Methods of Pruning Roses Varies With the Variety

Methods of Pruning Roses Varies With the Variety

Pruning roses can be a thorny experience no matter what type of roses you grow . The prickles, often mistakenly called thorns growing from the outer dermis of a rose bush can be quite sharp and painful when imbedded in your skin. Pruning roses is considered by some to be an art form and the methods used are dictated by the type of roses being pruned.

Garden roses generally bloom once per year in late spring or early summer with the blooms appearing on two-year old canes. The pruning needs are quite simple. As canes die they should be removed to make room for new ones. Care must be exercised not to remove the canes during their first or second year of growth. By removing the one-year-old canes when pruning roses the next years flowers will also be removed.

As soon as the blooms fade the shrubs can be cut back to limit the height and width of the bush as well as removing any dead canes from an aged rose bush. The pruning needs of the garden rose is minimal and removing the old canes is simply all that is required and is usually done once all the blooms are gone.

Almost all modern hybrids contain the genetic heritage of China roses and have been bred to bloom continuously throughout the growing season. As new canes sprout during the season new blooms will appear on those canes and this will go on continuously until the first frost. Once frost has stopped the growth pruning roses of their old and dying canes will make room for more new ones the following season.

All varieties of rose bush require pruning of all dead or diseased canes regardless of the time of year. Early spring is the best time for pruning roses and cuts should be made above the bud. The location of last year’s bloom and the cut should be at a 45-degree angle. This helps prevent new foliage from growing from the cut and also helps stop moisture build up at the pruned site which could subject the cane to disease.

During the blooming season deadheading of all varieties of roses will help the plants live longer and bloom longer. It is simply a matter of removing the bloom once they die off. In many varieties this will make room for re-blooming of plants as well as reduce the amount of debris from dead blooms from laying on the garden surface. Properly pruning roses will help ensure many years of enjoyment.

The Facts About Ice Wine

The Facts About Ice Wine

Ice wine is one of the many types and varieties of wine available for purchase but is one of the most unheard of. Ice wine is a very rare form of wine that is only produced under certain types of weather conditions. Ice wine is mainly produced in the Pacific Northwest region where the weather conditions are right for its production.

Ice wine is produced in very small quantities. With the wine requiring only the fines of quality and a lack of availability the product is extremely rare. There are only a lucky few who are actually able to purchase the wine. Due to the scarce amount this type wine can be extremely expensive and out of the price range for a majority of us.

Much like the beauty of owning a diamond, ice wine is something that many of us hope and dream to experience at some point in our lives. Although the raw materials are rare the weather conditions are even more crucial to producing this wine. Once the right weather conditions arrive the wine maker prepares to produce this extremely rare and priceless wine.

The basic requirements needed to produce ice wine are fully ripened grapes and a temperature of around 5 degrees C. The temperature needs to remain there for several days so that the wine maker can complete the process. Grapes that are frozen during these extremely cold temperatures are hand plucked at night by the wine maker and his assistants.

To produce a bottle of ice wine full vine grapes may be required. Once the grapes have been collected they are gently pressed in order to collect the running juice only. The temperature creates the frozen water crystals which are fermented along with sugars and the particles that are found in the free running juices. Through this process the wonderful and rare ice wine is created.

If you have been looking to try ice wine finding it may be very difficult. As you probably already know most alcohol and wine stores don’t sell this rare wine. Finding it online is very hard to do as well. Even if you are able to find it the cost can easily be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars for a single bottle.

The best way to experience ice wine is to find the right wine maker in the Pacific Northwest region. Even though bottles go extremely fast once they have been made you may be able to catch a wine maker with some on hand. Although it can cost a lot and be extremely hard to find - the taste of ice wine makes it well worth the effort.

Hybrid Organic Garden Seeds

Hybrid Organic Garden Seeds

You must use organic garden seeds if you plan to sell USDA Certified Organic produce. Organic garden seeds are grown under the same organic conditions as your vegetables.

You might think it may not matter if the seed comes from a plant that was grown in chemically altered soil or if pesticides were used on the plant. To a certain extent you would be right. If you are growing a pot of lettuce for your own use it may not matter if you use organic seed. To others it could matter a great deal because pesticides and chemical fertilizers can alter the DNA of plant seeds. The seeds may not germinate well or not produce the highest quality or volume.
Organic garden seeds may come from open-pollinated plants or from hybrids but they may not come from genetically modified stock. All organic garden seeds are GMO-free.

