Today, the push for do it yourself kitchen gardening isn’t about economy and more about the variety and quality: You just can’t buy fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowers of that kind and quality to grow yourself at home. But the quest for self-sufficiency doesn’t mean the end of your enjoyment of a healthy garden. It simply means that you need to become more selective about the plants you choose. After all, you spent time picking through the plants in your local nursery or grocery store, didn’t you?
One of the most important considerations in choosing your flowering plants is to know when to plant them. The best time to plant each one depends largely on the climate you live in. Some are best planted during the coolest parts of the year, in the shade of trees and bushes. Other kinds are best planted in full sun, while others prefer the shade. Keep in mind that some varieties are not very tolerant of low temperatures; others may flower only sporadically during the year. Consult a gardening book or a greenhouse provider to determine which kinds of flowers will work best in your region.
Full sun plants require more frequent watering, but they’re worth it when you look at the results. They’re bolder and healthier looking than plants that are shaded, meaning you get the most for your money when you plant them. In early summer, keep your plants well watered, but use a good organic soil fertilizer. Avoid using commercial fertilizers, though. (Make sure to read the package labels before you buy any products.) Instead, opt for a natural or organic-based compost that will provide your plants with the nutrients they need.
Choose the plants and soil that will best support your preferred vegetables and flowers. The nutrient-deficient soil in your typical hydroponic garden needs generous amounts of nutrients, so that the root system can prosper. Fertilizer must be added frequently, as it breaks down over time. Remember that hydroponic farming is the process by which nutrients are delivered directly to the plants, and that the soil’s quality depends on the quality of that nutrient delivery.
Do it Yourself hydroponics also takes advantage of the biological processes involved in plant growth. In traditional farming, the crop is harvested each year, and the produce is sold to the consumers. By growing your own crops, you avoid wasting resources that you could use for something else. You could save seeds and use them to start another crop, or save the soil from one harvest and use it to grow plants the next year. If you’re already used to eating organically grown food, using hydroponics means that you’ll never have to eat food grown with soil that may have had chemicals added to it.
In traditional gardening, what happens is that the nutrients and water are delivered through a system of pipes. These pipes may break down, though, over time, so it is important to replenish their supplies regularly. Hydroponics, on the other hand, places the water and nutrient delivery on a much higher level. In this manner, what you provide to your plants grows within the plant itself. This means that the plant can maintain or increase its own supply of water, nutrients, and air without having to rely on you.
Another advantage of hydroponics is that it allows plants to grow faster than they could in a traditional farming environment. In a traditional agricultural setting, temperatures and humidity are regulated by farmers, making it difficult for certain pests to grow. For instance, if a farmer were to raise a crop with no humidity control, say cucumbers, it would be more prone to mold and other insects that destroy the crop.
A third advantage of Do it Yourself hydroponics is that it provides a controlled environment for the plants, meaning that there is no need to worry about pesticides, fertilizer, or anything else that might ruin the results. Since the plants are growing within a controlled environment, there is no risk of environmental contamination or disease, and plants can even produce better yields as a result of using Do it Yourself hydroponics. These benefits give the Do it Yourself systems a distinct advantage in the home garden arena over traditional agriculture. If you want to grow fast growth plants, get started with an indoor system today.