Greenhouses are a great way to extend the growing season and provide a controlled environment for plants. However, even experienced gardeners can make mistakes when growing in a greenhouse. Here are 7 common greenhouse mistakes to avoid:
Overwatering: It can be tempting to water your plants a little more frequently in a greenhouse, but this can lead to root rot and a host of other problems. Instead, monitor the moisture level of the soil and only water when necessary. When in doubt, wait a day or two.
Under-ventilating: Greenhouses can get hot and humid, which can lead to mold, disease, and pest problems. Make sure to open windows or vents to provide consistent ventilation and air circulation throughout the day and night.
Poor pest management: Greenhouses are a prime location for pests to thrive. Monitor your plants regularly for signs of pests and take action immediately if you notice any. This can include using natural pest control methods, but always try to avoid pesticides or at least use them as a last resort.
Improper temperature control: It’s important to maintain a consistent temperature in your greenhouse. If it gets too hot or too cold, your plants may suffer. Use a thermometer to monitor the temperature and consider investing in a heating or cooling system if necessary. Again, proper ventilation is really going to help you with this.
Overcrowding: It’s easy to get carried away with planting in a greenhouse, but overcrowding can lead to poor air circulation and disease problems. Make sure to give your plants enough space to grow and consider using trellises or other support systems to maximize vertical space.
Neglecting to fertilize: Plants in a greenhouse can quickly deplete the nutrients in the soil. Make sure to fertilize your plants regularly to ensure they have all of the nutrients that they need to really grow and thrive.
Poor water quality: The quality of your water can really have a significant impact on your plants. If you’re using tap water, consider testing it for pH and mineral content. You may need to use a water filter or add amendments to adjust the pH or mineral content. A pH meter is an inexpensive tool that will really tell you everything you need to know to keep your plants as healthy as possible.
By avoiding these 7 common greenhouse mistakes, you can maximize the potential of your greenhouse and enjoy a bountiful harvest. Remember to monitor your plants regularly, adjust your growing practices as needed, and be patient – growing in a greenhouse can take time and practice to master. Thank you for reading the 7 common greenhouse mistakes. Here are some other articles you may enjoy reading.
Caring for fruit trees is an important aspect of fruit tree cultivation. It involves providing the necessary nutrients, pruning, and protection from pests and diseases. Proper care can help maximize fruit yield and improve the health and longevity of the tree. In this article, we will explore some important tips for caring for fruit trees.
Planting Fruit Trees – Planting fruit trees in the right location is crucial for their growth and development. Fruit trees need at least six hours of direct sunlight per day to produce fruit, so make sure you plant them in an area that receives plenty of sunlight. Additionally, fruit trees need well-draining soil, so avoid planting them in low-lying areas that are prone to waterlogging.
When planting fruit trees, make sure to dig a hole that is at least twice as wide as the root ball, but not deeper than the root ball. This will allow the roots to spread out and establish themselves more easily. Make sure to also backfill the hole with nutrient-rich soil to promote healthy growth.
Watering Fruit Trees – Watering fruit trees is another important aspect of their care. In general, fruit trees need about 1 inch of water per week, either through rainfall or irrigation. During periods of drought, it may be necessary to increase watering frequency to ensure the tree receives adequate moisture.
It’s important to note that overwatering can be just as harmful as underwatering. Too much water can lead to root rot and other fungal diseases, so be careful not to overwater your fruit trees.
Fertilizing Fruit Trees – Fruit trees need a variety of nutrients to grow and produce fruit. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are some of the most important nutrients for fruit trees. However, the amount and type of fertilizer needed will depend on the specific tree species, soil conditions, and other factors.
In general, it’s best to fertilize fruit trees in early spring before the growing season begins. This will provide the tree with the necessary nutrients to support healthy growth and fruit production. Use a slow-release fertilizer to avoid overfertilizing, which can damage the tree and lead to excessive growth.
Pruning Fruit Trees – Pruning fruit trees is essential for maintaining their shape, promoting healthy growth, and increasing fruit production. Pruning should be done during the dormant season, which is typically in late winter or early spring before the buds begin to grow.
