Garden Gift Baskets for the Avid Gardener
If you have a friend or relative that is an avid gardener, there is no more thoughtful gift than a garden gift basket for a holiday, birthday or anniversary present. At first, you may seem overwhelmed when shopping in your garden center or on the internet. There are a few things to consider when trying to find just the right “flavor” for your garden gift basket to give to the people who love to play in the dirt, so t speak.
First you must determine how much you want to spend for the garden gift basket. After you have the dollar amount, walk through the aisles of the garden center to see what items are available. Of course, you could also do an internet search to see what the most popular tools and gadgets are selling. You will be surprised at the range of goods that are available from the inexpensive to the extravagant. Keep in mind that you will want to get quality products that will last so your friend or relative will have years of enjoyment.
If your gardener is a novice you may want to start with the basics, a pruner, a watering can, gardening gloves, or special nozzles for the hose. There are many garden centers that have gift baskets already made up. It could include some gardening tools and seeds revolving around a specific theme like, vegetables or roses or herbs. If you choose to go with the herb theme and want to do it on your own, include some tasty herb seed packets, some small, pretty pots and a journal where notes can be kept.
If you have a gardener with a well used garden rake and tool belt, you can pretty much surmise that they have all of the state-of-the-art tools and have been collecting gardening equipment for years. Here, a simple but thoughtful gift would be a work apron that has be monogrammed or personalized with a funny garden saying. A well seasoned gardener will appreciate the thought you have put into the gift.
To really get the best gift for your gardener you should know the level of their expertise and if they have a theme. For example there are gardeners that only grow roses while there are others that specialize in herb gardening, knowing this will help you pick out the perfect gift. For instance a scarecrow would look dumb in a rose garden whereas a hummingbird feeder is way out of place in a vegetable patch. And be careful with the “cutesy” garden decorations, some people love garden gnomes or stone gargoyles whereas someone with an award winning exotic tropical garden wouldn’t think of having one.
If after you have gone through all these options, level of expertise and if they have a theme or not and you still don’t know what to buy, the answer is simple. Purchase them a gift certificate from your local garden center. Every gardener needs supplies through the year and your gift will help to offset the expense of their garden.
If after considering the gardener’s experience level and theme of their garden you remain stumped, a gardening gift certificate allowing them to select their own gift is a surefire way to please and inspire them as their garden grows through the years.
With a little inspiration you can find the perfect gift basket for your avid gardener. Don’t forget to put a pretty bow on the basket! Here is a natural pesticide that you may want to print on a card and include in the gift basket:
In a jar, combine 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid and 1 cup vegetable oil. Shake vigorously. In an empty spray bottle, combine 2 teaspoons of this mixture and 1 cup water. Use at ten-day intervals (or more often if needed) to rid plants of whiteflies, mites, aphids, scales, and other pests.
Every gardener likes to keep the garden as chemical free as they can.
Happy Gardening!
Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.
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Growing Fresh Fruit Year Round
It is a lot of fun to try growing fruit indoors year round. This is a great hobby if you live in an area that receives severe winter weather that would not support the growth of certain warm-weather fruit, such as citrus trees. With indoor gardening, you can provide everything you fruit plants need to thrive and produce fresh fruit year round.
Dwarf fruit trees can successfully be grown indoors. Citrus such as lemon and lime, as well as fruits such as apple, avocado, nectarine, banana, fig, pomegranate and kiwi provide a lovely fruit. A self-pollinating tree is best, because otherwise you will need another tree of the same type to pollinate your desired tree in order for it to fruit. Happily, dwarf fruit trees produce regular-sized fruit, just not as much as on a standard-sized tree.
Lemon and lime dwarf trees in an indoor situation bloom throughout the year. They will produce three to four crops a year. They appreciate the warm temperatures that reign in your home. You will need much light for your citrus to be happy indoors.Grow lights and Grow lamps such as HID lights, which are used along with electronic ballasts or digital ballasts that control the flow of electrical current, produce light that is most similar to sunlight than other types of chrome dome light bulbs, and they are a great choice for indoor citrus.
