As the trend of organic horticulture becomes more popular, so do holistic lifestyles. Those involved in this kind of living often like to grown their own organic gardens as a means to maximize the potential health benefits. Focus on the fantastic organic horticulture tips laid out below.
Learn about plant varieties so you can choose the ones with the best yields. If yield is important, choose hybrids designed to resist cold and diseases rather than traditional varieties.
Fall edibles are a wonderful addition to your garden. Rather than putting standard clay vessels into use when planting crops of lettuce and kale, think about using pumpkins instead. When you have finished cutting and cleaning the pumpkin, spray it with some liquid that will stave off wilting to keep it from rotting. Once you have finished, you can begin planting.
Before planting seeds, soak them overnight. Place them in a cupboard or other place where they won’t be exposed to light. Soak the seeds by placing them in a container where they are covered with water. The seeds will get the hydration they need to start growing. This increases the chances of survival for the seeds.
Your plants should always be kept in an aerated, dry area. Parasites are attracted to the moisture on plants. Fungus is a common problem when plants are allowed to remain damp. There are many effective fungicide products that will prevent fungi growth and clear up any existing problems as well.
You should start pea seedlings indoors instead of planting them outside right at the start. By initially planting them indoors, the seeds tend to germinate better. They will also be healthier and hardier, allowing them to better resist pests and disease. After the seedlings get mature enough, transplant them to your outdoor garden.
Look for targeted pesticides instead of using popular but damaging broad-spectrum products. Broad spectrum pesticides don’t only kill the offending pests, but the beneficial ones also. Bugs that provide a benefit to your garden are more easily killed by these broad-spectrum pesticides, you may simply end up with a bigger pest problem. In the end, you may resort to using even more pesticides in order to erase the problem.
Bring your young ones into the garden with you so they will learn about organic methods. Children will benefit from the fresh air while bonding with you in your efforts to provide healthier food alternatives for them.
Make sure you protect your knees well while you are gardening. It’s not a good idea to spend much time standing while you are bent over at the waist. If you have trouble with this, kneel instead of bending while gardening. A kneeling pad can be placed under your knees to help reduce the pain from compression.
If you cut your hand, you can use a glove to protect it from germs and chemicals until it heals. A cut will likely become infected if it is exposed to dirt when horticulture. It is possible now to get bandages that will completely seal the cut.
When you plant a seed, take your time. The first step is to moisturize the soil. Lay out your seeds, and make sure that they will have enough room to grow. Look at how big the seeds are, multiply that by three, and plant them down into the earth accordingly. There are some varieties of seed that are not planted underground since they require light to grow.
Dried Materials
To get the most from your composting efforts, aim for a 1:1 ratio of dried materials and green plant products. Your green material can be made up of produce waste, used floral arrangements, lawn cuttings, leaves, and other yard waste. Dried materials are things like hay, wood shavings, cardboard and paper. However, stay away from meats, manure from carnivores, charcoal and other potentially harmful substances.
If you are starting your seedlings out in small containers, you should use a layer of potting soil that is three times as deep as the size of a single seed. However, you should be aware that certain seeds should not be covered at all because they are required to be in the sunlight. Some common examples include ageratum and petunias. Always be sure to check online or with the company you’re purchasing the seeds from as to their sunlight needs.
Organic foods do not possess any pesticides on them. Of course, organic produce is much healthier, but you should still thoroughly rinse it before consumption.
The growth of organic garlic is simple. Cloves should be planted whole during the fall or early spring months. Garlic grows best in soil that retains moisture but drains well. Plant the cloves one to two inches beneath the soil about four inches apart and with the pointed end up. Cut the green garlic sprouts as they grow, you can use them like you would use scallions or chives. Harvest the garlic bulbs when the tops of the plants turn brown. Harden the skin by setting the bulb in the sun, it usually takes several days. They can be stored in a cool area, either loose or tied in bunches.
Be sure that holes you dig for planting trees and shrubbery are ragged around the edges. If there are any glazed sides in the hole, it restricts the growth of the roots.
You have probably heard that compost is an advantageous to horticulture, but did you ever think about the ingredients. Many people build their compost bins out of leaves and grass, scraps of food, hay and wood chips. This is a better alternative to commercial fertilizer.
The more you understand about organic horticulture methods, the better prepared you will be to grow a lush, natural garden that provides both beauty and sustenance. While these tips primarily cover only the basics, they give you a place to start your organic gardening venture.