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About kitchen garden


What Is a Kitchen Garden? • Gardenary

kitchen garden basics

Published September 17, 2021 by Nicole Burke

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kitchen garden

kitchen garden revival

The Difference Between a Kitchen Garden & a Vegetable Garden

When you picture a garden, you may see row after row of corn, dozens of tomato plants, and probably a ton of back-breaking work.

And while that is a garden, that's not really representative of a kitchen garden. Not the rows and rows, not the digging and endless work. That's more of what I call a vegetable garden, a veggie patch, or a row garden.

Those types of gardens are great, but for many of us, they're just too much. Too much work. Too much land required. Too much of one food to even think of eating!

So, if that's what you're picturing when you hear the word garden, it could be what's holding you back from taking the first step to call yourself "gardener." You've been mislead to believe you're either a farmer clad in overalls with a hoe permanently in hand, or you're a plant killer.

The good news is, there is a garden setup for people in between who want to grow some (but not all) of their own food. Enter the kitchen garden.

What is the importance of a kitchen garden?

The kitchen garden is a small-scale version of the vegetable garden that enables you to experience the magic of growing and enjoying some of your own homegrown herbs, greens, and vegetables, but that gives you the convenience of requiring just a few minutes or hours of your time each week.

The kitchen garden allows you to garden in order to live a better life; not garden to live or even necessarily live to garden. It's more than possible to fit a kitchen garden into an already busy lifestyle and make gardening an ordinary part of your daily or weekly routine.

The four components that, when considered together, define a kitchen garden are:

Size

A kitchen garden is relatively small, ranging from 25 to 250 square feet, while a vegetable garden could be huge and sprawling, with thousands of square feet of growing space.

Location

Because you'll be harvesting from the kitchen garden often—just before meals, as you pack lunches in the early morning, or while making an herb topping for dinner—you'll want the kitchen garden close by. In fact, right outside your backdoor is ideal.

Tending

Because you're picking from it regularly, you're also tending it too. The kitchen garden is designed to be lightly tended on a daily or weekly basis. This isn't heavy lifting, just a little pruning here, a little planting there, again and again throughout the growing season.

Purpose

The kitchen garden exists to feed you, to help you relax, and to give you a constant source of discovery. Think of it as an extension of your living room, your gym, or your yoga mat. It's a place to go to unwind from the day and awaken all your senses. You'll hear bees buzzing and birds flying overhead; you'll feel the wind, the soft leaves, and the tender flowers; you'll smell the sweet marigolds and peppery arugula and summery basil. And of course, you'll taste the incomparable flavor of just-harvested greens and tomatoes and all things vegetable, and you'll never be able to look at produce from the grocery store the same again.

What is grown in a kitchen garden?

A kitchen garden is a space to grow herbs, leafy greens, vegetables, and fruit for everyday use inside the kitchen, plus some beautiful (and oftentimes edible flowers for the pollinators). Rather than grow a lot of one thing, I like to grow many different types of leaves and veggies in my raised bed kitchen garden so that there's always something to harvest, to take inside and enjoy right away. 

herbs

Here are some of my favorite herbs to grow in my kitchen garden:

Learn why you should grow lots of herbs in a kitchen garden.

leafy greens

Here are some of my favorite leafy greens to grow in my kitchen garden:

Explore our list of top 10 salad greens to grow in the garden.

Fruits and vegetables

Here are some of my favorite vegetables (and fruits used like vegetables) to grow in my kitchen garden:

flowers

Here are some of my favorite flowers to grow in my kitchen garden:

(Learn how to grow each of these and other members of their plant families inside the Kitchen Garden Academy.)

what are the kitchen garden essentials?

There are four main structures of a kitchen garden that I discuss in Kitchen Garden Revival.

the four structures of a kitchen garden

one - raised beds

Raised beds allow you to provide the most ideal growing conditions for your plants without having to spend years amending the soil where you live. Read more why raised beds are better for gardening. This ebook walks you through building your own Gardenary-style raised beds step by step. Before you get started, check out these mistakes to avoid when building your raised beds.

Learn How to Build Your Own Raised Beds for a Kitchen Garden

two - trellises

When you have climbing vines growing, trellises provide essential support, and when your garden is covered in snow in the winter, trellises provide vertical interest. Explore different types of trellises and the benefits of each for your outdoor space.

three - borders

Borders help to make your kitchen garden a distinct area of your outdoor space, in addition to deterring weeds.

four - pathways

Pathways ensure you can easily walk around your garden. You don't want to go outside to harvest some basil, only to step in mud, right?

In addition to these structures, you'll need good soil, four to six hours of sunlight, a watering method, and of course, your plants. (You can find more information for all of these essential garden elements, plus in-depth how-to's, in our Kitchen Garden Academy. )

what are the different types of kitchen gardens?

