Growing your own organic fruits and vegetables is a great way to save money and adopt a healthier diet, but it also requires efforts from you. There are a multitude of seeds and starter plants available. The tips below will help you get started in growing an organic garden.
When maintaining your organic garden, try lightly petting your seedlings -- either with the palm of your hand or something like a sheet of cardboard -- once or twice each day. You may think it odd, but studies show that this action results in plant growth that is more substantial than would otherwise be achieved.
Don't let the chores for your organic garden pile up. There are certain little things to help you keep up with your garden, even if you don't have the necessary time each day to do everything. For example, if you are playing in the yard with your child, take a few moments to pull some weeds as well.
Have you ever given any thought to using organic gardening methods to grow garlic? Plant organic cloves in spring or fall and use moist, drained soil. Plant them an inch or two below the soil line with the pointed end facing the sky. Each clove should be around 4 inches from the one beside it. While they are growing and still green, the shoots can be used like scallions or chives. You will know when to harvest the garlic, because the tops will gradually turn brown. Allow the sun to dry out the bulbs for a few days until the skin gets hard. You can then store the bulbs loosely or gathered into bunches in a cool location.
When you are planning on growing a garden, you should think about the space you will need to provide a healthy growing area for your plants. You will most likely underestimate how much space plants will need as they grow. Space is necessary not only for physical growth but also to help keep air circulation flowing within your garden. If you put enough thought into your garden, you will enjoy more impressive results.
Before planting your favorite perennials, you must first prepare the ground. You just need to use your garden spade for slicing underneath the turf, then flip it, and finally spread about three or four inch deep piles of wood chips. After a few weeks, you can then dig into the turf and plant the perennials of your choosing.
When gardening, you should know all the different things that you can utilize. Instead of chemical fertilizers, use natural alternatives. One of the best substances is simple compost. If you choose to go organic, you have less of a chance that there will be chemical, toxic buildups in your soil and water.
Involve your children in gardening. A garden can provide a wonderful learning experience for children, and will give you an opportunity to bond with them while you produce healthy food.
Creating a new bed for your perennials is easy. Dig into the existing turf with a shovel or spade, flip it, and then layer the entire area with wood mulch. Let it sit for a few weeks, and then plant your new perennials.
Allow your children to assist with the work to be done in your organic garden. Children will benefit from the fresh air while bonding with you in your efforts to provide healthier food alternatives for them.
You can fertilize your organic garden with homemade compost. You can do this easily by setting up a worm composting bin. Mix up some dirt, refuse from the kitchen, and newspaper clippings, then let the red wiggler worms go at it.
When chopping and preparing vegetables for your daily meals, take the excess scraps and spread them on your organic garden. They will improve the soil when they decay and add additional nutrients to the surrounding area. While having a compost pile is a great idea, this is a way that you can immediately reap the benefits.
Use companion plants in your garden. Some plants help their neighboring plants to grow. Together, these plants can discourage pests and help with soil enrichment, which means that the need for fertilizers and chemical pesticides is lessened. For example, herbs and vegetables with a heavy fragrance help keep pests away from vegetable plants.
One way to help your organic garden thrive is to leave an undeveloped area that is conducive to the wildlife around your area. Most likely, you will find your organic garden producing better once your property is home to the insects, birds, and other wildlife that plants rely on for pollination and the production and dispersal of seeds.
Use an old laundry basket to bring your fresh produce in from the garden. This laundry basket can be used as a type of strainer for all your produce. You can rinse your produce off while it is in the basket, and the excess water will strain through the holes of your laundry basket.
When gardening, know what is available for you to use. Try using natural alternatives instead of the chemicals you normally use. One good example is compost. Inorganic materials, such as those found in commercial fertilizers, are responsible for toxic chemical buildup in both soil and drinking water. This can be avoided by using eco-friendly organic methods.
It is economically smart to focus your gardening efforts on crops that would cost you more to buy at the supermarket. The worth of a plant is not an objective thing. Growing crops that are expensive at the grocery store will offset some of the money spent growing them. So, plant things that you love and enjoy their results.
You need to learn how to make beds correctly prior to beginning organic garden. Remove the grass turf from the area you want to plant. Once this is accomplished, flip it over and cover the affected area with wood chips a few inches in depth. Wait a few weeks before planting in it.
Use whatever leftovers you have from preparing your fresh vegetables and put them back in the garden. These veggies decay quickly, which then leech vital nutrients into your new plants that are growing. Add some to your compost pile and bury some pieces right away.
You can keep bugs out of your organic garden by planting garlic in different areas. The smell of garlic will deter insects from inhabiting your garden. Garlic should be planted around the perimeter of your garden, as well as near any plants that are known to attract insects. Garlic shouldn't, of course, be considered only useful for pest control. It is actually a valuable culinary addition to your garden.
Planting organic strawberries is a great way to encourage your children to get involved. 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.
Reading these tips probably cleared up some of the questions you had about organic gardening. Hopefully, it made organic gardening seem less intimidating. It is relatively easy to have an organic garden, that you can show off with pride. Soon you can have fresh, environmentally-friendly fruits and vegetables on your table
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