Organic Gardening . . . What, How, When and Where

2012-07-25T09:26:00.000-07:00

5 Practical Tips for Organic Gardening Success

If you recall, back in the day chemicals were not used on the food they consumed and gardening was a part of daily life to insure everyone was fed. Recycling of clothing as well as kitchen scraps were regularly thrown back into the garden. The only thing that was utilized as fertilizer then was manure. My father maintained a backyard garden from the time I was 5 years old until now . . . and let’s just say I am over 45 years old now! Memories of sneaking a ripe juicy tomato from the vine during a hard day of play, still brings a smile to my face!

Synthetic chemical fertilizers, herbicides, as well as pesticides quickly became popular and utilized widely until now. Now we are seeing the results of using these chemicals that have proven to be harmful to the soil and us humans as well. The wretched results include far less fertile soil, pest-resistancy and depletion of the topsoil. To add insult to injury, we intelligent ones felt creating stronger pesticides was the answer.

As of late, we have chosen to be more health conscious and far more attention is being directed towards our relationship with food and how it affects our health. Organically grown vegetables have been proven to be higher in vitamins and mineral content than their counterparts grown utilizing inorganic fertilizers. It is important that you are aware that several key components are fundamental to the practice of organic gardening.

Tip #1

Your soil must be kept healthy with the use of NATURAL fertilizer and compost. DO NOT underestimate the power of composting! By composting, you will be replenishing the earth in the healthiest way possible. I absolutely refuse to plant even one seedling until I have conditioned my soil for at least two weeks with the previous years compost that I have generated. The purpose of organic gardening is to utilize the waste produced in the garden to include grass clippings, leaves, and kitchen leftovers to make compost, meat (cooked or raw) is the one thing that you DO NOT want to put in your compost.

Tip #2

By rotating your crops you will be effectively performing control preventing the chances of soil-borne pests and diseases taking hold in your garden. Crop rotation will make a major difference in your garden’s productivity.

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Tip #3

Since I am such a fan of composting, I have found that I have very little weeding to do! By conditioning my soil with my compost, my weed growth is minimal, maybe once a week and it takes less than 30 minutes for my entire garden bed. As far as watering goes, I save rainwater and utilize it for both my house plants as well as my garden. Another thing I learned is that putting the water from my fish aquariums in my garden has had a profound effect, productivity tripled!!

Tip #4

If you will take the time to save the seeds from your successful crops, you will not only be saving money, but you will also be preserving your varieties. These seeds can be proven to be useful as well as cost effective, I chose to donate seedlings to the various community gardens through out and some to neighbors and still had enough to plant my garden with seeds left for next year!!

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Organic Gardening . . . Work SMART not HARD!

2012-07-22T17:41:00.000-07:00

YES there really is a secret to successful gardening, but the truth of the matter i s that ANYONE can cultivate a strong, healthy garden organically if they are in possession of the right information . . . and I AM LIVING PROOF!

If you will just use these great gardening tips to go organic, you will be rewarded with that organic garden that you have always dreamed of . . . let's get busy!

Just so you know, It's all about the compost when it come to the success of an organic garden. Good compost will truly improve the soil's structure, aeration, and texture, all the while also aiding to increase the soil's water holding capacity. Compost can also help better promote soil fertility, along with helping to stimulate healthier root development. I personally started composting two years ago and I have had nothing but success with my vegetables and flowers as well.

When you are ready to insulate the soil and protect against weeds, you MUST consider different types of mulches. Use things like wood chips, leaves, hay, and lawn clippings. Protecting plants with a mulch helps them in many ways, such as guarding soil against erosion. You can even look into living mulches, which are plants that serve the same purpose as a mulch.

When cultivating you r herbs, dry your herbs immediately after you harvest them to insure freshness and prevent rot. Normally, rot is caused by moisture either within the herb or on top of it. Moisture can in turn be responsible for the production of harmful bacteria that may cause rot on the herb, or produce a nasty by-product which will then spoil your harvest.

As in earlier times, collecting and recycling rain water is a great way to save money and help your garden bloom. It is commonly known that rain water is generally cleaner and freer of pollutants and contaminants than ground water or city water. If is more feasible if you collect the rain in rain barrels or cisterns so that you can use it whenever necessary.

