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British take focus on small-plot gardening techniques to the ‘nano’ level
Friday, May 18, 2007
GREEN SPACE
JIM HILLIBISH
If you go to England, you’ll note gardening is more of a religion than an exercise. The English are insane about it. Even the smallest plots are quite marvelous in their themes and execution. Small is something English gardeners must understand and overcome. Property on this island is quite dear. Our average suburban lot over there would contain four townhouses, with gardens out back and in front. The result is the English get the most out of the least space. Most of us here have yet to learn that skill, although if you live in a condo or one of the new allotments, you may need their advice.
NO SUPERSIZING
Much of the miniaturization of flowers and vegetables started over there. It’s a science practiced for 100 years and only recently taking hold here. You don’t really need miniature sunflowers if you live on a quarter-acre lot. They do. I love English gardening books, magazines and Web sites: “20 plants for 20 square feet.” In some magazines, they include seed packs pasted to the stories. Now that’s revolutionary.
I was reading a friend’s English magazine and chanced upon a 20-page lecture on Cobaea scandens. This took the review down to the molecular plant-tissue level. The writer lost me in the third paragraph, explaining “nitrogen uptick” with run-on sentences.
SEEDS INCLUDED
Still, they thoughtfully included a seed pack, and the starts are looking pretty good on my patio. I have no idea what I’m in for here, but will keep you apprised. The English gardening media are filled with ads for elixirs and devices that speed everything growing. Each offers a scientific hook of some manner, such as “nano-granular” fertilizer or devices that take the chlorine and fluoride out of water. Unlike here, all plants and techniques are reviewed in agonizing detail. The mags even send out battalions of gardening police who rip unworthy plots in print, probably causing suicides among their perpetrators.
I noticed a lot of the stories centered on creating privacy with walls and fences softened by climbing plants. To an outsider, it seems strange to spend your life creating the perfect garden and then walling it up so nobody can see it. For many gardeners with green dreams and no space, rooftop gardens and greenhouses are the solution, even if accessed by fire escapes. They’re even growing apple and pear trees up there. One must wonder about the casualty rates come harvest time.
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There are natural ways to keep your garden looking green and healthy. Maintaining your garden by lightly saturating it daily with water and using your compost soil will dramatically perk up the growth in your plants. The premium time to water your garden is in the early morning, so rise and shine! And for all those who can’t stand reeling in the hose, here is something for you. Check out the No Crank hose reel by going to the link below. The power of water pressure rewinds the hose so you don’t have to! Water is a vital part of a flower’s life, but too much can upset the delicate balance of nutrient production. Too little will have the same effect. The outward signs of too much water are wilting and yellowing of leaves, especially those in the inner areas of the plant. Vegetables need about an inch of water each week.
A good way to test the texture of your soil is with the “Ribbon Test.” After you take a soil sample, roll it back and forth in your hand. If it sticks together easily, it is high in clay, if it simply falls apart, it is probably has a lot of sand. Clay soils don’t drain well and are difficult for the roots to penetrate. Sandy soils drain well but don’t retain nutrients. Adding organic material will help both sandy and clay soils. Not sure how to make compost, well it’s simple. Start with a layer of chopped leaves, grass clippings and kitchen waste like banana peels, eggshells, old lettuce leaves, apple cores, coffee grounds, and whatever else is available. Keep adding materials until you have a six-inch layer, then cover it with three to six inches of soil, manure, or finished compost. Your plants will love this natural food! Did you know the soil can determine the color of the hydrangeas you grow? Check out the link below for some awesome gardening tips.
http://naturalsupply.blogspot.com/2007/05/natural-gardening-tips.html
By: Susana on May 19, 2007
at 17:05