Today, organic gardening is an incredibly popular hobby and career that is emerging. The demand for products that come from organic grown plants and crops is numerous. Now is the time to enter into it. Preparing a garden for organic vegetables is the same as any type of growing plants. The only difference is no any materials with chemicals such as spray, synthetic fertilizers, weed killer, etc. are to be used.
Here are some 7 tips that you can use to get started with your organic gardening strategies:
Plan Your Garden
Look for a spot where there will be good morning sunlight and protection from strong winds. Decide what plants you are going to grow. Research what are the individual requirements of each kind of plant to find out if that plant is suitable to be planted in the current climate, location, distance, height, etc. Draw your plan in a piece of paper.
Prepare Your Soil
Fertile soil is the lifeline of the plants. Whether you are planning to grow your vegetables in a container or garden bed on the ground, soil preparation is a must before planting to have healthy and successful gardened. Compacted soil needs to be broken up. Dig the ground into 12" (30 cm) depth and loosen it to provide good drainage and aeration. The plant roots require oxygen to thrive well otherwise the plant will not grow well.
Modify the soil by adding animal manure and compost which is the best and most natural way to fertilize an organic garden. Compost can be made from anything that was once alive. Don't discount the value of your kitchen waste, leaves and grass clippings. By composting it all, you will give invaluable life to your organic garden.
Don't be alarmed at the amount of organic fertilizer you may need to use. Organic fertilizers contain a lower percentage of nutrients per unit weight than chemical fertilizers and they help retain the soil moisture. Because of this, it will probably be necessary to apply more volume of organic fertilizer than is typical for synthetic fertilizers.
While Mother Nature will eventually do the work needed to create compost from a backyard pile, even if it is not actively tended, you can give her a helping hand by adding compost starter to the mix. Compost starters, available from the garden centers, add microorganisms to the soil that help speed up the decay process.
Lay Out Your Plan
Are you busy with your organic garden? Remember, before you replant your flowers or vegetables outside in cooler weather, you need to get them ready for the change in temperature and light! For a few weeks, move your plants to a colder spot with no light for a few hours. Gradually increase the amount of time you leave your plants in the cold. After a few weeks, your plants should be ready for the cooler outdoors. Plant your vegetables or flowers according to your plan in the paper. Place the taller plants at the back of the garden to have a good view of each plant.
Water
Know the plant water requirements. Plants do not need to be watered everyday if the soil is superb to retain moisture. Water the plants preferably before the sun comes up in the morning. This way the plants have a chance to dry out before evening. Fungal infections can develop in the leaves and roots which are left moist and cold at night. Refrain from watering the leaves of outdoor plants especially when the weather is too warm to prevent them from being burned.
Mulch
Use 3 inches of organic mulch to conserve water when you're gardening. Mulch insulates soil in winter, cools down the soil in summer, prevents compaction of soil, prevents evaporation, provides moisture to your plants, prevents soil erosion, improves the appearance of the garden, prevents the growth of weeds and saves a lot of water. It is also beneficial to the earthworms which provide air to plant roots by means of their activities.
Organic Insecticides
Dish washing soap can repel insects. If you find insects ravaging your garden, fill a spray bottle with water and add a squirt of dish-washing detergent. Spray the foliage of your plants and watch the insects flee. They will leave your garden alone until the soap washes away. Simply reapply as needed.
Give the slugs a good send-off. While there are many commercial slug baits on the market, you can create a 'humane' way of getting rid of them. Cut a 2-inch finish off the bottom of a soda bottle and bury it in the soil next to a plant that they favor, with a slight lip showing above ground level. Fill it halfway with beer. The slugs will be attracted to the sweetness of the beer, climb in, and drink themselves into a happy (and terminal) stupor.
Dry your herbs immediately after harvesting them to prevent rot. Rot is usually caused by moisture either within the herb or on top of it. Moisture can cause the production of harmful bacteria that may cause rot on the herb, or produce a nasty by-product which will then spoil your harvest.
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