When washing your organic produce, try using a laundry basket. As you pick your produce, lay them in a plastic laundry basket, which will work as a strainer. Hold the hose over the top and the water can make quick work of rinsing all the dirt and other matter off of your fruits and veggies.

Notate your organic garden's progress in a gardening journal, be sure to record everything - the dates you plant, the dates you fertilize, pests that arrive, which repellents work, when you begin harvesting, and how fruitful your garden is. Trust me when I say that this information will be valuable to you as you plan your garden in the years ahead and will help you to be a successful gardener.

Mulching is great for your garden when it is done properly, be sure to spread your mulch out and cover as much of your garden as possible. Be cautious when piling your mulch up against trees or structures, it can cause them to rot.

Attempt to keep plants in the same environment in which you bought them and do not sun shock your new plants, if your new plants were not in a full-sun location when you bought them. Place the containers in an area that receives only partial sunlight for a day or two, and then gradually expose them to increased amounts of direct sun for several days before planting.

Just know that there is no BIG SECRET to successful organic gardening, although doing a bit of research can do nothing but assist you in your endeavor. However. if you are getting the feeling that this may be a bit overwhelming for you . . there is help available!

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6 Tips To Help Your Organic Garden

2012-07-20T16:48:00.000-07:00

Believe me when I say that your organic garden can be an important part of your life. Nothing delights me more than growing the food that my family consumes. Just like my cooking, I garden with LOVE! A garden needs care, just as you need to be cared for . . . so does your garden. Research is a very important component when it comes to the health of your garden. I have included several tips to assist you in cultivating a beautiful, healthy garden.

When you are maintaining an organic garden, insure that you always wind up your garden hoses. The act of dragging and storing a hose that is not properly wound can take a lot of time and energy that would be best utilized elsewhere. By using stationary or portable hose reels to wind up your hoses, you will not only save time but effort as well.

Be very aware that you will most likely encounter aphids, you should consider using ladybugs to control your aphid infestation. Unbeknownst to many, Ladybugs are natural predators to aphids and have proven themselves to be very effective in keeping the aphid population under control. Ladybugs can be purchased in bulk from your local garden center or you can purchase them online. I have found that using ladybugs is far better solution than spraying your plants with pesticides.

Let us NOT FORGET that some plants are poisonous. If kids and pets are going to be in your garden area, you may want to avoid plants that are toxic. A few examples of these are foxglove,amaryllis, sweet pea, oleander, datum, iris,lupine, clematis, poinsettia and lanthanum. These are plants that you will want to arrange where they will not be disturbed in any way by kids or animals.

Picking the right plants is also very important. There are some plants that will have an easier time germinating while others will appear to be struggling. Proper choices include hardy varieties of cabbage, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, cauliflower, and herbs, but of course, you also have to keep in mind the climate in which you are planting. When starting your organic garden, a great tip is to figure out which vegetables you should pick to plant in your garden. Some vegetables are better suited for home germination than others are. Some great vegetables to consider planting include broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, peppers, onions, tomatoes, basil, and more.

Rich soil is essential to a healthy garden but know that if you elect to buy bags of soil it can get rather expensive.

I chose to condition my soil with compost that I had been working on for 2 years. It proved to be the right move to make because I have had a hearty production of vegetables and very little weeding was necessary.

Mulch and hay make for good ground cover as long as you insure that the choice you make is organic and free of any chemicals because the chemicals can be absorbed by your plants, which is not a good thing. The purpose of the ground cover is to protect your roots and to prevent evaporation of much needed water and nutrients.

By taking good care of your organic garden you will be ensuring that you and your family will always have good, home grown and healthy, fresh food to consume. So remember that you must do your research, apply the fore mentioned tips to your own organic gardening game plan so that you will experience the joy of gardening success!!!

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Ideas to Get You Started in Organic Gardening

2012-06-30T18:47:00.000-07:00

Your organic garden can be an important part of your life. Just like you, it needs to be taken care of properly. You need to research what you need, and then figure out what you need to do to help it grow properly. These tips below can help you with that.

When maintaining an organic garden, be sure to always wind up your hoses. Dragging and storing a hose that is not wound up can take a lot of time away from you. Try using stationary or portable hose reels to wind up your hoses and to save you some time.

