Biointensive Gardening

Biointensive gardening is a system of growing plants, which uses specific techniques to produce a large amount of food or other crops in a small amount of space. The system is low tech (you need only a spade and a gardening fork), organic (no pesticides or chemicals), and requires only a moderate amount of labor. If you have limited garden space, especially if you live in a city, biointensive gardening will help you make the most of your resources. You'll learn how to really understand your plants while impressing your neighbors by growing more food than you ever believed possible.


Web:

http://www.growbiointensive.org/biointensive/Gardening....


Bonsai

Bonsai is the Japanese art of dwarfing trees and plants into forms that mimic nature. If you have ever seen bonsai trees, you will know how beautiful and elegant they can be. A few years ago, I decided that I wanted to grow some bonsai of my own, but instead of special dwarf plants, I used regular seedlings. Now I have the only giant bonsai trees on the West Coast.


Web:

http://hometown.aol.com/iasnob/
http://www.bonsaiprimer.com/
http://www.hav.com/bonsai/

Usenet:

Google Newsreader alt.bonsai
Google Newsreader rec.arts.bonsai

Listserv Mailing List:

List Name: bonsai
Subscribe To: listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com


Companion Plants

Companion plants are plants that do well when they are near one another. For example, asparagus does better when it is grown near tomatoes and does less well when grown near onions. Companion plants can also be used to repel harmful insects or attract beneficial ones. If you want your little bit of earth to be a true jardin merveilleux, learning how to use companion plants will take you three giant steps closer to your goal.


Web:

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/complants/
http://www.gardenguides.com/TipsandTechniques/vcomp.htm...
http://www.winnipeg-bugline.com/comp_pl.html


Edible Flowers

I have a friend Christy who is a master pastry chef. One of the more delightful things she does is decorate homemade cakes with edible flowers. However, in order to do this, she needs to know which flowers are edible. These resources will help you find such flowers, not only for cake decoration, but for salads, candies, garnishes and general strange-but-healthy afternoon snacks. (Think dandelions, roses, violets, nasturtiums, calendulas, elderberry flowers, scented geraniums, and so on.)


Web:

http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/4DMG/Flowers/cul...
http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/4DMG/Flowers/flw...
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07237.html
http://www.lancaster.unl.edu/factsheets/092.htm
http://www.ville.montreal.qc.ca/jardin/en/info_verte/fe...


Flowers

Do you enjoy looking at the reproductive structures of certain seed-bearing plants, characteristically having stamens and a pistil enclosed in an outer envelope of petals and sepals? That is, are you a flower lover? If so, you will love these resources, your entrée into the world of petals and sepals. The Web sites have lots and lots of information (especially about roses, which I love). There are also facilities that allow you to search for information about specific flowers, using a botanical or common name. When you aren't out in the garden, you may want to spend time reading the Usenet discussion groups to see what other flower lovers have to say.


Web:

http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/4DMG/Flowers/flo...
http://www.flowerweb.com/
http://www.gardenguides.com/flowers/flowers.htm
http://www.geobop.com/symbols/plants/flowers/
http://www.rosarian.com/

Usenet:

Google Newsreader rec.gardens.orchids
Google Newsreader rec.gardens.roses


Garden Gate

It's possible to spend hours reading about gardening instead of actually doing any real gardening. When you can't be participating in the real thing, try the virtual thing at the Garden Gate. Find FAQs, plant lists, a reading room, information on houseplants, reviews of gardening software, and tours of botanical gardens and greenhouses around the world.


Web:

http://garden-gate.prairienet.org/


Garden Ponds

Having water near your house creates an extremely pleasant and soothing environment. In one place where I lived, I put a waterfall in my yard near where I grew flowers, strawberries and tomatoes. I was able to see it and hear it from inside, and it served to bring a bit of the outdoors into the house. Would you like to make your own pond? These sites will show you how it is done and give suggestions about populating your pond once it is completed. (I am thinking about having a new pond where I live now, but I am still debating what to put in it. My cat has suggested goldfish.)


Web:

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/ponds/
http://www.aquariacentral.com/web/Garden_Ponds/
http://www.hergardenweb.com/ponds/
http://www.koi.com/

Usenet:

Google Newsreader rec.ponds


Garden Web

Right now, I wish I could stop writing and go work in my garden. But there's too much work yet to finish, so the best I can do is hang out at the Garden Web for awhile. There are so many great gardening resources here it's easy to get immersed for hours. Oh well, at least while I am doing the research, I can look out the window at my garden.


Web:

http://www.gardenweb.com/


Gardening Mailing Lists

Make new friends and talk about gardening by joining a mailing list. In fact, join lots of mailing lists and impress people when they see how much mail you get all the time. These Web sites have extensive collections of mailing lists on a variety of gardening topics.