Heritage Organic Garden Seeds
Heritage organic garden seeds are organically grown seeds from old, non-hybridized varieties of plants. Hybridized varieties of plants have been developed to produce specific characteristics. Hybridized produce may be larger, juicier, more colorful, more flavorful, and more insect-resistant or may have a longer shelf-life than the original varieties of the plant. Hybridization is an ancient agricultural practice that has produced many wonderful plant varieties.

There are some problems with hybridization. The biggest problem is that you can’t save the seed from hybrids because they don’t breed predictably. Growing plants from hybrid organic garden seed has unpredictable results. The plants grown could have any mix of characteristics from the parent plants but not those of the hybrid.

The second problem with hybridization is that we are in danger of losing some varieties of plants. If the plants don’t have certain characteristics they aren’t grown. It may probably not wise to lose that genetic stock. Nearly all of the organic garden seeds available in the US are hybridized seeds. If the parent stock is lost we may not have a source of new seed in the future.

Many gardeners say that vegetables grown from heritage organic garden seeds are more flavorful than hybridized vegetables. This is why many organic gardeners use heritage organic garden seeds for their gardens. If you use heritage organic garden seed you can save the seeds from your plants to use the next year. You can also join a seed-saver group and trade heritage organic garden seeds with other people. People who save and trade heritage organic garden seeds are preserving these older varieties of plants and are providing a “back up” source of seeds in case it’s ever needed.

New bolg creation

My partner and I along with our wives just started a new blog focusing on one of the most common health issues women have. Check it out here when you have a few minutes.

Things You Can Do With Organic Herbs

Things You Can Do With Organic Herbs

You’ve spent the time and put forth the effort to grow organic herbs and now find yourself with a bumper crop. You can’t possibly use or give away all the herbs you’ve grown and you most certainly don’t want them to go to waste. Here are five wonderful things you can do with your excess organic herbs.

Dry Them
It’s easy to dry organic herbs even if you have a relatively humid environment. Start by harvesting the herbs early in the day when it is cool. Use scissors or a sharp knife to cut fairly long stems. Wash the herbs carefully and lay themon a clean towel so that the excess moisture is absorbed. Next, bundle them together with pretty ribbon, and hang them somewhere out of the way where it is relatively dry (not in a laundry room or bathroom, for instance). Try to also avoid hanging them in direct sun because they will lose some of their color. When your organic herbs are completely dry put them in jars. This way they will last for about a year.

Freeze Them
Herbs freeze wonderfully well and they will be just like fresh when you use them. Harvest the herbs as above and wash thoroughly. Lay them on absorbant towels to dry and turn occasionally to make sure there is no excess water on the herbs. Don’t remove the leaves or flowers from the stem because herbs are best when frozen on the stem. Place them in freezer bags and label. They will be good to use as fresh for six months. To use frozen herbs, remove the package and crumble off a few leaves then put the package back in the freezer.

Make Herb Vinegar
Organic herbs make great vinegars that are wonderful when used on salads and cooked vegetables. Experiment with different organic herbs to find the flavor combinations you like best.

You will need the following:Clean glass jar with lid. Organic herbs - use the flowers too for an extra pretty color.Vinegar - White vinegar works well but you may have to look around to find organic white vinegar. Wine vinegars also work well. Cider vinegar is the old stand-by but it does have a strong flavor of its own. Fresh organic herbs are best for herb vinegars. Harvest and wash as above then fill the jar with them. Add vinegar and cover; set aside for several weeks, then strain the herbs out.

Make Organic Herb Oils
Like herbal vinegars, herbal oils are wonderful on salads. They are also great for dipping bread into and cooking with. You can even use your organic herbal oils as bath oils and skin moisturizers.

CAUTION: Herb oils MUST be refrigerated. Storage time is less when fresh herbs are used. Flavored oils are an ideal environment for the growth of certain bacteria so it is important to follow storage directions carefully. Oils made with fresh organic herbs should be used within two weeks. Oils made with fully dried organic herbs can be stored for up to a month in the refrigerator.

You will need the following: A glass jar with lid
Organic herbs - either dried or freshOil - Extra virgin olive oil is good for cooking, but you can use almost any oil.

To make organic herb oils fill a glass bottle about half full of oil. Add the herbs, fill up with oil and cap.

Organic herbs and things made with them make good gifts. You can tie a ribbon around a bottle of bay oil or chive vinegar, package it with a loaf of bread or a salad set and have a unique gift that anybody will appreciate.

