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Archive for July, 2009

How to Grow and Care For a Tomato Plant

Friday, July 31st, 2009

The tomato plant is perhaps the most popular gardening plant in all America. They provide food for the family and are generally easy to grow. Even though growing this plant is generally easy that does not mean you can ignore its care.

A surprising fact for many gardeners is that tomatoes, scientifically speaking, are actually are fruit not a vegetable. There many varieties of tomatoes to choose from compared to years ago. Each one has its own size, shape, color, harvest time and flavor.

The best time to begin growing a tomato plant is early spring. If you attempt to grow this tasty food during freezing temperatures you’re sure to meet with failure. Each tomato variety has its own growing and spacing needs. If planted too close to each other they may not reach there true potential. By following the guidelines on the plant tag or seed packaging you’ll know the best distance to space the tomato plants.

Adding mulch, organic matter, or compost is highly recommended. Plants that develop fruit have a high need for nutrients (heavy feeders). Therefore, regular feedings keep the plant healthy and assist in the development of the fruit.

Your tomato plant will benefit from regular watering. When grown in containers they may need to be watered every couple days. In addition, you should feed liquid tomato fertilizer every three weeks, give or take. As the plant matures, you will need to add stakes to support it weight.

Having weeds around your plants is an invitation to garden pests. Keep the area clear of debris and weeds to minimize insects from destroying your plants. Beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings can be purchased at many gardening stores to control destructive garden pests.

If you give your tomato plant the basic care they need you’ll be rewarded with tasty, healthy tomatoes your whole family can enjoy. Gardening is also a great way to get exercise and burn off some stress.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Steve Habib is an online researcher on the subject of growing and caring for a variety of plants. You can find more insights and groundbreaking research into how people all over the world are becoming better gardeners at: To receive automatic updates whenever changes are made to our site visit our BLOG PAGE today. To discover more about TOMATO PLANT visit here.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/how-to-grow-and-care-for-a-tomato-plant-1084297.html

Do You Want a Great Looking Staghorn Fern? Just Follow These Proven Growing Tips

Friday, July 31st, 2009

The Staghorn Fern is unique and funky looking plant. The name given to it is fitting because of its odd appearing leaves, which are also known as fronds. The Staghorn is native to the tropical areas of Australia and New Guinea. On trees where they grow, they can get as large as 4 feet in diameter. This plant is also found in the tropical climate of Florida and Hawaii.

You can find this plant in select nurseries across the south, southwest, and other warm climate areas. If you want to grow this plant to see it flower you are going to be disappointed. This fern does not flower at anytime throughout its life. Instead it reproduces by shedding spores, which are transported from the breeze to other trees where they attach themselves and begin to grow.

To get the most out of the Staghorn fern keep it out direct sunlight. That is why you often see them thriving at the base of a tree trunk. The leaves and branches from a tree filter out the sunlight and keep the plant shaded and cool. The ideal temperature range for this plant is between 60-85 degrees, and no less than 40 degree during winter months. This is why they do so well in Central and South Florida. As with most plants in tropical regions, this fern thrives on high humidity.

In Central Florida and other tropical climates, these ferns are often grown in containers and seen hanging from trees. In other situations, if you look carefully you will notice them growing out of the trunk of the tree.

Make sure with this fern you allow plenty of room for it to grow. This plant will become large and will need room to space out. You will also have to keep an eye open for scale insects. If you see that your plant has become covered with the bugs, run it underneath tap water. If the plant is oversized for the sink, put inside a tub to rinse it off. Make sure you shake off excess water to prevent fungus from forming. The simple step we’ve outlined here will keep your plant healthy and strong for years. To learn more about the staghorn fern follow the link.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Steve Habib is an online researcher on the subject of growing and caring for a variety of plants. You can find more insights and groundbreaking research into how people all over the world are becoming better gardeners at: To receive automatic updates whenever changes are made to our site visit our BLOG PAGE today. To discover more about the STAGHORN FERN visit here.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/do-you-want-a-great-looking-staghorn-fern-just-follow-these-proven-growing-tips-1084299.html

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