If you have a problem with aphids, consider using ladybugs. Ladybugs are natural predators to aphids, and they are very effective in keeping the aphid population under control. You can buy them in bulk from a garden center or online. This is a much better solution than spraying your plants with pesticides.

Be aware that some plants are poisonous. If you are going to have kids and pets in your garden, you may want to avoid plants that have toxic properties. Some of these are foxglove, sweet pea, datum, iris, oleander, amaryllis, lupine, clematis, poinsettia, and lanthanum. Plant only if you can be sure they will not be disturbed.

When starting your organic garden, a great tip is to figure out which vegetables you should pick to plant in your garden. Some vegetables are better suited for home germination than others are. Some great vegetables to consider planting include broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, peppers, onions, tomatoes, basil, and more.

When growing your own organic plants, you should move your seedlings away from any air vents or radiators immediately upon germination. This is because your seedlings do not need to be really warm like germinating seeds do. They need to be cooler in order for them to grow in the best way.

Your plants need to grow in a rich soil. You can buy bags of soil but they can be quite expensive. You can also easily create your own: you need to use perlite, vermiculite and peat in equal quantities. You should also add a small quantity of lime and compost if needed.

Pick the right plants. Certain plants will have an easier time germinating than others, and will guarantee a better harvest for the beginning organic gardener. Good choices include hardy varieties of cabbage, cauliflower, and herbs, but of course, you have to choose those plants which are going to do well in your climate.

Make use of a ground cover, such as mulch or hay. Be sure when you are purchasing your ground cover, that it is also organic, as any chemicals contained in the mulch or hay can be absorbed by your plants. Organic ground coverings will protect the roots of your plants and help prevent water evaporation.

Taking good care of your organic garden can ensure that you and your family always have healthy, fresh food to eat. So, do yourself a favor and do your research and apply the above tips to your own organic gardening strategy so that you can have healthier, happier plants to use at home.

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Maximizing Your Garden, Organically

2012-06-28T18:40:00.000-07:00

Growing your own organic garden can be a great way to get some clean, healthy produce into your house, while also providing yourself with a relaxing, stress-relieving hobby. If this sounds great, but you aren't sure where to start, don't worry. Read on to find out how to make your own home garden!

Hose reels are a vital piece of equipment for the organic garden. You can use reels to keep hoses neat and prevent time-wasting tangles. Untangling a hose is possibly the least enjoyable way to spend your gardening time. This hassle is easily avoided by purchasing a reel will rid any unnecessary frustration.

Compost can do more for your organic garden than just work along the surface. When good compost is worked well into the soil, it introduces and helps feed some diverse life deep into it. This includes various types of bacteria, worms, insects and more. These organisms can help support some very vigorous plant growth in the soil.

You should keep your seeds damp without drowning them in water. Spray water over the soil to keep it moist, and place the pots or trays in which you have your seeds in water so that the soil can absorb the water. Make sure you replace the water in which your pots are standing regularly.

Add vines to your landscape. You can get a wide range of plants that are vines. Some ornamental, and some fruit or vegetable varieties. Vines can grow up most fences or structures. Use them to create more interesting landscapes in your yard. Have them grow up an awning, and create shade for you.

For organic fertilizer to use around the plants in your garden and flower beds, start a compost bin made from all-organic material that would otherwise be wasted. Pitch in yard clippings, leaves, vegetable peelings, eggshells and coffee grounds, turning the contents of the bin often. In just a short time, you will have great material to mix with your soil that will provide nutrients and nourishment to your plants without added chemicals.

Before you begin planting in an area of your organic garden and before you begin making a mulch cover, you need to be sure to water the area very thoroughly. Be sure to do this both before and after you are done applying a sturdy mulch cover in your garden.

Spread your mulch out. Mulching is great for your garden. Cover as much of your garden as possible with it. Just be aware that if you let mulch pile up against trees or structures, it can cause them to rot. No one likes rotting trees and sheds, so make sure your mulch is spread.

If you don't have a big yard, or any yard at all, you can still grow great organic produce in containers. Most vegetables, other than some root vegetables, grow just as well in pots as they do in the ground. There are also many varieties which have been bred to do well in containers.

Start your home organic garden today, and soon you'll have plenty of delicious fresh produce, and the satisfaction of knowing that it came from plants you grew with your own hands. Don't hesitate, use the information you've learned now to start building your own organic garden in your home!

