Establishing an organic garden is a smart way to work towards a healthier diet. Taking care of a garden does require effort in order to make things grow. Knowing where to start when planning an organic garden can be a little confusing.
For the best results, select the right kind of soil. Find out more about the plants you like and which type of soil is best. You may also cultivate an artificial area comprised of just one type of soil.
Coffee Grounds
If your soil has a problem with high alkaline levels, mixing in some coffee grounds that have been used is a great solution. Coffee grounds contain plenty of acid to get the soil back to a good balance. This solution will make the vegetables you grow healthier and more flavorful.
Take extra care of any fragile shrubs that are known to drop their leaves in the autumn. If you have a few potted shrubs, they should be shielded from the wintry weather. Tie the tops of the canes together; then take a sheet and cover the wigwam loosely. Using fabric, rather than plastic, allows air circulation and prevents rotting from moisture build up.
If you have a problem with your dog disturbing your garden, you can repel him by spraying perfume or other scents on the grass near the edge. These scents overpower the garden’s scents, which causes your dog to lose interest.
During the hotter parts of the day, vegetables are softer, which means even picking them gently can cause them damage. When you remove the produce from the plant, use shears or a knife to cut them from the vine without twisting, as this can damage the plant.
If you are growing plants organically indoors, you have to consider the light that they are getting. If your windows are small or receive little light due to their positioning, a plant that requires little sunlight will be more comfortable and healthy. You can also try using artificial lighting to help.
Perennial gardens should be prepared easily and quickly in the ground. All you need to do is use a garden spade to slice under the turf, flip it over, then spread wood chips over the area about three to four inches deep. After a few weeks, you can then dig into the turf and plant the perennials of your choosing.
Want to get rid of weeds naturally? A layer of newspaper, several pages thick, placed over the ground will do the trick. Weeds require sunlight to grow. The newspaper will block sunlight and weeds won’t be able to grow. Newspapers break down nicely over time to become part of the compost. Covering the newspaper with mulch will help your garden to be more pleasing to the eye.
For the best results when growing an organic garden, you should shake your seeds up a little bit. After planted, make sure you agitate the seeds at least twice daily, using your fingers or even a Popsicle stick. While this appears strange, research shows it can help plants grow larger, versus not petting them at all.
If you want to sell your crops as organic, you should look into obtaining a certification proving that you are an organic garden. That way, you will realize greater sales volume and demonstrate the value of your produce to potential and returning customers.
Your watering schedule should flow perfectly with the seasons, yet be adjustable according to climate. The level of necessary watering turns on the type of water you use, the kind of soil in your garden and the amount of direct sunlight you have. An example would be that if you live in a humid and warm climate, then you’ll want to avoid watering the plant’s leaves as this will cause fungus to grow on your plants. You have to make sure to water the root system.
As has been outlined in the above article, you need to research all about organic gardening, and know that it will take a lot of work and effort in order to grow organic plants of your own. If you want to see success at your efforts, you have to continue working at it. If you keep all these suggestions in mind, you have taken the right steps towards becoming a successful organic gardener.