Establishing an organic garden is a smart way to work towards a healthier diet. However, organic horticulture does require a commitment. You probably have many questions about how to accomplish your gardening goals.
Biennials and annuals are great if you would like to better your flower bed. Your flower beds will look different from one season to another. In addition, you might need something to fill empty spaces in your flower garden. Fill gaps with annuals or biennials. Just make sure the flowers will get enough sun to thrive. The most popular varieties to use include petunia, zinnia, cosmos, snapdragon, marigold, hollyhock, and sunflower.
Before you plant anything in your garden, have the soil checked. Pay a small fee to have your soil analyzed, and you’ll be glad that you did when you understand what nutrients your soil is lacking. Many offices of Cooperative Extension will do a soil analysis, and it is important to know how to improve soil so that all crops can grow in it.
Autumn not only means colder weather but new vegetables to plant. A hollowed out pumpkin can become a festive container for kale and lettuce. Scoop the insides out of the pumpkin, and don’t forget to spray the inside with Wilt-Pruf. This will prevent your pumpkin from rotting. You are prepared to plant after this is done.
Before you start planting your garden, plan it out. That way, if you see your plants beginning to bud but can’t recall what they are, you can refer back to your plan to refresh your memory. A good plan can also help you to place each plant in the area that is most beneficial to them.
If you want a strange, yet successful, green answer to getting rid of weeds, boil them to death. Considering that boiling water is rather safe, you don’t have to worry about toxins in your soil or at your dinner table. Make sure to pour only on the weeds and to stay away from healthy vegetation. Boiling water damages the weed roots and will inhibit future growth.
Always fertilize your garden. One type of fertilizer that really helps plants grow is manure, but be sure to utilize a type that is commercially composted to reduce the chances of pathogens. There are a number of options for fertilizer, but the truth is that what you use is unimportant; you just have to remember to use something.
Using pest-resistant plants or natural materials in your garden is a good way to keep pests away. A border of onions or marigolds around a vegetable garden can repel slug. Keep insects away from shrub and tree seedlings with mulch containing wood ash. Doing these things can ensure that you do not need potentially harmful chemicals.
Take the time to spread around five centimeters of organic mulch near your vegetable plants. The mulch will help keep the dirt around the plants more moist. It also prevents weed growth. Your plants will receive extra water and nutrients, and you’ll spend less time dealing with weeds.
Two items you need to invest in when working in a garden are a wheelbarrow, and a kneeling stool. Gardening can take a toll on the knees, but a small ergonomic stool will be a comfortable solution. A wheelbarrow will help you move heavy items without hurting your back so ensure that you invest in one promptly.
If you want the best tasting vegetables, learn about the optimum time to harvest them. Each veggie has its own prime time for harvesting. Peas, for instance, should be harvested rather young if you wish to obtain the best flavors and texture. Yet, in reverse, tomatoes must wait for prime-ripeness before they are subject to being picked. Thus, you ought to familiarize yourself with the best times to pick the produce from your garden.
Plant for fall color. However, that does not have to be the case! In terms of colorful foliage, fall is the time of year admired by many. Many trees display a range of the vivid colors of fall, from bright yellow to rich crimson, including maple, beech, and dogwood. When selecting shrubs, consider barberry, hydrangea, or cotoneaster.
When growing plants inside of the house, you should ensure the thermostat is set at around 65-75 degrees in the daytime. Plants need to be in an environment that is neither too warm nor too cool for them to grow. If you don’t want you house to be really warm during the cold season, you could use a heat lamp on organic plants instead.
Organic gardening requires work, effort and research. In addition, it’s true that you must be consistent if you want to see results. Keep the above advice at hand and you too can excel with organic horticulture.