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Common Sense Gardening Tips

2012-06-28T18:31:00.000-07:00

A lot of people who garden tend to stay away from the organic stuff because they're afraid that bugs and disease will plague their crops. Relax. It's not 1460 anymore. You simply do not need those added substances to make your garden grow vibrant and safely. Take a few minutes to read these organic gardening tips and find out how to grow plants naturally.

Test your soil before starting your organic garden. A healthy soil is the primary ingredient in a healthy garden. If you start by testing your soil, you will know what nutrients it lacks, and also which nutrients are in over abundance. Once you find out where your soil stands, you can make natural modifications to help ensure a healthy start for your garden.

Cut the tips off of your expensive perennials! Dip the cut ends in rooting hormone and submerge them in damp sand. In a couple of weeks the cuttings will form roots and you'll have free start-up plants to give to all of your friends and acquaintances. Free plants are very much appreciated in today's tough economic times!

Hand weed your organic garden on a regular basis. Just get on your knees, put your hands in the dirt, and pull weeds out by their roots. If you do this regularly, you can avoid having to use harmful pesticides. Your garden will stay healthy, safe, and organic.

Make sure that your soil is not deficient in minerals. Ideally, your soil should have a blend of fourteen basic mineral elements that come from the rocks in your region. When one of these minerals is missing, your plant growth will be adversely affected. When you see a deficiency, add organic mineral amendments to your soil.

Use a raised garden bed when planting your plants. Not only does it provide a minor defense against the common vegetable pests, raised garden beds are also warmer during the spring. The planter becomes warmer because it isn't surrounded by several inches of isolating ground-soil. The warmer climate will result you being able to plant earlier.

Any organic gardening project is immediately susceptible to fungal diseases that can rot and ruin your seeds or seedlings before they even have a chance to grow. In order to prevent this, you should use sphagnum moss which acts as a natural fungicide.

When your seeds are planted into the soil, apply the moss immediately after planting. On the other hand, if your seeds are exposed to sunlight, you should apply the moss first, and then deposit the seeds on the moss. You only need to use a sprinkle of moss.

Like so many things in life a good organic garden benefits greatly from advanced planning. The savvy gardener develops an all-encompassing plan for his or her garden before the first seed is planted. Good garden planning takes into account not only the initial plantings, but the subsequent changes that need to be made as the growing season wears on.

Now as you can plainly see from the tips above, you will not need those added substances to assist in growing any type of plant, whether it's a flower or a tomato. All you need is the right knowledge to ensure that your plants are getting what they need to grow strong and healthy.

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Container Gardening Tips for Newbies

2012-06-24T14:56:00.000-07:00

Container gardens are a truly a wonderful method of creating beautiful additions to your landscaping. You can very easily compliment the welcoming look of a deck or patio with colourful pots of annuals, or fill your window boxes with beautiful shrub roses or any number of small perennials. Depending on whether you arrange your pots in a group for a massed effect or highlight a smaller space with a single specimen, you'll be delighted with this simple way to create an organic container garden.

In truth, container gardening enables you to easily alter your color scheme, and as each plant grows to its fullest potential in flowering, it can be replaced with another or you can build around it. Whether you choose to harmonize or contrast your colors, you will want to make sure there is variety in the height of each plant. Think also of the shape and texture of the leaves. When arranging, be aware that tall strap-like leaves will give a good vertical background to low-growing, wide-leaved plants. Try to select plants with a long flowering season, or you can have other varieties ready to replace them as they finish blooming.

You must experiment with creative containers and if you look carefully around you home and garage yo will find plenty I am sure!! Try to find an old porcelain bowl, copper urn or even an old crock pot you can use. You may choose to buy your containers ready-made, terracotta pots look wonderful, but tend to absorb water. You don't want your plants to dry out, so paint the interior of these pots with a special sealer available from hardware stores.
Cheaper plastic pots can also be painted on the outside with water-based paints for good effect. When purchasing pots, remember to buy matching saucers to catch the drips to keep your floors from staining

.

Always use a good quality potting mix in your containers. This will ensure the best performance possible from your plants.

An attractive pot plant on each stair leading up to your door will delight your visitors and when it come to the indoors, pots of plants or flowers help to create a cosy and welcoming atmosphere for your guests.

