Everything You Should Know About Organic Horticulture

TIP! Gradually acclimate plants to temperature changes and conditions, if you want to avoid shocking them. Put the plants outside in the sun for one to two hours in the beginning.

No doubt you are familiar with organic foods, or at least know what they are. It is easy to spot organic products. They have special packaging and cost a fortune. This article can help you save money by growing organic produce right in your own garden.

TIP! It’s sometimes possible to save certain plants from winter cold by bringing them inside. You should probably save the most resistant or expensive plants.

Plant perennials that are slug-proof. Snails and slugs are garden nightmares, and only need a single evening to obliterate a plant. These garden pests prefer perennials with thin, flat, delicate leaves, particularly if the plant is not yet mature. There are some perennials that do not appeal to slugs, such as those with leaves that are hairy and tough with a bad taste. Some of examples of these are achillea, heuchera, campanula, helleborus, and euphorbia.

TIP! The approach of fall means you need to start planting autumn goodies. Try planting your fall veggies, especially leafy greens, inside of a pumpkin! After cutting an opening and removing the meat and seeds from inside the pumpkin, use Wilt-Pruf, sprayed throughout the inside and cut edges, and prevent rot from occurring.

Prepare your seeds by soaking them in a dark environment. Place a couple of seeds in a tiny container, and fill it with water nearly to the top. This will keep seeds hydrated and help them to grow faster. The seeds will then have a greater chance at lasting and blossoming.

TIP! If your soil has a problem with high alkaline levels, mixing in some coffee grounds that have been used is a great solution. The coffee grounds are an inexpensive way to give some acid back to the dirt.

Consider growing wheat grass or cat grass near the plants your cat enjoys eating. In addition, you could put an item on the soil’s top around the plants which has a smell that cats hate, such as citrus peel or mothballs.

TIP! Protect your delicate shrubs from harsh, wintry elements. Tender shrubs are very sensitive to cold weather, especially those that are planted in pots.

Garden vegetables should be planted in areas of the ground that receive a minimum of six hours of daily sunlight. Most vegetables that can be grown need that much sun to grow well and quickly. Some flowers also require direct sunlight for a portion of each day.

TIP! A set of knee pads are a life saver if you’re an avid gardener and a lot of your plants sit close to the ground. The amount of time that you spend gardening on your knees can make your knees hurt by the time you are done.

To help young plants, try pouring boiling water on top of nearby weeds. Water is cheaper than chemical herbicides, and less hazardous to humans and soil. Pour the boiling water directly onto the weeds, just make sure you do not damage the nearby plants. Weeds will usually stop growing if boiling water damages their roots.

TIP! There are many natural substances that are effective for warding off unwanted visitors. For example, if you plant onions or marigolds along the edges of your vegetable garden, you can ward off slugs.

Keep your plants dry and aerated daily. Parasites are attracted to the moisture on plants. Fungus is a common problem when plants are allowed to remain damp. Fungi can be controlled with fungicide sprays, but it is important to treat your area with the spray, before you see any problems.

TIP! Think about putting some berry-producing evergreens into your landscape. This will aid in giving your garden great color, even during the winter when other plants have lost their colors.

There are several all-natural ways to keep pests out of your garden, including certain plants. Planting marigolds or onions around the border of your vegetable garden will help repel slugs. Wood ash can be used as mulch, and if put on the base of shrub and tree seedlings, will keep insects away. Using methods like these eliminates the need for chemical pesticides, which can be harsh or even harmful.

TIP! Keeping pests out of a vegetable garden can be difficult. Since your vegetables are meant to be eaten, refrain from spraying them with harsh chemicals.

Every good gardener knows when the best time is to begin harvesting one vegetable or the other. Each variety of vegetable has a specific time to be harvested so that you may enjoy its fullest flavor. For example, baby peas and zucchini taste best when they are picked young. By contrast, it’s best to wait until tomatoes are fully ripe before picking them. Take some time to learn about the best harvest time for the vegetables that you have growing.

Beneficial Bugs

TIP! A mixture of aspirin and water can protect your plants from common diseases. Dissolve one and one-half aspirins into two gallons of cold water, and use it to fortify your plants.

Broad-spectrum pesticides are really not the optimal choice for pest control in your garden. These pesticides will kill every type of pest in your garden, including beneficial bugs that eat garden pests. Beneficial bugs usually have more sensitivity towards pesticides than bad ones. Therefore, if the number of beneficial bugs drops, the problem with pests can get bigger. This can cause you to use an additional amount of pesticides in order to attempt to fix this problem.

TIP! You must always take care of your knees when working in the garden. Most people can’t bend over while standing up for a long period of time.

Create a focal point in your garden with a unique plant. A good garden design will have a focal point which captivates attention. A perfect example of a focal point is using a plant that doesn’t bear any resemblance to those that surround it.

TIP! One way to encourage an organic garden to be sustainable and healthy is to put aside a section to stay undeveloped, thus encouraging wildlife to approach it. The presence of native flowers, trees and grasses will attract birds and insects.

If you know that you’ll be in the garden for an extended period of time, protect yourself from the sun with proper attire. Wear sunglasses and hats with wide brims, and apply sunscreen. Protecting yourself from the sun will lower your chances of getting skin cancer, as well as prevent premature aging from sun damage.

TIP! You never want to do any gardening with open wounds, so make sure everything is completely healed up before you begin; otherwise, you run the risk of your cut being exposed to dangerous chemicals and dirt. A cut may become badly infected if it’s exposed to a lot of dirt or grime when you garden.

Growing your garden at home might not be the most convenient thing for you, but you will save a lot of money and always have the confidence that what you’re eating and feeding your family is as fresh and as healthy as possible. Use the tips you’ve learned here and get started on your garden today.