With a push to eat healthier and to save money at the grocery store, many people are turning to organic gardening to meet their needs. Use the simple advice offered here and you will learn just how to grow a successful garden you can be proud of. Just put these tips to work for you and you will soon see great results.
Utilize your garden tool handles as convenient makeshift rulers. It is possible to utilize tools with long handles, such as rakes, hoes and shovels, as measuring sticks. After laying the handles on the floor, run the measuring tape along beside them. Mark your distances with a permanent marker. The next time you find yourself in your garden, you will have one large ruler right at your fingertips.
One way to correct your soil’s alkalinity is by amending your soil with used coffee grounds. This is an easy and inexpensive solution to increase the acid content back into the soil. You will discover that your vegetables are more flavorful than ever before.
Protect your delicate deciduous shrubs from harsh elements. Shrubs that are planted in containers are especially susceptible to frost and must be carefully protected. Tie the tops together, and loosely cover the wigwam with a blanket or sheet. You will protect your shrubs from the cold without having to cover them in plastic, which can cause rot.
Your plants should always be kept in an aerated, dry area. If your plants are moist, this can attract disease and parasites. A common parasite found in the plant kingdom is fungi. Fungicide sprays can deal with fungal infestations, but they are most effective if you apply them before a fungus problem becomes noticeable.
A good green garden should start from seeds and not plants. The most “green” way to create a new garden is starting from seeds. Seeds eliminate the waste of plastic containers from nurseries which rarely get recycled. There are some nurseries, however, that send their plants out in organic potting materials.
Know when is the best time to harvest your vegetables. Each type of vegetables has its own ideal time for picking for the best flavor. Many vegetables are best when picked young; baby peas are a prime example. The opposite is true of tomatoes. They taste their best if you allow them to ripen on the vine as long as possible. To get the most out of your horticulture efforts, find out when to harvest your crops.
Pest Control
Pest control is one of the hardest things about growing a vegetable garden. While chemicals can help with pest control, you should avoid using overly harsh ones, as veggies you grow in your garden are meant for eating. Remain vigilant to control your garden pests. If you catch them when there are only a few around, you can actually pick them off the plants by hand.
Be sure to plant some strawberries for your children and grandchildren. Ever-bearing ones are especially nice. Kids are quite eager to pick fruit from a garden, and will help with the planting if they get a nice snack out of it at the end.
Aspirin water will strengthen your plants against diseases. To add the aspirin to the plant, dissolve about one tablet and a half into approximately two gallons of fresh water. Spray this mixture onto your plants. The process can be repeated every three weeks or so.
Keep the temperature in your home between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, if you are keeping or growing any kind of plant in your house. The temperature needs to remain warm so they may grow. Another option is the use heat lamps that will protect your organic plants.
You can stop mud from being tracked into your house by covering your dirty horticulture shoes with plastic bags. You’ll be able to keep your momentum going without needing to take off your shoes, and stay on track with your horticulture project.
As was mentioned earlier, perfecting your organic garden just takes some patience, and investment of time. Take the information contained above as an example. If you can use these tips to your advantage, you can take the guess work out of an otherwise complicated venture. The above hints will help no matter what you’re going to grow.
