How to Make Liquid Fertilizer

If you are tired of the hassles of carrying around bags of commercial fertilizer and never know for sure if you are using too much, then creating your own liquid fertilizer is for you. No more guessing how much to use or worrying about burning tender roots. This liquid fertilizer is easy to apply, doesn't require the labor of mixing it into the soil, and can be applied anywhere at any time even to those hard to reach plants you can't quite get to with commercial fertilizers.

Liquid Lawn Fertilizer And Weed Control in Winnipeg by pegfrontpage

things you'll need:
Blender
Household Ammonia
Epsom Salt
Vegetable Scraps
Large bucket with lid

Instructions
1)Save all cooked or raw vegetable scraps from meal preparation. This includes potato peelings, apple peelings, pea pods, or any other parts you would ordinarily discard. Even the water used to cook vegetables in is a good source of nutrients for your garden.

2)Place the scraps in an ordinary household blender and emulsify. If scraps are dry, add enough water to assist the blender in creating a smooth puree.

3)Pour the vegetable scrap puree into a large plastic bucket. Add 1 capful of ammonia and 1/2 teaspoon of Epsom Salt per quart of puree and mix thoroughly with a large wooden spoon.

4)Seal the container and let set at room temperature overnight or until you have enough compost to create liquid fertilizer for your garden. Each quart of mulched veggies will make one gallon of liquid fertilizer.

5)Prepare liquid fertilizer for the garden. Simply mix one quart of pureed vegetables to one gallon of warm water. Shake to mix well.

6)Pour liquid fertilizer directly on the soil around plants in the garden.

Effect of music on plants

Ben, a 19-year old teenager was very fond of playing violin and was pretty good at it as well. Interestingly, he had a few houseplants in his room balcony (where he used to play his violin) and he used to water them regularly. After a while he observed that those plants had grown better than the other plants in the house, even though the regular watering was same for all. He wondered about it and came up with a hypothesis, that it might actually be the violin music.

Well, his inference may not be incorrect, as there have been experiments which compel us to believe that music does affect plant growth. It is because plants are living organisms. They do have feelings and can sense. Just like the 'touch me not' which recoils and folds within itself at a slight touch.

Sir Jagdish Chandra Bose, an Indian scientist probably had an inkling that the sound of music does wonders for plant growth. He performed some experiments which show how music affects plant growth. Scientists from all over the world have researched on the question 'how does music affect plants?'.

So, does music affect plant growth? Well, yes, it could be said that music does affect plant growth. It is just like what music therapy is for human beings. Check out why most of us believe so.

Impact of Music on Plants
Various experiments are a major evidence of the fact that music, does in fact affect plant growth. Dorothy Retallack published a small book on this, in 1973, which was based on her experiments of the music effects on plants, in a Colorado College, in Denver. She found out that, out of the plants in three different chambers, with different conditions, those exposed to soothing music grew better than the others. In one case, the plants had bent towards the music playing device! These plants were lush green with healthy stems.

However, if there is a constant monotone that is being played, then it does not significantly affect plant growth. But if it is mild, classical music, definite change of rate can be observed, in the growth of plants. It is a lengthy process, though. How music affects plant growth, cannot be observed within days of the plant being exposed to music. It takes weeks to identify the effects of music on plants.

Classical Music and Plant Growth 
Classical music, for that matter has had a prominent effect on plant growth. The Ragas (a formation with a group of notations) in Indian classical music, are believed to have worked wonders for plant growth. In addition to that, the occident has also been a witness to experiments on how does music affect plants. The vibrations of the music created are responsible for plant growth.

But everything said and done, even if music is believed to affect plant growth, it is somewhat controversial. The naysayers hold that there are no sensory devices in plants, like the ears or the brain. Music is all about vibrations, but then, they may not be so powerful that they can initiate an improved growth in plants.