Attempt to make a plan and determine ahead of time where you want your pots to be positioned, then buy plants that will accomplish the look you are trying for. Be advised that you will not buy sun loving plants for a shady position, for the outcome will not be the one you wished for! Also be advised that some plants also have really large roots, so they are best kept for the open garden.

If you have plenty of space at your front door, a group of potted plants off to one side will be more visually appealing than two similar plants placed each side. Unless they are spectacular, they will look rather boring.
Group the pots in odd numbers rather than even, and vary the height and type. To tie the group together, add large rocks that are similar in appearance and just slightly different in size. Three or five pots of the same type and color, but in different sizes also looks effective.

With a creative mind and some determination, you will soon have a container garden that will be the envy of friends and strangers alike.

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MILE HIGH Organic Gardening Tips!

2012-06-23T18:24:00.000-07:00

Changing your lifestyle around and ensuring that your family always has healthy meals, means that you must make better food choices. Turning to organic produce is a great way in which you can make those healthy changes. For some great organic gardening tips that you can easily use, check out the information below.

If you want to be economical in running your own organic garden, a great tip is to use tomato cages, used blankets, or old rebar to make row covers. These things are a great way to make your row covers without them costing you an arm and a leg to make.

Make your landscape seem larger by using colors. Try yellow, orange, and red colored plants and flowers. This will play a trick on the eye, and make the objects appear closer to you. For maximum effect, place the warm colored plants in front of cooler colored plants in your garden.

When growing your own organic tomatoes you should always alternate the tomato bed. The reason is because this will reduce the tomatoes' risk of catching soil borne diseases like early blight and bacterial spot. These particular diseases can destroy your tomato plants, so you need to lower the risk of your tomatoes catching them as much as possible.

It is possible to grow an organic garden all year if you have a sufficient light source for an indoor garden. Plants need plenty of light in order to grow properly and there are bulbs that can be purchased to provide indoor gardens with the appropriate amount of light to have them thrive and produce a fruitful bounty.

While Mother Nature will eventually do the work needed to create compost from a backyard pile, even if it is not actively tended, you can give her a helping hand by adding compost starter to the mix. Compost starters, available from the garden centers, add microorganisms to the soil that help speed up the decay process.

Cover bare spots when you plant. When you put a new plant into your organic garden, do not leave the earth bare where you planted. Make sure you mulch the area all around your new plant. This will protect it while it begins to grow. It will also keep the ground moist.

When starting an organic garden, test the pH level of your soil. You need to know the pH level of your soil in order to choose the appropriate plants that will grow in it. For example, plants that favor an alkaline soil will not do well in acidic soil. Test kits can be purchased to test the pH level of your soil.

Use compost to improve your soil structure, texture and aeration. Compost will also help to increase your soils water holding capacity so you will have to water less often. Compost also promotes soil fertility and stimulates healthy root development. When your soil is happy and healthy your plants will grow healthy and strong.

One of the best things about the tips you've read in the above article is that they're all fairly simple to implement. You won't have to attend Cornell in order to become a great organic gardener. As long as you can implement what you've learned here, your garden will be fantastic.

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More Organic Gardening Tips for Success

2012-06-22T18:15:00.000-07:00

Organic gardening isn't always about food to eat. Some people enjoy growing flowers and other forms of plant life as well. You can grow anything bereft of harmful chemicals as long as you're doing it the right way. Make sure you're always gardening the right way by using the information in the article below to assist you.

If you have a problem with rabbits getting into your vegetable garden, try this simple and organic solution to get rid of the sweet creatures. Just use 2 tablespoons of cayenne pepper in a quart of water, strained into a spray bottle and add a teaspoon of horticultural oil. The oil will make the pepper spray stick to the plants. Spray your plants periodically and you will never see a rabbit again eating your vegetables.

Try to avoid letting your organic garden chores build up. Even if you are too busy to tend to your gardens needs every day, you can try little things that will prevent you from having a lot of work when you return to your garden. If you are outside with your dog, pluck a few weeds while your dog is taking care of his business.

Sometimes it's helpful to spread grass clippings or other kinds of decomposing plant matter around your plants. The plants will decompose and allow their nutrients to go back into the soil. This same theory works for many kinds of decomposing matter such as rotten apples, eggs, and pretty much everything else that can be considered organic matter.