I describe five tried-and-true designs for kitchen gardens that my company Rooted Garden uses again and again in Kitchen Garden Revival. Your space and gardening goals will determine which layout is best for you.

The five classic garden layouts are:

border garden

This fits into any space. Explore more elegant border gardens we installed for Rooted Garden.

twin gardens

Twin gardens appeal to our love of symmetry and allow you to maximize your growing space.

garden trio

There's the rule of three in interior design for a reason, right?

four-garden classic

This design is perfect for large spaces that are square or nearly so.

formal potager

A formal potager is like the Rolls Royce of kitchen gardens. Discover more about this beautiful layout here.

Because a kitchen garden doesn't have to be huge or require intensive tending, I'm convinced there's a way for just about everyone to have some form of a kitchen garden—growing a little of their own food for the experience and joy of adding small harvests to their everyday meals.

A kitchen garden, to me, is representative of many of the small pleasures in life. Come to think of it, my kitchen garden is my favorite part of my home. It makes cooking so much more fun and gives me a spot to "get away" in my own backyard.

With four kids and my own business, I don't have the energy or time to tend a vegetable garden at this stage in my life. The kitchen garden affords me all the benefits of gardening without the back-breaking work or hassle.   

If you're on the fence about starting a garden, I hope this distinction gives you insight and encouragement that you don't have to live like a farmer in order to have a garden. The kitchen garden really is possible for all of us, and I'm excited to grow with you in your own gardening journey this year. 

Shop Gardenary Trellises

ready to get started with your own kitchen garden?

No matter your lifestyle, your outdoor space, or your gardening ability, there's a kitchen garden that works for you. Here at Gardenary, we've got all the resources you need to design, build, plan, plant, and tend your own kitchen garden. You can:

read more about kitchen gardens

Learn three essential things to consider before building your raised beds for a kitchen garden.

grab my books for detailed step by steps

Start with herbs for an easier introduction into kitchen gardening. Then move onto growing your own salad plants. Once you've mastered herbs and lettuces, it's time to grow fruits and vegetables.

contact a garden consultant to help you

Search our business directory to find the garden coach nearest to you. This person will be an expert in kitchen gardening in your particular area, which makes them an invaluable resource for beginner and intermediate gardeners.

work with a virtual kitchen garden designer

We have designers who can view your space over video and design a garden for you based on your location, outdoor layout, and gardening goals. In addition to the design, you'll get garden bed dimensions and materials needed to complete your new kitchen garden, a shopping list, installation details, information about your growing seasons and plant recommendations for each season, and garden tending tips.

enroll in the Kitchen Garden Academy

Learn all the details of kitchen garden set up, planting, tending, and harvesting for every season of the year inside our online course, Kitchen Garden Academy. You'll receive eight modules of garden instruction and access to a private community for support and encouragement as you grow your knowledge.

Whether you're ready for a small container herb garden or a full kitchen garden with four raised beds, don't grow alone. We're here to help you make gardening an ordinary part of your daily or weekly routine.

Thanks so much for growing with me!

Kitchen Garden Academy

Want a Step by Step Guide for Your Raised Bed Vegetable Garden from a Garden Designer Who Knows Just What You Need? Then you're going to love Kitchen Garden Academy, an Online Video Course that teaches new(ish) gardeners how to design and create beautiful raised bed kitchen gardens and grow the most productive organic plants.

Enroll in the Academy

How to Start Growing Food Today

Kitchen gardening is making a comeback. These small, attractive, and productive vegetable gardens are having a renaissance of sorts. They’re popping up in backyards around the world. Let’s take a look at the basics of kitchen gardening with an expert on the subject, Nicole Burke, author of the beautiful book, Kitchen Garden Revival. The info in this article, combined with what you’ll find in Nicole’s book, will have you growing in your own kitchen garden like a pro. 

This small yet stylish kitchen garden is just the right size for providing fresh veggies and herbs for the family.

What is kitchen gardening? 

There are two types of kitchen gardening. The first type takes place in your kitchen and can involve either re-growing veggies from food scraps (if you want to try this, I recommend Katie Elzer-Peter’s book, No-Waste Kitchen Gardening) or growing herbs and veggies on your windowsill. But the type of kitchen gardening we’re talking about in this article takes place outdoors. It involves growing fresh, organic vegetables right outside your back door. Instead of taking place in the kitchen, this type of kitchen gardening takes place for the kitchen. 

The French have known the kitchen garden as the potager for generations, and the American colonists practiced kitchen gardening, too. But industrialization changed that and the kitchen garden was replaced by the straight rows of Victory Gardens. Sadly, with the subsequent industrialization of our entire food system, most families found themselves with no food garden at all. 

