TOV Furniture Outdoor Catalog
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| 78 | TOV LIFESTYLE Care 1. Don't pluck your herbs! Use gardening shears to snip your leaves as close as possible to the bottom plants. Additionally, don't overgrow your herbs. They shouldn't get to the point of flowering. As soon as you see a tiny white flower on your basil, cut it off. Your plant will focus on making more leaves instead of flowers. 2. Invest in good fertilizer! Sometimes one or two good bags of soil will greatly benefit the growth and health of your plants. 3. If your veggies look ready to harvest, they probably are! You know what a cucumber and a zucchini is supposed to look like so listen to your gut! Mature veggies will turn dull in color and will develop a yellow tint. The best way to know if your larger vegetables are ready is by implementing the touch test. Ready vegetables are firm to the touch. If you don't pick your veggies when they are ready, that plant might stop producing flowers to bear new fruits. Some plants like tomatoes and peas can be picked earlier and stored away to ripen or store. 4. Save the bees! Gardening is a really good way to help little honey makers. The bee population has been declining at an alarming rate around the world. It's vital that we save them because bees play a critical role in our ecosystem. Plant flowers and vegetables that attract bees to your outdoor garden. Bees need your plants for nutrients, collect pollen and spread it between flowers so they can produce more seeds. Rosemary is a great example of an herb that attract bees. Water Pro tip - focus on the ground and roots. If possible, place your plants as close as possible to your source of water. If you water your plants too much they become prone to disease. Watering too little will stifle your plants and they won't grow to their full potential. Indoor plants usually require less water than you'd think. Keep a close eye on your soil and see how it's reacting to being watered. In my experience, a watering can works the best. Water your plants slowly. By doing so, you allow the water to penetrate to the soil more efficiently. Plant roots need to most water. Pro tip - water plants in the early morning or late afternoon when the soil is cooler. Try to avoid watering your plants too late in the day. Plants need time to dry off before it gets dark. Getting Started Location, location, location! Where you grow your garden matters! Pay attention to the sunlight in your space and how it changes throughout the day. Most edible plants need about 5-6 hours in the sun to thrive. If you are in a smaller apartment, consider your space. Windowsill boxes, floor-standing pots, hanging planters or even a plant wall are a few good places to start. Once you've found the perfect spot for your garden, figure out which vegetables you like to eat and if they're suitable to grow in your environment. Herbs are great for indoors and are usually low- maintenance. In-ground gardens allow you some more variety of vegetables. Needless to say, don't try to plant a fig tree in your Queens studio apartment but with a little bit of research and effort you can have a garden of your own in no time. tending to my garden became a sort of therapy for me