Growing organic vegetables and fruits is both healthy and delicious and much better than produce you can get at the supermarket. Don’t buy from the stores, grown your own. Keep reading for ideas and inspiration on organic gardening and its benefits!
Keep your garden tools close at hand to make the most of your gardening time. Large pockets or a sturdy bucket can be used to store tools. Keep your gloves, a trowel, small pruning shears and other tools handy and make quick work of your garden maintenance.
Store a few plastic bags near your garden to slip on over your dirty gardening shoes. This keeps your flow going, so you can get back out to the garden quickly and finish your work.
Pine Needles
Pine mulch can be highly effective under the right conditions. There are many common acidic plants that prefer acidic soil. Pine needles are an excellent form of mulch for these types of plants. Spread a few inches of pine needles on your organic beds so that it will put the acid into your soil.
Add used coffee grounds to your garden soil. Coffee beans are loaded with nitrogen, which offers nourishment for plants. Nitrogen, along with phosphorous and potassium, is an important nutrient in the garden. It contributes to healthy and strong growth of the plant, but don’t overuse it.
When the time has come to gather up the produce, you need to use an old laundry basket. Most laundry baskets are designed with a multitude of holes. This makes them a perfect strainer for washing your vegetables. The basket won’t be affected by the water and it will drain right off as though it were poured into a large sieve.
Plant Material
Use equal parts of green and dried plant material in your compost pile. Examples of green plant material are spent flowers, fruit and vegetable waste, grass clippings, weeds, and leaves. Paper and straw are dry plant materials. Avoid using animal manure, charcoal or diseased plants in your compost.
You should use wood that is untreated, brick or stone when building the raised bed. Any wood you use needs to be untreated and resistant to rot. The most popular options for this type of project are cypress, locust and cedar woods. Avoid using treated wood in an organic vegetable garden. The chemicals in the wood can leak into the soil, and eventually into the plants. If your existing garden structure contains treated wood, at least take the time to make a plastic lining beneath the soil.
While organic gardening costs more and requires more effort, the produce that will come out of your garden will be healthier for you. While chemicals offer an easy solution to many common gardening problems, the organic method is far healthier for you and everyone you share your food with.
Organic foods don’t contain any chemical pesticides. While this is good for your family’s health, you will want to be sure to check even more for bugs and other pests.
Organic gardening is a relaxing hobby that will give you a great sense of satisfaction. When you grow organic, you will learn much more about the planting and growing process, from A to Z.
Stagger you vegetable planting so you will have a new harvest every month or so. This allows your harvest to grow in stages. Also, if something goes wrong during one harvest, all your tomatoes won’t be ruined.
For the best results when mulching, you should aim to create a bed of mulch two to three inches thick. Your garden will look more professional, have fewer weeds, and benefit from the moisture control and additional nutrients.
Native Plants
This tip greatly eases your organic gardening attempts. Select native specimens for your landscape design. If you opt for native plants that work well with your climate and soil, you will be less likely to need expensive fertilizers and pesticides. Native plants will thrive with only natural compost.
If you are planning to plant trees or shrubs in your yard, you should pay close attention to the hole that you have dug. Roots may not be able to tap into nearby water sources if the hole is cut to cleanly with the shovel.
Determine which plants you want to grow in advance when planning an organic garden. Various types of a certain veggie or flower need different kinds of environments. One example of this are roses; some may and some may not thrive in the type of garden you grow and create. Be sure to pick the varieties that will work in your environment.
There are many plant kinds you may grow in an organic garden. A lot of acidic plants like mulch. During the fall months, use pine needles to mulch around these plants. The needles will decompose and deposit natural acids in the soil.
A healthy soil means healthy plants that can resist diseases and pests. When the insects are present, you’re not having to deal with their damage, so you’re all happy.
You will no longer have to purchase your produce. Implement these tips and starting reaping the benefits of fresh fruits and vegetables.