So, does music affect plant growth? This is still a question mark in the fraternity of scientists. But hey, what is the problem in believing that yes, music does affect plants? Who knows our belief will give such an incredible power to the music we play, that it will compel the plants to flourish. How beautiful it would be! Even when the sun leaves them, melodies will always be there to cheer our green friends up!

Plant Neurobiology

Plant Neurobiology describes a newly named, but also old and fascinating field in plant biology addressing the physiological basis of adaptive behavior in plants. Perhaps this field could be called "Sensory Biology in Plants" or something similar. However, these names don't quite cover topics like plant cytology and anatomy, adaptive plant behavior, signaling and communication in symbiosis and pathogenesis, or newly emerging topics like for instance plant immunity, plant memory and learning, plant-plant communication, as well as plant intelligence.

Our choice of the term Plant Neurobiology is described in Brenner et al. (2006) where we note some obvious analogies between classical neurobiology and some aspects of the physiology of plants. For example, plants have long been known to respond sensitively to environmental stimuli by movement and changes in morphology, to be electrically excitable, to display rapid electrical responses (action potentials) to environmental stimuli, to synthesize numerous organic molecules that act as neurochemicals in other organisms, and to use hormonal signaling pathways to coordinate development, morphology and thus, accomplish behavioral responses to environmental, communicative, and ecological contexts.

For a better understanding of the world around us, it is important that we develop and share the growing understanding of plants as dynamic and highly sensitive organisms. No longer can plants be viewed and portrayed as passive entities merely subject to environmental forces, as 'automata'-like organisms based only on reflexes and optimised solely for accumulation of photosynthate. With a fuller understanding of signaling and communication within and among plants, it becomes clear that these sensitive biological organisms actively and competitively forage for limited resources, both above and below ground. In addition, plants accurately compute their circumstances, use sophisticated cost benefit analysis, and they take tightly controlled actions to mitigate and control diverse environmental stressors. Plants also emerge as capable of discriminating positive and negative experiences, and 'learning' from their past experiences. Plants use this cognitively acquired information to update their behavior in order to survive present and future challenges of their environment. Moreover, plants are also capable of refined recognition of self and non-self, and are territorial in behavior.

This Plant Neurobiological view sees plants as information-processing organisms with complex communications of various types occurring throughout the individual plant. What we need to find out is how their information is gathered and processed, what routes do data take (if not via 'nerves' sensu strictu), and how are adaptive responses integrated and coordinated, how are these events 'remembered' in order to allow realistic predictions of future using past experiences.

Last but not least, plants are as sophisticated in behavior as animals but this potential has been masked effectively because it operates on time scales many orders of magnitude slower than in animals. At the very least, this quality should make it easier for experimental plant scientists to uncover the mysteries of their neurobiological function and behavioral responses.

healing power of plants

Aromatherapy and herbs have re-focused attention on the healing potential of plants and flowers. In fact, their healing benefits were first discovered and propagated thousands of years ago in ancient civilizations. They have been available and in use in different parts of the world throughout the centuries, long before the advent of modern medicine.

Lavender
Ancient Roman records tell of soldiers taking lavender with them on military campaigns to clean and dress wounds. The healing properties of lavender are in the flowers, from which lavender oil is extracted as an herbal remedy. Lavender oil contains an antiseptic called linalool, which soothes burns and acne. Lavender has a long history as an antidote to many other ills, from anxiety to insomnia to depression. An ingredient in lavender called ketones is known to promote sleep and reduce inflammation. It is said that lavender ingredients in a shampoo solution can help to curb dandruff.

Chrysanthemum Tea
Chrysanthemum tea has been a Chinese medicinal remedy for centuries. It is said to detoxify the system, and relax the body to encourage a peaceful night's sleep. According to Chinese herbalists, the body can become "overheated" and chrysanthemum tea is an antidote. It is also said to prevent sore throats. A regular regimen of chrysanthemum tea is often prescribed to ease high blood pressure and high cholesterol, to maintain good vision, and to clear sinus congestion.

