Plants vegetables at home

An old method of growing vegetable garden is by digging the backyard and installing block to grow veggie
Time has changed and so have the methods. People have thought out of the box to plant vegetable gardens while maintaining the space. 
Balcony: Use the edge of your balcony to plant vegetable like tomato. 
Along the House:Attach netting to the back of your house by connecting it to gutter hardware or nailing it to wooden eaves. Plant your vegetable garden along the base of your house and allow your food to blanket the back wall of your home.
    In the Porch: Create a masterpeice in your back yard or portio/balcony by running netting from the roof  to the ground. Plant vegetables along the bottom of the netting. This will give a unique picturesque and fresh vegetables.
  1. Rope Garden: If you're lucky enough to have an old-fashioned  clothes dryer at your place, use them as frames for hanging vegetable planters. Plant upside-down planters with tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, peppers and other vining foods and hang the planters from the clothes dryer. You'll have a plentiful garden without taking up a foot of yard space

Pick fresh fruits from your balcony

There is one or another fruit which is dearest to us, and your heart always pounce for it. If you enjoy sweet and delicious fresh fruits why should we wait for it, lets grow it at our home. 
There are variety of fruits available that can be grown in containers wit the height of 3-4 feet, with less care. these plants are perfect for indoor environment, small apartments. They only require bright sunny window, some mist to add humidity and weekly watering. 
Lets check them out..........

 Meyer Lemon Tree:

The most common, and most popular indoor fruit tree is the Meyer lemon tree. This hardy little specimen is a gardener’s delight! The beautiful white blossoms act as a natural air freshener and air cleaner for your home, and the tree yields several pounds of full size lemons every year …
The fruit from the dwarf Meyer lemon tree and other indoor citrus trees is sweeter than any fruit you’d buy in the grocery store because of its small size. Instead of expending energy to grow taller, these trees are designed to devote more energy to fruit production.
Once you taste the fruit from your very own tree, you’ll never want to buy store bought fruit again! Many of these great little trees offer seedless fruit too.
Other than the dwarf Meyer lemon, there are a surprising varieties of indoor citrus trees you can add to your home. 
List of commonly available:

  • Dwarf Indoor Orange Trees
  • Indoor Lime Trees, including Key Lime
  • Indoor Tangelo and Tangerine Trees
  • Dwarf Indoor Pomegranate Trees
  • Indoor Papaya Plants
  • Indoor Pineapple Plants
  • Indoor Tropical Fruit Trees
  • Indoor Olive Trees
  • Indoor Fruit Cocktail Trees, also known as Three-In-One Citrus

  • We will be sharing details about each in other posts. 

    Indoor Fruit Tree Care …

    With standard citrus trees grown outdoors, sunshine is the most important ingredient to their long term health and success. The same is true with indoor fruit trees, they need a sunny window or bright room with ample sun exposure. The more the better in fact  six to eight hours a day is usually sufficient. Don’t worry if your climate tends to be on the cloudy and rainy side though outdoor citrus trees endure cloudy and rainy spells just fine.
    Generally, it’s safe to assume the more exposure to sunlight for an indoor fruit tree, the better. They also crave humidity, which you can create by misting the tree with lukewarm water every other day or so.
    You should only have to water your tree once a week or so, just enough so the soil is on the dry side of moist. These indoor trees don’t like to sit in a puddle of water! Of course, indoor environments differ, as some are drier than others but in general, watering once a week is plenty.

    12 plants that repel unwanted insects



    One of the ways you  fight back against mosquitoes, gnats, flies, and other pesky bugs is by covering yourself with a sticky spray or engaging in chemical warfare. To help you enjoy outdoors, try strategically placing insect-repelling plants in your garden or on your patio.
    Essential oils in these plants act as nature’s bug repellent. Insects tend to avoid them. You can even use some of these plants to make your own natural bug repellent.

    But only including insect-repelling plants in your landscape will not in itself ensure your garden is insect free.

    For those who would like to give the natural route a try, we’ve described six easy-to-find herbs readily available at most nurseries that are said to repel mosquitoes and other annoying insects. The smell from fragrant herbs is the result of the distribution of tiny globules that contain oils. High temperatures, for example, can cause the globules to become volatile, evaporating the essential oils and turning them into vapors. We’ve included  five ornamental flowers that can help keep plant-attacking insects at bay. 

