Propagation and seed raising If you are heavily involved in your garden and wish to produce plants, seeds and cuttings cheaply, a home nursery may be for you. Plants need regular attention, so a nursery will need to be located close to your house to allow for observation of seedlings as well as carting of soil, pots and plants from your car.
Building a Garden Pond Fact Sheet
What you need A garden pond is a beautiful addition to any garden, whether it is filled with just plants or fish as well.An Here is our simple guide with to what undercover workstation a: you need to know about building garden ponds. Choosing Garden the Potting benchPond for potting up Sinkthat for washing pots The first thing you need to consider is what type of pond that you want to build – one with plants only, or one with Storage areas for fish pots,and trays plants. and toolsThis is because each pond needs to take into consideration the features that it has. Be careful that you don’t choose a pond that is too small as White board- handy for notes and reminders it will limit the amount of fish and plants that Pin board as a good place to attach packets & envelopes of seeds. you canuse.
Shade frame for protecting new plants
You also need to consider the location. You the General cantobethe used for hardening off plants after being under shade, or will enjoy pondpurpose more ifbench it is that closer home – make sure it portable is somewhere where for resting cold frames on you during the cooler months. are easily able to see it. Be careful that the pond does not get any runoff as chemicals and Benches should be positioned in full sun, and ideally made from metal as wood may harbour fungal organic matter may get into the pond, disease. The shade frame should be made of a 50% weave shade cloth that can be rolled back disrupting ecology. Ensure that the plants during its winter. get sunlight if you want to grow plants. Also be aware that generally speaking, the larger the pond is, the easier it is to maintain. Types of Pond When building your pond, there are many options to choose from when it comes to materials. One of the most popular is the lined pond. This is where you dig the hole to any shape that you
How to propagate plants There are several ways of propagating plants. The simplest are by seed, cuttings or division. You will need washed pots and trays which have been soaked in a bleach solution to sterilise them. Use a good quality propagation mix, as it is suitable as a seed-raising mix and for striking cuttings. It will hold moisture as well as being free-draining, but unlike potting mix, contains no fertilisers, which means that the young plants work harder to develop strong roots.
Building a Garden Pond Fact Sheet
A garden Seed pond is a beautiful addition to any garden, whether it is filled with just plants or fish as well. Here is our simple guide to what you need to know about building garden ponds. The size of seed varies. Tomato seeds are easy to handle so
Choosing Garden Pond can be the planted one to a pot. Smaller seeds can be sprinkled
on the surface of pots and thinned out several weeks after
Leave the strongest seedling in each pot, to that you want to build – one with The germination. first thing that you need to consider is what type of pond prevent crowding. Immediately a tray of pots has been sown, plants only, or one with fish and plants. This is because each pond needs to take into it should be plantBe name, variety consideration thelabelled featureswith thatthe it has. careful that and you date. don’t choose a pond that is too small as The largest seeds like beans, peas, corn and melon can be it will limit the amount of fish and plants that sown directly into the garden. Root crops like radish and you can use. carrots are also best sown in the garden, because the transplanting process can damage the root causing stunted You tubers. also need thebeen location. Youcan be taken to Onceto theconsider trays have sown they will enjoy the pond more if it is closer to the watering is the the shade frame for a gentle watering. Hand home – make sureway it is to somewhere where youUse the misting most efficient water small areas. are easily able to see it. Be careful that the of the pots with nozzle so that the seeds are not washed out pondtoo does notpressure. get any runoff as chemicals and much
organic matter may get into the pond, One ofits theecology. best reasons for growing vegetables disrupting Ensure that the plants from seed is that non-hybrid stock can be used that remains true to type. The only way to keep get sunlight if you want to grow plants. Also be these heirloom varieties alive is to grow them in the backyard, save the seed and sharing them on to friends and neighbours. When selecting seeds to aware that generally speaking, the larger the always seeds from strong and healthy plants, or from plants exhibiting the pondbe is,saved, the easier it is choose to maintain.
particular characteristics or traits you are seeking. If the seeds you wish to save are from wet fruits, wash the seeds until all of the flesh is removed. If the seeds are from dry seed heads, remove the Types of Pond seeds by hand. Before drying the seeds you’ve collected, make some diary notes in relation to the types of seeds you’ve collected and the date of harvest. These notes may come in handy later on.
When building your pond, there are many options to choose from when it comes to materials. One of the most popular is the lined pond. This is where you dig the hole to any shape that you
Cuttings Most herbaceous perennial plants will readily take root from cuttings, particularly when done during the warmer months. Cut lengths of healthy stem into 7 cm pieces, making sure that several buds or nodes are visible along the length, remove all the leaves from the base and reduce the top by about two thirds. Put them in a pot. Keep them under shade until they establish, then harden by gradually exposing them A garden pond is a beautiful addition to any garden, is filled justpotting plantsthem or fish to full sun towhether toughenitthem up with before up as or In dry weather placing a plastic cover well. Here is our simple guide to what youplanting need tothem knowout. about building garden ponds. over the plant will help to increase the humidity and prevent them from drying out. Choosing the Garden Pond
Building a Garden Pond Fact Sheet
make adequate ventilation prevent fungal Some plants The Always first thing thatsure youthere needis to consider is what to type of pond thatdiseases. you want to build – are onemuch with fussier, and require bottom heat and rooting hormones to get them started. It is best to learn on plants only, or one with fish and plants. This is because each pond needs to take into plants that are easy to propagate, and then take on more difficult ones later. consideration the features that it has. Be careful that you don’t choose a pond that is too small as it will limit the amount of fish and plants that you can use.
Division You also need to consider the location. You will enjoy the pond if it isplants closer thedivided, and is one of the Most running andmore clumping canto be home – make sure itofispropagation. somewhereYou where easiest methods can you be as delicate or as drastic as are easily able to see it. Be careful that the the outside of the mature you like. Younger plants can be taken from pondplant doeswithout not getcausing any runoff chemicals and muchasdisturbance, or a plant can be dug up and organic the pond, pulledmatter apart, ormay some get plantsinto can be divided with a spade. A good tip is to keep two pairs of secateurs a clean, sharp disrupting its ecology. Ensure that the plantspair for taking cuttings, and an older ifpair cutting into roots. Divisions get sunlight youforwant to grow plants. Also becan be potted up or planted directly the ground, watering the themlarger in well. aware that in generally speaking, the pond is, the easier it is to maintain. Types of Pond When building your pond, there are many options to choose from when it comes to materials. One of the most popular is the lined pond. This is where you dig the hole to any shape that you