Organically produced foods are becoming more and more common in shopping centers. You are probably aware of which foods are organic. They have special packaging and cost a fortune. You can cut the store out of the equation and save a lot of money by planting your own patch of organic vegetables in the back yard!
Be sure to plant some strawberries for your children and grandchildren. Ever-bearing ones are especially nice. Kids really enjoy plucking snacks directly from the ground, and may have greater enthusiasm for the work if they see the results of their labor right away.
If you like the concept of organic gardening, then why not take it one step further by leaving some of your land undeveloped for the area’s wildlife? You will see many of the birds and insects that are present will assist in pollination and plant production, helping to create a much better garden.
Indoor plants need an environment that is between 65 and 75 degrees. The temperature needs to remain steady and warm so the plants can grow. If this is a little too warm for your house, grow your organic plants under a heat lamp.
If you plan to raise organic plants inside, you need to think about how much light they will get. Almost every type of plant you grow requires ample sunlight, so think about how much natural light you home receives or if you perhaps need to supplement with UV lamps. If you cannot achieve success merely through plant selection, consider using artificial light sources.
Flower Beds
Cover your flower beds with two or three inches of compost or organic mulch. Mulching is the perfect way to lock in moisture, nourish soil, and to keep away weeds. Your flower beds should also look beautiful all year long.
Work efficiently in your garden. By having your tools in one location, you will not spend hours looking for them. Keep your tools well-maintained and stored away in a designated place. That way you always know where they are and they are ready to use when you need them. You can use a tool belt for this purpose, or choose pants that contain several large pockets.
When you want to harvest the produce in your organic garden, always have an old laundry basket to hand. Laundry baskets which have holes in them act as giant strainers for your home grown produce. Doing this allows you to both rinse and drain your fresh produce.
Green Plant Material
The compost pile should include equal parts of dried material and green plant material. Green plant material consists of spent flowers, veggie and fruit waste, leaves, weeds, and grass clippings. Dried plant material, however, can include items such as cardboard, sawdust and shredded paper. Do not include charcoal, ashes, meat, carnivorous animal manure or diseased plants.
If you sell or use organically grown produce in a commercial setting, you should communicate your commitment to natural growing by becoming certified. This will up your sales and prove to your loyal customers that what they have been getting is only the best that you possibly could get.
Be aware of the location you are in, and the seasonal and climate changes that occur. Make sure that you adjust your watering cycles to match these changes. Knowing how much to water your plants can be a difficult task. You will want to look into various things, such as time of day, quality of water and type of soil. For instance, in warm and balmy locations, it is important not to water leaves, as doing so tends to foster fungus growth. A better method is to water the root system only.
If you over-water your plants, they can’t get all the nutrients they need from the dirt. If you are going to water your plants outdoors, you should first check the weather for you area to see if any rain is coming that day. If rain is on its way, you are probably safe to skip watering duties for the day.
Grow garlic in your organic garden. You should plant garlic cloves in either early spring or late fall. Your soils should be well-drained. Plant them approximately 4 inches apart at a depth of 1 or 2 inches beneath the surface of the soil with the pointed end facing upward. Green garlic shoots, which can be cut while growing, can substitute nicely for scallions or chives. The bulbs of the garlic are ready for harvesting when the very tops of them begin to brown. To harden the garlic’s skin after picking, dry the it in the sunlight for a few days. You can go ahead and store them in a cooler area, and you can either keep them loose or tie them up.
To make sure you have strong seedlings, look deeply. When you are purchasing tomato seedlings for your organic garden, you should watch out for lush green starts with bad root systems. These starts will suck the resources from your seedlings for several weeks, inhibiting their growth.
Growing your garden at home might not be the most convenient thing for you, but you will save a lot of money and always have the confidence that what you’re eating and feeding your family is as fresh and as healthy as possible. Use the tips you’ve learned here and get started on your garden today.