    What plants are you growing that reduce your insect populations? Please share your results in the comments section.

    Herbs





    Basil repels housefliesBasil
    Repels house flies and mosquitoes. Plant basil in containers by your house doors and in outdoor areas where you like to relax or entertain. Basil is delicious in salads, in many pork and chicken recipes and with a variety of soups. You also can use fresh basil to make an insect repellent spray. A simple recipe calls for pouring 4 ounces of boiling water into a container holding 4 to 6 ounces of clean, fresh basil leaves (stems can be attached), letting the leaves steep for several hours, removing the leaves and squeezing all of the leaves’ moisture into the mixture. Then thoroughly mix 4 ounces of (cheap!) vodka with the basil-water mixture. Store in the refrigerator and apply as a spray when going outdoors. Be sure to keep the spray away from your eyes, nose and mouth.
    Lavender bouquets repel fleas, flies and other biting insects

    Lavender
    Repels moths, fleas, flies and mosquitoes. Lavender has been used for centuries to add a pleasantly sweet fragrance to homes and clothes drawers. Although people love the smell of lavender, mosquitoes, flies and other unwanted insects hate it. Place tied bouquets in your home to help keep flies outdoors. Plant it in sunny areas of the garden or near entryways to your house to help keep those areas pest free. You can also use oil extracted from the flowers as a mosquito repellent you can apply to exposed skin when going into the garden or patio. The Everything Lavender website has a guide for extracting the oil and making a lavender-infused body oil. Added benefits are that lavender oil nourishes the skin and has a calming effect that induces sleep.
    Lemongrass repels insects like mosquitoes

    Lemongrass
    Repels mosquitoes. You’ve no doubt seen citronella candles in stores during the summer and read how citronella will keep mosquitoes away. Citronella is a natural oil found in lemongrass, an ornamental that can grow up to 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide in one season. This grass with wonderful culinary uses is hardy only in South Florida (Zone 10), so almost everyone will have to grow it as an annual. It does well in a pot or in the ground in a sunny, well-drained location. Use its fragrant, narrow leaves in chicken and pork dishes and to flavor soups and salad dressing. Many Asian recipes call for lemongrass.

    Lemon thyme repels mosquitoes
    Lemon thyme
    Repels mosquitoes. This hardy herb can adapt to dry or rocky, shallow soil and will thrive in your herb garden, a rock garden or a front border as long as these are in sunny locations. The plant itself will not repel pesky mosquitoes. To release its chemicals, you must first bruise the leaves. To do this, simply cut off a few stems and rub them between your hands. Before you do that, though, it’s advisable to make sure the plant’s natural properties will not adversely affect you. Determine your tolerance by rubbing crushed leaves on a small area on your forearm for several days.
    Mint repels mosquitoes 
    Mint
    Repels mosquitoes. Mint is best grown in pots rather than the ground because it spreads aggressively. Once established in the garden, it can be difficult to remove. The leaves are commonly used to flavor iced tea. The aromatic properties found in the leaves are also present in the stems and flowers. With a little work, the plant’s aromatic oils can be extracted and combined with apple cider vinegar and cheap vodka (or witch hazel) to make a mosquito repellent. Containers of mint strategically placed in the garden or on the patio will help keep nearby plants insect free.

    Rosemary repels insects as plant and oil
    Rosemary
    Repels mosquitoes and a variety of insects harmful to vegetable plants. Rosemary is available in various forms. Plants can be grown in containers on a patio and shaped into ornamental pyramids, grown in herb gardens or planted in landscaped beds, where some varieties can grow quite large. Rosemary’s oils are as delicious to home cooks as they are unpleasant to many insects. The plant itself and its cuttings are effective repellents. You can make a simple repellent spray by boiling 1 quart of dried rosemary in a quart of water for 20 to 30 minutes and then straining the liquid into a container at least a half-gallon in size that contains a quart of cool water. Put a cap on the combined liquid and store it in the refrigerator. Add the repellent to small squirt bottles as needed when going outdoors. Discard the remaining repellent in the refrigerator when it no longer has a strong telltale smell of rosemary.

