5 Tips to faster decomposition

We have discussed about compost earlier also. This article will focus on some of the steps which will improve the decomposition speed of the pile. Now one of the headache people feel when doing composting is that most of the time they do not get desired result. Here we will give you some simple but very important steps which you can take to improve the decomposition speed drastically. It will also result in good quality compost. So let’s start:

Chopping and shredding: The first thing to remember is to chop the ingredients into finer pieces. The finer the materials easier it is to decompose. Chopping and shredding increases the surface area of the pile and make the microbes work faster than in normal condition.

Use Proper mix of Brown and green materials: We have discussed about various composting ingredient in our earlier article. It is essential that you choose your ingredients wisely. Ingredients such as dry leaves, saw dust, wooden chips etc are generally rich in carbon (C). They are also called the brown ingredients. On the other hand kitchen scraps, grass clippings, fresh cow dung etc is rich in Nitrogen (N). A proper mix of Carbon and nitrogen in the pile is a prerequisite which will increase the speed of decomposition.

Moisture: Moisture is very essential for the smooth decomposition of the pile. But while adding water you need to be careful not to exceed the limit. Too much or too little moisture will dampen the whole process. Generally if your pile contains more than 60% water it will result in stinky anaerobic oxidation whereas less than 35% water means it will not decompose properly as the microbes will not be able to continue their metabolism process. Though it is not possible to measure the moisture to such an accuracy the thumb rule of moisture is that you make sure that your pile has water contents that of a “wrung sponge”.

Keep them moving: It is one of the key to proper decomposition. Remember cooking? You just cannot leave the vegetables on oven with keep stirring. The same logic applies here. If you do not stir them frequently most of the pile will not get decomposed. The best principle is to turn the pile every 3 days. Take the material from the center of the pile and replace the center with lesser composted materials on the other sides of the pile. Moving the pile helps in better air circulation and proper distribution of the microbes through out the pile which results in faster decomposition.

Add microbes: Microbes are the main cause for decomposing your pile. If you make a new pile and perform the above actions properly you will get microbes inside the pile within few days. You can definitely fasten the process by adding a bit of decomposed material from your earlier compost. It will provide the pile with instant microbes which will proliferate much more quickly and also make the decomposition faster.

So do you follow these steps? If not, try applying them to your pile and see the result. Share your experience in composting with us. 



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Growing Okra Some useful tips

Okra is also known as ladies finger and Bhindi (in India). The edible part of the plan is the pointed seed pods. The flower of an okra plant resembles hibiscus and can be used as an ornamental plant.

Pods in the plant

Okra is a warm weather crop. A full sunny spot is ideal for the plant. If you are from the cooler region wait till the weather warms up before planting okra. Cold weather can really kill your plant.

While growing okra from the seeds, the first thing you will notice is that the seeds are much bigger than some of the other vegetables and it is easy to handle. Before planting the seed soak them in warm water. You can either sow them directly in the garden soil or you can choose to first grow the seedling indoor and then transplant them into the garden. If you are planning for the second option, use some seedling tray available in the market and use coir or peat moss as the growing medium. Mix a generous amount of compost along with the soil before planting.

The plant can resist drought and heat very well. But inch deep water weekly is ideal for best pod production.

Okra plants generally get large and it also spread its branches. So you need to do some thinning once the plans reach a height of 6”. It is recommended to leave at least 18” to 24” gap between two okra plants. In case the plant don’t get enough space to grow, the production of the pods will greatly suffer.

If you have used compost you don’t need to add any more fertilizer. Okra plants grow very quickly especially once the pods starts coming. The pods can grow with in 3 to 4 days. It appears first on the bases of the plant and goes upwards. A standard sized plant can grow up to 6 to 8 feet.

Freshly harvested Okra

Okra plants have spines. It is not wise to harvest the pods bare hand. They can be scratchy and irritating. Use gloves while harvesting the pods. The best time to harvest is when the pods are 2”-4”. At this time they the tender and tasty. Though sometimes larger sized pods are also tender and can be used as food. The best way to check its tenderness is by snapping off the end tip of the pod. It will not snap in case the pods have become fibrous. Keep picking the pods and there will be a new one in its place.

Like many other vegetables, okra is also best when eaten fresh. You can also store them in refrigerator for a week. Check out vegetable storing tips in this article.

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Onion Growing tips

Today we are going to discuss about some growing tips of Onions. Though it is not one of the easiest vegetables to grow, it is not very hard either. You can definitely try your hands on them provided you know some basic information.

