Winter has officially arrived with high winds and snow.
Your lawn and garden may be covered in snow, but you don't have to worry about gardening. With a little effort, you can easily move your garden into your home this winter. You can experience the splendor of the botanical garden without leaving your home.
However, houseplants can do more than just get rid of scabs in the garden. Picking herbs from your yard makes for great winter recipes that will keep you warm all winter long while saving you money on expensive fresh herbs at the grocery store.
Additionally, plants grown indoors in the winter can easily be moved outside in the spring, giving you an advantage in the summer garden. With all these advantages in mind, start your indoor garden today.
Indoor plants have the same requirements as wild plants. You should consider these needs when creating your garden. Note that some plants do not grow well indoors. One thing to consider is the size of the plant's root system.
Indoor gardening requires growing plants in containers. Some plants thrive in container gardens, while others do not because of their large roots. Horseradish and dill are two examples of vegetables to avoid in the home garden.
Another requirement to consider is light. Grass, like all plants, has specific light requirements that vary from species to species. However, a good rule of thumb is that most plants need six hours of sunlight per day.
To ensure that this requirement is met, it is important to choose the location of your indoor garden carefully. South-facing windows are ideal for growing plants, but remember to turn the pots often so that the plants get enough light from all sides.
Additional lighting can be provided by fluorescent lighting placed six to twelve inches from the plants. Some plants tolerate indirect light, such as mint, maple leaves, rosemary and thyme, lemon balm and tarragon.
However, monitor your houseplants to make sure they are getting enough light. Without light, the plants will be thin and tall, and the leaves will be small. Good lighting can be the key to the successful growth of indoor plants.
Other important factors when growing plants indoors are temperature and humidity. To keep your plants healthy, you should keep them indoors at 65-70 degrees during the day and 55-60 degrees at night.
Some plants, like basil, are very sensitive to cold and cannot tolerate low temperatures. In addition to the temperature, you need to provide the necessary humidity for the plants. Water the plants thoroughly with room temperature water and allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Many plants grow well in slightly dry soil. Also, mist your herbs daily to keep the leaves moist.
While there are many factors to consider when creating an indoor garden, the joy and health benefits of fresh herbs year-round make it worthwhile.
The last and most enjoyable task for your garden is harvesting. Mow your lawn regularly to encourage growth, but don't overdo it all at once. To be on the safe side, cut no more than a third of a plant at a time.
Then it's time to enjoy. Use fresh-cut herbs to add flavor to soups, stews, teas, salsas, or any other dish you're preparing. An indoor herb garden allows you to experiment not only with new gardening techniques, but also with new flavors and recipes. Get started today and add greenery to your home this winter.
If you have any questions about your garden or landscape, please contact the Illinois Department of Mattoon Extension's Master Gardener at 217-345-7034.
A guide to fertilizer for beginners
A guide to fertilizer for beginners
Composting—the recycling of organic matter from food to grass clippings—adds nutrients to the soil while keeping biological material out of the sewer system. Foods that take up a lot of space in a landfill can be broken down to help grow plants in your garden, increase soil moisture, and reduce the carbon footprint of underground emissions and methane produced. bridle
For all these reasons, Pella has created a 10-step composting guide for beginners to help you turn food and yard waste into black gold.
Food scraps and yard waste make up more than 30% of household waste, although they are biologically beneficial to soil and plants. Fertilizer accelerates the natural decomposition process. Although all the organic matter we capture decomposes, the material in the landfill is packed very tightly to prevent sufficient air flow for decomposition. This leads to anaerobic digestion, which produces large amounts of methane. Methane gas is 25 times more powerful than carbon dioxide when it comes to trapping greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere.
By creating favorable conditions for the growth of decaying organisms, composting is faster than traditional disposal methods and leaves nutrient-rich soil that supports the growth of fruits, vegetables, flowers and trees. Like artificial or natural fertilizers, vegetable compost is available for free, in abundance, and without additional packaging or chemicals. The process involves separating compostable material from other waste and aerating it in oxygen-enriched bins or piles; These are moved around, watered and eventually added to flower beds or around any number of plants.
For compost, you can use worms, black soldier fly larvae, a fenced yard pile, or a rotary drum from a local hardware store. People who don't have space for a garbage can can store food scraps under the sink or in the refrigerator and donate them to a local community garden. Whether in the city or the countryside, in a house or apartment, with or without a garden, read how to start composting at home.
Designate a compost area in your yard or a planting area for your neighbors
First, it is important to choose a good place for the compost bin or, if you do not have land, to decide where to deliver the collected organic material.
Because compost piles and landfills can sometimes smell and attract insects or other critters, it's important to let your compost rot in a compost bin, standard waste disposal system, or in a protected pile away from an open window in your home. A flat surface with good drainage is essential for any drainage (don't put a compost pad next to a water basin - protect surfaces).
A location with regular sunlight is ideal, as the heat helps speed up decomposition. Comfort is also key; You should be packing leftovers at least once a week, so you have them on hand. Consider placing the manure in a place where it will stand, you can plant a tree in a far corner of the garden or at the end of the yard.
