If you are a person interested in developing a healthy eating regimen, you will want to take a close look at the benefits of growing your own fruits and vegetables. There are many significant health benefits to be derived from growing and using your own fruits and vegetables.
The process of planting and cultivating your own fruits and vegetables can have significant health benefits in and of itself. Few people get enough proper exercise on a regular basis. The act and process of tending to a garden actually is good exercise. Additionally, gardening has been proven to be a significant stress reliever for a person, resulting in lower blood pressure and other demonstratable health benefits.
Researchers have long noted that the average person (in most countries around the world) does not consume enough fresh fruits and vegetables. By planting and producing your own fruits and vegetables, you have a ready source of wholesome food that can be consumed on a more regular basis.
Many gardeners have taken to using organic practices in the cultivation of their gardens. By using organic gardening practices and techniques, you will be able to grow and consume fruits and vegetables that are free of chemical residue that can be found in many produce items for sale at a typical grocery market.
In the end, you can put yourself on the road to a more healthy life by incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet on a more regular basis.
For more fruit trees growing tips visit us
www.buyfruittree.com
My fascination with fruit trees and what I learn along the way.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Honeydew Melons
Of all the melon varieties, honeydew melons have the most mouth-watering taste. Belonging to the cultivar’s group of muskmelons, honeydew melons occur in numerous varieties like the Crenshaw, Casaba (from Kasaba, a town in Turkey), Persian, and Winter. Honeydew melons provide one of the best options for a quick bite, especially for those who believe in leading a healthy lifestyle.
Honeydew melons provide a number of alternatives for your healthy diet. They are rich in Vitamin C, potassium, pantothenic acid, and Vitamin B6 that help to overcome high blood pressure, skin disorders and other related problems of the circulatory system. These melons are at their nutritive best when ripe. But there is one risk associated with ripe honeydew melons- they are highly perishable. After a long and tedious research, scientists have finally come up with a solution to keep honeydew melons at their 'sweetest best'. The solution is very simple indeed. All you need is to drown the melons in a water-bath containing a special calcium-amino acid solution right after harvest.
The calcium in the solution penetrates the rind to make it firmer and increases its shelf life. Thus the aging process of melons is arrested to a great extent. However, growers have to be a little careful deciding the time of picking of honeydew melons. Once picked, honeydew melons do not develop further sweetness. Hence, a great attention must be directed towards the picking of these melons.
A little expertise is needed to identify and pick honeydew melons at their best. Merely picking up by its rind and color are not always the safest options to pick up the right melon. Choose a melon that has no soft spots. Shake it up from side to side. If you hear the shaking of the seeds, it is perfect to be taken along. Honeydews grow best in January and February. However, if it is early in the season, choose a melon that is ripe among the bunch. If the 'seed-shaking' is not quite distinct, keep the melon in a kitchen towel for a day or two. Melons that are picked up prior to the loosening of their seeds will not ripen at all. So growers must be all the careful when picking up their produce to be sent to the market.
These little tips are highly important to preserve the rocking taste of honeydew melons. It’s sweet taste blends easily to lend an exotic flavor to any dish. Believed to have originated in France, honeydew melons made their inroads to the US nearly a century ago and have been highly popular since then. With added health benefits and numerous recipe options, honeydew melons are rapidly getting stacked into the grocery shelves!
For more fruit trees growing tips visit us
www.buyfruittree.com
Honeydew melons provide a number of alternatives for your healthy diet. They are rich in Vitamin C, potassium, pantothenic acid, and Vitamin B6 that help to overcome high blood pressure, skin disorders and other related problems of the circulatory system. These melons are at their nutritive best when ripe. But there is one risk associated with ripe honeydew melons- they are highly perishable. After a long and tedious research, scientists have finally come up with a solution to keep honeydew melons at their 'sweetest best'. The solution is very simple indeed. All you need is to drown the melons in a water-bath containing a special calcium-amino acid solution right after harvest.
