What makes a garden organic? A garden is considered organic mainly in light of the items a gardener does not use: pesticides, synthetic weed killers, or synthetic fertilizers. To make your organic garden successful without the use of these additives, follow these basic planting tips.
Choose the best location for your garden
When you are choosing the location for your organic garden you need to consider sunlight. To thrive, your plants need 6 to 10 hours of sunlight each day. Observe the flow of sunlight in your yard throughout the day. Look for a location in your yard that isn't totally obstructed by trees or buildings. Choose a spot that is level and well drained. Consider your water sources, you will want to plant your garden near a water source. You should purchase enough water hose to reach from your water source to all corners of your garden easily.
Find the best plants for your location and needs
Think about what types of vegetables and fruits are your family's favorites. These plants will bring you the most joy for the amount of effort you put into your garden. Look for organic seeds to start your plants indoors for a quick start to your spring planting. Healthy plants are the best plants. When selecting plants, examine the leaves and root systems for signs of disease. Don't buy plants that look unhealthy. Look for plants that are disease resistant. Many varieties of tomatoes and cucumbers have these properties. Select plants that grow well in your area. Plants that thrive in southern areas won't necessarily produce well in the north. Read the instructions included in the seed packets or with the plants you purchase to determine if a plant will adjust well to your garden environment. Plan out our garden on paper before you start planting.
Make the best soil for your plants
You can use compost to create nutritious soil for your garden. If you are new to composting don't worry, you already have most of the necessary ingredients for a compost pile on hand. The basic ingredients are nitrogen- and carbon-rich materials, a bit of garden soil, a 3 to 4 foot square of open ground, water, a pitchfork or shovel, and time. Examples of nitrogen-rich, or green ingredients, are: vegetable and fruit scraps from your kitchen, farm animal manure, and green plant clippings from your yard. Carbon-rich, or brown materials, include: newspapers, dead plant clippings, dried leaves, and straw. A composting bin is not necessary. You can create compost by layering the brown and green ingredients along with some soil. Start with a layer of brown ingredients a few inches deep, next add a layer of green ingredients, also a few inches deep, top this stack with some soil. Add water to make the pile moist. Keep layering the composting materials and soil until you have a stack about 3 feet high. It might take a while to gather that many materials. Keep your compost pile moist and turn the compost with a pitchfork or shovel every other week or so. The finished compost will look like loose, rich garden soil and will be full of earthworms. The finished product can then be added to your garden to feed your plants.
In addition to compost, other organic materials, such as rock phosphates, bone meal, or sulfur can improve your soil. Before you add these products to your soil, you'll want to test the pH and nutrient balance of your soil. To do this test, send a sample of your garden soil to a soil testing lab. Search on the internet for a list of these labs in your area. The results of your soil test will tell you if, and what, you need to add to your garden soil. Add lime if your soil is too acidic, sulfur if your soil is too alkaline.
Water properly
Use a sprinkler or drip irrigation system to deeply water your garden, then allow the soil to dry out slightly before watering deeply again. Sprinklers are better when used in the morning so that plant leaves can dry quickly. This will help prevent some plant diseases. Drip irrigation can help you conserve water.
Control bugs and other pests
If you want to grow a truly organic garden put away that bug spray and try these tips for keeping bugs and other pests off of your plants. First, invite good bugs and natural bug predators into your garden. Predators, such as bats, lizards, birds, ladybugs, lacewings, and frogs, get rid of your bad bugs naturally: they eat them. If you place a water source, such as a bird bath, near your garden these predators will want to live in your garden. Good predator bugs are attracted to plants such as dill, fennel and alyssum. Placing netting, crop covers and collars around your plants can deter bugs, as well. To keep slugs out of your garden you can use sheets of copper. Bacillus thuringiensis can be used to control leaf eaters, such as caterpillars. This naturally occurring bacteria has several different strands which can be used against a variety of pests. You can also use natural, environmentally safe products, such as hot pepper and garlic sprays, to get rid of bugs. To control larger pests such as deer you may have to fence your garden. Alternatively, a couple of strong smelling bars of soap placed around your garden can keep deer away.
Control diseased plants
The best defense against plant disease is to grow healthy plants. Always plant your crops in the conditions right for each specific plant. Some plants need more sun, others thrive in the shade, follow the directions on the seed packets. Allow for the correct amount of space between each plant in the row and between rows of plant. You may need to thin out the plants if they become too crowded as they grow. This will allow water and air to circulate freely to your plants. Healthy plants have the right amount of water, not too much, not too little. If you notice diseased leaves on your plants removed these leaves and examine the plant often for additional signs of disease. You may have to pull the plant rather than risk contaminating other plants.
Control and destroy weeds
The best prevention against weeds is to stop them before they begin to grow. You can use organic mulch to prevent weeds from getting a start. Place a layer of newspaper around your plant rows and top this with a layer of organic mulch, such as leaves or grass clippings. Some gardeners use old carpet, or gardening plastic to reduce weeds between rows. Regardless of your mulching, weeds will continue to grow. Get down on your knees and pull weeds as soon as you spot them. It will be easier to pulling weeds when the garden soil is moist but not muddy. Get out your hoe to chop off any larger weeds that may be hard for you to pull. If the weed has been growing for a while and is already going to seed make sure you remove the entire plant, roots, seeds and all, and take it to an area away from your garden to prevent re-seeding. You can also smother out weeds with a sheet of plastic. Moisten the area you want cleared of weeds, place a sheet of plastic over the area and let the sun do all the work. In 4 to 6 weeks you'll have a clear patch of ground for gardening. An additional weed control tool is corn gluten meal. This meal keeps seeds from germinating. You'll want to use caution using it around any newly planted crops because it will prevent your plants, as well as weeds, from growing.
Follow these simple tips to planting an organic garden and add in some time and energy. You'll be eating juicy tomatoes and buttery ears of corn sooner than you think.
