Instead of chemicals in your soil and on your food, why not try organic gardening?You can go all out and make your whole yard into a garden, or start small with a few pots, plants or small garden area!
Actually, if it’s your first garden, it’s better to start small.Gardeners want to plant everything they see in those wonderful garden catalogs, so it's easy to plant way more than the gardener can reasonably take care of!Raising a garden is a lot of fun, but it's also a lot of work.Part way through the growing season you may wish you'd been a little less enthusiastic in your planting.It's a lot easier on your sanity and back to start small, then work up to bigger gardens as you gain experience!
On Location…
Like the real estate agents are fond of saying, “It’s all about location, location, location.There are plants that will grow in the shade, but these are mostly flowers. Vegetables generally need sunshine.You can't provide lots of sunshine artifically unless you plan on putting a huge bank of portable lights in the garden. Obviously, that's not practical.
Gardens need sunshine to do well.For best results, put your pots or garden area where the plants will get at least 6 hours of sun each day.Though it's good to have a garden close to the house to allow easy acces, sometimes shade from trees or the house make it impossible.Sunshine has top priority.
You garden location not only needs ample sunshine, but it should drain well so plants don't sit in water.Rich soil is a big help, but if the soil is poor, amendments can always be added to make it better.
Down and Dirty
Adding compost will help your soil no matter what type it is.Organic materials and natural fertilizers can improve the sil and help plants grow.The top 6 inches of soil holds most vegetable roots, so double digging or tilling will easily mix materials into the soil where the roots can reach them.
Time to Plant
Seed catalogs and nurseries are brimming with all types of vegetables. Besides taking into account what you and your family like to eat, choose vegetables that will do well in your climate.Peanuts, for instance, need the long southern summer to have time to mature, while cool weather crops couldn't stand the southern heat.
Putting a mulch of organic material around your vegetables helps conserve water, adds humus and nutrients, as well as discouraging weeds from growing. 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.One option is to hand pick caterpillars and other bugs off plants. Spraying the plant with plain or soapy water will also help dislodge bugs..
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.
Learn to live with a certain amount of imperfections. The vegetable doesn’t have to be perfect to taste good.Problem spots can be cut away from the food before eating it.
No Freeloading Weeds Please!
A weed is really just "a plant growing in the wrong place.” That pretty much sums it up.When something comes up you didn't plant, consider it a weed and pull it up or till it under.Whatever method you use, just get it out of the garden. Those extra plants steal nutrients and water needed for your vegetable plants.
Get Your Garden Going!
The right ingredients for a great organic garden include a good location, fertile soil, the right plants for your climate, and keeping the garden free of weeds and bad bugs. Growing an organic garden is a wonderful way to put great tasting food in your diet.Have fun with your own organic garden!
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