This kitchen garden, designed by Nicole Burke, consists of 4 raised beds laid out in a symmetrical pattern. Photo by Eric Kelley for Kitchen Garden Revival

How is kitchen gardening different from “regular” vegetable gardening? 

A renewed interest in kitchen gardening, however, is bringing this tradition back into vogue. I took the question of how a kitchen garden differs from a vegetable patch to Nicole, and here’s what she had to say about it: “To me, what makes a kitchen garden unique from a ‘regular’ vegetable garden is that it’s typically smaller, tended more often, and designed to connect more aesthetically with the design and architecture of the home.” Kitchen gardens are designed spaces, with symmetrical beds organized and planted in an aesthetically pleasing way. In other words, kitchen gardens are not only productive, they’re also pretty. They’re also meant for fresh eating, rather than for growing large amounts of food for canning and preserving. 

This pretty two-bed kitchen garden sits in a previously unused nook and is designed to fit the home’s architecture. Design by Nicole Burke. Photo by Eric Kelley for Kitchen Garden Revival

Where to put your kitchen garden 

Nicole loves to tie the kitchen gardens her company, Rooted Garden, designs and installs to other existing aspects of the home, such as a fence line, the edge of the house, or even by lining it up with windows or doorways.  “You really want the kitchen garden to look like it’s always been there,” she notes. Designing the garden to connect with the lines and objects that are already on-site is the best way to do that.

“Of course, you want to prioritize sunlight most,” she stresses, “and you do that by ensuring you’re on the southern side of any tall structures in your landscape. Then, you’ll want to be sure you’re near a water source. Once you’ve thought about sunlight and water, then consider the aesthetics of your home and how you could extend one line or another and create a new space that feels like it’s always been a part of your home.”

In other words, don’t hastily plunk in a kitchen garden. Think through which space on your property you’d most like to spend time in that also has plenty of light. That’s where you want the garden; not far away and out of sight, but as closely tied to your everyday life as possible.

Keep your kitchen close to home for easier maintenance and harvesting. But, make sure the site receives at least 8 hours of sun per day.

Kitchen garden design basics

Nicole believes that for both ease of use and for the health of the plants, raised beds are the way to go. “Raised beds allow you to set up and plant right away without the years of amending and working your native soil,” she says. It doesn’t matter what the beds are built from. It could be wood, stone, metal, or bricks; whatever suits your budget and partners well with your home and existing landscape.

Raised beds also allow you to more intensively plant your gardens so you can get more out of a small space. Many of the gardens Nicole’s company installs take up as little as 30 square feet and consist of anywhere from 2 to 6 symmetrically arranged raised beds with walking paths in between. Of course a larger kitchen garden is great, too, but for most families, such a large space isn’t necessary (or budget friendly!). 

Of course, kitchen gardens don’t need to consist of raised beds. Any space divvied up into symmetrical beds with pathways and attractive plantings of edibles is technically a kitchen garden. “If you’re tending the garden regularly and harvesting often, you’ve got a kitchen garden, even if it’s in the ground. But, if you have raised beds, you’ll probably enjoy the experience more. At least that’s my opinion!”  she jokes.

While raised beds make kitchen garden maintenance easier, they aren’t necessary. This small backyard kitchen garden still has the hallmark symmetrical beds and overall design.

What to grow in a kitchen garden 

You can grow a lot of things in a kitchen garden but that doesn’t mean you should. A kitchen garden is all about setting priorities, according to Nicole. She notes that you can either grow a lot of a few things or a little of a lot of things, but you can’t really do both. Her recommendation is to grow all your herbs, nearly all of your greens, and the fruiting plants you most enjoy. In her own kitchen garden, that means leafy greens, like ‘Buttercrunch’ lettuce, spring mix, and kale; herbs, such as rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil and parsley; and then her family’s favorite fruiting plants which include cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, shishito peppers, and sugar snap peas.  

In her own garden, Nicole focuses on growing the vegetables and herbs her family eats the most. Photo by Eric Kelley for Kitchen Garden Revival

To maximize space, focus on growing dwarf vegetable varieties whenever possible. Instead of growing a tomato that will grow 6 to 8 feet tall, choose one that tops out at 2 feet. There are dwarf and compact versions of nearly every vegetable you can grow. These selections have been bred to stay smaller, and as a result, they take up less room in the kitchen garden. Since space is at a premium when kitchen gardening, compact vegetable varieties are a smart idea, whenever possible. If you want to discover some great choices, we introduce you to dozens of compact veggie varieties for the kitchen garden in this article.

Maintaining the garden 

To minimize maintenance in your kitchen garden, Nicole recommends you think about nature. She recalls the time she was visiting Big Bend National Park. She couldn’t help but notice how all of the native plants situated themselves together. “It was a rolling mass of plants, with tall plants in the center of the mass, medium plants in the middle, and small plants sprawling on the ends with little to no soil exposed in between.” It made her think about the importance of echoing nature’s planting methods in her own kitchen garden plantings. 