Aloe Vera
Egyptian documents written around 1550 B.C., describe 12 formulas for mixing aloe vera with other ingredients to treat external and internal maladies. The aloe vera plant has a reputation as a "miracle" aid for cuts and burns. It is easy to grow and maintain in a windowsill pot, or outdoors. The gel from an aloe vera leaf acts like an antibiotic and causes the cut or the burn to heal speedily.Aloe gel can also be applied to soothe sunburn, blisters, swelling and insect bites.

Chamomile
In Ancient Egypt, the flowers and leaves of the chamomile plant were dedicated to the sun in recognition of their medicinal powers. Chamomile tea is said to be an effective deterrent to colds, digestive problems and menstrual cramps. Recent research studies also indicate its effectiveness in lowering blood sugar levels, and the possibility that chamomile could be developed as part of a drug regimen to counter diabetes.

Ginkgo Biloba
The ginkgo biloba tree dates back hundreds of millions of years, and at one point it was thought to have died out, until it was discovered growing in Japan and China. There is early mention of the merits of its leaves in Chinese documents written around the third century. Ginkgo biloba is said to be a powerful antioxidant. It is said to be of special benefit to people suffering from Alzheimer's Disease and macular degeneration, because of its ability to enhance the flow of blood to the brain and to the eyes. It is also used to ease asthma attacks.

plants phsycology

PLANTS PHSYCOLOGY


Plants, like animals and humans, have DNA made up of the double helix structure. Even more surprising, plants have awareness, memory, communication and emotions.

Over the past 100 or so years, many experiments have been conducted on plants. Even Charles Darwin did experiments with plants, causing him to decide that plants have consciousness.

Sir Jagadis Chundra Bose, a famous Bengali scientist conducted many experiments with plants. One experiment involved electrical stimulation. In reaction to this stimulation, the plant "wrote" its signature on a piece of smoke-covered glass. During another experiment he found that the cortex tissue in a plant contains tiny heart like cells that pump the sap up the tree from the roots to the tips of the highest branches.

Further plant experiments were conducted in the 1950's and 1960's regarding stimulation of plants. Electrical fields, magnetic fields, music and other sound waves were all used to determine their affects on plants. It was found that plants like jazz and classical music, grow more quickly, produce more blossoms, seed pods, fruit and mature more quickly when listening to this type of music. However, plants do not like rock and roll. When they are subjected to it, they lean away from the source of the music. If it continues for long periods of time, they do poorly, eventually withering and frequently dying.

Canadian Eugene Canby recorded a 66 percent increase in the yield of a wheat field from playing the music of Bach to the wheat plants.

T.C. Singh, a botany professor in India experimented with harmonic sounds. He found that when plants were subjected to certain harmonic sounds, they would speed up growth and increase the number of flowers, fruits and seed yields.

Another experiment involved wiring a fruit tree with DC electrical current that caused it to drop its ripe fruit but retain its green fruit. Further investigation of this phenomenon may uncover a new harvesting method for orchard growers.

George De La Ward determined that children of a female plant did much better when their mother was alive, even if she was hundreds of miles away. As soon as the mother plant died, all its offspring did poorly.

Another experiment proved that when Irises had magnetite added to their soil, they doubled the number of flowers on each stalk.

Cleve Backster, a polygraph examiner, connected a polygraph machine (a lie detector) to plants and measured their reactions. His experiments revealed that plants can communicate with one another and that they have an awareness of what is going on around them. He proved that plants can tell the difference between a real threat and a pretend threat.

Growing Coriander (Cilantro)

Coriander is a highly fragrant annual herb and will grow to up to 2 feet in height. Coriander seeds are known as Coriander and its leaves are often known as Cilantro. Coriander is sometimes known as Chinese Parsley. Coriander is grown for both its seeds and leaves and both are used for culinary purposes. The leaves can be used raw in salads, sandwiches and salsas or in cooked items such as Bread or Curry.