    Other herbs
    • Bay leaves: Repel flies. When you grow this plant, you won’t have to rely on the dried leaves from stores to add flavor to roasts and soups. Just pick the leaves as you need them.
    • Chives: Repel carrot flies, Japanese beetle and aphids.
    • Dill: Repels aphids, squash bugs, spider mites, cabbage loopers and tomato hornworms.
    • Fennel: Repels aphids, slugs and snails.
    • Lemon balm: Repels mosquitoes.
    • Oregano: Repels many pests.
    • Parsley: Repels asparagus beetles.
    • Thyme: Repels whiteflies, cabbage loopers, cabbage maggots, corn earworms, whiteflies, tomato hornworms and small whites.

    Ornamental flowers

    Allium is a broad spectrum insecticide
    Alliums
    Plants in the Allium family, such as the dramatic Allium giganteum whose flower heads adorn stalks up to 6 feet tall, are regarded as a broad-spectrum natural insecticide. They repel numerous insects that plague vegetable gardens, including slugs, aphids, carrot flies and cabbage worms. Plants that will benefit from the proximity of alliums include tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, cabbage, broccoli, kohlrabi and carrots. They also will keep aphids off rose bushes. Alliums include small-growing herbs such as chives and garlic chives, leeks and shallots.

    Chrysanthemums are famous for repelling beetles, ants, and roaches
    Chrysanthemums
    Repel roaches, ants, Japanese beetles, ticks, silverfish, lice, fleas, bedbugs, spider mites, harlequin bugs and root-knot nematodes. The ingredient in chrysanthemums that makes them so effective as an insect-repelling companion plant is pyrethrum. Because pyrethrums can kill flying and jumping insects, they are used in America’s most commonly available home and garden insecticide and are frequently used in indoor sprays, pet shampoos and aerosol bombs. Although chrysanthemum flowers can be used to make an insecticidal spray, pyrethrum can be carcinogenic to humans and care should be taken in using them in this form. Make sure you know the risks.

    Marigolds repel many garden pests
    Marigolds
    The scent from various types of marigolds repels aphids, mosquitoes and even rabbits. The roots of marigolds are well-known among farmers to repel nematodes, though those qualities require a year to take effect. Grow marigolds as an annual in most parts of the country, mixed in along the border of your flower beds or interspersed throughout your vegetable garden. Although marigolds are easy to grow in sunny locations, they can fall victim to gray mold, several types of leaf spot, powdery mildew, damping off and root rot.

    Nasturitiums repel insects
    Nasturtiums
    Repel whiteflies, squash bugs, aphids, many beetles and cabbage loopers. Nasturtiums could be considered the poster child for companion planting, which is growing a variety of plants close to one another for the benefits each brings to the others. Nasturtiums release an airborne chemical that repels predacious insects, protecting not just the nasturtium but other plants in the grouping. Because many of the insects nasturtiums repel favor vegetables — tomatoes, cucumbers, kale, kohlrabi, collards, broccoli, cabbage and radishes — nasturtiums are an idea choice for planting along the edges of vegetable gardens. Fortunately, nasturtiumsdo not repel the all-important pollinator — the bumblebee.

    Petunias repel insects
    Petunias
    Repel aphids, tomato hornworms, asparagus beetles, leafhoppers and squash bugs. Some people think of them as nature’s pesticide. They are popular mostly because they are available in a variety of bright colors, require such minimal maintenance they are almost foolproof to grow and can be grown in garden beds, containers or hanging baskets. Plant them in sunny areas near vegetables and herbs such as beans, tomatoes, peppers and basil.

    Other ornamental flowers
    • Common lantanas: Repel mosquitoes.
    • Four o’clocks: Attract but poison Japanese beetle.
    • Geraniums: Repel leafhoppers.
    • Narcissus: Repel moles.

    Carnivorous plants

    Pitcher plants repel insects
    Pitcher plants
    Trap and ingest insects. Pitcher plants are the largest group of carnivorous plants. These exotic-looking plants lure insects into their “pitcher,” actually a specialized leaf, through a combination of nectar, fragrance and color. Once inside the pitcher, the insect finds itself on a slippery surface with downward-facing hairs. The insect then either slips or falls into a pool of water. Once in the water, it drowns or dies of exhaustion in trying to escape, which is impossible because of the downward-facing hairs. The plant then digests the insect. Insects that most often fall prey to North American pitcher plants are ants, flies, wasps, bees, beetles, slugs and snails. Pitcher plants, which grow in bogs in the wild, need a sunny area that stays moist, generally a difficult combination for home gardeners. Growing them in pots sitting in a saucer of water is easier. However, don’t keep the growing medium too wet. It just needs to be moist.