She now sings the praises of intensive planting in kitchen gardens. “Instead of mono cropping a raised bed with a mass of just one plant, think about nature and the way these plants would situate themselves. Plant your beds with large plants in the center – usually growing up a trellis – medium plants to the side, and small plants like herbs, greens, and flowers around the outside edge of the beds. This intensive planting creates layers and nearly eliminates the challenge of weeds. It makes water retention so much better, and also prevents pests and diseases as your plants and flowers work together, just as they do in nature.”

Once the garden is planted and begins to fill in, the most time consuming tasks are pruning and harvesting, though watering is essential, especially during times of drought.  

Intensively planted beds mean fewer weeds and lower maintenance. Just remember to keep the garden watered.

The importance of succession planting

Since kitchen gardens are often on the smaller side, it’s important to continually plant new crops as others are harvested. It’s a practice known as succession planting. 

“In the small space of a kitchen garden, it’s so important (and so much more fun) to use up every inch of space all year long,” says Nicole. “My experience gardening in Houston taught me this in such an incredible way because there are twelve months of growing season there, but each month is different. I discovered that adding the next season of plants and seeds each month kept the garden producing and opened my eyes to what’s possible in nearly any climate.”

Now that Nicole’s home garden is in the Chicago area, she definitely has fewer months of production from the garden, but she has an appreciation for the various seasons of growing. By continuously planting new vegetables into the garden, you get to enjoy harvests earlier (well before the threat of frost is over) and later (well after the fall frost arrives) – and every week in between.

In her book, Nicole teaches the concept of the “Arc of the Seasons” to get gardeners to think beyond the idea of planting everything all at once. Instead, plant different crops at different times of the year, according to their preferred growing seasons. 

No matter the size of your garden, succession planting ensures a continual harvest.

Why should every home have a kitchen garden? 

Our modern industrialized food chain gives us very little control over where our food comes from and what goes into growing it. But by starting a kitchen garden and growing even a small portion of your own food, you’ll not only be cultivating a connection to what you eat, you’ll also be helping the planet. Not to mention the fact that it just feels good to have a hand in feeding yourself and your family. Plus it’s good exercise! 

Nicole has a lot to say about the joys and importance of kitchen gardening. Once she began her own kitchen garden and saw how good it was for her and how she had more than enough to share with her neighbors, it then extended into an appreciation for local farmers and a desire to support them. It also turned into a love of the bees, butterflies, and toads that returned to her yard. All this because of a few raised beds filled with veggies. She was convinced the whole world needed a kitchen garden.

“There aren’t many things in the world that are beautiful and inspiring, productive, and so good for every aspect of your health,” she says. “At first glance, you wouldn’t think that having a kitchen garden could change the world. But when you think about the fact that all of us eat three meals a day, you soon realize that the choices we make with our food add up quickly. I truly believe a kitchen garden revival could change the whole world for the better.” Here at Savvy Gardening, we couldn’t agree more! 

For more information on starting a kitchen garden of your own, pick up a copy of Kitchen Garden Revival and get growing. You can also join Nicole’s kitchen garden community, Gardenary. 

And for additional tips on raised bed gardening, check out the following articles: 

Do you already grow in a kitchen garden or plan to start one soon? We’d love to hear about your experience in the comment section below.  

30 things to do in the garden, garden and flower garden in October

October is the final straight of the season, time to work on the bugs and it's time to take stock. At the same time, October is also a month of active preparation for winter. How not to miss the most important thing in the cycle of affairs?

Every experienced summer resident knows that the preparation for the next season begins even before the current season ends. So, what tasks should you devote your precious time to in October?

Top 10 things to do in the garden in October

1. Harvest late pears and apples . The main harvesting of apples and pears usually takes place in September, however, in certain regions, the fruits of winter varieties of these fruits ripen only by the first decade of October. In the process of harvesting, be extremely careful, as damaged fruits are not stored for a long time.

2. Finish cutting . Before the onset of cold weather, once again carefully inspect all the trees and shrubs in your area and rid the plants of all dry, broken and damaged branches by diseases and pests. The main pruning is allowed only if the site is located in the southern gardening zone. However, even in this case, it will be better not to rush and postpone cardinal pruning until spring.

3. Get rid of old trees and shrubs . No matter how sad it is sometimes to admit it, however, not all of our undertakings end in success. Some plants do not take root for a long time, others simply do not justify the hopes placed on them. And this is absolutely natural, just as it is absolutely natural that any garden begins to need rejuvenation over time. Try to analyze the life cycle of trees and shrubs growing on your site - it may be better for you to part with some of them. nine0003

4. Remove dead leaves . You can use them to prepare leaf humus, seedling soil, mulching substrate, covering material for perennials, etc. Please note that foliage collected under infected trees should not be used for horticultural needs, as pests or pathogens may remain in it.