When pruning fruit trees, it’s important to remove any dead, diseased, or damaged branches first. Then, thin out any crowded or crossing branches to improve air circulation and sunlight penetration. Finally, prune back any new growth to promote stronger branches and stimulate fruit production.
Protecting Fruit Trees from Pests and Diseases – Fruit trees are susceptible to a variety of pests and diseases, which can damage the tree and reduce fruit yield. Some common pests include aphids, mites, and caterpillars, while common diseases include apple scab, fire blight, and powdery mildew.
To protect fruit trees from pests and diseases, it’s important to maintain good tree hygiene by removing any fallen fruit or leaves from the ground, as these can harbor pests and diseases. Additionally, you can use organic pest control methods such as insecticidal soap or neem oil to control pests without harming beneficial insects.
Harvesting Fruit Trees – Knowing when to harvest fruit is crucial for ensuring the best quality and flavor. Different fruit trees have different ripening times, so it’s important to research the specific tree species to determine the best time to harvest.
Conclusion
Caring for fruit trees is easier than most people think with just a few simple steps. Now you have the knowledge to grow your own fruit trees with the confidence to know that you will have a bountiful harvest year after year. Thank you for reading about caring for fruit trees. Here are some other articles you may enjoy reading.
What comes to mind when you think about roses? And how exactly do you go about maintaining them? For many people, tending to their roses is a huge joy, but there are also many people who have a bit of slight concern or just don’t know exactly what to do to their roses. It is a commonly held belief that roses can be difficult to grow, but this just simply is not the case. They really only require a few things to keep them happy and flourishing. Let’s go over the key points to remember so that you can make your roses as happy as possible.
Location – They must be planted in a location where they receive at least 6 hours of full sun every day. This can very depending on your specific region of the world so find out what is best before you do any planting.
Quality soil – They must be planted in a quality soil that has all of the nutrients that they want as well as good moisture control. You should be able to find something that will slowly release nutrients over time in addition to fertilizer that you will add throughout the year.
Proper watering – Your roses must be watered at least 2-3 times a week during the warmer months. Again, this will vary depending on the conditions of your specific geographical location. You may need to water more or less so do a little research on your location. If your roses are not blooming as they normally do, they could be lacking the water that they need. Stay consistent with your watering and you should start seeing results sooner than later.
Proper feeding / fertilizing – Your roses must be fertilized at least once or possibly twice a month during the blooming season, but not during the winter months. This will vary depending on your specific geographical location and climate. You may want to invest in a soil meter that will tell you when your soil needs water and or nutrients. They are less than $20 and will help you take some guesswork out of your gardening.
A high quality organic fertilizer is going to help give you the roses you’ve been looking for!This 4 in 1 soil meter will tell you everything you need to keep your garden happy and thriving.
Proper Pest control – Your roses will need to be checked for pests consistently. It will be much easier to do a thorough check for pests regularly than dealing with a pest outbreak. So the key is to stay on top of it so that when you do see signs of trouble, you can address it right away. Just make it a part of your normal watering routine. Be sure to check the bottom sides of the leaves. Not exactly sure how to deal with pests once you’ve spotted a few? Check out this article for help! https://www.outdoorgardencare.com/natural-pest-solutions/
Pruning – Roses really want and need to be pruned twice a year. A “hard prune” in the spring and a “soft prune” in the fall. A “soft prune” is when you leave the outer canes a little longer and the center canes are cut shorter. This will allow for better air flow and can really help to reduce pest issues. A “hard prune” is when you cut all of the canes relatively shorter than you would for a “soft prune.” When making your cuts, remember to cut above the nodes. Also remember when you are done with all of your pruning to remove all of the dead plant material. It’s common for plants to spread disease through the dead plant materiel that is left on the ground. Also, make sure you use clean and sharp pruning shears! Not only will your plant heal faster, but if you clean your pruning shears after using on each plant, you will prevent the spread of disease from plant to plant, if there is any. They will make your overall work easier and your plants will recover faster.
