Christian Gardeners International

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The easy guide to compost

October 17, 2018

Compost Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. It's a cheap source of organic matter for the garden The end result of composting should be valuable humus It is an important component of fertile soil Compost consists of water, air, carbon and nitrogen Almost any organic material can be used such as not needed fruit and vegetables plants, fruit peelings, tea leaves, coffee grounds, egg shells, lawn clippings, nettles, comfrey, old animal manure Dont add straw, paper, sawdust or woody materials Turn the compost at least once a week Turning compost transfers material on the outside to the center Tumbling compost bins allow for easy turning If the compost drys out add some water The decomposed compost should be a brown color Rather than a black color Compost can be made from worm farms See More! The easy guide to Po

The easy guide to fertilizers

October 14, 2018

Fertilizers Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; They can be powder, granular or liquid form NPK or inorganic fertilisers which means Nitrogen, phosporous and potassium when all three are available it is a complete fertiliser 10:5:10 means 10% nitrogen 5% phosphorus 10% potassium they are fast acting they are available commericially they release nutrients over a few months they are directed to the plant not the soil fertilisers need moisture to work well they can be in a liquid form Organic fertilisers includes a whole range of substances they usually contain less nutrients than inorganics they usually contain more trace elements than inorganics they can be available commericially dried blood and bone excellent for fruit and vegetables it is high in nitrogen and phosphorus manure it is high in nitrogen and phosphorus well rotted manure is applie

The easy guide to soil structure and types

October 13, 2018

Soil structure and types Acts 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. The soil is different according to the location Sites close together can have different soils Soils differ in organic matter, their condition and depth The soil affects plant growth Most fruits and vegetables grow reasonably well on a wide range of soils but growing on the right kind of soil is important Clay Clay particles are smaller than sand They pack down hard together Which makes the soil heavy Clay soils can be hard to penetrate Clay soils need less water They are difficult to dig Sand Sand particles are large in shape Sandy soils have an open structure Sandy soils have good drainage Sandy soils need more water They are easy to dig Loam It is a mixture of sand, clay and silt Loam particles are smaller than sand Loam soils hold water more than sand Loam soils have good drainage Loam

The easy guide to mulching

October 11, 2018

Mulching Romans 16:27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. A mulch is a layer of material which is applied to the surface of the soil Mulches can be organic or inorganic Mulching can bring significant benefits in growing fruits and vegetables Mulches reduce evaporation of water from the soil Organic mulches provide nutrients to the soil Mulches improve soil structure and fertility Mulches are effective in smothering weed growth Mulches keep soil moist which encourages earthworms Mulches can be used in small or big gardens Mulches can prevent heavy rain damaging the soil structure Mulches modify the soil temperature Keeping soil moist and cool in summer Or allowing the soil to warm up in cooler months Mulches should not pack down so that water cannot reach the soil It is better that the mulch has an open structure Mulch vegetable beds with garden compost, straw, leaves, rotted animal manure, leaf mould or small wood c

The easy guide to cape gooseberries

October 09, 2018

Cape gooseberries (Physalis peruviana) Philippians 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Also known as the husk tomato or the golden berry It gets its name from the Cape of Good Hope Not to be confused with the chinese gooseberry It is an interesting perennial plant The plants grow well in subtropical climates They grow to a height of 2 meter They spread to a distance of 1.5 meters The berries make a good jam The berries go with pies The variety golden nugget is grown in Australia Yield is as high as 2kg per plant How to Grow Plant out after the frosts finish They prefer deep light soil Mix compost into the planting site Space plants 1.5 meters apart Keep the soil moist Harvesting When the husk turns light brown Berries are picked for several months The berries can be eaten fresh When cropping ceases cut plant to 20cm of the ground Se

The easy guide to tamarillos

October 07, 2018

Tamarillos (Cyphomandra betacea) Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. Also known as the tree tomato It is grown in Australia and New Zealand Trees grow to 5 meters tall Young trees can be brought at nurseries Trees live for 5-7 years The fruit is the size of a duck egg The fruit can be red, orange or yellow The skin can be easily peeled The fruit can be stewed Yield can be as high as 20kg per tree How to Grow They prefer a light well drained soil They can be grown from seed or cuttings Work alot of compost into the planting hole Transplant seedlings when they are at least 15cm tall Space plants 2 meters apart Protect plants from strong winds Mulch around the tree Pinch out the growing tip when plant is 1 meter tall Harvesting Winter time They can be eaten fresh Fruit can be stored indoors Fruit can be stored in a refrigerator

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