Planting Seeds
Growing your own vegetables and herbs is a great way to enjoy delicious food and save money. It’s also an excellent family activity that teaches children about where their food comes from. However, it’s important to plant the right seeds if you want your garden to be healthy and productive.
Using organic seeds will ensure that your plants are grown without the use of harmful chemicals or additives, making them healthier for you to consume. When choosing your seeds, look for non-GMO options from a reputable seller that explains where they were grown. If possible, buy locally-grown seeds to support your local community and make sure they’re labeled as organic.
Before planting, it’s important to plan out your garden. This will help you avoid overcrowding, which can lead to pests and diseases. It’s also helpful to know what kind of soil your garden has, which will determine how much water and sun it needs to thrive.
Once you’ve figured out your space, you can start to pick out which vegetables you’ll grow. It’s a good idea to choose vegetables that are easy to grow, especially for beginners. You can also find out which veggies are best for your climate and what the first and last frost dates are.
Once you’ve planted your vegetables, it’s a good idea to protect them with a fence from neighbouring gardens that might use chemical sprays. You should also try to attract pollinators, which will increase your harvest and create a healthy ecosystem. Another important tip is to always test your soil before you plant. This will help you determine what nutrients the soil needs so that you don’t overfertilize it.
Soil Preparation
This article on Best Life describes soil preparation as one of the most important elements of organic gardening. Organic gardeners understand that healthy soil is critical to the growth of all plants, including vegetables and herbs. Soils vary in texture and structure, but most benefit from the addition of organic matter to improve their overall condition. Organic matter, such as compost, grass clippings and fallen leaves, helps create well-aerated soil. It also holds water so that plants can access it when needed, and provides a medium for the microorganisms in the soil to bind nutrients together and make them available to growing plants.
Before planting, test the soil’s texture and moisture content. A good way to do this is by grabbing a handful of soil and squeezing it. If it feels gritty, with large rock particles, it’s sandy; if it feels smooth and silky, it’s silty; and if it holds together in a hard clump or releases water, it’s clay-based.
After testing the soil, amend it according to your findings. For example, if the soil is sandy and has low nitrogen levels, you can add organic material to boost the nutrient content. Also, if the soil has poor structure and is compacted, loosen it by digging in organic material.
Another key point to keep in mind is crop rotation. If the same crops are planted in the same spot year after year, pests and diseases can build up and overwinter in the soil. To avoid this, try rotating your vegetable crops each season to different parts of the garden.
During this process, gardeners should avoid using any chemical fertilizers and insecticides, as these can harm soil organisms. Organic gardeners should opt for non-synthetic, slow-release fertilizer instead.
Watering
Many people are growing their own fruits, veggies and herbs because they’re concerned about the amount of pesticides used on the food we consume. Organic gardening eliminates these chemicals and gives you the power to grow your own delicious, healthy and nutritious produce.
Before you start planting, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with your climate zone and first and last frost dates. This will help you determine what plants are able to grow in your area, and when it’s best to plant them. You’ll also need to decide if you’re going to start your garden from seeds or buy seedlings and transplant them later.
Once you’ve determined what you’re going to plant, it’s important to plan out your space and make sure you have enough room for all of the plants you want to grow. Another important thing to keep in mind is crop rotation. It’s essential to rotate crops in order to avoid disease and depleting the soil of nutrients.
Providing adequate water for your organic garden is another key to successful and healthy plants. Watering is especially crucial when temperatures get hotter and drier, so it’s important to have a plan in place.
To ensure your plants are getting enough water, check the soil regularly. Stick your finger about an inch into the ground and if it’s dry, it’s time to water. However, it’s also important to note that too much water can be as damaging as not enough.
To help prevent overwatering, try using drip irrigation or mulching. This will keep the water from soaking into the ground and allow you to control how much each plant gets. Also, watering slowly and in several stages, a couple minutes apart will give the soil time to absorb the water instead of running off.
Pruning
Organic gardening requires a lot of care, but the rewards are abundant. There is nothing more delicious than a sun-warmed tomato straight from the vine or a handful of fragrant fresh basil grown in your own backyard. Going organic is also great for your soil, which improves the health of your plants and protects water resources by reducing the amount of chemical runoff seeping into the environment.
Pruning is an important horticultural and silvicultural practice that includes trimming, shaping, shearing, and altering the growth of trees and shrubs. It makes the difference between an unkempt garden that grows wild and a beautiful, well-maintained landscape that looks healthy and inviting. It is often done for practical reasons such as maintaining clearance for pedestrian and vehicular traffic or improving viewlines, but can be valuable for aesthetic purposes as well.
When pruning, it is important to consider how the cuts you make will impact future growth. Many plant problems can be caused by incorrect or indiscriminate pruning, such as removing too much at one time, leaving stubs, destroying the natural shape of a plant, or over-pruning for limited space. Whenever possible, prune during the late dormant season.
Pests are a part of every garden and can be dealt with in a variety of ways. Inorganic pest control often involves dousing your garden with chemicals, but organic gardening uses strategies like beneficial insects and fungi to keep the population of harmful organisms at bay without harming the environment or your plants. The key to attracting beneficial insects and fungi is to provide them with the things they need: water, shade, food, shelter, and warmth. If you can provide these, they will keep the bad bugs at bay and help your garden thrive.
Harvesting
Among the most satisfying aspects of gardening is eating a sun-warmed tomato straight off the vine or seasoning a meal with herbs picked in your own garden. Organic gardening allows you to experience these delights while respecting the environment and feeding your family healthy food that hasn’t been contaminated by chemicals.
While it is best to start your own garden from seeds, it’s also possible to buy plants that have already begun to grow (called seedlings). To ensure they are organic, check for labels that say the product is grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Whether growing from seed or seedlings, you can prepare the soil for your organic vegetables with compost or homemade plant food that is made from natural ingredients. The key to success for any vegetable garden is a proper watering system. To provide adequate water for your organic vegetable garden, you can use a soaker or drip system that delivers a steady supply of water to the soil. This will allow the roots to absorb the nutrients they need for proper growth and reduce the chance of diseases caused by excessive moisture.
Keep in mind that your garden may produce more fruits and vegetables than you can eat. If this is the case, you’ll need to have canning supplies on hand to preserve your harvest. Keeping a clean garden is also important to avoid spreading any pests or disease. This includes regularly removing any rotting or overripe vegetables and fruit, cleaning tools after each use, and disposing of debris in a garden waste bin that is kept away from the planting area.
Observing the cycles of your garden will help you anticipate problems that might occur. In addition, learning more about the physiology of your plants can help you spot any weeds or pests that are threatening your harvest before they get out of control. Using a spray of OMRI Listed(r) neem oil or horticultural oil will help deter these pesky invaders without the need for toxic chemical pesticides.