Consistency – The biggest thing you can do to keep your roses as happy as they can be is to just stay consistent with your care for them. Check on them regularly and before you know it, you won’t even have to think about it. It will just become part of your daily / weekly routine.
Conclusion
Growing roses can be quite rewarding and exciting! There are so many different types of roses and so many colors of roses to choose from. Finding a variety that you like should not be an issue at all. I mean, who doesn’t like roses? Nobody, that’s who! Some roses are quite fragrant while others have little to no smell at all. They come in many different sizes from miniature roses that can easily be grown in a pot indoors, to really big roses that will be the star of the show in your garden or landscaping. Once you get them established, they will soon be growing faster than you ever expected and you will have beautiful bouquets of roses for your home! Thank you for reading “Roses – How exactly do you care for them?” Are you still having issues with your roses? Read this article on some common rose issues and exactly what you need to do to deal with those issues.
No matter if you own a small garden or a large one it can be tough to know which lawn mower is best to get the job done right. You probably don’t need a petrol lawn mower which is going to be expensive and harder to maintain if you only have a small space. Below we have outlined the 5 best lawn mowers for small to medium sized gardens.
These are some of the most affordable electric mowers for small gardens.
Best Lawn Mowers For Small Gardens
1. Einhell GE-EM 1233 Electric Lawn Mower
Einhell is a corded electric lawn mower that is quite powerful and was created for lawns of about 600 square meters. The Einhell GE-EM has an extraordinarily high torque along with an engine of a 1500W strong carbon motor. This feature allows the Einhell to work perfectly well even in gardens with tall grass and dense greenery.
The engine is not the only powerful feature of the Einhell GE-EM 1233 Electric lawnmower. Read on to see more of its unique features. The device comes with a flexible cutting height along with a 36cm cutting width.
With this unique height setting, the blade of the mower can be adjusted to 5 different modes. To ensure more flexibility, the deck of the Einhell was designed to be wider than the high wheels. Maneuvering is therefore very easy.
The grass box of the device is yet another amazing feature of the Einhell GE-EM 1233 – it allows about 38 liters of grass and makes it easy for you to see when it is full for emptying.
Einhell weighs about 10kg making it relatively lightweight. It is also foldable and would be easy to store. For safety, the device comes with a 2 point safety switch. No doubt, this is one of the best rotary mowers for small gardens.
Pros
Powerful Engine
Lightweight
Foldable and easy to use
2 Point safety switch
Cable strain release for long durability
Wider deck for more flexibility
Transparent grass box for 38 litres of grass
Cons
The Einhell GE-EM 1233 comes with no roller
2. Bosch Rotak 34 R Electric Rotary Lawn Mower
The Bosch Rotak 34 R is an electric lawn mower that is powerful, lightweight, and handy. It is great for both small and medium-sized lawns due to its 34cm cutting width. The device comes with a 1300W power drive motor engine along with a rotary blade, ensuring that your lawn gets the perfect cut. It also has an integrated rear roller for strip effects on lawns.
The lightweight of the Bosch Rotak 34 R is another amazing feature that ensures more flexibility and carrying around your yard. Storing at home is very easy due to its stackable grass box and double folding handles. The device is also great for cutting grass on the edges of your yard due to its inset front heels and grass combs.
Finally, The Bosch Rotak 34 R has a Single lever height of cut adjustment from 20-70 mm. This mode variation helps suit the condition of different lawns.
Pros
34cm cutting width making it great for medium-sized lawns of 300 square meters
Lightweight and portable
1300W power drive motor along with rotary blade for a perfect cut
Rear roller for stripe effects
Stackable grass box
Double Folding handles
Inset front wheels
Grass combs
Cons
Possibilities of overheating
3. Hyundai HYM3200E Electric Lawnmower
The next mower on our list is the Hyundai HYM3200E which is a product of the popular Hyundai model – this already gives it some credibility as one of the best lawn mowers you’d find in the market. The device hosts a powerful 1000W motor and it is getting energy from a power cable that is about 10 meters long, making it quite environmentally friendly.
