Fast Growing Vegetables and Gardening Tips For Kids

Getting kids interested in gardening is very easy because there are so many things they can do, and they are natural gardeners because they're curious and they love to play in the dirt.

Here are few crops to try out.
They are good because they give kids fast results!

Sunflowers
A must for a child's garden because they germinate and grow so fast. They will sprout in about 1 week, become a small seedling in 2 weeks, and should be around 2-3 feet (1 m) tall in a month.

Lettuce
Another fast crop that gives kids fast results, and it's also a good way to interest kids in salads.

Radishes
Germinate in 3-10 days, and have a very short growing season of 20-30 days.

Snow peas
They take about 10 days to germinate and mature in about 60 days. They are also fun for kids to eat right off the vine.

Cherry tomatoes
These may be the most fun crop for kids, aside from strawberries.

Nasturtiums
These flowers are easy to grow and they bloom about 50 days after the seeds are planted, with orange, yellow and red flowers. The flowers are also edible, and can be used to add color to a fresh garden salad.

Bush beans
Fast, easy, high yield and, because they do not grow tall, they are easy for kids to harvest. Bush beans germinate in 4-8 days, and mature in 40-65 days.

Pumpkins
If you have the room! Seeds will sprout in about 1 week; after a few days, vine leaves begin to form and creep along the ground. Pumpkins take 80 - 120 days to harvest

A Few Tips for gardening with children

1. Give them their own garden beds or area to work in.

2. Give them serious children-sized tools. Cheap plastic child's gardening tools are worse than no tools at all; they break easily and frustrate the user.

3. Engage them through the entire process, from seed to table. Children learn better when they understand the context of their activity. They will learn that gardening can be fun, but far more than idle play; they are contributing to the family well-being.

4. Start from seeds. While it's a convenient shortcut to buy starters, children will learn more by seeing the growing process as it begins with seeds. The care given to sprouting seeds and nurturing the young seedling are a valuable part of the gardening experience.

5. When all else fails, make a scarecrow. The best time to engage children in gardening is when they're in the mood for this activity. If their attention wanes, or the garden tasks become boring, let them build a scarecrow. This activity is still a contribution to the gardening effort and adds another layer of interest to the garden scene. It also reminds the child of the importance of the crop.

6. Show off their work. When giving 'garden tours' to friends, be sure to point out the children's beds. Take a photo of their harvest and send it to the grandparents. The attention given to their work is the best motivator for children to stay involved with a project.

For more Gardening Tips Advice For Gardeners visit our main gardening website at Weekend Gardener Monthly Web Magazine

Have great week!

Grow Caladium Bulbs, Elephant's Ear Outdoors

Last week we discussed how best to grow caladium bulbs indoors, so this week we are going to go over some tips on how to best grow them outdoors.

How To Grow Caladium Bulbs, Elephant's Ear - Outdoors

General Information:

Although some people may call them bulbs, Caladium bicolor (C. x hortulanum) are actually tubers that originated in South America.

Hundreds of cultivars have been developed offering heart or arrow-shaped leaves that are veined, edged, or mottled in almost endless variations of pink, red, green, white, silver, and mixed color.

Caladium leaves, which can grow up to 24 inches (30 to 60 cm) long, provide a tropical feel to any yard or garden, which can give a stunning look to decks, patios, and pool or spa areas.

Because they are from South America, caladiums do best in hot, humid climates and are hardy to grow outdoors year-round only in very warm climates like Hawaii, or a Zone 10.

This doesn't mean you can't enjoy them in your yard - you most definitely can - but you will have to think of them as a summer plant.

Two Ways To Grow Caladium Outdoors

Because they are sensitive to cooler temperatures, you can grow caladium either:

1. In the ground outdoors

2. In pots outdoors

If you decide to grow them in the ground, you will have to dig them up and store them over winter, which is fast and easy to do, and worth the few minutes of time because these plants are so showy for months.

If you grow them in pots outdoors, you will need to move them indoors over the cold weather months, but more on that in a minute.

Light Requirements

Most caladium require bright shade, although a few newer varieties can tolerate some sun including:

'Fire Chief'

'Rose Bud'

'Red Flash'

'White Queen'

Basic Outdoor Requirements

Caladiums need rich soil, high humidity, and heat above 70° F (21° C) during the day and warm night temperatures of 60° F (16° C) or warmer.

To Grow Caladium In The Ground - Outdoors

Caladium tubers need warm temperatures to do well, so wait until the spring weather in your area is stable and above 70° F (21° C) consistently.

You can always start the tubers indoors about 2 months before you know the outdoor temperatures will be 70° F (21° C) or warmer.

1. Start the tubers in trays of moist peat moss or vermiculite by pressing the tubers 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) deep in the growing media. Place them with the knobby side up.

