardening can be extremely fun and it is as safe as safe could possibly get.

Look at it this way ‘ the world is growing, but the land is shrinking. Does this one make sense to you? For many years, this has been a pretty big issue. This is also a big part of the reason as to why hydroponic gardening exists.

You see, with hydroponics, you do not need to use land in order to grow plants. You don’t think you will be able to do hydroponic gardening? Why not? Anyone is able to do this and it does not matter what your living status is.

If you live in an apartment that does not have a yard, then through hydroponics, you will be able to have flowers. If you live downtown and you want to have fresh tomatoes right off of the vine, then hydroponics is the answer. You will no longer have to commute to the grocery store each day just to get fresh fruits and vegetables.

You can easily obtain the equipment that you need for hydroponic gardening from the store in your area. You could also look on the Internet for some hydroponic equipment. The equipment is priced reasonably, so you should not have a problem with this one. All you need is some instructions on how to do it.

Overseas, where people are starving, they do not plant gardens simply because the land is not rich. With hydroponics, they could grow fresh fruit or vegetables.

Now, we’re not saying that this is the solution to solving world hunger, but we believe it is definitely a way to start. Soldiers overseas get fresh fruit and vegetables this way.

Hydroponic gardening is starting to become very popular throughout the world. This method of gardening can have some nice rewards attached to it. You know, rewards such as vine ripe tomatoes, fresh cucumbers, rich strawberries and whatever else you would like to grow. For those of you who just want to grow flowers for your home and patio, you can do that as well.

You see, roses are one of our favorite flowers and we just wish there were more rose gardens out there. Instead of growing these gardens, people tent to think they are too difficult or too complicated. But this couldn’t be further from the truth!  We have had roses that bloom pretty good, even in difficult conditions. In fact, all summer long, up to the frost, they continuously bloomed. If you have roses, it is important to take proper care of them.

It is important that you make sure your roses receive the nutrients that are needed from the soil. Yes, roses are known for getting disease problems. They are also known for getting problems with insects. However, both of these problems can easily be prevented with regular use of fungicide and insecticide. This will control both fungus diseases, sucking insects and chewing insects. With these tips, you will be able to grow roses successfully.

It would be a good idea that you look over the plant before you buy it. We recommend you purchasing one that is at least two years old. It should be field grown and have buds on it. If the plant has not been pruned, it should have three or more eighteen-inch canes.

If the plant has been pruned, then they should have canes that have a diameter of at least one fourth an inch at the top. Many gardeners prefer getting roses that have been planted in tar paper pots. This is because they are able to be transplanted throughout the year.

When it comes to rose gardening, it is important that you pick the right place. The area you pick should be sunny and well-drained. If you see broken and bruised roots, make sure you trip them off. Cut the top growth back to seven inches.

The planting holes should be at least six inches deeper than the roots need it. It is important that you make the holes big enough so that the roots can fit inside it without bending or crowding. If you have to force a root into the hole, then the hole is not big enough. To facilitate drainage, place a handful of small pebbles or rocks in the bottom of the hole.

Mix one tablespoon of fertilizer in with the soil that will be placed over the material. Cover the mixture with some plain soil. Put a mount in the center of the hole, set the plant roots over that mound and spread them. After this, fill the hole with soil. While filling the hole, firm it tightly two or three times. When the rose is planted, it is important to properly care for it.

So, you see, rose gardening is not that difficult – just a little extra care and you, too, can have a gorgeous rose garden!

Finding a spot that is near the house will make it much more convenient, especially if you are planting food crops. If you have an outside water source, then you might prefer to place the garden where the hose will reach. This will eliminate the need to haul water by the bucket loads. Using buckets to water your plants may not seem like a big hassle in the beginning, but you’ll change your mind after a month.

The ground where you plan to do square foot gardening doesn’t need to have small rocks removed and it doesn’t matter that the dirt is old and dry. You won’t be using this dirt for your garden anyway. One thing to consider though is if this area is prone to puddle when it rains a lot. Having too much water is possible for some plants. They will end up rotting in the dirt they are planted in.

As the name of this gardening method suggests, it involves using squares. Positioning planting areas in measurements of 4 x 4 feet and build boxes to these measurements. These aren’t really complete boxes that you are building, but more of a square frame to hold the dirt in. Build this box right on top of the ground that you have picked out.

If you are creating multiple boxes in the same area, be sure to leave at least 3 feet in between each box. The soil that is added to these boxed should be a mix, in order to provide the right amount of nutrients and drainage. A great mix that some people find to work very well is one third of each of the following; compost, peat moss, and vermiculite. Mix this all together and fill up the boxes.

Once you have all this in place, it’s time to position the plants. Depending on the size of the plant, you will plant either 1, 4, 9, or 16 plants in each square foot of your garden box. Take into consideration the final size of the plant. For instance, although sunflowers start off very tiny, they will grow too large to be right next to another sunflower, so planting 16 of these in the same square wouldn’t give them a chance to grow correctly.

After you have everything planted, you have completed your square foot gardening project. Now all that is left is to water it, watch it grow, and harvest it if you’ve planted herbs or veggies.