Onions can be off various types: red, white, or yellow/brown. It can be round, or spindle shaped.

How to Plant?

You can grow onions from seeds, smaller bulbs or transplant.

If you are planning to start with the seeds, it is better to first grow the seedlings indoors. Use special seedling trays (or can alternatively opt for used Egg cartons) and good quality potting soil.

If you are planning to buy transplants from the market, talk to your nearest garden or nursery shop. Though in transplant, the choice of variety is limited, the survival chances are pretty high.  

You can also grow onions from immature bulbs. The best part of choosing bulb is that it is easy to plant, less disease prone and earliest to harvest. Choose bulbs which are smaller in size (diameter less than ½ “). The big sized bulbs are much more prone to bolting.

Onions need sunny weather. 6 hours of full sunlight is ideal for the plants.
Raised garden beds are a very good option for growing onions. It provides warm soil and ideal air circulation to the plant. The ideal pH range is from 6 to 7. If your soil is not in this range you can make it to that region by adding Limestone (if your soil pH is lesser than that), or Peat moss (if your soil pH is greater than that).

Adding sufficient amount of compost also help in reducing the pH of the soil as well as provide the nutrient to the plant.Whatever you do make sure the soil have a very good drainage. Good soil drainage is compulsory for growing onions.

Plant them 4” apart. It will make the onions to mature fully. In case you are planning to harvest green onions (scallions), you can leave a smaller space (2”).

Onions have shallow root system. Which means, that the roots can not get water from the depth of the soil and so take it mostly from the surface and little beneath. Which means while watering, you need to make sure the base of the plant doesn’t become dry. Over watering can also be a problem. One of the sign that your plant is getting more water than needed is tinge of yellow on the leaves. If you find that happening with your plant, reduce the amount of water.

Onions can not compete with most of the weeds. So make sure your soil has minimal or no weeds. You can check organic weed control to know more on how can you remove weeds from your garden. Using a thick layer of Mulch can be a good idea.

Growing onions is all about getting the bulbs. Once you see the top of the plant turns brown or yellow, you should be ready to harvest.

Pull or dig the onions out.  After that, leave them in the open sun for two days to dry.  This will help prevent rotting.  

After drying, the skin of the onion will have a uniform texture. Now it is time trim the roots and detach the stem from the bulb. Remove any soil that is present in the skin.

These onions are now ready to eat. You can store them in plastic bags and keep them in dry and well-ventilated space. We have discussed how to store various vegetables in our earlier article. You can check that article if you want to know about the basics of vegetable storing.

Onion is a very versatile crop. They are used in so many recipes. We are sure you will enjoy the vegetable much more once you grow them in front of your eyes.  

Have any more questions? Check out FAQs about onion growing.

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Marigold Some Growing Tips

Though Marigold represent a single type of flower their variety is endless. They can be single or double and come in many colours which can range from orange, yellow, bi-colour even white.

The best thing about growing marigold is you dont need to think much about the soil. They generally grow in any kind of soil, provided it is well drained and has some nutrients in it. Plant them in a place which receives sufficient amount of Sunlight and chances are that you will get a good amount of yield.

Like most other plants Marigold can be grown both from transplants and from seeds. Although you can easily buy seedlings from your local nursery shops, you can use a much cheaper option of starting from seeds.

If you are growing from seeds try planting 2 months prior to frosting date. Use soil-less media to fill seedling trays. Put the seeds and cover them with the mixture. Then cover the tray with plastic wrap keep the tray in a worm place. You dont require any sunlight for seed germination.

It generally takes 3-4 days for germination but you should check the tray everyday to see any sign of germination. Once you see the germination remove the plastic cover and move the tray in the sunlight.

Once they develop two sets of true leaves you can transplant them to their permanant pots or in the garden.

Care:

Marigold is a plant which requires very little care. You just need to provide them water regularly so that the soil doesn’t go dry. Depending on the variety you may need to put some support to protect them from strong winds.

While growing the plant you need to remove the dead stems and leaves from the plant so that seeds and flowers can grow easily. Unlike Tomato or Roses the pruning is not that essential.

Pest and prevention:

Marigold plants have a pungent odour which help them repel pests. So in most cases you probably would not need any pest preventive system from outside. Besides, the roots of the plant help in reducing nematode population beneath the soil.Due to this unique property marigold plants are used in companion planting. You can find more about that in this article.

Additional point:The petals of the Marigold flower are used to add colour and flavour in many dishes across many cultures. It is also an good alternative to the expensive saffron, and used in many rice preparation (like Biriyani). More on edible flowers in this article.