The calcium in the solution penetrates the rind to make it firmer and increases its shelf life. Thus the aging process of melons is arrested to a great extent. However, growers have to be a little careful deciding the time of picking of honeydew melons. Once picked, honeydew melons do not develop further sweetness. Hence, a great attention must be directed towards the picking of these melons.
A little expertise is needed to identify and pick honeydew melons at their best. Merely picking up by its rind and color are not always the safest options to pick up the right melon. Choose a melon that has no soft spots. Shake it up from side to side. If you hear the shaking of the seeds, it is perfect to be taken along. Honeydews grow best in January and February. However, if it is early in the season, choose a melon that is ripe among the bunch. If the 'seed-shaking' is not quite distinct, keep the melon in a kitchen towel for a day or two. Melons that are picked up prior to the loosening of their seeds will not ripen at all. So growers must be all the careful when picking up their produce to be sent to the market.
These little tips are highly important to preserve the rocking taste of honeydew melons. It’s sweet taste blends easily to lend an exotic flavor to any dish. Believed to have originated in France, honeydew melons made their inroads to the US nearly a century ago and have been highly popular since then. With added health benefits and numerous recipe options, honeydew melons are rapidly getting stacked into the grocery shelves!
For more fruit trees growing tips visit us
www.buyfruittree.com
Monday, May 16, 2011
Exotic Melon Varieties
Melon is one such natural food item that qualifies itself as the perfect food for all seasons. The reason behind this is the amazing range of melon varieties available. In fact, different regions savor their own varieties of melons.
It’s interesting to know how melons became popular all over the world. Originating in Middle East, the popularity of melons gradually spread across Europe. It's believed that ancient Romans and Egyptians savored the taste of cantaloupes and honeydew melons.
Most of us are unaware that melons belong to the same gourd family as cucumbers and squashes. In fact, there is a very subtle difference between melons and squashes. The difference lies in way both of them are used. Squashes are consumed as vegetables, whereas melon is chiefly relished for as fruit for its juicy flavor. Melons combine within themselves the goodness of vitamin C and potassium. They are cholesterol free and low in calories, thus forming an essential part of a well-balanced diet. This might even account for the ever-growing popularity of melons amongst the fitness freaks throughout the world.
Another chief factor accounting for the increasing melon consumption is the wide variety of melons cultivated across the world. An important point to be noted in this respect is the popularity of a certain melon variety in a particular region. For instance, cantaloupe melons are chiefly popular in Italy and has been named after a city, Cantalupa, in Rome. This melon variety is commercially very popular for its aroma and flavor. Commonly known as "French breakfast" melon, the Charantais melon is consumed largely in France. There are around thirty-five melon varieties cultivated across the world. Some of the popular melon varieties are listed below:
Cantaloupe: Popularly known as muskmelon, this melon variety with orange flesh and netted skin offers abundant beta-carotene.
Casaba: This melon does not carry any aroma unlike other melons. It's pale yellow when ripe, along with a white flesh and sweet taste.
Crenshaw: A synthesis of Casaba and Persian melons, Crenshaw melons have a sweet and spicy taste.
Honeydew: These melons have a creamy yellow rind with a pale green flesh and serve as a perfect snack item for its sweet taste.
Persian: Quite similar to Cantaloupe melons, Persian melons have a finer netting.
Santa Claus: Popularly known as Christmas melons, this melon variety has green and gold stripes but is not as sweet as other melons.
Sharlyn: This melon shares the combined tastes of cantaloupe and honeydew.
Watermelon: This melon is now available in both the seeded and seedless varieties. Containing approximately 95% water, watermelons are an excellent source of essential vitamins. Watermelon juice serves as a refreshing drink to remove any imbalance of body fluids.
The above-mentioned names are just a few of the numerous varieties cultivated throughout the world. Out of them,watermelon is possibly consumed widely on account of the numerous health benefits offered by this red succulent fruit.