The device comes with a flexible height setting, allowing you to cut grass at 24mm, 45mm and 65mm. It is also very effective for uneven gardens. Starting the engine of the Hyundai HYM3200E is as easy as pressing a button.
The device is lightweight – 8.8kg of weight making it one of the lightest rotary lawnmowers you’d get from the market. Finally, The HYM3200E Electric Lawnmower has a foldable handle system which is great for minimal storage requirements. That is less space is needed for its storage. Making the device very easy to fold, stack and store around your yard.
Pros
Easy to start and use
Lightweight
Flexible Cutting height
Self Maintenance Mode included
Perfect cutting width
Quick-release grass collection box
Easy to fold, stack and store
Cons
Absence of roller
4. Mountfield 294340063/M13 Princess
The Mountfield 294340063/M13 Princess is one of the most powerful all-encompassing lawnmowers you’d find in the market. It works best for small lawns of about 100 Square meters and it is quite easy to start and operate. It is handheld and integrates a 1400W motor which is quite above the requirements for a small lawn. It has a large grass box of 35 liters capacity along with an extended 34cm cutting width.
The device grass box is transparent and therefore allows you to see the quantity of grass in it to prevent overloading. It also incorporates a rear roller for strip effects and an anti-scalping plate for the uneven surface to give your lawn the perfect look.
The Mountfield 294340063/M13 Princess also comes with a mulching plug that aids the healthy growth of your lawn. Finally, it has a safety switch that automatically stops the rotation of the fan 3 seconds after release, making it quite safe to use.
Pros
Powerful 1400w motor engine
Reel roller for stripe effect
Large grass box capacity
Integration of mulching plug for a healthy lawn
Wide cutting width
Transparent grass box
Cons
Limited mobility due to the 15 meter cord
5. Flymo EasiMow 300R Electric Rotary Lawn Mower
The Flymo EasiMow 300R is an electric rotary lawnmower that is great for small and medium gardens. It is very light and easy to move and maneuver. The device is powered by a 1000W motor along with a 10 meters cord. It is environmentally friendly since it makes use of electricity rather than fuel or diesel.
The Flymo EasiMow comes with a flexible cutting height along with a 30cm cutting width. It has a roller for stripe effects and a large 30 liters grass box for storing grass clippings. The detaching and emptying process is also very easy, allowing you to get the mowing of your lawn done in no time.
Lastly, the device is great for manoeuvring due to its incorporation of a dual lever. It weighs 8.4kg making it one of the lightest electric lawn mowers you’d find in the market.
Pros
Lightweight mower (easy to push)
Environmentally friendly
Roller for stripe effect and design
Flexible cutting height
Cons
Difficult to adjust the cutting height
Buying Guide
Certainly, not everyone is a gardening expert, however, that should not be a deterrent to keeping your yard clean and beautiful. Below is a precise guide that will help you in getting the right product for your garden. Read through and follow the guide judiciously.
How to choose a rotary mower for small gardens?
Power source
The power source of any mower you want to get is very important. Since we are dealing with a small space, the source of power will determine how effective and efficient you get your lawn cut perfectly. Therefore both Electric and Fuel mower would get the job done perfectly. But if you want to be eco-friendly, then the Electric mower is your best option.
Cutting width
The wider the cutting width of your mower the faster you get the job done. No one wants to spend the whole day cutting the lawn. Moreover, it is a small lawn we are dealing with right here. Therefore a 30cm width mower should get the job done efficiently.
The deck
The deck is simply the part that ensures how long you’d get to use your mower. That is its longevity. Lawn Mower can either have a steel deck, plastic deck, and composite deck. The steel will last longer than the plastic and composite deck but surely it is heavier and cost faster.
Drive types
Lawn Mower comes in different drive types and so you must decide which is best for you. They include,
Rear-wheel – Designed to fit uneven surface and edge cutting.
Front-wheel – These types are designed for more flexibility and maneuvering when mowing.
All Wheel – these are great for literally all lawn conditions.
Other features
Other features to look out for include;
Rear roller for stripe effect and design
Mulching plug for healthy growth of your lawn after mowing.
Flexible discharge of grass clippings etc.