What Do you think about the article? Please post them below in the comment box. We are eager to know from you.

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Grow Cabbage In Your Home Some Basic Tips

Cabbage is generally a cool weather crop. There are quite a few varieties available in the market viz Green Cabbage, Red Cabbage, Savoy Cabbage, Pointed cabbage, etc.,

Cabbage can be grown from the seeds easily. Sow seeds one inch deep into the soil. Spacing is very important in growing cabbage two seedling should not be very close to each other.

Generally it is advised to keep the spacing 6-12 inches apart. Another trick in the book is to harvest alternatively to give each plant enough space to grow.

Check your soil pH before planting the seeds. An ideal pH range is 6.5 to 6.8. Lower pH can be prone to club root diseases. To increase the pH of the soil try adding lime along with the soil.

It is important to choose the variety of cabbage wisely and as per your local environment. For example, if you are in cooler climate you can choose slower maturity variety and can grow huge heads, but in case you are in warmer climate it is best to go for fast-maturing variety and grow in the springtime.

As you may have already experienced, cabbage requires regular feeding and a good amount of sunlight. In hot summers provide temporary shade to the plants.

For a good cabbage head you need to maintain a constant level of moisture. Water regularly. Uneven watering can make the cabbage head crack. Check out this watering guide before start giving water to the plant.

Applying mulch and mixing compost with soil can provide the solution. Once the new leaves began to emerge apply fertilizers such as fish emulsion, blood meal, etc., A compost made of tea can be very helpful to the plant. It provides the much needed nitrogen to the plant in case the leaves are turning yellow.

Cabbage is one of the vegetables that is very much prone to pests and diseases. One of prominent sign is holes in the cabbage leaves. There are so many insects such as cabbage loopers, slugs, aphids, root maggots, etc., some most frequent diseases include club roots, yellow leaves, black rots, etc., though the variety of problem differs very much and their particular solutions can vary, one of the general solution is to go for companion planting. In case the plants are already attacked by some molds or fungal diseases, it is wiser to remove the plant. Also, crop rotation prevents many of the pests.

You can be sure that the cabbage is ready for harvesting once you can feel their head become firm. Cut the head with a sharp knife from the stem. You can refrigerate the heads for two weeks.

Raw and chopped cabbages can provide a great compliment with barbecue and seafood. There are so many good recipes involving cabbage is present in many cultures. Cabbage is good source for vitamin A, C and Iron.




What is your experience regarding growing Cabbage? Do you have any trick to share? Any advice will be welcomed.

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HAPPY EASTER

HAPPY EASTER

May your Easter be blessed with health, longevity, love and a lot of happiness!

CCRES Team

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How to Grow Tomatoes Growing Tomatoes With Simple Tips Tomato Growing Tips

Tomatoes are one of my favourite vegetable. It is very easy to grow as well as enjoyable to eat. Though technically tomato is a fruit of the plant but we all prefer to call this a vegetable. If you take proper care of your tomato plants, the yield can be overwhelming.

Scientific name : Lycopersicon sp

The tastes of tomatoes are very sensitive to the surroundings. So rather than focusing on only one variety, it is always sensible to try 3 to 4 varieties. It will help you find out which is the best variety suitable to your locality.

Tomato Plants and Sunlight:

Keep your tomato plant to a place where the plant will get plenty of sunlight. The fruit formation of a tomato plant requires at least 6 hours of direct sunlight. You can read more about the effect of sunlight on different plants in our earlier article here.

Tomato Cage for Supporting A Tomato Plant:

A Tomato plant needs support for its growth. You need to build cage or stakes at the time of planting. Staking keeps fruits off the ground whereas a tomato cage help the plant to hold its upright position.

Tomatoes require plenty of water, specially during the summers. But while watering a tomato plant do not wet the leaves or the stem of the plant. Always put water directly into the soil near the roots(see watering guide for details).

Pruning Tomato Plants:

Take out any shoot that grows between the stem and main branches, these shoots always hinder the fruit growth. In gardening this process is called pruning of plants. With the same logic cut off the tip of the plant. It will help the plant to become more bushy with much more fruits.

How To Plant Tomatoes:

You can start either from seed or through seedlings purchased from nurseries. If you are starting from seeds, it is recommended to use seedling trays.fill these trays with potting soil and sow the seeds there. It is important to keep the trays indoor until the seeds germinate. Once they have grown up to 15- 20 cm you can transplant them outdoor. See transplantation techniques for detail.