For more fruit trees growing tips visit us
www.buyfruittree.com
It’s interesting to know how melons became popular all over the world. Originating in Middle East, the popularity of melons gradually spread across Europe. It's believed that ancient Romans and Egyptians savored the taste of cantaloupes and honeydew melons.
Most of us are unaware that melons belong to the same gourd family as cucumbers and squashes. In fact, there is a very subtle difference between melons and squashes. The difference lies in way both of them are used. Squashes are consumed as vegetables, whereas melon is chiefly relished for as fruit for its juicy flavor. Melons combine within themselves the goodness of vitamin C and potassium. They are cholesterol free and low in calories, thus forming an essential part of a well-balanced diet. This might even account for the ever-growing popularity of melons amongst the fitness freaks throughout the world.
Another chief factor accounting for the increasing melon consumption is the wide variety of melons cultivated across the world. An important point to be noted in this respect is the popularity of a certain melon variety in a particular region. For instance, cantaloupe melons are chiefly popular in Italy and has been named after a city, Cantalupa, in Rome. This melon variety is commercially very popular for its aroma and flavor. Commonly known as "French breakfast" melon, the Charantais melon is consumed largely in France. There are around thirty-five melon varieties cultivated across the world. Some of the popular melon varieties are listed below:
Cantaloupe: Popularly known as muskmelon, this melon variety with orange flesh and netted skin offers abundant beta-carotene.
Casaba: This melon does not carry any aroma unlike other melons. It's pale yellow when ripe, along with a white flesh and sweet taste.
Crenshaw: A synthesis of Casaba and Persian melons, Crenshaw melons have a sweet and spicy taste.
Honeydew: These melons have a creamy yellow rind with a pale green flesh and serve as a perfect snack item for its sweet taste.
Persian: Quite similar to Cantaloupe melons, Persian melons have a finer netting.
Santa Claus: Popularly known as Christmas melons, this melon variety has green and gold stripes but is not as sweet as other melons.
Sharlyn: This melon shares the combined tastes of cantaloupe and honeydew.
Watermelon: This melon is now available in both the seeded and seedless varieties. Containing approximately 95% water, watermelons are an excellent source of essential vitamins. Watermelon juice serves as a refreshing drink to remove any imbalance of body fluids.
The above-mentioned names are just a few of the numerous varieties cultivated throughout the world. Out of them,watermelon is possibly consumed widely on account of the numerous health benefits offered by this red succulent fruit.
For more fruit trees growing tips visit us
www.buyfruittree.com
Friday, May 13, 2011
Growing Fruits Using Hydroponics
By Allison Agnick
Great way to grow fruits anywhere..
Would you like to try growing your own fresh fruits year round, but live in an area where, due to cold temperatures, snow or poor soil, you are unable to do so outdoors? Instead, why not try hydroponics, a form of gardening in which you can grow plants without any soil at all. There are several different types of fruits you could consider growing in a hydroponic manner.
One aspect of plant culture that is wise to keep in mind is to pay attention to the growing conditions a particular plant needs to survive and thrive. Poor choices for hydroponic-style gardening are succulents, because they will only thrive in dry conditions, and you are attempting to grow plants in the medium of water. Water-loving plants make a good choice for hydroponic gardening, because the plants will be growing in water. Melons are a good example of a fruit that grows well in this circumstance. Watermelons and cantaloupe can both be grown successfully hydroponically because both are water loving plants and can thrive in this sort of growing medium.
Although not considered a fruit by some, nevertheless tomatoes meet the scientific criteria for classification as a fruit. Tomatoes grow wonderfully in a hydroponic environment as long as they have excellent lighting.
Other fruits that grow well hydroponically are berries. You can grow strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries very well in a hydroponics system.
Grapes are another favorite fruit that you can grow using this method as well. Both table grapes and wine grapes have been successfully grown using hydroponic methods.
Surprisingly, there are some trees that can be grown in a hydroponic manner. Banana trees are one, and dwarf citrus trees, such as lemons, are another. Imagine growing fruits that would normally require a tropical or very warm climate to produce fruit during an Alaskan or Scandinavian winter, through the appropriate use of a hydroponic plant system and the correct lighting and proper nutrition.
