Methods: A List of Ways
Methods: A List of Ways
Brief Descriptions of Some Garden Methods & Techniques A-Z
Brief Descriptions of Some Garden Methods & Techniques A-Z
Atomic Gardening
Atomic Gardening for Laymen by Muriel Howorth (1960) Image from atomicgardening.com
Yeah, you read that right. Okay, technically it’s not a method or technique for gardening, but rather used as a technique for plant mutation breeding. It began in the 1950s when “atomic” and “gamma rays” were considered pretty cool. Atomic gardening was spread and popularized by a group called Atoms For Peace and was initially used as a means to study the effects of radiation on plant life. They found that there was a better growth rate and resilience. Around 1960 The Atomic Gardening Society began sending irradiated seeds to members who would then report back. There was a lot of enthusiasm but that declined within a decade due most likely to changing opinions on what fission energy and how it should be used. Go figure. Anyway, it’s got a weird history and you can read more about it at atomicgardening.com
Yeah, you read that right. Okay, technically it’s not a method or technique for gardening, but rather used as a technique for plant mutation breeding. It began in the 1950s when “atomic” and “gamma rays” were considered pretty cool. Atomic gardening was spread and popularized by a group called Atoms For Peace and was initially used as a means to study the effects of radiation on plant life. They found that there was a better growth rate and resilience. Around 1960 The Atomic Gardening Society began sending irradiated seeds to members who would then report back. There was a lot of enthusiasm but that declined within a decade due most likely to changing opinions on what fission energy and how it should be used. Go figure. Anyway, it’s got a weird history and you can read more about it at atomicgardening.com
Companion Planting
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Companion Planting: This is an old method of planting. Most people know the basic premise like if you want to grow vegetables that need to flower before producing it’s a good idea to give them some buddy flowers that will attract bees for pollination.
There are also types of plants that thrive next to or near each other because one plant can be beneficial to another, for example, beans provide nitrogen to the soil that other plants like a tomato or squash need. Then too, one plant may attract a beneficial bug or repel a nasty one. Some plants don’t do well next to each other. Take tomatoes and potatoes. They are both nightshades and can attract some of the same crop-destroying bugs. So, if your potatoes got obliterated by a nasty pest the chances are pretty good your tomatoes are next.
Keep in mind though that when it comes to companion planting some silly beliefs are floating around. For instance, you might hear or read that you shouldn’t plant a cucumber next to zucchini because one will pollinate the other and produce some kind of crime against nature that will eventually cause the apocalypse. I’ll say it–that’s dumb. They aren’t the same genus or species so it’s impossible. Anyway, there’s a lot of info out there, a lot of it good and some of it plain stupid. Happy Google search!
Companion Planting: This is an old method of planting. Most people know the basic premise like if you want to grow vegetables that need to flower before producing it’s a good idea to give them some buddy flowers that will attract bees for pollination.
There are also types of plants that thrive next to or near each other because one plant can be beneficial to another, for example, beans provide nitrogen to the soil that other plants like a tomato or squash need. Then too, one plant may attract a beneficial bug or repel a nasty one. Some plants don’t do well next to each other. Take tomatoes and potatoes. They are both nightshades and can attract some of the same crop-destroying bugs. So, if your potatoes got obliterated by a nasty pest the chances are pretty good your tomatoes are next.
Keep in mind though that when it comes to companion planting some silly beliefs are floating around. For instance, you might hear or read that you shouldn’t plant a cucumber next to zucchini because one will pollinate the other and produce some kind of crime against nature that will eventually cause the apocalypse. I’ll say it–that’s dumb. They aren’t the same genus or species so it’s impossible. Anyway, there’s a lot of info out there, a lot of it good and some of it plain stupid. Happy Google search!
Container Gardening
©98201seed
It’s self-explanatory. You can use anything from proper pots and baskets to buckets and broken dishes to grow plants in. It’s a nifty route to go if you don’t have much space and it’s even beneficial for many plants because you have better control over moisture and creepy crawlers that lurk on the ground.
The types of plants that can grow in containers are endless. It’s everything from tomatoes, corn, small fruit trees, and potatoes to your traditional herbs, petunias, strawberries, and tulips.