5. Dig up the soil . Years go by, and the question of whether it is necessary to dig up the soil in the fall remains open. Digging the soil has both its advantages (it is easier to fertilize and fight pests) and disadvantages (violation of the soil structure). The final decision is made based on the current state of the soil. In areas with heavy, clayey and uncultivated soil, it is still better not to refuse autumn digging. nine0003

6. Apply fertilizer . Regardless of how much fertilizer was applied to the planting hole when planting a seedling, every 3-4 years the tree will need additional feeding.

Under a tree younger than 10 years, 2 tbsp. superphosphate and 1 tbsp. potassium sulfate per 1 sq.m. When digging near-stem circles of trees older than 10 years, the dose of top dressing is doubled.

7. Root out the garden . With the onset of cold weather, many pests seek shelter for their winter hibernation. Some burrow deeper into the ground, others crawl under the bark. Digging the soil helps to solve the problem with the first. The fight against the latter begins with the cleaning of trunks and skeletal branches of trees from dead particles of bark, as well as moss and lichens. Do this with wooden spatulas or brushes with stiff bristles. However, remember that when cleaning trunks, it is strongly not recommended to use metal brushes and scrapers. nine0003

At the end of the "cleaning", be sure to treat the trunks against fungi with iron or copper sulfate (300 g of the substance per 10 liters of water) or HOM (30-40 g of the drug per 10 liters of water).

8. Mulch tree trunks . Autumn mulching of the soil helps to solve several problems at once. Covering material prevents the soil from drying out, protects trees and shrubs from sudden changes in temperature, and also serves as additional nourishment for plants in the spring. All that remains for you is to choose a suitable substrate and sprinkle the near-stem circles with a layer of at least 5-10 cm.

9. Plant young seedlings . The timing of planting new trees largely depends on the climatic conditions of the region. However, usually in the northern regions, landings are completed by October 10, in the middle lane they try to complete these activities before the 15th. Gardeners in the southern regions can afford not to rush. They usually end the planting season closer to mid-November.

If you did not have time to plant new seedlings before the onset of cold weather, do not risk it - it is better to dig the plants in the ground and postpone the planting procedure to a permanent place until spring. nine0003

10. Whitewash the trees . A protective layer of paint or lime will protect the bark from temperature changes and help get rid of pests. However, the most important thing is that it is whitewash that allows you to protect tree trunks from frost holes and sunburn. Please note that whitewashing can only be carried out at temperatures above 5 ° C. It is best to do this after the rainy season has ended. Otherwise, the whitewash will have to be updated.

Top 10 things to do in the garden in October

1. Harvest the last crop . By the beginning of October, most garden crops already have time to bear fruit, but some plants continue to please with a bountiful harvest even at this time. These include, for example, late-ripening varieties of white and Brussels sprouts, beets and carrots, as well as broccoli, celery root, leek, horseradish, sweet potato and some others. If there is not enough space in your cellar, you may well leave crops such as horseradish, Jerusalem artichoke, parsnips and leeks in the garden until frost or even all winter. nine0003

2. Finish winterizing . This point of the October program follows smoothly from the previous one. Right now is the time to pickle cabbage and freeze other vegetables.

3. Dispose of the defective potatoes . Even if potatoes pleased you with a bountiful harvest this year, spoiled specimens will still come across. Meanwhile, just one spoiled potato is enough to render unusable a solid amount of the harvest put into storage. To prevent this from happening, be sure to dry and sort all the harvested potatoes before storing. You can find out how to do it right in our material. nine0049

4. Dig out the beds . Using a sharp shovel, dig the ground to a depth of 15-20 cm. By doing this, you will prevent the wintering of pests and deepen the seeds of weeds. Not too dense soil can be loosened with a rake or Fokin flat cutter.

5. Treat the soil against diseases . Even if nature has been kind to you this year and your plants have not suffered from diseases, you still have to carry out preventive treatment for diseases. For these purposes, copper-based preparations are excellent, for example, Bordeaux mixture, Bronex, Abiga-Peak, Cuprolux, Kurzat, etc. If you are a supporter of biological drugs, then in this case you will have to wait until spring. nine0003

6. Apply fertilizer . Simultaneously with the digging of the soil, also improve the soil structure and introduce the necessary chemicals. The main advantage of autumn fertilization is that during the winter all the chemicals will have time to evenly distribute in the soil and therefore bring much more benefit to the plants.

