You must have both patience and skill to grow an organic garden. This pastime should yield amazing and healthy foods, free of pesticides and other chemicals found in store bought produce. Although this may sound easier than it is. The advice in this article will give you all you need to start growing your own organic food.
Select plants that produce a relatively high yield. Many times, a cold-tolerant or disease-resistant hybrid can have a higher yield versus traditional ones.
Check your soil before you begin planting your garden. You can obtain a soil analysis for a nominal fee. Using that report, you can amend your soil as needed for a thriving garden. Cooperative Extension departments often offer this testing service. It is a worthwhile effort so a garden can be productive on the first year of planting.
Don’t mow your grass too short. If you leave some of the grass when you mow, the roots grow further into the ground, which makes the grass less prone to drying and other hazards. Short grass on the other hand is more susceptible to drying out.
Coffee Grounds
If you discover that your soil is very alkaline, take used coffee grounds and mix them thoroughly with your soil. Using coffee grounds is a less expensive way to make your soil more acidic than trying to replace your topsoil. By amending your soils, you will help your plants grow and flourish.
One very good way to deal with weeds is to boil them away. This is a safe way to eliminate weeds, as this will not damage the soil. Pour the boiling water directly onto the weeds, just make sure you do not damage the nearby plants. Boiling water will actually hurt the roots, and it will prevent the weeds from growing.
Keep your plants dry and aerated daily. Moisture on the surface of a plant can attract parasites, and cause disease. Fungus infections are common in overly moist plants. Fungicide sprays can deal with fungal infestations, but they are most effective if you apply them before a fungus problem becomes noticeable.
Irises should be divided. You can increase your stock of irises by dividing up overgrown clumps. Lift bulbous irises when the foliage is dead. The bulbs will split up naturally in your hand, and when replanted, will often flower the next year. Divide up the rhizomes with a knife. Cut the new pieces from its outside and dispose of the older center. Each piece must have a minimum of one strong offshoot. The quicker you can replant your cuttings, the better chances they will reappear next season.
Spread a little bit of organic mulch, around two inches worth, in and about each vegetable plant. The mulch will help keep the soil moist for longer periods of time. It can also prevent weeds from growing. This can save you a lot of time and effort in pulling out the weeds.
Heather can bring you beneficial insects. Bees will go straight for these plants in the spring. Heather beds are also attractive to bugs such as spiders and ground beetles that will kill pests. If you choose to employ the use of heather, always make sure to throw on a pair of gloves during the pruning process.
Think about planting everbearing strawberries in your garden, especially if you have small children. Your children will enjoy being able to pick strawberries and will be ready to help you if they can get something sweet to eat.
Successful organic horticulture incorporates quite a few elements, such as patience, knowledge and nature. However, the tastiness of the produce you grow will be a reward in itself. Being a competent organic gardener can be achieved by simply putting in some effort, and learning a few helpful tips.