2. Keep the trays between 75° F and 85° F (24° to 29° C)

3. When leaves start to appear, transplant them into 4 inch (10 cm) peat pots that can later be set directly into the ground in your garden.

To Start Caladium Directly In The Ground

1. Plant tubers in the spring in an area that gets bright shade. Deep shade will produce weak and spindly growth.

2. Place them with the knobby side up so their tops are level with the soil surface.

3. Protect them from snails and slugs.(read our Definitive Organic Guide on How To Kill Snails and Slugs).

4. To encourage continuous production of new leaves and bright-colored foliage, give caladiums regular water, and feed lightly every two weeks throughout the growing season.

5. You can use a balanced soluble fertilizer like a 5-5-5 or a 10-10-10, but nearer the fall, use a 5-10-5 fertilizer to help the bulb store up more energy for its winter dormancy.

6. Cut back dead leaves in the fall. Where freezing weather is likely, dig the tubers out of the ground; remove most of the soil and dry the tubers for several days in a shaded, dry location.

7. Store in dry peat moss at 50° to 60° F (10° to 16° C)

To Grow Caladium In Pots - Outdoors

1. Start tubers in pots in the spring.

2. Use a soil mix made from equal parts of coarse sand, compost, and ground bark or ground peat moss.

3. Use a 5 inch (12.5 cm) pot for a 2-1/2 inch (3.75 cm) tuber, or a 7 inch (17.5 cm) pot for one to two large tubers.

4. Fill halfway with the soil mix; and stir in a few generous pinches of bulb fertilizer like a 5-10-5.

5. Add one more inch (2.5 cm) soil, place the tuber on top and cover with 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) of soil.

6. Water in and keep moist until the tubers spout.

7. Give regular water and fertilizer the same way as mentioned above for growing caladium in the ground.

Problems: Low light will cause weak growth. Dry air or cool drafts can cause the leaves to yellow and die.

Tips:

1. Always remove any flowers since they drain the tuber of its energy

2. Remove all dead leaves at dormancy

3. If you plant the tubers upside down, they will grow large quantities of smaller leaves which can be beautiful

4. Aphids and spider mites can be possible problems

In The Fall

At the end of summer, or after 6 to 8 months of growth, caladiums will start to look stringy and tired. That's your cue to stop watering them, and put them in full shade to induce a dormancy period.

When the leaves die back, cut them off. You can store the tubers either loose in peat moss or vermiculite, or you can leave them in their pots.

Either way, keep them at room temperature or slightly cooler, but never cooler than 50° F (C) during the winter months. You don't want to let them get too cold during the winter because these are tropical plants that like warm conditions.

When new shoots start to show in the spring - if you left them in their pots - start watering them again.

If you dug them up, plant them back outdoors again.

Conclusion

If you want a tropical plant in your yard this summer, try caladiums because they are easy to grow and are endless in their color combinations and varieties.

Plus - with the above information, you have all you need to grow them successfully!

Enjoy!

For more Gardening Tips and Gardening Advice visit our main gardening website at Weekend Gardener Monthly Web Magazine - http://www.weekendgardener.net

Have great week!

Grow Caladium Bulbs, Elephant's Ear

Caladiums provide gorgeous color and excitement to your yard or house all summer long since they can be grown indoors or out.

This week we're going to go over how to best grow caladium indoors, next week we'll give tips how to best grow them outdoors.

How To Grow Caladium Bulbs, Elephant's Ear - Indoors

Caladium bicolor (C. x hortulanum) grows from a tuber, and is the most commonly grown species. In fact there are hundreds of cultivars available some of which include:

'Candidum' - pure white foliage and dark green veins

'Fanny Munson' - light pink foliage with green veins and margins and deep pink midribs

'Pink Beauty' - pink leaves with red veins and bordered with green and pink speckles

'Red Flash' - dark green leaves spotted white, deep red veins and wide green margins

Because of their incredible versatility offering different leaf patterns and colors, caladium never get boring to have around.

Caladium leaves, which grow 12 to 24 inches (30 to 60 cm) long, are usually heart or arrow-shaped, but some are lance-shaped and can come with spots and veins in shades of white, pink, red, green, and mixed colors.

They do flower, but the flowers themselves are not very interesting being a greenish white, and are usually removed so as to not drain the tuber's energy.

What Time Of Year To Plant

In the spring and early summer you'll find nurseries and home improvement centers have caladiums fully grown, but you can save quite a bit of money by buying the tubers instead.

If you opt to buy your own tubers, buy firm, large tubers that are not diseased or sick looking.

Planting Them Up

Plant three tubers in an 8-inch (20 cm) pot, and cover them with 1 inch (2.5 cm) of potting soil. Water them in.