How To Grow Coriander From Seed by VideojugLifestyleandHome

Preparation

Coriander is sensitive to transplanting and the shock can cause boliting. Because of this it is advisable to sow coriander seeds where you want them to remain. If growing outside then weed, dig over and rake the soil before planting.

Sowing

If sowing outdoors then wait till May to ensure warm soil temperatures which will promote more successful germination. Sow seeds in drills around 1cm deep and then cover with soil / compost. Space rows around 35cm apart. Sow seeds around 4cm apart.

Seeds will take a few days either side of 2 weeks to germinate. Once the seedlings are about 4-5cm high you can thin them down to about 20cm apart.

If growing in containers then make sure the container is at least 15cm deep so that the tap root can develop.

Coriander should be sown every few weeks to ensure a continuous crop through the growing season

Position

Like most herbs, Coriander likes a lot of light so if growing indoors make sure your Coriander is positioned on a south facing windowsill. A minimum of 4 hours sunshine a day is recommended.

Coriander will also do better in warm spots (it originated from the Mediterenean or Asia).

Soil type

The soil should be well drained and have good aeration. If planting in containers ensure that sufficient drainage aiding materials such as broken pots and/or coarse gravel are in the base of the container.

Tending

A liquid fertiliser can be applied to the soil every few weeks to promote growth.

A shock to the plants system such as lack of water a significant drop in temperature will cause Coriander to bolt (start producing seed). This process of bolting is a natural 'survival' process. If growing outside fluctuations in temperature can be reduced by growing under glass - in the greenhouse, cloche or poly tunnel.

Do not overwater Coriander as it does not like its roots to stand in water.

Harvesting

You can start to harvest the leaves after the plant has reached 10cm in height.

Harvest mature leaves to encourage further growth.

MINT MANYA

GROWING MINT

Mint is a fantastic herb to grow in the garden. It is easy to grow and emits a wonderful scent when you brush past it. It can be used in a variety of dishes including roast lamb and salads and goes well with freshly podded peas.

Mint is a hardy perennial and a voracious grower. It will do well in both sunny and shady parts of the garden. It will also thrive in pots; in fact if you have a small garden it is recommended that you grow mint in a pot to prevent it from spreading and taking over the other herbs.

How To Grow Your Own Mint by VideojugLifestyleandHome

Varieties of Mint:
There are three main varieties of mint that people grow in their gardens:

• Pennyroyal mint – the most common type of mint.
• Peppermint – with a distinct cool peppermint flavour.
• Spearmint – traditionally used in mint sauces.

How to Grow Mint

Mint can be grown easily from seed, or young plants sold at garden centres. Mint is tolerant of almost all conditions, but it prefers a well-drained, fertile soil. However, mint enjoys a fair amount of moisture, so it will do better in a moderately shady position, where the soil won’t dry out as quickly as it would in a very sunny area.

Mint can also be propagated from its roots, or rhizomes. Simply take a piece of root and pot it up in a small container, keeping it well watered. Leaves should begin to sprout within a few weeks and the small plant can then be transplanted into the garden the following spring. As mint is such a strong grower it is advisable to grow it in a container to prevent its roots from spreading and potentially killing other plants. You can sink the container into the soil so it appears that the plant is part of the herb bed, however its roots will be contained so the plant will never be able to grow beyond the confines of the pot.

Caring for Mint Mint requires little attention and will thrive in almost all conditions. However a mulch of bark or leaves will keep the plant happy; it will provide nutrients and lock in much-needed moisture for the roots. After the plant has started to flower the leaves will stop growing. It’s important therefore, to remove any flowers that appear to keep the plant producing leaves right up until autumn. Pest and Diseases Mint can be affected by rust. This can be a deadly disease for mint plants. If you notice orange blobs on the underside of your mint leaves remove the leaves immediately. However, if many leaves are affected it’s best to chop the plant down to ground level and burn it. Fresh leaves should grow without infection the following spring. Alternatively, remove the entire plant and start again (if you grew your pot in a container then remove the soil and clean the pot with a disinfectant before replanting).

