10 Garden Hacks for Better Produce

Growing your own produce is very rewarding and makes for a wonderful hobby that produces something you and your family can use. You will save money by growing your own produce, can avoid pesticides in your food, and get plenty of fresh air and sunshine. It does require a lot of work, but you can make it a little easier and increase the amount of fruit and vegetables your plants grow by using some of these 10 Garden Hacks for Better Produce.

10 Garden Hacks for Better Produce

Hit them with epsom salt. Spraying your produce with magnesium rich epsom salt can give the plants leaves a boost as well as encourage it to produce more fruit. Tomatoes, peppers, and fruit trees really love it and will benefit right after planting and when fruit begins to grow.
Soap it up. Grate strongly scented soap like Irish Spring around your garden to ward off rabbits, deer, and other critters that will eat away at your plants. You will need to grate more occasionally and especially after heavy rains.
Invest in a drip hose. A drip hose will water your garden produce deeply and evenly. This is even better if you can set it up on a timer for early morning waterings before the sun’s heat evaporates the precious water.
Regrow produce from scraps. In order to yield a big crop, keep it going, and also save money, regrow as much of your produce as you can from kitchen scraps. Carrots, onions, romaine, garlic, and celery are all great candidates for sprouting. Check out this post for more details on how and what to regrow.
Make cuttings with existing plants. Just like regrowing your produce, making cuttings from herbs, tomatoes, and pepper are not only good for the plant itself, but will save you money and increase your output. Cut stems, dip them in rooting hormone, and place in good potting soil. Keep it well watered until roots begin to grow. No root hormone? Dip cut end into cinnamon before planting.
Use garden waste. Use garden waste in your compost bin to create free and rich soil to put in your garden. Dead plants, mulch, scraps from in the house, and rotten produce can all be tossed in the bin.
Use companion plants. Companion plants can repel bad pests or draw in insects that will kill the ones that can wreak havoc on your garden. Plant dill with cabbages and broccoli to attract wasps that will destroy worms that eat your produce.
Slip on some stockings. For vertical gardening use panty hose to tie your produce to the support. It stretches gently as the plants grow but holds it securely in place.
Give them a side of eggs. Sprinkle crushed eggshells around the base of your plant to stop creeping crawling pests in their tracks
Start an album. Especially if you are new to gardening. Get a small 4×6 album and use it to store seed packets and plant information spikes for reference. Keep dry in your garden shed.