Organic gardening is the healthiest way to grow flowers, fruits and vegetables. Imagine eating your homegrown fruits and vegetables, whole foods free of any harmful pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers!
As a bonus, organic gardening is environmentally sound, keeping those toxins out of the soil and water supply. Here are a few organic gardening tips to get started.
#1 Rotate your garden
Different vegetables and fruits absorb different nutrients from the soil. If you plant tomatoes for example, in the same spot every year, eventually they’ll deplete the soil of the nutrients they need. However, if you rotate your garden, simply rotating where you plant your veggies each year, then you’ll have healthier and tastier produce. Additionally rotation also helps prevent attack by disease and pests, which may have overwintered in the soil.
#2 Use friendly insects as natural pesticides.
Ladybugs are a great tool to eliminate aphids from your garden. You can buy wiggly bags of them at your local nursery or even order them online. Place them in your garden and prevent infestation. Tiny spiders are major predators of insects, so mulching between plants will provide them with shelter.
#3 Use Organic insecticides
Organic insecticides can be used to prevent things like beetles and worms. Make a garlic spray – soak 3 to 4 ounces of chopped garlic bulbs in 2 tablespoons of mineral oil for one day. Dissolve 1 tsp of fish emulsion in a pint of water and add it to your solution. Stir. Strain liquid and store in a glass container – not metal! Dilute 1 part solution to every 20 parts of water. This solution, sprayed on infected plants, kills aphids, mosquitoes, and onion flies.
#4 Try companion planting
Use specific plants to attract or repel insects. For example, Sage repels cabbage moths and black flea beetles and marigolds repel a variety of insects. Garlic planted alongside roses will repel aphids.
#5 Use organic seeds and starters
If you’re sowing your own seeds, then you’ll want to sow them from organic fruits and vegetables. If you’re buying plants to start with, you’ll want to make sure they’re organic. Over 170 companies sell organic, untreated seeds and heirloom seeds. For information about these companies, see http://www.greenpeople.org/seeds.htm
#6 Improve your soil
Plant vegetables in a rich soil. Compost is a wonderfully sustainable and nutrient rich way of providing everything your plants need to grow and survive. Build your own compost (click here for how-to directions) or buy composted steer or mushroom manure to add to your garden.
#7 Seed boldly
If you’re sowing seeds, sow several times more than you think you’ll need. For example if you’re only going to plant one tomato plant in your garden, start 3 or 4 seeds. Seeds don’t always grow well and you can then choose the strongest looking to plant in your garden. Plus, you may have some to give away to friends or neighbors!
# 8 Plant wisely
Read the information on the back of the seed packet or the tag – its there for a good reason. This information will tell you how much sun and water the plant needs so you’ll be able to choose the best location for it.
#9 Label your plants
Use the tag attached to the plant when you bought it or make your own. It can be easy to forget what plant is what. Also, if you map your garden each year, it will be easier to rotate your crops.
#10 Prevent fungus and disease
The biggest killer of most vegetable gardens is fungus and mold. Keep your plants pruned so they have good air flow and keep the soil moist but not soaked. Additionally, make sure there isn’t too much of an accumulation of mulch around the plants which can retain water and foster mold growth. By directing your watering to the plant with a watering system, you’ll also keep the mulch drier.
Organic gardening is a fun and easy way to bring fresh produce into your home. You can grow flowers, herbs, vegetables and even fruits organically. For detailed information, follow this great series of videos from an experienced organic gardener:
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