Identifying Bad Water Quality Part 1

11. September 2008General Gardening Tipsadmin0 comments

Most growers have ppm pens or monitors that can tell them the quality of their water. This is a good starting point, but knowing the hardness (calcium and magnesium) of the water is important, to see how much of the ppm is the hardness and how much is other contaminants. There is a myriad of other substances that can be read by a ppm pen. Sources for ppm in your water include agricultural runoff, urban runoff, industrial waste water, sewage, and natural sources such as leaves, silt, plankton, and rocks. Piping or plumbing may also release metals into the water and add to the ppm.

Below is a guide to identifying certain water problems:
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Controlling Indoor Pests – Leaf Miners

5. August 2008General Gardening Tipsadmin1 comment

If you’re looking for a true challenge when it comes to an indoor pest, look no further than the leaf miner. The leaf miner is more of a threat to an indoor gardener using a greenhouse, but leaf miners have been known to develop in any indoor garden when conditions are right.

Although there are standard ways to deal with most pests, even identifying these pests can be challenge. The adult leaf miner looks exactly like small fly. Without an expertise in entomology, you probably will not be able to spot them, even if you study them on sticky yellow monitoring tape.
The problem with leaf miner is that they do exactly what the name implies — mine the leaf of your plant. Basically, the adult leaf miner lays an egg on the leaf of the plant and it hatches a larva. In turn, the small larva tunnels between the upper and lower surfaces of the leaf and goes to work. And, of course, because it is between the layers of the leaf, it is protected form any sprays you might want to use. Read more »

Genetically Modified Seeds Imported to New Zealand

20. July 2008Gardening Newsadmin0 comments

The New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) is investigating how genetically modified (gm) seeds of sweet corn was knowingly cleared to enter New Zealand in October 2006.

The two consignments totaling 1,800 kilogram of gm sweetcorn originating from the United States was cleared by the quarantine service run by MAF. Each consignment had a certificate that showed that the seeds had not been gm but there was documentation available that showed that the two consignments had a presence of gm. Jeanette Fitzsimons, spokesperson for genetic engineering and the leader of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, said: “I am absolutely shocked and angered that 1.8 tonnes of sweet corn seeds crossed our border, even though the accompanying testing documentation showed that it was contaminated with GE.” Read more »

Organic Weed Control Part 1

16. March 2008Organic Gardeningadmin0 comments

Weeds are unwanted plants which reduce nutrients and growing space needed by your garden. Before starting your garden plot, it is a good practice to begin weed removal and control 4 weeks before you are ready to plant.

Start by turning the soil with a shovel so that the roots of the old plant growth are exposed. This will disrupt root systems and encourage faster decomposition.

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How To Make Your Own Compost for Under $15

24. February 2008General Gardening Tips, Organic Gardeningadmin6 comments

Compost is one of the best things that you can add to your garden. It allows you to use organic materials that would normally go to landfills. Organic materials make up approximately 24 percent of items send to landfills. It’s very inexpensive and much better than spending money on commercial fertilizers. It helps with soil texture and structure. It also adds nutrients to your garden. The best time to start your compost is in the spring. Read more »

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