Web:

http://home.xnet.com/~jjy/plists.htm
http://www.gardenscape.com/GSMagsBooks.html#Mailing%20L...


Gardening Talk and General Discussion

If things aren't going right in the garden, don't just raze everything with the rototiller; turn to your fellow Internet buddies for ideas. For the organically challenged, you have the opportunity to cry, scream, and beg for help. Bragging is also welcome; you can pass on the news that it was your 25-pound tomato that made the cover of the National Enquirer.


Usenet:

Google Newsreader alt.binaries.pictures.gardens
Google Newsreader rec.gardens
Google Newsreader rec.gardens.edible
Google Newsreader rec.gardens.orchids
Google Newsreader rec.gardens.roses

Listserv Mailing List:

List Name: gardens
Subscribe To: listserv@lsv.uky.edu


Growing Vegetables

One of my favorite pleasures is growing vegetables. Right now (as you read this), I have wonderful beefsteak tomatoes growing in my garden. Here's some information to help you plan and cultivate your own tiny patch of paradise. After all, if Adam and Eve had a Net connection with access to better information, they probably would have been more successful in handling their gardening problems.


Web:

http://cf.uwex.edu/ics/infosource/veggies.cfm
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/cornucop/
http://www.ces.uga.edu/pubcd/b1011-w.html
http://www.gardenguides.com/Vegetables/vegetabl.htm


Hydroponics

Hydroponics refers to the growing of plants in a water-based nutrient solution without using soil. To use hydroponics, you must have some specialized knowledge and be prepared to put in some extra work to get started. However, there are significant advantages over regular gardening. At home, you can use hydroponics to have your own garden even if you don't have a backyard. For commercial purposes, hydroponics virtually eliminates all pests and weeds. Moreover, it is possible to grow plants closer together than in a field, thus increasing the yield.


Web:

http://www.hydroponics.com/info/
http://www.hydroponics.net/learn/
http://www.interurban.com/abouthydro/

Usenet:

Google Newsreader alt.hydroponics


I Can Garden

Yes, you can garden, and this lovely gardening site will inspire you to great things. This well-designed site, the work of many people, is described as a "Canadian Internet gardening resource", but don't let this mislead you. I Can Garden is for everyone. There are articles, resources, cat areas, stuff for kids, and much, much more. If you are the type of person who likes to stop and smell the roses, you will love this site.


Web:

http://www.icangarden.com/


Indoor Plants

The cat has eaten half of your rhododendron and the leaves on your African violet are turning yellow. What should you do? Check out the helpful hints you can find at these Web sites. Articles cover topics such as container drainage, decorating with houseplants, feeding and watering, and making terrariums.


Web:

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/houseplt/
http://gardening.buildfind.com/dir/plants/indoor/HowTo....
http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/hgic1450.htm
http://muextension.missouri.edu/xplor/agguides/hort/g06...


National Gardening Association

Oh my goodness! An absolutely huge library of gardening articles and FAQs (frequently asked question lists). You'll also find a horticultural dictionary, a plant namefinder and a database of common plant names. Do you like gardening? You must spend some time here. I found some great hints to help with my tomato growing.


Web:

http://www.garden.org/


Organic Gardening

Organic gardening uses biological methods for pest control, fertilizing and maintenance. Thus, organic gardeners avoid the use of synthetic pesticides, growth regulators and additives. To do so, it is necessary to use particular techniques, such as composting. It can take significant effort and knowledge to keep plants healthy without the use of chemicals, so here are some organic gardening resources that will provide you with lots of information and advice.


Web:

http://mel.lib.mi.us/science/organic.html
http://www.organicdownunder.com/
http://www.rain.org/~sals/my.html
http://www.supak.com/mort/

Usenet:

Google Newsreader rec.gardens.ecosystems


Pest Management

"Pest management" is the politically correct term for figuring out effective ways to destroy, obliterate, or otherwise get rid of those nasty creatures that feed on your plants. Form your strategic battle plan with the help of this Web site. It offers insect factsheets, information on exotic pests, and even images of insects so you can accurately identify the enemy.


Web:

http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/biocontrol/
http://www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens/pestmgmt.html


Plant Answers

This is a great site for finding general information on particular types of plants such as flowers, fruits and vegetables, ground covers, houseplants, trees and shrubs, and grasses. In addition to specific plant-oriented answers, you can find helpful files about mulching, irrigation and other gardening basics.


Web:

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/web.htm...