Harvesting Mint

Simply cut the leaves when needed, using a pair of scissors. Cut from the top of the plant (this will encourage new stems to shoot out from the sides). Never remove all of the leaves from the plant; this will hamper its growth.

Growing Mint in Containers

Mint is particularly suited to container growing, and will grow happily in potting compost. Water the plant if the pot dries out and feed with an organic liquid plant food once a month during the growing season.

Mint is a delightful herb to grow in the garden and has many uses in the kitchen. It is easy to grow and returns every year to provide you with fresh leaves to add to new potatoes, fresh peas, and turn into a delicious mint sauce.

CUCUMBER COOL

 How to Start Cucumbers From Seeds

Cucumbers are one of the most popular home garden plants,with many 

varieties suitable for home growing. Full-size varieties of cucumber require a

considerable amount of space to spread if their vinesare unsupported.Many 

gardeners choose to support their cucumbers in cages like tomatoes or plant 

high-yielding dwarf varieties to cut down on space. Whichever variety of cucumber

 you choose, you will find it easy to plant. Simply sow the seeds in the ground in 

early spring once the soil has warmed.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

April 10/13 Senga's Vlog - How to Start Cucumber Plants by sengalindsay

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hand tiller
• Aged compost
• 5-10-10 fertilizer
• Rake
• Water

1. 
   
   1Loosen and turn the soil in the cucumber planting bed to a depth of 6 inches with a hand tiller or shovel. Remove any plants and roots or other debris that you upturn.
2. 2Spread 2 inches of aged compost followed by 2 pounds of 5-10-10 fertilizer per 100 square feet of planting area.
3. 3Mix the amendments evenly into the top 6 inches of the soil with your hand tiller. Rake the soil smooth.
4. 4Plant each cucumber seed 1 inch deep. Plant neighboring seeds 1 foot apart. Space rows 2 to 4 feet, although dwarf and supported cucumber plants require less row space.
5. 5Water the soil with a sprinkler or gentle spray from the hose until the top 3 to 4 inches of soil are quite moist, but without puddles. Check the soil moisture daily and water as needed to keep the soil moist to this depth.

Tips & Warnings

• Cucumbers cannot be planted outdoors until temperatures and soil warm to around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. You may extend the season, however, by starting your cucumber seeds indoors. Plant two to three seeds in a peat pot filled with seed-starting soil three or four weeks before temperatures warm enough for outdoor planting. Keep the soil moist with regular watering. Once the seedlings reach 2 to 3 inches in height, cut off the two weaker plants at the soil line. When temperatures warm, plant each peat pot in the soil, 1 to 2 feet apart.