It’s self-explanatory. You can use anything from proper pots and baskets to buckets and broken dishes to grow plants in. It’s a nifty route to go if you don’t have much space and it’s even beneficial for many plants because you have better control over moisture and creepy crawlers that lurk on the ground.
The types of plants that can grow in containers are endless. It’s everything from tomatoes, corn, small fruit trees, and potatoes to your traditional herbs, petunias, strawberries, and tulips.
Espalier
KVDP, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
This is a practice for woody plants that most likely dates back to Roman times. The word is French and is derived from an Italian word loosely meaning to rest or grow against. Many trees and plants can be controlled by training them to grow against a wall, and form different shapes like fences, etc. Fruit trees and grapes are often espaliered for practical harvesting reasons and a lot of times just for ornamental purposes. I kind of like to think of espalier as super-sized bonsai.
This is a practice for woody plants that most likely dates back to Roman times. The word is French and is derived from an Italian word loosely meaning to rest or grow against. Many trees and plants can be controlled by training them to grow against a wall, and form different shapes like fences, etc. Fruit trees and grapes are often espaliered for practical harvesting reasons and a lot of times just for ornamental purposes. I kind of like to think of espalier as super-sized bonsai.
Hugelkultur
Hugelkultur is a German word that means hill culture. It’s said to have its origins in Eastern Europe and practiced for hundreds of years. It’s literally a big mound built by laying down logs and or branches and then layers of turf, food waste, compost/manure, and additional compost soil on top. These mounds create heat which in turn decomposes the food scraps and woody materials at the bottom. So essentially, it’s a big compost heap that can be planted on or around. It’s also pretty similar to No Dig but usually consists of that bottom layer of woody stuff.
©98201seed
Hugelkultur is a German word that means hill culture. It’s said to have its origins in Eastern Europe and practiced for hundreds of years. It’s literally a big mound built by laying down logs and or branches and then layers of turf, food waste, compost/manure, and additional compost soil on top. These mounds create heat which in turn decomposes the food scraps and woody materials at the bottom. So essentially, it’s a big compost heap that can be planted on or around. It’s also pretty similar to No Dig but usually consists of that bottom layer of woody stuff.
Key Hole Garden
This is a small circular raised bed with what looks like a slice taken out. At the center is usually a basket or hole and the indentation or missing slice allows gardeners to access the basket in order to dump kitchen scraps, etc. which then decompose. So it’s a little like trench composting but right in the center of the bed. The keyhole garden was created by the Consortium for Southern Africa Food Security Emergency in the 1990s and was designed for people suffering from AIDS who might be too weak to work in a traditional garden. Enjoy the crap crayon drawing example to your right..
This is a small circular raised bed with what looks like a slice taken out. At the center is usually a basket or hole and the indentation or missing slice allows gardeners to access the basket in order to dump kitchen scraps, etc. which then decompose. So it’s a little like trench composting but right in the center of the bed. The keyhole garden was created by the Consortium for Southern Africa Food Security Emergency in the 1990s and was designed for people suffering from AIDS who might be too weak to work in a traditional garden. Enjoy the crap crayon drawing example to your right..
Lasagna Gardening
©98201seed
This is a method of No Dig. It’s just layering different materials and can be done either directly on top of the soil or in a raised bed. The most simple way is to lay down cardboard or paper of some kind, get it wet, heap it on the compost, and top it off with organic mulch, and you’re ready to plant. Seriously, it’s pretty easy. I mean, some people eliminate the mulching part, others make it more elaborate by doing several layers with other materials like– straw, leaves, and food scraps, But that’s your call.
This is a method of No Dig. It’s just layering different materials and can be done either directly on top of the soil or in a raised bed. The most simple way is to lay down cardboard or paper of some kind, get it wet, heap it on the compost, and top it off with organic mulch, and you’re ready to plant. Seriously, it’s pretty easy. I mean, some people eliminate the mulching part, others make it more elaborate by doing several layers with other materials like– straw, leaves, and food scraps, But that’s your call.
