Many people are only just beginning to realize the joys of organic gardening. With the use of our simple advice, you will quickly learn how to get started with a thriving organic garden of your own. Just put these tips to work for you and you will soon see great results.
A great method to deter bugs in any organic garden is by planting garlic in several areas. You can get rid of and repel a lot of insects with its smell. Be sure to put garlic around the outside of your garden and next to any plants that tend to attract bugs. A bonus to using garlic in this manner is that you can eat it when you are finished gardening for the season.
Be sure you know both when and how, to properly water your organic plants. One way to ensure this is to use a soaker hose. These can directly water the base of the plant, which will help reduce loss of moisture associated with evaporation. Watering during the early hours of the morning is best.
Use an aged laundry basket when you want to collect your produce. The laundry basket can be used as a colander for your produce. After you have rinsed your produce in the laundry basket, the water will just drain right out the sides.
Keep the soil healthy for optimum plant health so they can combat disease, and even destruction caused by insects. Even though there will still be insects, plants will not be damaged by them.
Weeds are the bane of any garden’s existence. This organic weed killer is safe for the environment and you.
Cover your flower beds with two or three inches of compost or organic mulch. Mulch will minimize weed growth and maximize nutrients and moisture. It also adds a uniform and cohesive look to the garden.
It can be hard to grow an organic garden without chemicals, but the end result is worth the effort. While chemical-based gardening products make bold claims, it is hard to dispute that organic gardening consistently produces superior results.
By saving the water you use to wash your vegetables, you can reuse the water in your garden. The dirt that is washed away may not taste great to you, but your garden will benefit from the nutrients that are still present and wasted if it goes down the drain. For the best results, avoid using any cleansers on your vegetables when you rinse them.
It’s time to plant some organic garlic. Cloves of garlic should be planted in well-drained soil with frequent watering in either the fall or spring. Space the clove about four inches apart, with the pointy end up and about one or two inches deep. Cut the green garlic sprouts as they grow, you can use them like you would use scallions or chives. You will know when to harvest the garlic, because the tops will gradually turn brown. Dry the bulbs in the sun in order to harden their skin. You should store your garlic cloves in a cooler area and tie them in some bunches.
Many organic gardeners get the best results from watering with a soaker hose. This type of hose allows the gardener to get a small, but steady amount of water near the roots without getting the leaves wet constantly. Soaker hoses need less water than their sprinkler counterparts, and it takes less of your time to use one than it does to water each plant by hand.
To get the most from your composting efforts, aim for a 1:1 ratio of dried materials and green plant products. Green plant material consists of spent flowers, veggie and fruit waste, leaves, weeds, and grass clippings. Dried plant material includes straw, sawdust, shredded paper, cardboard, and dried and cut-up woody material. Certain substances will undermine your composting efforts and cancel out any benefits; these include meat, charcoal, ash or plants that have diseases or fungal growths.
For an all-natural pesticide that will not harm your garden, mix onion, garlic, or chives with plain water. This mixture can then be sprayed directly on the plants. To make it, chop onions, chives or garlic finely and mix it with one-half cup of water, then strain it into a spray bottle.
Be sure that holes you dig for planting trees and shrubbery are ragged around the edges. If the hole has surfaces smoothed by the shovel, it may prove difficult for the roots to penetrate through the soil.
After your seeds have sprouted, heat lamps are not needed. After growth begins, you can remove plants from any excessive heat sources. Also, remove plastic coverings from the tops of your growing containers to keep them from becoming too warm or humid. Check on your seeds often so you catch them when they are ready.
If you are starting your seedlings out in small containers, you should use a layer of potting soil that is three times as deep as the size of a single seed. But, is important to realize the some seeds ought not be covered, as they need complete exposure to sun. Some examples are petunias and ageratum. When in doubt about whether a seed requires direct sun exposure, you can find lots of information online or on the seed packaging itself.
Organic Garden
As you can see, keeping up with an organic garden is both challenging and rewarding. It takes time and patience. Following the suggestions outlined above should help you get your organic garden off the ground more effectively. Regardless of which organic crops you choose to grow, these tips will help you enjoy a bountiful harvest.
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