Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
life easier when working in the garden and will ensure you are not
spreading pests and diseases around your garden.
Smoothie Garden Solution
To preserve the wooden handles on your garden tools, coat them
with boiled linseed oil. This type of oil is thicker and dries quicker
than the edible linseed soil. Simply rub the oil into the handle,
allow it to sit for five to ten minutes to penetrate the wood, and
rub off any excess oil with a clean, dry cloth.
Crop rotation is another essential practice to ensure a healthy
garden. By growing your veggie plants in a different area each year,
you will discourage pests and diseases in your soil. Each vegetable
plant or family of plants requires different nutrients and attracts dif-
ferent pests and diseases. These pests usually live in the soil right
where the plant was, so by moving your plants to a new area of the
garden they will be less likely to survive. A good rule of thumb is not
to plant the same vegetable or family of vegetables in the same area
for four years.
Companion planting is another practice that can help to keep pests
and diseases away from certain plants. In this method, certain plants
are grown together so that they help each other. One plant may
attract beneficial insects that will eat common pests, keeping the
plants nearby healthier. Another plant may deter a pest, keeping the
plant beside it healthier.
Keep Your Plants Healthy
To have healthy vegetable plants, you need to start with healthy
seeds and transplants. Buy your seeds from a reputable seller