GERMINATION TIME TABLE

VARIETY	OPTIMUM SOIL TEMPERATURE FOR GERMINATION	DAYS TO GERMINATE AT OPTIMUM SOIL TEMPERATURE
Bean, lima	85 degrees F	7 to 10 days
Bean, snap	75 to 80 degrees F	7 days
Beet	75 degrees F	7 to 14 days
Broccoli	65 to 75 degrees F	5 to 10 days
Brussels sprout	68 to 75 degrees F	5 to 10 days
Cabbage	68 to 75 degrees F	5 to 10 days
Cantaloupe	80 to 85 degrees F	5 to 10 days
Carrot	75 degrees F	12 to 15 days
Cauliflower	65 to 75 degrees F	5 to 10 days
Celery	70 to 75 degrees F	10 to 14 days
Collard	70 to 75 degrees F	5 to 10 days
Corn	75 to 85 degrees F	7-10 days
Cucumber	70 to 85 degrees F	7 to 10 days
Eggplant	75 to 85 degrees F	10 to 12 days
Endive	70 to 75 degrees F	10 to 14 days
Kale	70 to 75 degrees F	5 to 10 days
Kohlrabi	70 to 75 degrees F	5 to 10 days
Lettuce	65 to 70 degrees F	7 to 10 days
Melon	80 to 85 degrees F	5 to 10 days
Mustard Greens	70 degrees F	5 to 10 days
Okra	80 to 85 degrees F	7 to 14 days
Onion, bulbing	70 to 75 degrees F	10 to 14 days
Onion, bunching	60 to 70 degrees F	10 to 14 days
Parsnip	70 degrees F	14 to 21 days
Pea	65 to 70 degrees F	7 to 14 days
Pepper	78 to 85 degrees F	10 to 14 days
Pumpkin	70 to 75 degrees F	7 to 10 days
Radish	65 to 70 degrees F	5 to 7 days
Rutabaga	65 to 70 degrees F	7 to 15 days
Spinach	70 degrees F	7 to 14 days
Spinach, New Zealand	75 degrees F	10 to 15 days
Squash, Summer	75 to 85 degrees F	7 to 14 days
Squash, Winter	75 to 80 degrees F	7 to 14 days
Swiss Chard	70 to 75 degrees F	7 to 14 days
Tomato	75 to 80 degrees F	7 to 14 days
Turnip	65 to 70 degrees F	7 to 14 days
Watermelon	75 to 85 degrees F	7 to 14 days

SEED SOWING TIME TABLE

Vegetable Sowing and Harvest

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Aubergine

I

I

I

H

H

H

Bean, Broad

O

O

H

H

H

H

O

O

Beans, Climb. French

IO

O

SH

SH

H

H

H

Beans, Dwarf French

I

O

O

SH

H

H

H

Beans, Runner

I

IO

H

H

H

Beetroot

O

O

O

SH

SH

H

H

H

Beet Leaf Spinach

O

O

O

SH

SH

SH

SH

Broccoli, Autumn

I

O

O

H

H

H

Broccoli, Spring

SH

SH

O

Brussels Sprouts

O

O

O

H

H

H

Cabbage, Chinese

O

O

SH

SH

SH

H

H

Cabbage, Summer

I

I

I

H

H

H

H

Cabbage, Winter

O

O

H

H

H

Cabbage, Spring

H

H

O

O

O

Calabrese

O

O

O

O

H

H

H

Carrot

O

O

O

SH

SH

SH

H

H

H

H

H

Cauliflower, Summer

O

O

O

H

H

H

H

Cauliflower, Winter

O

O

H

H

H

Cauliflower, Spring

H

H

O

O

O

Capiscum (Pepper)

I

I

I

H

H

H

H

Courgette

I

I

H

H

H

Cucumber, Indoor

I

I

I

I

H

H

H

Cucumber, Outdoor

I

I

H

H

H

Leek

H

H

O

O

H

H

H

Lettuce

I

I

SH

SH

SH

H

H

Marrow

I

I

O

O

H

H

H

H

Onion, Spring

O

O

SH

SH

SH

SH

SH

H

H

Onion (Seed)

I

I

H

H

H

Onion (Set)

I

O

H

H

H

Onion (Japanese Sets)

H

H

O

O

Parsnip

H

SH

O

O

H

H

H

H

Peas

O

O

SH

SH

H

H

Pepper

I

I

I

H

H

H

H

Pumpkin

I

I

H

H

H

H

Radish

O

O

SH

SH

SH

SH

SH

H

H

Rocket

O

O

SH

SH

SH

SH

H

H

Shallot

See Onions

Spinach

O

O

SH

SH

SH

H

H

H

Squash

I

I

H

H

H

H

Swede

H

H

O

O

O

O

H

H

Sweet Corn

I

I

H

H

Tomato

I

I

I

I

H

H

H

H

Turnip

O

O

SH

SH

SH

H

H

Key to Chart
I	Sow Indoors or under cover such as cloche
O	Sow Outdoors
IO	Sow Indoors / Outdoors
SH	Sow Outdoors / Harvest
H	Harvest