Before planting the seedlings make the soil ready by tilling and mixing compost or manure with the soil. It is recommended to plant the seedlings 2ft apart.

It is necessary to keep the soil fertile. Add fertilizers two week prior to picking and two weeks after the picking.

Tomato Pests and Diseases:

Tomatoes are particularly susceptible to many pests and diseases. Horn-worms, Aphids, white-flies are few of the tomato pests which can reduce the production of the plant. Late blight (specially during monsoon) and distorted leaves are the common diseases to the plant. It is always wise to plant basil along with your tomato plant. Basil is a fantastic companion plant for tomatoes. It will help in distracting little pests from your tomato plant. This type of planting is called companion planting.

Harvesting Tomatoes:

Never pick tomatoes in green condition they will rot before get ripe. Leave them on the vine as long as possible. Never try to refrigerate ripe tomatoes. It will spoil the texture and taste of the perfectly ripe home grown tomato which is best eaten sun warm from the kitchen garden.

I hope these simple tomato growing tips helped you in growing tomatoes. Do these simple steps and you can enjoy your home grown favourite vegetable and also find the distinctive flavor and taste which are definitely missing when you buy those from the stores.

Thanks for reading. Keep your comments coming.

Read more about tomatoes: 
FAQs About Tomato Growing
Top 8 pests of Tomatoes
Simple steps to save tomato seeds 

Top Five Companion Plants For Tomatoes

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Orchid Growing Basic Tips

Everybody love Orchids. They are very beautiful in their appearance and with so many colorful flowers. There are close to 30,000 varieties of orchids are known to people. They have a diverse range of habitat. They can be found from equatorial tropics to arctic tundra. One of the amazing ability of Orchids are that they can hybrid between species and also between genera which are closely related to it. 

Biology speaking the orchids are epiphytes, i.e, they cling on to some other objects while growing. It can be surface of the tree or stone. So the trick to grow orchids indoor is to simulate the kind of environment it is most comfortable with. 

The most popular variety of orchid which is grown indoors is the moth orchid or Phalaenopsis. The wide range of color and pattern gave it the common name of moth orchid. Unlike other varieties of orchids it lack bulbs. It has become very popular due to its tolerance to the indoor conditions. 

Some of the orchid varieties are very tough to grow even for the professionals. But there are also some varieties that are quite easy to grow. Moth orchid is one of them. You can also try Cattleya or Paphiopedilum.

 Some orchids like Moth orchid and Vandas grow in a single stem and leaves arrange in opposite to each other along the stem. Whereas Cattleya and others grow horizontally with branches.

It is really hard to generalize as there are so many varieties of orchids. But let me try to give you an idea which are generally similar for all the varieties.

It is best to plot your orchid in the south or east facing window. This two place receive the ideal amount of sunlight for their growth. If you are cultivating them indoor 8 to 10 inches away from the lighted bulb.

It is said that it is better to keep them thirsty than overflow them with water. As they generally a tropical plant. Rule of the thumb is to provide water once in a week. They have velamen(aerial root) which absorbs water from the climate. 60 to 80 percent humidity is ideal for orchid growing in case your climate humidity is very low you can use artificial humidifier to solve the issue.

It is very important for the growing media to be airy and permits proper drainage for water. The list of media can be found here.

It is important to provide fertilizers to the plant. Fish or seed weed extracts are usually good for the plants. These should be applied to the plant when active growth is at its peak.

The re-potting requirement of orchids can be different as per the different variety of plants. Some of them requires re-potting every year while others need the pot to be changed after 7 or more years. It is wise not to re-pot unless it is critical. Like so many plants orchids don’t like to be disturbed.

Are you interested or currently growing orchids? Share some of your experience with us.

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Some useful tips for Growing Mushrooms

Mushrooms are full of vitamins, antioxidants and other nutrients; they are low in calories and very good for health. Growing mushrooms is not as difficult as you might think. In this article we will provide you with some useful information which will definitely resolve most of your queries regarding Mushroom growing.

Unlike most of the other plants mushrooms don’t grow from seeds rather they grow from the spores.
Dark, cool and moist environment is ideal for mushrooms. Depending on the variety the ideal temperature ranges from 45 to 60 deg F. little bit light won’t do a lot of harm to the plant but make sure most of the time the light is absent.

One of the easiest ways to start growing mushrooms in your home is to buy Mushroom kits. The best part of a kit is it is already packed with the growing medium and the spawn. You can grow them in trays, bags or boxes. You can also use garden beds to grow them.