7. Winterize greenhouse . Often, it is this building that becomes a breeding ground for a variety of diseases, so it is very important to carry out its "preservation for the winter" correctly. Rinse and disinfect the frame and walls, replace or disinfect the soil, rinse and dry the irrigation system, do not forget to fertilize (30-40 g of superphosphate and 20-25 g of potassium salt or potassium sulfate per 1 sq.m of soil.). nine0003

8. Prepare soil for seedlings . The future harvest largely depends on the quality of the soil in which the crop is grown. If you usually prepare the soil for future seedlings yourself, October is the time to replenish garden soil for the next season. And although there is no universal soil that would be suitable for all garden crops, there are certain rules for its preparation. You can learn about the requirements for soil mixtures for seedlings from our next material. nine0003

9. Sow in winter . In the process of digging the garden, be sure to remember to prepare the beds in advance for the winter sowing of crops. In October, winter onions and garlic are planted, as well as parsley, dill, beets, carrots, sorrel and parsnips. Podzimny sowing makes the seeds more resistant to adverse weather conditions and allows you to achieve friendly shoots.

10 . Seal green manure . Sowing green manure is an effective and cost-effective way to restore soil fertility. They loosen the soil, enrich the earth with various useful substances, reduce damage from recurrent spring frosts, retain snow well and, in addition to everything else, prevent the growth of weeds. Mow the grown green manure and plant them in the ground. If this did not work out, it's okay - over time, the plants will fall to the ground on their own. nine0003

Top 10 things to do in the flower garden in October

1. Winterize pond . If your site has a pond, be sure to clean it of fallen leaves. If necessary, carry out a general cleaning of the reservoir bowl and do not forget to carry out preventive maintenance of the equipment that serves it. At a small pond (with an area of ​​​​up to 20 sq.m and a depth of 0.8 m), be sure to drain the water, having previously prepared all the conditions for the wintering of all the fish and plants living in it. nine0003

2. Take care of aquatic plants . Marsh and shallow-water plants are pruned at the root, non-winter-hardy crops (some sedges, cannes, irises, cyperus) are transferred to a dark and protected from sunlight place with an air temperature of about 5 ° C and at the same time make sure that the substrate remains in the pots all the time wet.

3. Prepare rose cuttings for winter grafting . With the onset of small frosts during the planned pruning of roses, cut a few cuttings from a well-ripened part of the shoots. Do not forget to mark the blanks with tags indicating the variety, and then place them in a bag with sphagnum. The cuttings stored in the vegetable box of the refrigerator can be used for grafting as early as February. nine0003

4. Clean the lawn . At the end of the season, be sure to rake up fallen leaves and, if necessary, mow too high grass. Do not forget about aeration - firstly, this procedure is a good prevention of water stagnation, and secondly, it helps to saturate grass roots with oxygen. If the plot is small, this can be done with ordinary garden pitchforks, but for processing a large area it will be more rational to use special devices. nine0003

5. Feed the lawn . Autumn top dressing allows you to prepare the lawn for the upcoming frosts. At this time, it is recommended to stop fertilizing containing nitrogen and focus on supplements with high doses of potassium and phosphorus. The best time for these events is 7-10 days before the onset of the first frost.

6. Sow bald spots in the lawn . The first days of October are the last opportunity to sow seeds in order to "patch" the areas trampled down over the summer. It is likely that the procedure will have to be repeated in the spring, but by sowing grass in the fall, you will increase the likelihood that your lawn will look just fine by the beginning of the season. nine0003

7. Plant spring bulbs and sow annual seeds . When the soil temperature at a depth of 10-15 cm drops to 5-9 ° C, plant tulip and hyacinth bulbs. If you do this too soon, they may start growing prematurely, causing them to freeze and die.

Before winter, all varieties of some annuals, such as calendula, cornflowers, iberis or escholcia, can be planted in open ground.

8. Spud and cover flowers . To ensure that beautifully flowering plants continue to delight you next year, prepare them for winter. By this time, peonies, clematis and large-leaved hydrangeas usually begin to cover. As for roses, it will be necessary to cover the queens of the garden only in a month, but you can spud the plants now. The same procedure does not hurt to carry out for other inhabitants of your flower garden. The same perennials and biennials that do not need shelter, mulch with compost or humus with a layer of 3-5 cm. Mulch plantings of bulbous and small-bulbous plants with dry peat 5-7 cm thick.

9. Store flower bulbs . Dug out and dried for a month, gladioli bulbs are stored in a dark place at a temperature not exceeding 8 ° C and humidity in the range of 65-75%. This can be done in the cellar or basement, in the refrigerator, on the insulated loggia or balcony.

10. Trim flowering plants and shrubs . After the first autumn frosts, the astilbe is pruned. In late October or early November, weak and damaged branches of hydrangeas are cut out. At the same time, irises are also cut, leaving stumps up to 10 cm in height. nine0003

Pruning clematis requires skill, and its pattern is largely determined by the group to which the plants belong. You can find out about the rules for pruning other perennials in a separate article.