Rare and Heirloom Seeds

For various reasons -- chief among which are the twenty-first century gods of efficiency and consumer demand -- the availability of seeds for many plants is limited to a relatively few popular strains. As a result, the biodiversity of garden plants is diminishing. Vegetables, for example, are often hybridized in the name of uniform size and height, resulting in less flavorful, lower yielding, and less disease- and pest-resistant plants. However, there are people and organizations dedicated to keeping alive many different types of rare seeds and plants (often referred to as heirlooms). Such seeds maintain our rich, horticultural influence by maintaining genetic links to the past. If you want to put something special into your garden experience, try some heirlooms. They are available for a wide variety of flowers (especially roses), vegetables and other great, green, growing inhabitants of planet Earth.


Web:

http://csf.colorado.edu/perma/stse/handbook.htm
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/heirloom/
http://www.co.mo.md.us/services/dep/Internet/heirloom.h...
http://www.seeds.ca/
http://www.seedstrust.com/issi/issi.html
http://www.vegparadise.com/heirloom.html


Trees

Are you knowledgeable about trees? If so, you know that a tree is a perennial woody plant that at maturity (1) is at least 13 feet [4 meters] tall; (2) has at least one trunk with a diameter of more than 3 inches [7.5 cm]; (3) is unbranched for at least several feet [1 meter] above the ground; and (4) has a definite crown, (the part of the plant where the trunk and roots merge). What you may not know is that it is possible to grow a Brussels sprouts plant into something resembling a tree. Several years ago, I planted a tiny Brussels sprouts seedling. Well, it just kept growing and growing and, today, it is over 6.5 feet [2 meters] tall, with a trunk and several long, strange branches that look like something out of a Harry Potter book. Eventually, when the plant matures, I'll be able to see if it meets the requirements for a tree. In the meantime I can swank around, secure in the knowledge that I have the largest Brussels sprouts plant in the neighborhood (maybe in the world).


Web:

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/trees/
http://www.arborday.org/
http://www.backyardgardener.com/tree/
http://www.gardeninglaunchpad.com/tre.html
http://www.oplin.lib.oh.us/products/tree/
http://www.treeguide.com/guides.asp


Urban Gardening

If you live in a city, you will understand how important it is to have some plants around you to balance the artificial environment. I grew up in a large city, and I saw that most people who had even a little land would plant some sort of garden. If you enjoy gardening in the city, you will find these resources helpful. Read about community gardens, urban agriculture, school and rooftop gardens, composting and solutions to common problems.


Web:

http://www.cityfarmer.org/


Vermiculture

Vermiculture refers to the growing of worms. Have you ever grown your own worms? Well, why not give it a try? Wouldn't it be great to have a few thousand worms of your own? Worms are among the most absolutely coolest animals on Earth for two good reasons. First, they are great for gardens. They break up and aerate the soil, which helps plant roots grow and allows the soil to hold more water. They also eat dead organic matter and produce waste that is a wonderful plant food. Moreover, if you have extra worms, you can always use them as animal feed and fishing bait. However, the real reason worms are so cool is that they feel so slimy and squishy when you hold a bunch of them in your hand and throw them in your sister's hair.


Web:

http://www.cityfarmer.org/wormcomp61.html#wormcompost
http://www.gnv.fdt.net/~windle/primer.htm
http://www.oldgrowth.org/compost/vermi.html
http://www.wormdigest.org/


Web Garden

With all the great gardening resources available on the Net, it's hard to get away from the computer long enough to spend time in the backyard. This site has information for beginning gardeners, whether you garden at home or commercially. Read garden features and tips, and search a gardening database for information about all sorts of plants.


Web:

http://webgarden.osu.edu/


Wildflowers

I love wildflowers. Right now, in my garden, I have a large bed of assorted wildflowers that are particularly suited to attracting hummingbirds. The thing I like about wildflowers is that, unlike their cultivated cousins, they retain an air of informality that allows you to enjoy that back-to-nature feeling without actually having to get your feet dirty or leave your home.


Web:

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/wildseed/
http://home.usit.net/~info7/plants.html
http://www.wildflower.org/


Xeriscaping

Many parts of the world, including the area where I live, have natural climate cycles during which water can be scarce for years at a time. In such areas, it is practical to landscape with plants that have low water requirements. This process is called xeriscaping, from the Greek word xeros meaning "dry". (You know what I don't understand? If the Greeks wanted to say "dry", why didn't they just say "dry"? Why did they feel like they had to have a special word for everything? Is it supposed to be some type of secret code?) Anyway, if you xeriscape with plants that are appropriate for your area, once your garden is established, it should be able thrive with only natural rainfall, even in extended periods of drought.


Web:

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/xeriscape/...
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/swest/
http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/organics/xeriscaping/
http://www.csu.org/xeri/
http://www.greenbuilder.com/sourcebook/xeriscape.html