How to prepare your own compost:

Choose your composting ingredients. You will find a variety of composting ingredients in this article. After choosing the ingredients mix them and let them decompose. For better understanding of composting process check out our earlier articles:5 tips to faster decomposition.

Once your compost is ready take the mixture in a shady place for providing the ideal condition for mushroom growing.

Once you make sure that the temperature of the compost is bellow 30 deg C start the process of spawning. Add grains of spawns and mixed them properly with the compost. If done properly within two weeks mycelia will grow in compost. You need to provide good ventilation or install a cooling system because those mycelia will increase the heat in the compost.

The edible part of the mushroom is the fruiting stage of the plant. You can quicken the process by covering (generally done by using organic material such as compost, peat moss, cow dung etc.) the top surface of the compost. This is called casing.

Harvesting:

Harvesting of mushrooms are done in three stages:
1.    Buttons: this type is not that good in tastes and primarily for their appearances only.
2.    Cups: have a rounded cap and is next best to Flat mushrooms for eating.
3.    Flat: the caps are flattened and the gills are fully exposed. They are the best in taste.
Pick the mushrooms in an upward twisting motion. After picking the mushrooms, brush off the compost or dirt and use them as food.



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Carrots Growing Tips

Today is third edition of the easiest growing crops series. Todays focus is carrots. You can also check the prior two crops Tomato and Cucumber. 

Carrots are actually taproots which have enlarged. They have a very wide and deep root system. It is a cool climate crop and need to be sown in the winter specially in the sub-tropical areas. The optimum temperature for carrots is 60 to 70 deg F. Though we are used to experience carrots as orange in colour, there are other varieties which can be white, crimson or even purple in colour. But rather than focusing on colour your main concern should be on the root size to suit your soil.

Try to find the uniform blend of soil, it should be without any lumps and stones. These can cause the roots to fork. The depth of the soil should be at least twice that of the mature size of the carrot. The pH of the soil ideally is between 5.5 to 7.0. put sufficient amount of compost or rotten organic matter. They require nutrient enriched soil. Adding of nitrogen can be very crucial to the growth and aesthetics of your carrots. Organic sources such as blood, alfalfa meal, horn meal etc can be used. Also think about using companion planting and crop rotation techniques. Growing carrots after legumes can eliminate the need of adding extra nitrogen. Avoid hot nitrogen source like fresh manure and fish fertilizer. They can cause roots to fork.

Carrots also do well with most plants. Rosemary and sage can deter carrot flies. Check companion planting for more details. If you are planning to grow the carrots till it gives you seed, it is necessary that you avoid planting Dill, Coriander or other plants of Umbelliferae family. These plants cause cross pollination and thus chances of getting the seeds are greatly reduced. Though if you have only planting for the roots and not concerned about getting the seeds, this might not much of an importance to you.

Good news for the urban gardeners, you can grow carrots in the containers also. Just choose the pot which are at least 12 inches deep(container should be twice as deep as the size of the mature carrot) and with good drainage facility. In case you need more information about container gardening check out my earlier blog. In this case try to plant the seeds 1 to 3 inches apart. Cover the seeds with soil and water frequently(More on watering techniques here). It is always better to try for the smaller varieties.

It generally takes 12 to 15 days to germinate. Once they have emerged cover them with a fine mesh netting. It will help to get air, water and sunlight but keeps pest at bay. Applying mulch can retain the moisture level and also reduce the weed problem. The growth of the carrot seedling is always slower than the weeds. Nematodes can be prevented from harming the plant by applying plenty of compost. These are rich in predatory microorganism and can prey on nematodes. 

Carrots can be harvested in less than three months for most of the varieties. You can judge the size of the carrot by looking at the top. Usually the largest carrots have the darkest and greenest top. Most are at their prime when about 2.5 cm in diameter at the crown. It is crucial that you don’t leave your carrots for too long in the ground. It can make them too long, tough and some times distasteful. Do some watering before harvesting. It will soften the soil and will be easier to take out the carrot.

Cut off the leaves as soon as they are out with some sharp knife. Do not just break the top as it tend to sprout and will shorten their storage life. Leaving them for too long in the ground can attract the carrot fly. Gently wash them with cold water to remove all the dirt and it will also cool them down.

If you follow these above mentioned processes.You will be pleasantly surprised by the flavor of home grown carrots. They have a flavor that many modern mass market carrots seem to have lost. 

Related video: Five Useful tips for transplanting a plant

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