Instead of chemicals in your soil and on your food, why not try organic gardening?Start with a few plants or pots or little garden space, or go whole hog and plant up half your yard!
Actually, if it’s your first garden, it’s better to start small.Everything looks so wonderful in catalogs that gardeners have a tendency to plant more than they can reasonably care for!It's a lot of fun to raise your own vegetables in your own organic garden, but there's no denying it's also a lot of work.A month or two into the gardening season you'd likely wish you hadn't planted quite so much.It's better to start small with your first garden, and make biggers ones as you get more experience!
On Location…
Like the real estate agents are fond of saying, “It’s all about location, location, location.You can find plants that will gorw in the shade, but usually just flowers. Most vegetables need lots of sun.Ample sunshine is necessary and can't be provided artificially. It would take a humongous bunch of portable lights to do the job, which obviously isn't remotely practical.
Any garden, whether organic or not, needs ample sunshine to thrive.Best results are obtained by putting your pots of plants or garden area in a location with at least 6 hours of sun daily.Having the organic garden close to the house to allow easy access is a great idea, but shade from the house or trees may make it impossible.The need for sunshine trumps the need for easy access.
There must be plenty of sunshine for your garden area, but it also needs to drain well so plants don't sit in water.Having fertile soil in the garden area is a big plus, but if needed, soil addments can be added to improve soil.
Down and Dirty
Adding compost will help your soil no matter what type it is.To improve the soil and help plants grow better, you can also use organic materials and natural fertilizers. Most vegetable roots are in the top 6 inches of soil, so tilling or double digging will easily mix the materials into the soil where the roots can reach it.
Time to Plant
Seed catalogs and nurseries are brimming with all types of vegetables.Of course you need to choose vegetables you enjoy eating, but you also need to be sure to get plants that will thrive in your area.Long season crops like sweet potatoes, for instance, wouldn't do so well in the far north, while a cool climate crop like peas wouldn't last in the heat of a southern summer.
Mulching with an organic material around the vegetables in a garden will discourage the growth of weeds, help conserve water, and add humus and nutrients to the soil. It’s a great way to improve your garden soil and plants!
Don’t Let Them Bug You
Where there’s lovely young plants, there’s bugs looking for a meal.A spray of plain or soapy water will dislodge bugs from plants, or they can be hand picked to remove them..
Not all bugs are bad, and some are even beneficial such as ladybugs, green lacewings, praying mantis, spiders and wasps since they eat insects that try to eat your vegetables.
Companion planting with insect repellant plants such as marigolds or nasturtiums can also help keep bugs away from your garden.
Be flexible. Don't expect your vegetables to look picture perfect.Store bought vegetables may look perfect, but taste blah. Your organically grown vegetable may not look perfect, but it will taste a whole lot better.Bad spots in the food can just be cut out before eating it.
Weed, Weed, and Weed Some More!
Really, a weed is nothing more than "a plant growing in the wrong place.That pretty well sums things up.When something comes up you didn't plant, consider it a weed and pull it up or till it under.Employ whatever method you desire, but just be sure to get the weeds out of your organic garden.Weeds take nutrients and water from your vegetable plants.
All Set To Garden!
The right ingredients for the garden are a good location, fertile soil, the right plants, and keeping the garden weed and bug free. Growing an organic garden is a wonderful way to put great tasting food in your diet.Enjoy your own organic garden!
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