Conclusion
Contrary to what’s being said, small lawns very much do need maintenance. And one great place to start is with the lawn. Getting your lawn perfectly mowed is like getting 80% of the job done already.
And so, since everyone is not an expert gardener, it can become quite difficult to choose the best rotary mower for your lawn. Hence, the purpose of this post.
All the mowers listed in this article are great and could be gotten on Amazon at affordable prices. Go through the buying guide once again and pick the mower that best suits your needs. And do note that the rotary mowers listed are mainly great for small lawns. Thank you for reading Best Lawn Mowers For Small Gardens.
If you've decided to become more food-sufficient, I want to let you know that it's not an impossible journey. It's going to be tasking, but it's surely worth it. It's healthier, safer, and pretty exciting.
But even after you've made up your mind to tow this path, you'll still have several questions. And I'm sure one of them is -how much land does it take to feed one person? Just like you, many other homesteaders wonder if they'll need so much land to achieve their dreams.
Well, the amount of land you'll need would depend on several factors. I've mentioned these factors here. And in this post, you are going to figure out what size of land you'll need considering your diet.
You'll want to read through carefully to discover how you can achieve self-sufficiency. And the acres of land that would suffice your mission of food sufficiency. Let's get on with it!
First, what factors should be considered?
The size of the land you'll need to produce your own food will depend on vital factors like;
Quality of your land
The climate condition of your location
Amount of sunlight and rainfall
The crops you intend to grow
Your diet
If you want to feed off your land, you will want to grow crops that are friendly to your climate. Try to grow things that are local to your particular part of the world.
So how much land does it take to feed one person?
Generally speaking, a person would likely require 5 to 10 acres of land. This will generally be enough to produce food and live comfortably. But like I said, we'll need to consider those big factors!
But let's hear from various organizations and sources too! Some of the studies are based on certain areas. Let's get started:
The Food and Agricultural Organization says that a person would need at least 17 acres of land. They say this will be enough to be food self-sufficient in Western Europe or North America. Keep in mind that this figure doesn't take account of poor land quality.
For permaculture advocates, ¼ acre per person is sufficient for fruit trees, poultry, and possibly aquaponics.
Going with the book - The New Complete Guide to Self-Sufficiency by John Seymour. It says 5 acres of land is adequate. This would be enough for a person to be food sufficient in the high-rainfall areas of the UK.
How much land would I need considering my diet?
It would be directly impossible to ascribe particular acres of land that would be sufficient for every individual. Why so? Simply because of the individual dietary requirements. The space required to grow food for an individual would depend on if you're a vegetarian or meat-eater.
Vegetables
415 pounds of vegetables is often consumed yearly by an average American and 273 pounds of fruits. And so, 2300 calories of vegetables would be needed to feed an individual. This is quite considerable, due to the amount of energy asserted into daily farm work.
Based on the above stats, a 0.44 acre of land is pretty much enough for an individual to get their daily calories. This would consist of vegetables and fruits over the course of a year.
Therefore, 2 acres of land would be needed by a vegetarian to become food sufficient within a year. Of course with better climate conditions, to enable the growth of crops. This is very important since vegetables would be their main diet.
Eggs
An individual can only take in an average of 300 eggs per year. A hen can lay an average of 250 eggs yearly without the administration of any drugs. This might seem like enough for one person, but they will be needed for a constant supply of such eggs. And so, about 3 to 4 hens should be enough. 0.01 acre of land would likely be required for the rearing of hens.
Ducks are great alternatives - the white layer duck can lay an average of 300 eggs every year. And so, you'd need about 3 to 4 ducks also along with 0.01 acres of land.
Corn
1500 pounds of corn is consumed yearly by an average American - About 4 bounds being consumed daily. 1 acre of land should suffice for the production of 130 bushels of corn - 1 bushel would weigh 56 pounds. For the production of 27 bushels, 0.21 acre of land would be needed - that is about 1500 pounds of corn will be required. That should be enough corn needed by an individual within a year.
Meat
0.6 pounds of meat is consumed daily by an Average American - that is about 202 pounds of meat consumed yearly.
