Countless people across North America are reconnecting with their food by making an effort to grow part of it themselves. Some people are growing in their back yards. Others are making use of a sunny balcony. And some are taking the efforts indoors and growing food 365 days a year using grow lights. Perhaps this recent spike in the popularity of the ‘Grow Your Own’ movement is a direct reflection of our concern over the global economy, or maybe the simple commonsense of local food production is beginning to naturally reemerge in our collective consciousness? Whatever the case, like many others, I am making an effort to surround myself with more edible landscapes. I’m learning as I go and having fun in the garden all the while. My food garden is very unusual though – it’s in a forest.
Compost improves the soil by providing all of the essential nutrients plants need to thrive. It releases the nutrients slowly over time giving the plants a slow, steady consistent source of the elements plants need. Compost also improves soil porosity, structure, moisture capacity and air ratio. Compost will improve the texture of any soil from sand to clay. Field testing has shown that compost improves plant vigor, overall health and the plant’s immune system.
Hooray for the outdoor growing season! It’s the time when many of us urban gardeners grow a whole host of annual plants under the big halide in the sky! We all have our personal favorites, from chunky cucumbers and egg plants to the tangiest, juiciest tomatoes. But how do you grow your outdoor plants big? Really big! Absolutely huge!
In “Power Propagation,” Gareth Hopcroft explains how to develop super vigorous root systems for high yielding plants.
© 2012 Urban Garden Magazine