All plants will receive absolutely no nutrients from soil, since this system uses none, so the gardener must supply the plants with nutrients in the form of a nutrient solution. You water the plant with the nutrient, and the plant takes the food up through its roots. Typically the nutrients are dissolved in distilled water, because the water needs to be very pure. If you use your own water, you will likely want to have the water tested for elements that may already be present, so that you do not provide too much of any one nutrient.
Hydroponic-system gardening is an excellent way to increase fruit yields over conventional soil gardening, and it allows gardeners to grow fruits that would otherwise not be possible in their climate or soil.
For more fruit trees growing tips visit us
www.buyfruittree.com
Great way to grow fruits anywhere..
Would you like to try growing your own fresh fruits year round, but live in an area where, due to cold temperatures, snow or poor soil, you are unable to do so outdoors? Instead, why not try hydroponics, a form of gardening in which you can grow plants without any soil at all. There are several different types of fruits you could consider growing in a hydroponic manner.
One aspect of plant culture that is wise to keep in mind is to pay attention to the growing conditions a particular plant needs to survive and thrive. Poor choices for hydroponic-style gardening are succulents, because they will only thrive in dry conditions, and you are attempting to grow plants in the medium of water. Water-loving plants make a good choice for hydroponic gardening, because the plants will be growing in water. Melons are a good example of a fruit that grows well in this circumstance. Watermelons and cantaloupe can both be grown successfully hydroponically because both are water loving plants and can thrive in this sort of growing medium.
Although not considered a fruit by some, nevertheless tomatoes meet the scientific criteria for classification as a fruit. Tomatoes grow wonderfully in a hydroponic environment as long as they have excellent lighting.
Other fruits that grow well hydroponically are berries. You can grow strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries very well in a hydroponics system.
Grapes are another favorite fruit that you can grow using this method as well. Both table grapes and wine grapes have been successfully grown using hydroponic methods.
Surprisingly, there are some trees that can be grown in a hydroponic manner. Banana trees are one, and dwarf citrus trees, such as lemons, are another. Imagine growing fruits that would normally require a tropical or very warm climate to produce fruit during an Alaskan or Scandinavian winter, through the appropriate use of a hydroponic plant system and the correct lighting and proper nutrition.
All plants will receive absolutely no nutrients from soil, since this system uses none, so the gardener must supply the plants with nutrients in the form of a nutrient solution. You water the plant with the nutrient, and the plant takes the food up through its roots. Typically the nutrients are dissolved in distilled water, because the water needs to be very pure. If you use your own water, you will likely want to have the water tested for elements that may already be present, so that you do not provide too much of any one nutrient.
Hydroponic-system gardening is an excellent way to increase fruit yields over conventional soil gardening, and it allows gardeners to grow fruits that would otherwise not be possible in their climate or soil.
For more fruit trees growing tips visit us
www.buyfruittree.com
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Growing Square WaterMelons at Home
An American favorite for meals and snacks. People can't seem to get enough of the sweet treat, and nutritionists have long appreciated the health benefits watermelon provides. Recently research has shed new light on its potential health benefits. Watermelon contains high concentrations of lycopene, an antioxidant that may help reduce the risks of cancer and other diseases.
Watermelon, the fruit that is really a Vegetable. Watermelon can be traced back to Africa and is part of the cucumber and squash family. Early watermelons were mainly rind and seeds. Today's varieties are larger, the flesh sweeter, the seeds smaller and the rind thinner. It is perhaps the most refreshing, thirst quenching fruit of all. Watermelon consists of 92% water and 8% sugar, so it is aptly named. Americans eat over 17 lbs of watermelon each year. The largest one on world record (Guinness Book of World Records) weighed 262 pounds.
Everywhere water melons are round shaped. But, if you happen to come across with a watermelon which is square shaped, do not be under the impression that it is different from the round shaped fruit. Genetically, both are the same.