120 pounds of meat is. produced by a pig, therefore a total of 2 pigs is consumed by an average American annually.
0.04 acres of land will be required for the rearing of pigs - that is about 162/square meters for 1 pig. And so, 0.8 acres of land space would suffice for 2 pigs.
A 1000 pound steer cow can yield about 439 pounds of meat in a year - this is more than sufficient for an individual in a year. 1.8 acres of land would be required for the grazing and survival of one cow.
Lesser meats are produced by goats when compared to pigs and cows. 40 pounds of meat can be yielded by a goat, therefore an average of 5 goats would be required to feed an individual in a year. 1 acre of land would be sufficient for the grazing and survival of about 4 to 5 goats.
If you were to use chicken or duck as an alternative, then an average of 145 5 pound duck or chicken would suffice for a year - this is because they can yield an average of 1.4lbs of pure meats without bones. 0.29 additional acres of land space would be needed for the rearing and survival of duck or chicken for the production of meat.
Dairy
150 pounds of milk is consumed by an average American every year. And so, an average of 1800 pounds of milk can be produced by a Nubian goat - therefore, one goat should be sufficient for one individual in a year. 0.012 acres of land would be needed for the feeding and survival of one goat, which is about 50 Square meters.
If you want to use a cow as an alternative, an average of 1900 pounds of milk can be produced by a cow in a year. Therefore, one cow should suffice along with 1.8 acres of land for grazing and survival of the cow.
Wheat And Grains
The average person consumes about 180 pounds of wheat in a year. 60 pounds bushel of wheat can be grown for the yearly feeding of an average individual, and so about 3 bushels of wheat would be sufficient - that's about 0.75 acres of land would suffice for an individual in a year.
The use of these land spaces could overlap as they would likely cohabit close to themselves. The raw farm produce is food for the livestock which in turn produces fertilizers in form of dungs to the crops which are essential for their growth. And so waste is being eliminated naturally. For additional systems such as drains and storage, an average of 0.5 acres of land would be required.
In conclusion, the amount of land space that is required to feed an individual in a year is estimated at 5.5 acres. That includes the reading of 3 critters for meat and sufficiently 3 acres of land if only pigs are to be reared for meat.
What are the things to consider if one is after self food sufficiency?
There are things you'd have to take into consideration if you are seeking after self food sufficiency. This will likely reduce the stress and cost of always visiting the market to get your food. And above all, your own grown food is fresher as compared to getting from the market. So let see what you need to consider.
1. Vegetable Gardening
The fruit and vegetable market is currently valued at $104.7 billion, which clearly shows how important they are to how to diet.
Therefore, if you seek food self-sufficiency, then you have to want to consider owning your vegetable gardening.
While taking care of one might not be easy as you would have to protect the crops from disease and prevent pests from destroying them, it is well worth the effort at the end of the day.
2. Poultry Farming
Poultry farming is also important for the pursuit of food self-sufficiency. Raising chicken and duck are essential for the production of meat and eggs.
Raising birds is not quite an easy job, as they are prone to air-borne disease. Getting clean water for the birds can also be an issue. You will need to regularly vaccinate your birds, keep their home clean, and feed them properly.
That way, they'd survive and produce more eggs and meat for you.
3. Livestock farming
Livestock farming is also quite essential for you to achieve your goals. Livestock should be reared for the production of meat and milk. And just like other farming, you need to vaccinate them and get the best medical aid to keep them alive.
It can get hard dealing with diseases that affect these animals. But with medical help, you should be way off fine.
Conclusion
Growing your food can be fulfilling and satisfying. You are safe from the stress and cost of always visiting the market. Apart from that, there are a lot of benefits attributed to producing your food such as having a healthier and safer food option and a better environment.
However, this is certainly not an easy feat to achieve. You'd have to give a lot to achieve such type of goal. Nonetheless, it is very much possible to attain. The first few years might be hard for you but as more years come along, you should reach your goal of food self-sufficiency.
Now you know the acres of land that is needed. You can start producing your food as soon as possible.