No Dig
©98201seed
It means exactly what you think it does. You don’t dig. Instead, you use one of a few methods like mounding up compost on top of the ground and planting directly into the mound. This is used in a lot of organic gardening. The idea is that digging or disturbing the soil harms it over time which, in turn, creates unhealthy plants.
The history of No Dig is a little sketchy and might go back to the 1800s or before. It was farmer and researcher Masanobu Fukuoka who first published some of his research and philosophy in the 1970s that began to popularize the technique and eventually spawned the permaculture movement.
Lasagna gardening and hugelkultur are pretty similar to no dig.
It means exactly what you think it does. You don’t dig. Instead, you use one of a few methods like mounding up compost on top of the ground and planting directly into the mound. This is used in a lot of organic gardening. The idea is that digging or disturbing the soil harms it over time which, in turn, creates unhealthy plants.
The history of No Dig is a little sketchy and might go back to the 1800s or before. It was farmer and researcher Masanobu Fukuoka who first published some of his research and philosophy in the 1970s that began to popularize the technique and eventually spawned the permaculture movement.
Lasagna gardening and hugelkultur are pretty similar to no dig.
Organic Gardening
©98201seed
This is a pretty wide subject and to save you some time reading a long meandering description I’ll just say, that organic gardening means eliminating chemicals and growing naturally using natural remedies and practices to deal with pests, diseases, etc. Most people appreciate that, but the drawback is it can be more time-intensive. For the most part, the majority of us gardeners try not to immediately reach for a chemical because the majority of us know that many chemicals can cause harm to the soil, groundwater, surrounding plants, wildlife, and people. Though, I will say, I try not to judge too harshly if not used habitually. It’s understandable that someone might get desperate if they’re dealing with a major infestation or a Himalayan blackberry keeps rearing its prickly vines. We’ve all been there and it sucks.
This is a pretty wide subject and to save you some time reading a long meandering description I’ll just say, that organic gardening means eliminating chemicals and growing naturally using natural remedies and practices to deal with pests, diseases, etc. Most people appreciate that, but the drawback is it can be more time-intensive. For the most part, the majority of us gardeners try not to immediately reach for a chemical because the majority of us know that many chemicals can cause harm to the soil, groundwater, surrounding plants, wildlife, and people. Though, I will say, I try not to judge too harshly if not used habitually. It’s understandable that someone might get desperate if they’re dealing with a major infestation or a Himalayan blackberry keeps rearing its prickly vines. We’ve all been there and it sucks.
Square Foot Gardening
Rorybowman, Public domain,
via Wikimedia Commons
This is a practice where you divide a bed into squares that are usually around 1ft by 1ft. So you could have a 4ft by 4ft garden bed, and then for each square foot you plant depending on the type of plant. So say, in one square 4 lettuce could grow easily without overcrowding and in another square, you could plant a tomato plant since they generally need a whole square. Does that make sense to you? Anyway, a pro tip is to look at your veggie seed packet or do a quick online search to find out how many seeds to plant per 1ft X 1ft. I grabbed this nifty gif off of Wikimedia Commons which probably makes much more sense than the rambling gibberish I wrote.
This is a practice where you divide a bed into squares that are usually around 1ft by 1ft. So you could have a 4ft by 4ft garden bed, and then for each square foot you plant depending on the type of plant. So say, in one square 4 lettuce could grow easily without overcrowding and in another square, you could plant a tomato plant since they generally need a whole square. Does that make sense to you? Anyway, a pro tip is to look at your veggie seed packet or do a quick online search to find out how many seeds to plant per 1ft X 1ft. I grabbed this nifty gif off of Wikimedia Commons which probably makes much more sense than the rambling gibberish I wrote.
Succession Planting
©98201seed
This is an old method of planting. Most people know the basic premise like if you want to grow vegetables that need to flower before producing it’s a good idea to give them some buddy flowers that will attract bees for pollination.
There are also types of plants that thrive next to or near each other because one plant can be beneficial to another, for example, beans provide nitrogen to the soil that other plants like a tomato or squash need. Then too, one plant may attract a beneficial bug or repel a nasty one. Some plants don’t do well next to each other. Take tomatoes and potatoes. They are both nightshades and can attract some of the same crop-destroying bugs. So, if your potatoes got obliterated by a nasty pest the chances are pretty good your tomatoes are next.