If you don't have a compost yard, make sure you have a place to store your compost. Some cities now offer compost collection, but most local farms and community gardens accept regular food and garden waste.
Decide which method is best for you
Once you know where to compost, you can decide on the best composting method based on your needs and lifestyle.
The most common is outdoor composting, which is exactly what it sounds like: creating a pile of food waste and other biological materials that is periodically returned or recycled. Direct composting is similar except in designated piles, where biodegradable materials are placed directly into the soil (placed around plants or trees or in pits); In this method, it is recommended to cut fruits and vegetables (no meat or dairy products) so that the animals dig less. A fence is highly recommended if you regularly have dogs or other animals in your yard.
Some other composting methods include biohumus (which includes worms), layered composting, using black soldier fly larvae, and composting in containers that can be turned each time food or yard waste is added. Two popular compost options for home growers are biohumus and effective microorganism, a mix of microbes that help break down your organic matter. Adding bokash, a form of fermented organic matter, to your food waste is the most common EM utilization system.
Learn the difference between brown and green stuff
It's important to have a balance of greens and browns in your compost pile: the ideal ratio of greens to browns is 4 to 1. Greens are leftovers from your kitchen, such as grilled lettuce, broccoli stalks, and apples. . However, when you're only composting food scraps, it's easy to overheat nitrogen-rich compost.
A good way to balance your garden compost is to add brown materials: shredded brown paper bags, poop, cardboard, newspaper, leaves, and other dry plants like corn stalks. These materials are rich in carbon and serve as a food source for soil-dwelling organisms that, along with microbes, break down the contents of the compost. They also help filter air in the compost pile and reduce odor and bulk.
Avoid developing things that can attract bacteria
No one wants mice, flies or other critters to get into your compost.
To protect against parasites, you can remove dairy and meat products from your herd. You can also use litter boxes or cups to keep organic waste on the ground and covered, or use chicken coop fencing to keep animals away.
Keeping litter moist prevents animals from seeking dry shelter. Turning the compost regularly with a shovel or rake ensures a good supply of oxygen, which speeds up the decomposition process. Spinning destroys potential nests.
Find the right bin
Of course, depending on your home or apartment, daily trips to the compost pile or community garden may not be realistic. For any food waste composting operation, it is important to have a storage container in the kitchen that you empty at least once a week.
Storage tanks can be an under-sink container with a tight-fitting lid, a bowl on the kitchen counter (if emptied daily), or a store-bought trash can with a strainer and vent. If cleaning out a freshly emptied bin isn't for you, there are compost and compost bags that you can toss in your compost.
Compostable items except food waste
You can grow many things other than food waste. Garden waste, hay and straw can be cooked. The same is true for laminated newsprint and uncoated paper. You can also make compost and wood chips.
Biodegradable straws and toothbrushes, takeout boxes, shredded trash, and even anything you pick up off the ground can become a landfill. Human and pet hair are suitable for compost piles.
Measure the temperature of your compost
Compost releases heat when it decomposes. And more heat, the rate of decomposition increases. The ideal temperature for the center of the compost pile is between 135 and 160 degrees Fahrenheit. They support good bacteria while increasing team efficiency in this area. Too hot and there is a risk of killing good bacteria; It's too cold and you risk attracting pests and flies.
You can check its temperature by buying a compost thermometer to measure the temperature, or by placing your finger in the center to ensure air and heat distribution, turning it regularly. With enough heat, the compost will rot for at least a few months.
Turn the compost several times
Your compost needs to be turned regularly to get enough heat and air. During the intake of organic substances, rotation in the glass may occur. Tiered systems only survive when new tiers or stacks are added and eventually sorted or returned. Other configurations can be collected every few months.
Bringing materials from the edges of the compost pile to the center will oxygenate the pile. This helps prevent venting odors. With each new batch of compost, be sure to wait at least two weeks before returning for the first time. This allows the pile to heat up in the center and collapse.
Pay attention to the humidity level
It is also necessary to pay attention to the amount of water in the compost heap.
Water helps regulate the temperature of the pile and promotes decomposition. If there is too much water, the pile can quickly rot and smell bad; There is not enough water and the compost cannot break down quickly.
The compost pile should contain 40-60% water. The best way to know if the water level is good is to take a handful of compost and squeeze it. If no water comes out, the pile is too dry. If water is sprinkled, the group is too wet. You need to take a damp sponge.
Look for dark soil after a few months.
After choosing a location, container, adding a mix of greens and browns, turning the pile and maintaining a good moisture level, you'll soon have great, nutrient-rich compost to use in your garden. But how do you know it's ready?
The time it takes to compost depends on a number of factors, some of which have already been explained, such as the location of your bin, how often you change it, what you put in it, and the type of bin. . You use and it depends on the package size. However, your compost may not be ready for several months. You can look at the color and texture to make sure this is done; If there is no unpleasant smell, it should be dark, humus soil.
This story first appeared on Pella and is produced and distributed in partnership with Stalker Studios.
Illinois Extension works with the University of Illinois community to translate research into action plans that empower Illinois families, businesses and community leaders to solve problems, make informed decisions, and adapt to change and opportunities.
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