It is certainly possible to grow square shaped watermelon at your home. Mostly, the shape of a fruit or vegetable depends on its shape at the very early stage. Hence, if you are allowing the watermelon to grow in a square container, the grown up fruit will be likely to be square shaped. Your success is assured in this venture, provided you take adequate care of a few delicate aspects.
When there is yield of square shaped watermelon in your garden, you will be considered as a revolutionary farmer. You must learn the step by step growing method of the plant, preparation of the soil, nurturing the baby fruit, protecting it from pests and other dangers, shaping it in the desired way and finally harvesting it. You must seek the best and reliable guidance that will enable you to make a great excitement in your garden and win the appreciation of your friends and neighbors.
For more fruit trees growing tips visit us
www.buyfruittree.com
Monday, May 9, 2011
Learn How To Grow Watermelons
By Sadie Backhurst
Good tips for growing watermelons !
The Watermelon is catalogued to be mutually a fruit as well as a plant from a vine-like herb which derives from Southern Africa. Most watermelons contain a green skin with a pink juicy flesh which can sometimes red, orange, yellow depending on the kind of watermelon or even green if it is not yet ripe.
The fruit is considered to be very tasty, refreshing and can be eaten at any time of the day because it is not heavy on the stomach and it has a nice refreshing flavor. Watermelon produces Vitamin C, as well as beta carotene and lycopene. Instead of always having to buy watermelon from the food store, you can grow your own watermelon. Even though it might be more difficult however, the rewards for producing a successful produce is even bigger. Required Tools: Spade Fork Required Materials: Water Watermelon seeds Compost Fertilizer Bone meal Fertile sand Bone meal
Instructions are as follows:
1. First find a location that gets a lot of sunshine. The area should supply proper air flow and also be guarded from chilly winds for windy times such as during the spring and fall.
2. The site should be prepared by digging up the area using the garden tools like the shovel and fork. Then put in plenty of organic matter such as well drained manure and fertile loam within the earth in order to provide the right circumstances that the watermelon seeds require to flourish properly.
3. Watermelon seeds can be purchased at a nursery or a farm house. The seeds should be sown after both air and soil temperatures have gotten to about 65 degrees about two to three weeks after the last frost if you live in a cold atmosphere. The seeds can be planted right into the soil which is better for harvesting melons during a time when the fruit has enough time to fully develop. Watermelons don't develop very well after being transplanted from a pot so it is not advised.
4. Dig a hole in the earth about one foot deep and around two feet in breadth and a around a shovel full of compost and a trowel or two of bone meal. Make every hole so that they have lots of space separating each other. They should be someplace from three feet for small bush types to 12 feet apart for giant ramblers.
5. During the growth process, add thick amounts of organic mulch to hold in the right amount of moisture and deter weeds and keep the melons clean while they grow. You can also utilize a black plastic mulch with slits cut for the plants, and this will contain the heat better than any other soil sheeting. You can also cover the plants with floating sheets to keep the air humid and give the young plants an inch of water a week.
6. When the flower starts to appear, then take off all the covers so that air can circulate and pollination can take place for the bees and other insects. Compost should also be used every three weeks to start the fertilization.
7. The melon fruit should be left for around a month after being planted so that they can full blossom, and then they can taken up.
Tips and Warnings *If you are very specific when it concerns the acidity of the earth where the watermelons will be grown, you can test it using an acidity test kit. Watermelons flourish best in soil that is close to neutral PH but can also survive in acidity going up to 5.5. *Plant only one variety of watermelon if you want to keep some of the seeds for the following annum, all watermelons cross-pollinate effortlessly. * Persons who plant watermelon crops should revolve their crops each year with plant disease resistance varieties to drive away insects such as cucumber beetles that transfer the disease. You can also plant radishes within your melon patch to ward off these problems. Watermelons are especially susceptible to fusarium which are mainly found within northern areas.