Growing Conditions Caladiums Need

Light: Bright filtered - keep out of direct sunlight or they will fade. Low light will cause spindly growth

Water: Keep evenly moist, but allow them to dry during their winter dormancy (see more below)

Humidity: High. These are tropical plants so if you have a dry house, put a tray of water and pebbles under the plant - just make sure to keep the plant out of the water. Plants left in standing water will die

Temperature: Room temperature of 65-75 degrees F (18.3-24 C)

Fertilizer: Feed lightly once a month with an all purpose soluble houseplant fertilizer like a 10-10-10 or a 5-5-5

Repot: Each spring when dormancy ends (see more below)

Propagation: By division of tubers called tubercles and offsets

Problems: Low light will cause weak growth. Dry air or cool drafts can cause the leaves to yellow and die.

Tips:

1. Always remove any flowers since they drain the tuber of its energy

2. Remove all dead leaves at dormancy

3. If you plant the tubers upside down, they will grow large quantities of smaller leaves which can be beautiful

4. Aphids and spider mites can be possible problems

In The Fall

At the end of summer, or after 6 to 8 months of growth, caladiums will start to look stringy and tired. That's your cue to stop watering them, and put them in full shade to induce a dormancy period.

When the leaves die back, cut them off. You can store the tubers either loose in peat moss or vermiculite, or you can leave them in their pots.

Either way, keep them at room temperature or slightly cooler, but never cooler than 50° F (C) during the winter months. You don't want to let them get too cold during the winter because these are tropical plants that like warm conditions.

When new shoots start to show in the spring - if you left them in their pots - start watering them again.

If you dug them up, repot them first and then begin watering them.

Next Week - How to Grow Caladium Outdoors

Overall caladiums are easy to grow indoors and are stunning to have around. Next week we'll go over how to grow Caladium outdoors!

Other Articles of Interest:

Houseplant Growing Guides - includes pictures and growing information

Caladium bicolor - includes pictures and growing information

For more Gardening Tips and Gardening Advice visit our main gardening website at Weekend Gardener Monthly Web Magazine - http://www.weekendgardener.net/

Have great week!

Best Time To Transplant Plants

Typically, gardeners tend to transplant plants, whether they are vegetable, strawberry, tree, shrub, or perennial plants, when they have the time to do it, regardless of the time of day, or the weather.

This is normal, but if you think about it, planning when you transplant your plants is one of the best things you can do because you will ensure your plants getting off to a strong and healthy start.

I mean, why bother with all the time and effort only to have seedling transplants that are going to flag, sag, wilt, and maybe die on you? So let's avoid all this shall we?

The Best Time To Transplant Plants

The best time of day to plant is in the late afternoon when the sun is not so hot, and the wind has calmed down. By taking advantage of this time of day, the new plants have overnight to acclimate.

Strong sun and wind are very hard on new transplants and unless you water carefully, and in some cases provide some shelter from the wind and sun, they can severely wilt. This places your plants under stress at the very beginning of their growing cycle and is not a good idea because sometimes they never bounce back and don't thrive as well as they could have.

Mulching does help since it lowers the rate at which water evaporates from the soil and controls the soil temperature, so that is always a benefit if you must plant in the middle of the day.

The Best Weather To Transplant Plants

Transplants become less stressed when they are set out on a cloudy, calm day. There is some humidity in the air at that time, and no wind will mean less of a chance of the new seedlings getting dried out.

For more Gardening Tips and Gardening Advice visit our main gardening website at Weekend Gardener Monthly Web Magazine - http://www.weekendgardener.net/

Have great week!

Easy To Grow Hybrid Tea Roses For Beginners

If you've never grown roses before because you think they may be too hard for you, try these.

The following hybrid tea roses are great for beginners because they will do well in poor soils and less than ideal growing condidtions.

So don't let roses intmidate you any more, try these out, you'll love them!

20 Hybrid Tea Roses For Beginners

Alec's Red
Alpine Sunset
Cheshire Life
Chicago Peace
Elina
Ernest H. Morse
Just Joey
Loving Memory
Michief
National Trust
Peace
Peer Gynt
Piccadilly
Pink Favourite
Remember Me
Rose Gaujard
Royal William
Savoy Hotel
Silver Jubilee
Wendy Cussons

Other Rose Articles You Might Enjoy:

How to Deadhead Roses

How To Plant Bare-Root Trees and Shrubs

How To Prune Roses

Avoid Rose Replant Disease

How to Buy The Best Bare-Root Trees, Shrubs and Roses


For more Gardening Tips and Gardening Advice visit our main gardening website at Weekend Gardener Monthly Web Magazine - http://www.weekendgardener.net/

Have great week!