Indoor Container Vegetable Gardening

Indoor Container Vegetable Gardening

There are many advantages to indoor container vegetable gardening. First, you can enjoy your gardening hobby pretty much year-round because climate will not be as much of an issue. Next, you can enjoy the harvest of a garden whether you live on a large plot of land or in an apartment in the middle of the city. Finally, by cultivating an indoor container vegetable garden you greatly eliminate the problem of weeds and garden pests when it comes to caring for your plants. With so many benefits to gain from indoor container vegetable gardening why not give it a try. Take a trip to your local nursery or garden center to find out how to begin your indoor garden. You will be enjoying some fresh homegrown produce before you know it.

One of the first considerations to make in planning your indoor container vegetable garden is the types of containers that you will use. Keep in mind that you will want to allow your plants plenty of room to grow up, out and down. Roots need plenty of room for growth it they are going to support a healthy plant which makes larger containers almost always a better choice for indoor container vegetable gardening. You will need to make sure that there is plenty of room for drainage in the bottom of your container with a layer of rocks or pebbles on the bottom that will allow the water to run through easily. Soil will be the next consideration. Your plants will thrive best in a potting soil that allows air and water to move through the container easily.

The plants that you select for your indoor container vegetable garden will depend first on the types that do well in this type of environment. While pumpkins and squash are not good choices for this limited amount of space, lettuce, tomatoes and peppers can do quite well in containers. Even root vegetables like carrots can thrive in a container if there is plenty of room below the surface of the soil for them to grow. If you like beans or peas, you can buy the bush varieties or add a trellis to your container to allow your vines a place to climb. Make sure that you have a sunny window to keep your plants in because many of your crops will require at least five hours of direct sun each day for best results.

Indoor container vegetable gardening can offer you the chance to indulge in your favorite hobby year-round and can put fresh produce on your table during any season of the year. With a bit of research and planning you can have a successful indoor container vegetable garden no matter where you live and the time of year.

The Complete Library of Cooking Vol2

The Complete Library of Cooking Vol2

The second volume deals with such essentials of diet as the dairy products--milk, butter, and cheese--the protein food, eggs, and the energy-producing nutrients, vegetables.

In Milk, Butter, and Cheese, Parts 1 and 2, are explained the place that milk occupies in the diet, its composition, grades, and the dishes for which it is used; the purchase, care, and use of butter and butter substitutes; and the characteristics, care, and varieties of both domestic and imported cheeses, as well as a number of excellent recipes for cheese dishes.


Here is Volume 2...click here to access

A luncheon menu, in which a cheese dish is substituted for meat, is of interest in this connection, for it shows you, early in your studies, not only how to combine dishes to produce a balanced meal, but also how to make up a menu in which meat is not needed.

In Eggs we discussed the nutritive value of eggs, the ways in which to select, preserve, cook, and serve them, and how to utilize left-over eggs. So many uses have eggs in the diet and so nourishing is this food that too much attention cannot be paid to its preparation.

In this lesson, also, is given a breakfast menu to afford practice in preparing several simple dishes usually served in this meal. In Vegetables, Parts 1 and 2, every variety of vegetable is discussed as to food value, preparation, place in the meal, and proper methods of serving.

With such a fund of knowledge, you will be well equipped to give pleasing variety to your meals. In addition to the instruction in these matters, there are many recipes showing certain steps as well as the finished result.

With such detailed cook books, it is our desire that as many of the recipes as possible be tried, for it is only through constant practice that the rules and principles of cooking will become thoroughly instilled in the mind.

Nothing is of more value to the aspiring cook than such a knowledge of food and its preparation, for, as every one knows, proper diet is the chief requisite of good health.

The Different Types Of Roses

The Different Types Of Roses

There are so many different types of roses available to choose from that the task could seem daunting to the novice gardener. If you are planning on planting roses in your garden or even buying roses as a gift for someone that you care about you should really take the time to learn about the different types of roses that are available.

Even though there are many different types of roses there are some types that are more popular than others. You really want to make sure that you are aware not only of the most popular but of all the different types of roses that you can choose from. Taking the time to do this before you purchase will certainly provide huge benefits after the fact.

When most people think of roses they are thinking of the most popular type of rose which is the hybrid tea rose. These are the roses that you see out at the florists on Valentines Day. The reason for this is that they are so easy to cut and take care of. Normally a hybrid tea has a large bloom at the end of a long cane. They are generally upright growing plants from 3-6 feet tall and the blooms are available in most colors except for blue and black.

