Greenhouse Malta Opposes Development in ODZ Areas

Greenhouse Malta would like to make it clear that it does not oppose the investment in education. Education is the backbone of any society, and it is essential for the functioning and the prosperity of society. Any investment in education is and will always be welcome.

However the current development at Zonqor point is going to annihilate a grand total of 90,000 square metres. Ecologically speaking, the site hosts different habitats including, garigue, coastal areas and agricultural areas. Furthermore it is home to many different species of flora and fauna, including several birds. Such a development would destroy the little habitat that these species live in.

Another point which has not been stressed enough is that the area of Zonqor point is mostly inaccessible. This means that such a development would also have to include various road networks which would link the University to other areas. This would of course increase the impact of such a project.

The above mentioned factors show that development in Zonqor Point in the form of a University is not sustainable. We expect that this project is held at an alternative site which poses a much smaller harm to the environment.

We are proud to announce that we will be supporting and taking part in a National Protest on the matter on the 20th of June, 10am in Valletta. We urge our members and followers to attend in full force. Mark your attendance and share here.

How to.... Grow Your Own Carrots

How to grow carrots

Growing your own carrots is simple as long as you prepare the soil and take good care of the seedlings. Following is a step-by-step guide on how to grow this veg for yourself, enjoy it and save some money from your weekly grocery shopping

what your lovely mature carrots will look like :)

Preparation

A sunny spot is ideal for growing carrots. Once the spot is chosen, you should break up the clods of soil to create an aerated structure, removing large stones as you go along. Heavy, compact soil will make it difficult for the seedlings to grow strong long roots.

Manure shouldn’t be added to soil reserved for growing carrots. The nutrients in it are too much for them, a small amount of general fertilizer applied a week before sowing is enough. If the preparation is carried out beforehand, carrots will be ready for planting in March.

Sowing

Just before spreading the seeds, the soil should be raked over until it forms ‘tilth’ – crumbly fine soil. Mark a row with a twine or spade to create a 2cm-deep furrow. Seeds should be sown thinly – around one or two seeds each 2 or 3cm. then cover up the seeds and firm the row gently. If the weather has been dry a light watering can be given. Rows should be spaced 15cm apart.

tip : if you are as butter-fingered as I am, it’s best if you pour some seeds into your hand instead of sowing directly from the bag. Sparse sowing is essential to avoid too much thinning out later, as the scent of bruised leaves will attract pests.

Crop carrots take between 10 and 16 weeks to mature. For an early harvest, many gardeners sow fast-maturing carrots simultaneously with their main crop. Sowing them in alternate, labelled rows will make them easy to identify.

Thinning

Carrot seedlings sprout 2-3 weeks after sowing. Once they’re big enough to handle safely, weaker seedlings should be removed. When thinning carrot plants, great care must be taken not to bruise or break the leaved and stalks. This is because the carrotfly, a pest to the carrot, is attracted to the crop by the smell of bruised leaves. The discarded plants should be burnt or buried straight after removal.

tip: Some gardeners recommend thinning in the evening to reduce the incidence of the carrot fly. Firming and watering of the remaining seedlings is also said to reduce the incidence of this pest. Leaving 5-8cm between the remaining seedlings is ideal for healthy growth. Regular watering and hoeing down between the rows will keep the plants pest-free and healthy.

Stopping flies

Another pesticide-free control against carrot flies is using fine netting to cover the seedlings and the soil next to them. The carrot fly is around 1cm long, and fine netting will reduce the chance of it being able to lay its eggs in the soil around the carrot. Fly larvae hatch underneath the soil surface and feed on the carrots, resulting in a depleted or low-quality crop. Grass and leaf mulch may also deter the flies as it makes laying eggs in the soil harder.

Taking care of & harvesting young carrots

Early carrots are reading for harvesting 7-10 weeks after sowing. A tell-tale sign that shows carrots are ready for pulling is that the foliage will begin to wither. In time the average gardener will get used to the timing of different varieties and can also enjoy the crop when it’s slightly immature. You can always experiment by pulling up a few ;). In the weeks before harvesting the soil should be left moist at all times with regular watering. Evening harvestings are ideal to reduce the incidence of the fly… and it’s best to flatten the soil and water it just after harvesting. For further info, click here.. and also some lovely carrot-based recipes can be found here.

Adapted from Step by Step - How to Grow Carrots

How to...... Grow Your Own Lettuce

Lettuce Love

Nothing beats walking into your garden and picking fresh veg to instantly make a beautiful salad! Growing lettuce is much easier than you might think, if you follow these little tips ! It takes between 40 and 80 days (depending on the type of lettuce) to grow from seed to salad, so start sowing for a late fall harvest!

:3

Planting

Lettuce like cooler temperatures (between 40F and 60F). In warm

climates such as Malta, lettuce usually thrives until temperatures of

80F. Therefore you can either plant in late summer (for a fall harvest)

or early spring (for an early summer harvest).

Tilling the soil before sowing is recommended since lettuce seeds are

tiny and will thrive better in soft, weed-free soil.

Scattering of seeds should be done with around ten seeds per square

foot, and it’s usually best to plant them in rows – they look nice and are

also easier to maintain. After scattering, the seeds should be covered

with a thin layer of soil and watered immediately.

The first seedlings sprout in 7 to 10 days. After the first couple of weeks

(when lettuce plantlets are around 2 inches high) it’s best to thin them

out to allow around eight inches of space between each plant. 

Watering

Since lettuce have shallow roots, it’s important to keep the soil around

them moist but not soggy. Frequent, short watering periods will

produce a high-quality lettuce

be careful not to water the plant by wetting the leaves .. 

they get more susceptible to mould and can also be broken or turn spotted!

Looking after your lettuce

Slugs are more than happy to feast on succulent lettuce, so keeping this in mind, put up your defences before the massacre starts! Non-chemical strategies include surrounding plants with grit or protecting them with serrated rings cut from larger plastic bottles. Alternatively, you can try luring your enemies away from the plants by making a slug trap. Saw a plastic water bottle in two just below the neck. Invert the neck end, push it back into the other piece and fix with staples or tape. Fill this contraption with beer or a sweet drink and place it near your crop.

ta-da!

   Harvesting

When the lettuce has reached its ideal size, remember to pick it as early as possible. The longer the leaves, the more bitter and tough it will be.

Make sure you start now before it gets too chilly, or wait until next spring, so that a couple of months later you will have an unlimited supply of fresh salad veg in your garden!

Adapted from SheKnows Home & Garden Site