EXPLORE A TOPIC
Garden
Guides in this topic
84 guidesIs the compost ready for seedlings?
Compost that looks dark is not necessarily suitable for a seed tray or concentrated planting mix. Maturity, salts, texture and the intended use all matter. Treat a new batch as a material to assess, especially when young plants have previously struggled.
Hot compost: use a temperature record, not a countdown
A temperature record turns a compost pile into something you can learn from. It helps show when microbial activity rises, when the pile cools and what changes after turning. A promised completion date tells you much less about what happened inside.
Seedling grow lights: test whether you need them
Grow lights can help where seedlings lack suitable daylight, but they also use electricity and create equipment costs. First decide which problem you are solving. A protected outdoor nursery may be more practical than an indoor lighting system for some Namibian households.
Drought planning: agree on warning signs and actions early
A drought plan is most useful before the water runs short. Decide which observations will trigger which actions, who will make the decision and what resources are available. This makes it easier to respond while choices still remain.
Rainwater tanks: compare roof yield with actual demand
A large tank is only useful if enough water reaches it and the stored water serves a clear purpose. Start with roof area, rainfall, losses and demand. These simple quantities help you discuss a sensible capacity before requesting construction quotations.
Biofumigation: test a targeted treatment in a small bed
Biofumigation uses particular plant materials and management to influence soil-borne pests or diseases. It is not a universal cure for tired soil. Begin with the problem you are trying to control and choose a method with evidence relevant to that problem.
Trench-planting a leggy tomato seedling
Tomatoes can form roots along buried stems. This can make shallow trench planting useful for a tall, leggy transplant, provided the plant is healthy and the soil is suitable. It is a planting technique, not a guarantee of extra yield.
Frost covers: a simple evening and morning routine
A frost cover works best as part of a routine: watch the forecast, cover vulnerable plants before the coldest period, secure the edges and check conditions again in the morning. Fabric left permanently over a crop can create new light and ventilation problems.
A removable bed cover that protects crops and stays usable
A small covered bed can protect young vegetables while keeping daily work manageable. The frame, edges and access matter as much as the material. Decide whether the main purpose is shade, insect exclusion or keeping larger animals out before choosing a cover.
Olla pots: measure the wetting pattern before planting around them
An olla releases water through porous clay into nearby soil. Its useful reach depends on the pot and the surrounding soil, so a fixed number of plants per pot is rarely a reliable starting point. Test one before designing the whole bed.
Zaï pits: begin with a small runoff-catching trial
Zaï pits concentrate runoff and organic material around planting positions. They developed in Sahelian farming systems as a response to difficult soils and unreliable rainfall. They still need water to arrive; a pit cannot produce a crop through a rainless season by itself.
Waffle beds: test a sunken planting pattern for one season
Waffle gardens use small sunken planting areas separated by low earth ridges. The pattern is associated with Pueblo dryland gardening, including Zuni traditions. It offers an idea to study carefully rather than a universal alternative to raised beds.