One of the other different types of roses are floribunda roses. These are less common but still quite well-known. Floribundas were once called hybrid polyanthas. In the late 1940s the term floribunda was approved and is now the most commonly used term to refer to these particular roses. They are typically smaller growing rose plants that have smaller blooms which tend to come in clusters. There are some however in which the bloom comes singly. You will really have to look around carefully in order to find these.

Then there are the miniature roses which are roses that are smaller in bud, foliage, and bloom size. Miniature roses have blooms that can range from ½ inch-2 inches. The miniature roses are incredibly popular and they can be grown in the ground as well as in containers.

Whichever one of the different types of roses you decide to go with everthing should go well. As long as you are well informed you will be able to make the best possible decisions in regards to which you should go with.

Complete library of cooking vol 1

Complete library of cooking vol 1

I want to use this blog to share my interests with those that stop by as well as give them some value from time to time. Considering the fact that I am passionate about cooking The Complete Library of Cooking series fits well.

Here is volume one... Click here to access

This volume, which is the first of the set, deals with the essentials of cooking as well as the preparation of cereals, breads and hot breads. In Essentials of Cooking Part 1 you will learn about the selection, buying, and care of food, as well as other matters that will lead to familiarity with terms used in cooking and to efficiency in the preparation of food.

In Cereals the cooking and serving of cereals of all kinds are discussed.

In Breads all the ingredients required for bread and rolls of every kind as well as the processes and recipes to be followed in making and baking them are described.

Utensils for the preparation of food are described, as well as labor-saving devices, so as to enable beginners in the art of cooking to become acquainted with them quickly.

In addition, this volume contains breakfast, luncheon, and dinner menus that will enable you to put into practical, every-day use many of the recipes given.

Organic gardening tips

Organic Gardening Tips

Organic gardening is not only about the chemicals, pesticides and soil that your garden is grown in. The key goal is to make everything work together to create an ecosystem in your back yard.

Organic garden tips and how to's are highly sought after, and growers love to share their organic gardening concepts and strategies with others. Organic garden growers have the option of growing plants, flowers, fruits, vegetables and even herbs in an all natural way.

There are certain guidelines a gardener must follow to ensure that they have a certified organic garden. This means that everything needs to be organic and that includes the seeds. The best organic garden tip for buying seeds would be to visit an organic garden center either on or offline. Everything sold at these types of garden centers are guaranteed to be 100% organic.

Organic Rose Gardens

Roses are one of the most sought after flowers for many people around the world. They are beautiful, colorful and have a sweet aroma. Organic rose gardens are a beautiful sight, and can be quite ease to grow in your yard. Watering your roses is very important to the success of your garden. When they are first planted, you need to pay very close attention to the moisture level. The soil should be kept moist but not wet. Making sure to check them often will ensure that they won't dry out.

Spring and summer are perfect times to fertilize and when done properly will definitely help you achieve the desired results of a large number of vibrant blossums.

Avoid fertilizing in the fall, as it is not recommended at the end of the growing season. Roses love to be grown next to garlic, so if you want an added benefit grow them nearby . When you follow these basic organic rose garden tips, your roses should flourish in no time.

Organic Garden Fertilizer Tips

The fertilizer that is used for organic gardening should be completely organic and provide the essentials for your garden. Seaweed is a popular ingredient in organic fertilizer.

Experts have found that seaweed is rich in hormones that promote growth and allow the soil to have vital micronutrients such as copper, zinc and magnate. These nutrients will help your garden grow strong with a healthy yield. Proper organic soil contains decomposed plant and animal bacteria, insects, and fungi. This helps stimulate the growth of roots that is essential for any organic garden.

About Michael Silva

About Michael Silva

After a 25 year career in the food manufacturing industry I started looking for something I could do on my own terms. After a lot of research and due diligence I decided to try and build an Internet business. That was 7 years ago and oh how far I have come.

My relationship with a company named Breezeworld and it's subsidiary companies BreezeInBusiness,BreezeMazWeb and the Breezworld.tv B2B Networking Portal is the culmination of those years spent on trial and error, mostly error by the way:).

You owe it to yourself to have a look and do your own due diligence on what I am convinced is the last company I will ever work with.

I also have another blog named The BizPreneur which is mainly an Internet marketing / business focused blog.

As far as this blog is concerned, I plan to use it to share and communicate the non-business parts of my life... family, friends, gardening, cooking and a general love of most things sports..accept hockey and soccer :)

Anyway I think you get the point.