    Others
    • Venus flytrap: Consumes ants and other insects.

    66 Things You Can Can Grow At Home In Containers

    Growing your own food is exciting, not only because you get to see things grow from nothing into ready-to-eat fruits and veggies, but you also don’t have to worry about the pesticides they might contain, and you definitely cut down on the miles they—and you—have to travel.
    Here’s a starter list of all the crazy things even urban gardeners, without space for a garden, can grow at home.

    Tree fruits – including apples

    1. Apples can be grown in a container; you can also grow them on the balcony or other small space using a technique called espaliering.
    2. Kumquats
    3. Avocados
    4. Blackberries
    5. Blueberries (sometimes helpful videos are available online)
    6. Pomegranate
    7. Cherries
    8. Figs
    9. Pears

    Citrus fruits

    Citrus trees in particular are said to be good for beginning gardeners and are easy to grow indoors, so don’t let inexperience or lack of outdoor space stop you from enjoying fresh-picked, hyper-local fruit.
    10. Dwarf oranges
    11. Grapefruit
    12. Tangerines
    13. Meyer lemons
    14. Limes

    Tropical fruits

    Tropical fruits can also be surprisingly easy to grow indoors, even in non-tropical climates. Such as…
    15. Bananas 
    16. Pineapple
    17. Papaya
    18. Guavas 

    The real surprises

    19. Hops—yes, as in the “spice” ingredient in beer. Turns out they’re easy to grow!
    20. Aloe Vera
    21. Strawberries
    22. Tea (well, herbal tea)
    23. Quinoa!

    The non-surprises

    24. Tomatoes
    25. Summer squash
    26. Other squashes, like acorn and pumpkin
    27. Hot Peppers
    28. Sweet peppers
    29. Cucumbers

    Melons

    30. Small cantaloupe
    31. Jenny Lind melon (an heirloom cantaloupe)
    32. Golden Midget Watermelon

    Herbs

    Just about any herb grows well indoors—just be sure that if you’re going to do any container-sharing, you do your research first about which herbs co-habitate well together. (Some will hog water, for example, and leave the others dried out.)
    33. Basil
    34. Oregano
    35. Parsley
    36. Rosemary
    37. Chives
    38. Catnip
    39. Thyme
    40. Sage
    41. Parsley

    Leafy Greens

    42. Kale
    43. Mesclun greens
    44. Spinach
    45. Swiss chard
    46. Lettuces (plenty of options there, from micro-greens to head or loose-leaf)
    47. Mustard greens
    48. Collard greens
    49. Arugula

    Root Vegetables

    50. Carrots
    51. Beets
    52. Potatoes

    Other healthy-sounding stuff

    53. Sprouts
    54. More sprouts: mung bean and lentil sprouts
    55. Wheatgrass
    56. Kohlrabi
    57. Turnips
    58. Rutabagas
    59. Celeriac
    60. Parsnips
    61. Jerusalem Artichoke
    62. Sugar snap peas
    63. Rhubarb (not ideal in a container, but it can work)
    64. Mushrooms (again, more tips online if you look)
    65. Pole Beans
    66. Aaaand… asparagus, although some disagree that it does well in a container. Try it if you’re ok with a risk!

    Help plants to survive in winters.

    Even though your plant resides in a pot indoors, it’s still keenly aware of the seasons. With shorter days, drier air, and cooler temperatures, winter is perhaps the most challenging time a year for houseplants. The trick to helping your plant endure the harsher conditions is simply modifying your care routine. Check out these tips to keep your plant happy and alive this winter.

    Limit Watering

    Considering their growth rate is significantly slower during the winter, plants do not require as much water. Check the soil by putting your finger about one inch into the soil. If it feels dry, the plant needs a good soaking. Be sure to use lukewarm water!

    Try A New Window

    From summer to winter, the angle of the sun changes, so you might place your plants near a different window for the season. You can also wash the window glass, inside and out, to help let in more light. Don’t forget to rotate the plants every so often to make sure they receive light evenly on all sides.

    No Food Necessary

    Due to very little growth, fertilization is not necessary during the winter months. It’s best to withhold food until next spring, when the days are much longer and the sun is stronger. Resume weekly feedings closer to spring to give your plants a boost.

