Gardening is a complex hobby, but it doesn’t have to be confusing or difficult. Some things to consider are the natural pH balance of the soil and fighting insects the natural way. Keeping up a natural garden is very rewarding but takes some work. If you are just getting started, growing organic may be trying. Be certain you do things the correct way, and get some help from the information offered below.
If you want to get children in on the fun, plant a few strawberries, everbearing if possible. 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.
A great way to ensure that your organic garden will do well is to keep a section of your land unspoiled. The natural wildlife will spring up and make for a perfect organic habitat. You will then find that the wildlife that can help you create a garden that can flourish become present; from birds to insects, they’ll be around your garden and help your produce grow better.
If you have plants inside, make sure the thermostat stays between 65 and 75 degrees. The temperature needs to be this warm so they are able to grow. These temperatures may not be comfortable for you, however. As an alternative to keeping your entire home that warm, consider getting heat lamps for your organic plants.
It’s simple to lay a new perennial bed. You just need to use your garden spade for slicing underneath the turf, then flip it, and finally spread about three or four inch deep piles of wood chips. Allow for at least 10 days to pass, then plant the perennials that you just purchased.
Pine Needles
Pine needles make a great organic mulch. Some plants like acidic soil because they have high acidity. If you have acid loving plants, use pine needles as a mulch. Cover the surface of the ground with a two-inch layer of the pine needles; as the needles break down, they will release acid into the soil and nourish your plants.
Add coffee grounds to your garden’s soil. Plants can use the nitrogenous nutrients found in coffee grounds. Plants need an adequate nitrogen source in order to thrive. Adding coffee grounds, chemical fertilizer, or diluted urea to your soil increases the soil’s nitrogen content and will help to make your plants grow faster, taller and healthier.
Build raised beds with untreated stone, brick or wood. If using wood, make sure it’s naturally rot resistant and untreated. Examples of good woods include cedar, cypress, and locust. In a vegetable garden, never use treated wood, as the chemicals can leach out into the soil and food crops. If you have to use treated wood, you should line it with a bit of plastic to create a barrier.
If you’re planning on selling crops to people and labeling them as organic, you will need to receive an organic gardening certification. This also does several things to boost your business. First, it is likely to increase your sales as it builds trust in more customers. Second, it shows customers who have been loyal that the quality produce you provide is top notch.
Adopting organic gardening methods may take more effort than traditional approaches, but the payoff is considerably worth it. Although the chemicals may claim greater results, using organic methods to tame your garden will do less harm to your body, and the environment.
Rotate your garden at least once a year. Planting the same family of plants in the same area over and over can cause disease and fungus to start growing. The problems leech into the soil, staying there for the next year’s crop. So, you want to make sure you mix it up and keep your garden on the move so that you avoid a problem like this.
To get a good start, look below the surface! After planting tomatoes, for example, you must closely monitor the soil for the first signs of green shoots. Don’t get attached–these hints of green are hiding an underdeveloped root system below the surface of the soil. These starts will stick to the seedlings for quite some time, which prevents the seedlings from growing until the starts are gone.
Try using botanical insecticides to help rid your garden of pests, without using chemicals. Oftentimes, natural insecticides work better than synthetically produced pesticides. But, because they are made of natural materials, these types of insecticides frequently fade much faster.
When you start planting your organic tomatoes, stagger your planting time by planting two groups of plants, three weeks apart. Doing this will keep your whole harvest from popping up at the same time. While ruin in one harvest can be an issue, having multiple harvests to look forward to can alleviate some of the issue.
The best option available to water an organic garden are soaker hoses. With a soaker hose, you actually help your plants grow to their potential because the water slowly seeps out the hose which helps guide it to the roots, allowing the leaves to remain dry. Instead of hand watering the plants, which can be tiresome, go with a soaker hose that uses less water.
Now, you shouldn’t get your hopes up and believe that a few tips are going to turn you into an instant professional gardener. However, these tips are a great starting point if you do plan to grow organically. As you implement these tips and hone your skills, you’ll be a professional green-thumb-holder in no time.