Keep in mind that when it comes to companion planting some silly beliefs are floating around. For instance, you might hear or read that you shouldn’t plant a cucumber next to zucchini because one will pollinate the other and produce some kind of crime against nature that will at some point cause the apocalypse. I’ll just say it–that’s dumb. They aren’t the same genus or species so it’s impossible. Anyway, there’s a lot of info out there, a lot of it good and some of it plain stupid. Happy Google search!
This is an old method of planting. Most people know the basic premise like if you want to grow vegetables that need to flower before producing it’s a good idea to give them some buddy flowers that will attract bees for pollination.
There are also types of plants that thrive next to or near each other because one plant can be beneficial to another, for example, beans provide nitrogen to the soil that other plants like a tomato or squash need. Then too, one plant may attract a beneficial bug or repel a nasty one. Some plants don’t do well next to each other. Take tomatoes and potatoes. They are both nightshades and can attract some of the same crop-destroying bugs. So, if your potatoes got obliterated by a nasty pest the chances are pretty good your tomatoes are next.
Keep in mind that when it comes to companion planting some silly beliefs are floating around. For instance, you might hear or read that you shouldn’t plant a cucumber next to zucchini because one will pollinate the other and produce some kind of crime against nature that will at some point cause the apocalypse. I’ll just say it–that’s dumb. They aren’t the same genus or species so it’s impossible. Anyway, there’s a lot of info out there, a lot of it good and some of it plain stupid. Happy Google search!
Three Sisters
This is more of a garden type I guess but it is a good example of companion planting. The three sisters are corn, pole beans, and squash. The corn is the center and acts as a pole for the beans, the squash acts as a mulch to keep weeds down and some think they also keep some critters away. The beans provide nitrogen for both corn and squash and can also strengthen the corn stalks in windy weather.
The practice was first recorded by Europeans observing native tribes using this method and adopted it. It’s used a lot by gardeners especially if they have kids around. It’s easy to start them directly from seed. Check out the awesome barely legible example to the right since I don’t have a photo to share.
This is more of a garden type I guess but it is a good example of companion planting. The three sisters are corn, pole beans, and squash. The corn is the center and acts as a pole for the beans, the squash acts as a mulch to keep weeds down and some think they also keep some critters away. The beans provide nitrogen for both corn and squash and can also strengthen the corn stalks in windy weather.
The practice was first recorded by Europeans observing native tribes using this method and adopted it. It’s used a lot by gardeners especially if they have kids around. It’s easy to start them directly from seed. Check out the awesome barely legible example to the right since I don’t have a photo to share.
Vertical Gardening
©98201seed
This is more of a garden type I guess but it is a good example of companion planting. The three sisters are corn, pole beans, and squash. The corn is the center and acts as a pole for the beans, the squash acts as a mulch to keep weeds down and some think they also keep some critters away. The beans provide nitrogen for both corn and squash and can also strengthen the corn stalks in windy weather.
The practice was first recorded by Europeans observing native tribes using this method and adopted it. It’s used a lot by gardeners especially if they have kids around. It’s easy to start them directly from seed. Check out the awesome barely legible example to the right since I don’t have a photo to share.
Growing vertically isn’t a new idea but it’s gained popularity due to space saving and the quality of vegetables produced by getting them off the bare soil. Though you can buy ready-made trellises, planters, and whole packaged vertical systems, you honestly don’t need to do anything fancy. A DIY trellis of bamboo sticks, garden stakes, or branches works. You’ll just have to make sure it’s sturdy enough to hold larger crops.
Cucumbers, squashes, and melons can climb and though you might have to spend a couple of minutes training them to latch and grow upward it usually pays off in the end. Other crops that can grow upward are strawberries, small varieties of eggplant, some strains of pumpkin, and vining tomatoes, to name a few.
Atomic Gardening for Laymen by Muriel Howorth (1960) Image from atomicgardening.com
Espalier photo. Public Domain. Wikimedia.org
Square Foot animation. Public Domain. Wikimedia.org
All other images: ©98201seed