    A Good Cleaning

    Dusty leaves can clog pores, making it difficult for your plant to fully absorb essential nutrients. Using a damp cloth, wipe the leaves to get rid of any dust or debris. A thorough cleaning will also help rid any unwanted pests.

    Improve Humidity

    Houseplants prefer a humidity level of 40 to 50 percent. Unfortunately, during the winter months, the humidity level in heated homes tends to only be 10 to 20 percent. To combat low humidity, frequently mist the plants and put any tropical plants on a tray of rocks with a small amount of water. Or turn on a humidifier to increase cut through dry air.

    Pay Attention to Temperature

    During the daytime, most plants prefer a temperature between 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and at night time about 10 to 15 degrees cooler. Dramatic fluctuations in temperature can be damaging, so it’s best to keep plants away from cold windows, or sources of heat, such asstoves, fireplaces, and radiators.

    Pruning

    To stay healthy and attractive, plants need a little pruning from time to time as part of their maintenance. Many houseplants have soft stems, which make them relatively easily to prune, no tools required. Using your thumb and forefinger, pinch off any dying flowers and remove any damaged leaves. For thicker stemmed plants, pruners or sharp scissors may be necessary.

    Unhappy Plants

    Symptom: Spindly Plants, Few Flowers

    Possible Cause: Poor lighting conditions.
    Management: Most indoor plants need an average of 14 hours of sunlight each day. Do an Internet search to find out the proper amount of direct light, indirect light, or shade that your particular plant requires to thrive.

    Symptom: Few Flowers, Excessive Foliage

    Possible Cause: Too much nitrogen fertilizer.
    Management: Most indoor plants need to be fertilized just once a month and even less frequently during colder months. Develop a fertilizing schedule and stick to it

    Symptom: Yellowing Leaves

    Possible Causes: Overwatering, low humidity, poor soil drainage, low temperatures, or pot-bound roots.
    Management: If the weather has changed suddenly, make sure that your plant is not in a draft, near a heater, or reacting to an unexpected environmental change. Check that your pot has adequate drainage and that the plant isn't root bound

    Symptom: Scorched Leaves

    Possible Cause: Too much direct sunlight.
    Management: Move plant from direct to indirect sunlight, prune the affected leaves, and resume deep, infrequent waterings to promote healthy root growth. Avoid overfertilizing, as this will exacerbate the burn.

    Symptom: Brown Leaf Tips

    Possible Causes: Too much fertilizer or pesticides, dry soil, low temperature, hot air, accumulated salts, or root rot.
    Management: It bears repeating—most indoor plants need to be fertilized only once a month, at most. Stand pots in shallow, pebble-lined trays that are filled with water to increase humidity (pots should sit on the pebbles, above the water line). Once a month, apply enough water to the top of the soil to thoroughly flush excess salts through the drainage hole.

    Symptom: Small Leaves or Wilting Plant

    Possible Causes: Soil remains either too wet or too dry.
    Management: Develop a watering routine that is infrequent but deep to promote healthy root growth and combat root rot. If root rot is suspected, remove the plant from its container, examine the root system, and cut out infected roots (blackened root tips with slimy decay), then repot using sterile potting mix and a clean pot

    Symptom: Spots on Leaves

    Possible Causes: Fungal leaf spot, water spots.
    Management: If the plant is already affected, isolate it from other plants and pick off infected leaves. To prevent spotting, increase air circulation by increasing space between plants, and take care not to splash water on leaves when watering.

    Symptom: Leaf Tips Turn Yellow, Then brown; Entire Leaf May Die

    Disease: Anthracnose.
    Management: Remove infected leaves. Avoid misting leaves

    Symptom: White Powdery Fungal Growth on Foliage, Leaf Distortion, Leaf Drop

    Disease: Powdery mildew.
    Management: Increase air circulation around plant and remove infected foliage.

    Symptom: Brown to Black Soft or Punky Roots, Wilted Plants

    Possible Causes: Root and stem rot.
    Management: Avoid overwatering. Remove affected plant, cut out infected roots (blackened root tips with slimy decay), then repot using sterile potting mix and a clean pot

    Symptom: Stunting, Dieback, and Distortion

    Disease: Botrytis blight.
    Management: Isolate the diseased plant and trim the affected parts back. Increase air circulation by increasing space between plants