What are your plans for October?

Garden and garden. Everything about growing fruits and vegetables - Botanichka

It is impossible to live in the country and not grow any fruit crops on your site. Even if there is only one acre of land near your house, sooner or later you will plant an apple or cherry tree on it and, at a minimum, organize a vertical bed for greenery. Because there is nothing tastier than home-grown fruits, vegetables, berries and even mushrooms. And, given the fact that it is becoming more and more difficult to buy really healthy fruits in a store or on the market (not processed with excessive chemistry) every day, then your own garden and vegetable garden is just a necessity. Our section was created so that you learn how to easily and with pleasure get the result from your work in the garden and in the beds. nine0003

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An experienced summer resident knows what a long way all the fruits go when they get to his table from his own garden or kitchen garden. How much work, how much attention is invested in each cucumber or apple! And how much joy tender greens bring, the first to hatch from under the snow in spring. How much pride can be experienced by growing the largest onion in the area! The materials of our section will help summer residents with experience and, especially, beginners to understand all the intricacies of growing garden and garden crops. How to save seedlings until spring? How to prepare a good soil for seedlings? How to cover strawberries for the winter? The list of questions answered by the materials of this column has long ago exceeded a thousand. And our authors work every day to replenish them. If you have your own orchard and garden, and, moreover, if you are just planning them for now, visit us more often, and growing your own vegetables, fruits, berries, herbs and mushrooms will turn into a favorite hobby. You can share your achievements on this front in the relevant topics of the Nerd Forum. nine0003

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Which garden plants can be grown at home in winter?

After moving from the frosty Khabarovsk Territory to the Kuban, for two years only one of the indoor plants lived in the house - aloe. There was no urgent need for other rooms. Snow falls for a maximum of a week, more often for three days (though several times during the winter). The soil does not freeze and the grass in the valleys is green. Until December, chrysanthemums can bloom, and from the beginning of February, the forest blooms with cyclamens, even if snow periodically falls and freezes. But window sills, it turns out, like nature, do not tolerate emptiness. nine0003

The most common diseases and pests of peaches

To date, many varieties of peach have been bred, which can be quite winter-hardy and winter well in the middle lane. But, unfortunately, not very high frost resistance of peach is not the only problem, and these trees can also be affected by various pests and diseases, even if they winter well, let's talk about the most common diseases and pests in the article. Peach leaf curl is one of the most common diseases of nectarines and peaches. nine0003

How do plant roots live?

Walking in the garden, looking around it with a master's eye and anticipating how many things will grow here, we, of course, see only the tip of the icebergs. That is crowns and trunks. Everything that is underground is securely hidden from our eyes. For a long time, what the plant had underground there could only be remotely judged by the trees uprooted with part of the roots. Or roots exposed by landslides, erosion. But there were still researchers who unearthed (in the literal sense!) What is there, among the plants below. nine0003

Features of growing basella or Malabar spinach

Despite its name, Malabar spinach is not related to true spinach. It is a very original decorative vine up to 3 meters long. But external attractiveness is not the only advantage of the plant. Its leaves can indeed be used in cooking similarly to spinach. In this article, I will talk about the features of Malabar spinach and my experience in growing it. Malabar spinach has two varieties: white basella and red basella. nine0003

Mastering new varieties of sweet potato - what are they and how do they differ?

Digging sweet potatoes is a pleasure, especially when you pick out 1.5-kilogram tubers from the ground (sometimes more!) Or you pull out “sausage” tubers hanging on it together with a bush, all one-dimensional, 400 grams each. dig. They crawl away from the base of the bush by half a meter or more. At the same time, the process requires accuracy - the tubers are fragile. The article will be about sweet potato. The subtleties of growing technology for little suitable regions, criteria for choosing varieties, and about varieties. nine0003

Amazing varieties of Chinese mild peppers

Chinese pepper is known as a species with a very strong pungency. In fact, the heat from these peppers is so strong that it can harm both people and pets, causing burns to the skin and mucous membranes. At the same time, these peppers have a pleasant fruity flavor and aroma. To enjoy the taste of Chinese pepper without sad consequences, mild varieties were bred. Let's learn about them today. Most cultivated peppers fall into one of three main types. nine0003

Lunar calendar of the gardener and gardener for December 2022

If there is no snow, an enthusiastic gardener will always find something to do in the December garden: cover what is not covered, organize bird feeders, protect plants from rodents . .. You can even sow something in December if there is a “window” in frosty weather. True, for this it was necessary to prepare the ground in advance (take it out to a non-freezing room) and make furrows in the ground before it freezes. We sow seeds in the ready furrows and ... we begin to prepare for the New Year! nine0003

Fairy pumpkin: features of pumpkin "Muscat of Provence"