There are other tropical trees that will bear fruit indoors. A Natal plum has white fragrant flowers that bear bright red fruit. Surinam cherry has white flowers that have fruit that starts green, moves to red and ends up dark purple. The stunning Barbados cherry starts with lavender or pink flowers that form bright-red berries. Dwarf pomegranate will get to three feet tall indoors, and can actually be used for bonsai because they are evergreen. The fruit is a bit smaller than what you might find at a supermarket, but the taste is wonderful.
Because we don’t have birds or bees indoors to pollinate our fruit, we have to help our plants along by transferring pollen from flower to flower by using a small paintbrush or a cotton swab. You will want to water your fruit plants thoroughly, and then let them dry out a little between the times you water. Any good-quality potting soil will work well, and you can apply an organic blooming houseplant food to give them the nutrition they need. Increase the indoor humidity by putting a tray with pebbles and water in the bottom near the plant, or running a humidifier in the room with the plants.
You will be happy for your indoor fruit when you pick a fresh lemon in the middle of winter.
The overlooked benefits of growing herbs in pots
Growing Herbs in Pots Herbs can be easily grown indoors in pots or other types of containers. They can also be easily grown in window boxes or hanging baskets (so sunlight can nourish them). Growing herbs in pots is no more difficult than cultivating herbs in an outside garden. Indoor herb gardens need the same requirements and attention that garden herbs need.
All plants must have 3 crucial necessities to grow successfully; Sunlight, soil and water. Herbs are the same way. Sunlight is foundation to growing any type of plant including herbs whether they are to grow indoors or out in a garden. You need to place herbs grown in a kitchen or other room in a south or west facing window to catch optimal sunlight. Different kinds of herbs possess various light requirements although, for the most part, all need a sunny location to grow properly. Some herb growers use alternative light source with “grow lamps” or fluorescent lamps. Herbs also require properly drained, not too rich soil to grow in. Add 2 parts sanitized potting soil with 1 part coarse sand or perlite (natural volcanic glass) for herbs that are grown in containers.
You will require about an inch of gravel at the bottom of each pot to make certain that the plant has adequate drainage as well. Herbs grown in pots indoors can as well be supplemented with 1 teaspoon of lime per 5-inch pot to make certain the soil is sweet enough for the herbs. Herbs cultivated in pots also require water. Sprinkling the plants and dampening the pebbles help keeping the herbs well inside humid conditions. Since their grown in containers they do indeed require to have plenty more water than herbs that are grown in a garden but, be aware to avoid getting the roots of the herbs drenched or soggy.
A benefit to growing herbs in containers is that you are more unrestricted to move them about as you like. Annual herbs can use up all of their time indoors although perennial herbs are better-off spending their time outside during summer. Even though all herbs should be placed indoors prior to the first frost so to avoid the loss of foliage. This important rule is over looked essentially when it pertains to mint, chives, and tarragon. These herb types will go into a period of rest to form solid fresher growth after their introduced to a light frost.
Herbs as a whole can be grown and cultivated in containers although some herbs do better than others. Mint is also an herb which needs to be contained or it will take control of the garden. Above all this it’s just easy to upkeep an indoor garden of herbs. It keeps the herbs accessible and within arm’s length to reach whenever you require them for cooking. With these tips listed above, you will be able to nurture your herbs and make certain for a healthy plant for your needs and enjoyment. You should make certain to include periodic cycles of sunlight light feeding and annual repotting for assured health of the herbs.
You also have to remember to replant annuals each and every year and move perennials outdoors when needed as well. And, make use of your herbs as often as you like as well as harvest them occasionally. It is no secret that pruning plants fosters new growth. This important rule also applies to herbs. So make use of them for your culinary needs or store them and give them out to friends and family.