| Welcome to my article on free gardening tips - I | | | | broccoli. |
| hope you find them useful. | | | | 6. Avoid overcrowding your plants - sow seed |
| 1. Marigolds planted in your vegetable garden will | | | | thinly and thin seedlings out as soon as possible |
| help to attract insects that prey on aphids and | | | | after germination. Overcrowding increases the risk |
| other undesirable insects. | | | | of disease and leads to unhealthy plants. |
| 2. When buying bulbs, choose ones that are dry | | | | 7. Weed problems? Pick a sunny day and spray |
| and firm. They should look intact without cuts, | | | | them with ordinary fullstrength household vinegar. |
| bruises, dents or signs of mildew. Avoid those | | | | This organic weed killer is safe for the |
| that have soft patches or are starting to sprout. | | | | environment and you. |
| Unless you are buying a mixture, they should all | | | | 8. If you're pushed for space in your vegetable |
| be of fairly uniform size. | | | | patch, select varieties of pepper and tomato that |
| 3. If you are a keen cook, consider growing | | | | grow small fruit, as the smaller the fruit, the more |
| organic herbs in your garden. As well as their | | | | the plants will provide. |
| culinary uses, they can also be used for medicinal | | | | 9. Prioritise your watering. During hot weather, |
| purposes. Herbs smell lovely, make great | | | | first water your new seedlings and plants, then |
| landscape plants and most require little attention | | | | vegetables and fruit which are in flower or |
| to thrive. | | | | growing quickly. Extra watering for established |
| 4. If you've got some leftover beer hanging | | | | shrubs and trees is not usually needed. |
| around from the other night, add it to your | | | | 10. Pine needles make great mulch, particularly for |
| compost heap to give the composting process a | | | | acid loving plants. Give them a thick layer each |
| boost. | | | | autumn and as the needles decompose, the acid |
| 5. Try planting nitrogen-fixing leguminous plants like | | | | is released into the soil. Look out for more free |
| peas and beans close to nitrogen-loving kale and | | | | gardening tips in part two! |