You are finally ready to try organic gardening. This is great timing! This article is packed with tips and inspiration that will allow you to better understand the basics of organic gardening. Read on!
When helping organic plants flourish inside, it is vital to keep in mind how much light is reaching them. Ideally, these plants should be kept in a room that offers natural light from a window or glass door. If you already have plants that need full light and the natural light provided is not sufficient, artificial lights can supplement their needs.
Before planting your favorite perennials, you must first prepare the ground. Turn over the soil in your garden so it will be soft and easy to plant before spreading wood chips around your garden. Wait for a few weeks and plant new perennials in this area.
Have plastic bags on hand to put over dirty gardening shoes. You will be able to go in and out without having to keep taking your shoes on and off.
Don’t underestimate pine as a great mulch. Certain plants are acidic, and thrive in acidic soil. For these types of plants, pine needles are wonderful for mulching. Cover your beds with two inches of needles; acid will be dispersed into the soil as they decompose.
Be aware of spacing considerations when you are first planting your organic garden. It can be easy to underestimate how much space your plants will need once they begin growing. Plants don’t just need enough space for their physical size; they also need enough space for the air in your garden to circulate properly. Try to plan your garden and place sufficient distance in between your seedlings.
Do you prefer to eliminate weeds without the use of harmful chemicals? Use several layers of newspapers for weed control. Weeds can’t grow without sunlight. If you place sheets of newspaper over the weeds, they will die due to a lack of sunlight. Newspapers easily break down over a period of time, and eventually become a portion of the compost. Of course, you may wish to cover the paper with mulch to make it appear more attractive.
When you plant the seeds in containers, be sure the planting’s depth is three times bigger than the seed. Certain seeds are an exception to that rule, since they require sunlight to germinate, so they should be barely covered or not at all. Ageratum and petunias are two examples of seeds that should not be planted deeply. If you don’t know whether your seeds require sun exposure, check the seed package or search online for the information.
One odd but apparently useful tip for growing organic plants, is to lightly brush your plants with your fingers or a piece of cardboard 1-2 times a day. That may sound like a silly thing to do, but it’s been proven to help plants grow larger than they would otherwise.
Treated Wood
Create a raised bed for your garden out of stone, bricks or untreated wood. Be sure to use wood that is naturally resistant to rotting and that has not been treated. Cypress, locust and cedar are all great examples of what woods to use when building a raised bed. Don’t use treated wood in a garden for vegetables because the chemicals contained in them can leak into the ground. If your existing garden structure contains treated wood, at least take the time to make a plastic lining beneath the soil.
Organic foods don’t contain any chemical pesticides. While organic foods are healthy for your family, you will still need to check closely for bugs or worms.
Annually rotate your garden. When you continuously plant some plants from the same family in the same area every year, disease and fungus is encouraged in these areas. The soil might contain fungus or diseases specific to one type of plant. Changing your planting layout will allow you to avoid costly problems and have large, bountiful plants.
It’s time to plant some organic garlic. Cloves should be planted whole during the fall or early spring months. Garlic grows best in soil that retains moisture but drains well. Put them an inch or two down into the soil with the pointed end up placed about four inches apart. As the garlic shoots grow, you can snip them and use them for cooking. You can harvest the bulbs as the tops begin to turn brown. The bulbs should be dried well by the sun for a few days before storing. Store them in a cool place, tied in bunches or loose.
You should now have the basic knowledge you need to start an organic garden. You may have thought you were prepared before, but now you will be a veritable expert! Remember to apply these tips as you plan and take care of your garden.