For more fruit trees growing tips visit us
www.buyfruittree.com
Good tips for growing watermelons !
The Watermelon is catalogued to be mutually a fruit as well as a plant from a vine-like herb which derives from Southern Africa. Most watermelons contain a green skin with a pink juicy flesh which can sometimes red, orange, yellow depending on the kind of watermelon or even green if it is not yet ripe.
The fruit is considered to be very tasty, refreshing and can be eaten at any time of the day because it is not heavy on the stomach and it has a nice refreshing flavor. Watermelon produces Vitamin C, as well as beta carotene and lycopene. Instead of always having to buy watermelon from the food store, you can grow your own watermelon. Even though it might be more difficult however, the rewards for producing a successful produce is even bigger. Required Tools: Spade Fork Required Materials: Water Watermelon seeds Compost Fertilizer Bone meal Fertile sand Bone meal
Instructions are as follows:
1. First find a location that gets a lot of sunshine. The area should supply proper air flow and also be guarded from chilly winds for windy times such as during the spring and fall.
2. The site should be prepared by digging up the area using the garden tools like the shovel and fork. Then put in plenty of organic matter such as well drained manure and fertile loam within the earth in order to provide the right circumstances that the watermelon seeds require to flourish properly.
3. Watermelon seeds can be purchased at a nursery or a farm house. The seeds should be sown after both air and soil temperatures have gotten to about 65 degrees about two to three weeks after the last frost if you live in a cold atmosphere. The seeds can be planted right into the soil which is better for harvesting melons during a time when the fruit has enough time to fully develop. Watermelons don't develop very well after being transplanted from a pot so it is not advised.
4. Dig a hole in the earth about one foot deep and around two feet in breadth and a around a shovel full of compost and a trowel or two of bone meal. Make every hole so that they have lots of space separating each other. They should be someplace from three feet for small bush types to 12 feet apart for giant ramblers.
5. During the growth process, add thick amounts of organic mulch to hold in the right amount of moisture and deter weeds and keep the melons clean while they grow. You can also utilize a black plastic mulch with slits cut for the plants, and this will contain the heat better than any other soil sheeting. You can also cover the plants with floating sheets to keep the air humid and give the young plants an inch of water a week.
6. When the flower starts to appear, then take off all the covers so that air can circulate and pollination can take place for the bees and other insects. Compost should also be used every three weeks to start the fertilization.
7. The melon fruit should be left for around a month after being planted so that they can full blossom, and then they can taken up.
Tips and Warnings *If you are very specific when it concerns the acidity of the earth where the watermelons will be grown, you can test it using an acidity test kit. Watermelons flourish best in soil that is close to neutral PH but can also survive in acidity going up to 5.5. *Plant only one variety of watermelon if you want to keep some of the seeds for the following annum, all watermelons cross-pollinate effortlessly. * Persons who plant watermelon crops should revolve their crops each year with plant disease resistance varieties to drive away insects such as cucumber beetles that transfer the disease. You can also plant radishes within your melon patch to ward off these problems. Watermelons are especially susceptible to fusarium which are mainly found within northern areas.
For more fruit trees growing tips visit us
www.buyfruittree.com
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Watering Melons
Dig a trench about 4 inches deep in a circular shape about 3 feet in diameter. Pile the soil into the center to form a hill.
Plant melon seeds around the outer edge of your hill, about 6 inches apart. Use a sprinkler or hose spray to water them after planting: it's fine to overhead-water the area until the seeds sprout, about 1 week to 10 days later.
Install a drip irrigation system in your melon patch, or wind a soaker hose in the trench around your melon hills. Alternatively, place the end of a garden hose in the trench.
Run your drip system, soaker hose or garden hose at a medium drip speed for about 30 minutes two or three times each week until the fruit begins to form.
Run your drip system, soaker hose or garden hose at a medium drip speed for about 45 minutes once every 12 to 15 days after melons begin to form on your vines.
For more fruit trees growing tips visit us
www.buyfruittree.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)