The popular variety "Muscat of Provence" is also known in France as the "Fairy Gourd". These adorable pumpkins have deep ribs that give them a very decorative look. "Fairy pumpkins" are great for cooking many dishes. They also make a wonderful festive fall decor. In this article we will talk about the features of the variety and its main variations. The "fairy pumpkin" in French is called Musquée de Provence ("Muscat of Provence"). nine0003

Tomatoes with amazing foliage

The more varieties of tomatoes you grow, the more you notice that not all tomatoes are alike. If you look closely at their leaves, you can find many variations. But most often the tomato is divided into plants with "tomato" or "potato" foliage. But that's not all. In this article, I will talk about unusual varieties of tomatoes with original colored leaves or unusually shaped foliage. Variety Description: This is a variegated-leaved varietal tomato that originated in Ireland. nine0003

Unusual peas - varieties with edible pods

These peas can bear abundantly and yield much more than regular shelling peas. Also, planting these peas will save you the labor of peeling, which can be time consuming if you grow a lot of peas. In this article, I would like to talk about peas, the pods of which can be eaten whole, and also show the varieties that I grew myself. Common "wrinkled" shelling peas have a hard pod wall and a rough parchment layer. nine0003

Why plant different varieties of potatoes?

The vast majority of my acquaintances gardeners enthusiastically engaged in the choice of varieties of tomatoes and cucumbers, lining catalogs and digging the net in search of the very best. Potatoes are grown from year to year the same, while rarely anyone knows the name of the variety. If you grind it (no one bothers with the correct selection for landing either), they ask acquaintances / friends / colleagues - they share. Or buy in the market. But what about the incredible variety of potatoes that exists in the world? nine0003

Aggressive trees and shrubs in the garden

The gardener is like the leader of a large team. On the one hand, it is necessary that everyone together perform a common task with high quality (be fruitful), on the other hand, as in any large team, in addition to cooperation, there is quarrelsomeness, rivalry, and even hidden aggression. Therefore, the garden manager, in addition to external support (watering, fertilizing, processing), also has to deal with internal conflicts. The article will be about fruit plants that tend to show aggression. nine0003

The most amazing cucumbers I have ever grown

Since childhood, we have become accustomed to the ordinary appearance of cucumbers, but these vegetables are actually not only elongated and green. The desire to grow something unusual allowed me to open a window into a huge variety of varieties of cucumbers with non-standard appearance. In this article, I would like to talk about the most unusual gourmet cucumbers. All the cucumbers described below belong to the common cucumber species, that is, to the same species as our common cucumbers. But this does not prevent them from having an unusual appearance and taste. nine0003

Autumn is coming to an end - how to prepare the garden for the new season?

Actually, preparations for the new season have been going on for a long time: bulbous spring-flowering plants have been planted, perennials - too, fruit seedlings have been planted and carefully covered. Garlic is buried in the beds and all sorts of seeds are sown before winter. But this is only a small part of the preparation for the new season, because a good jump needs a good run-up. The article will be about what not to forget to do now and what needs to be done during the winter so that the next season brings joy, and not hassle and grief. nine0003

Tomatoes "Samkon" - a godsend for lovers of conservation

A characteristic feature of Samkon hybrid tomatoes are pepper-shaped fruits of a classic red color with a smooth glossy skin. And you can be sure that they look like this not only in the picture. Such a crop looks great both on the bushes and on the table.

10 unusual and interesting vegetables

If potatoes, tomatoes, and other ordinary vegetables no longer hold any secrets for you and you want to add a little originality to your garden, you can start growing little-known vegetables. In this article, we will talk about amazing vegetables that are not found in any neighbor's garden, but you can try to grow them in your own garden. Oka or Peruvian wasp (Oxalis tuberosa) is a small plant with swollen tubers from the Oxalis family. In nature, it grows on the high plateaus of the Andes. nine0003

Purple raspberry spot, or didimella - how to deal with it?

Didimella, or purple (purple) spotting, is a common raspberry disease that, if left untreated, gradually leads to the death of the plant. It is believed that it is impossible to completely get rid of the disease due to the particularly high resistance of the pathogen to adverse conditions. However, it is still quite possible to reduce the rate of development of purple spotting with the help of therapeutic and preventive measures and achieve a good harvest of berries. The causative agent of the disease is the fungus Didimella. nine0003

Winter pruning - should I do it?

Autumn in nature is a very caring time. Nature covers the earth, plant roots, living creatures with fallen leaves and withering grass. Shamefully hides garbage thrown by people under colorful litter. Bares trees so that they do not suffer from the abundance of snow and strong cold withering winds. And the skeletons of fruit crowns immediately show gardeners that an adjustment is required here. The hand reaches for the secateurs. And then a garden saw. The article will be about whether it is worth cutting fruit and berry plants in late autumn.

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