When first growing a plant you should make sure that it has all the nutrition and water that it needs. The sprouting stage for most plants is the time when it is most vulnerable to drying out or dying. With proper care, a sprout will mature into a full adult plant which is much more resistant to environmental and animal threats.

While Mother Nature will eventually do the work needed to create compost from a backyard pile, even if it is not actively tended, you can give her a helping hand by adding compost starter to the mix. Compost starters, available from the garden centers, add microorganisms to the soil that help speed up the decay process.

Use milk jugs to keep your plant's roots moist for hours. Punch a small hole in the bottom of a milk jug. You'll have to experiment to get the right sized hole but fill the jug with water and, leaving the lid off or only loosely screwed on, sit it beside the plant that you want to water. The jug will slowly drip water for hours.

When you are preparing fresh vegetables for meals take a few minutes after dinner to chop the excess pieces finely and add them to your garden. These veggies will begin to decay quickly and leech important nutrients right back into the new plants you are growing. Some can be used for composting of course, but using some of the waste immediately can be beneficial.

Perhaps there isn't actually a "wrong" way to garden unless you are harming people, but always know that organic is simply a better way. Better-tasting, healthier food that's far less expensive if you grow it at home -- it's a win-win any way you slice it. Implement these tips and your next garden will be a success.

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Organic Gardening . . . Seven Tips For Success

2012-06-21T18:05:00.000-07:00

Organically grown produce is truly superior to the produce found in local supermarkets, and is also tasty and healthy for your body. You can grow your own produce instead of heading to the supermarket. Read on to find out how to build your own organic garden, in your own home!

TIP #1 To make sure you are doing organic gardening, define what organic means to you and make sure your seeds, plants and supplies fit your criteria. There is no set scientifically agreed on definition of what "organic" consistently means, so companies can label practically anything organic. Know what it means to you, then read labels to make sure you buy things consistent with your beliefs.

TIP #2   Use the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone map to determine your planting zone. When you research plants for your garden, you will see zone information that is most ideal for the hardiness of the plant. In choosing plants for your garden, this zone information will tell you if the plant is suited for your geographic region.

TIP #3   While caring for your organic garden involves many big, day-long tasks, it also calls for smaller jobs that need to be performed more frequently. Keep a good handle on the minor needs of your garden so that you can make good use of brief periods of free time. When you have a few minutes to spare, why not use them weeding, pruning or performing other garden maintenance tasks?

TIP #4  You should organize your garden and plan everything. Do not buy seeds if you do not know where you will plant them. You need to plan on the long term for certain plants, and on the very short term for short-lived plants that will need to be replaced very quickly.

TIP #5  Compost plants at the end of the season to strengthen the next season's crop. The plants you have been harvesting all season are still full of rich nutrients that will be highly beneficial to your compost stock. The key is not to waste any part of the plant that is available.

TIP #6  Get rid of slugs and snails in the organic garden. As small as they are, slugs and snails can eat entire plants in one night. They thrive in moist conditions below 75 degrees. The best (and possibly most humane way) is to use beer traps to rid your garden of slugs and snails. Simply place stale beer in a shallow pan, the lip of which should be at ground level. The slugs and snails are attracted to the beer and will crawl in. This way they will leave this world happy and inebriated.

TIP #7  Maintain your soil with kitchen ingredients. If you don't have a compost pile, you can amend your soil by using ingredients from the kitchen. For example, finely chopped up boiled veggie scraps, eggshells or fruit peel can be worked into the soil to provide essential minerals. Coffee grounds work particularly well around plants such as rhodies and azaleas, and the remaining water after boiling eggs is full of calcium that will give a boost to any plant.

Building an organic garden, as you've now read, is both easy and cost-effective. Stop buying inferior produce. You don't need to pay an arm and a leg for organic produce elsewhere, if you start growing your own now! Apply the seven tips for success from this article today, to start producing your own fruits and vegetables!

3 Tips for Landscaping your Organic Garden

2012-04-18T15:08:00.000-07:00

Landscaping is usually a fairly big task, consuming much time and energy. But before you hire that professional, here are some tips that could save both time and money.

1. Spend some time thinking about exactly how you want the final design to be. You need to take account of the style and function of your landscape.

Do you want to include an area for entertaining? A barbeque? Is there to be an area for children to play, a fishpond or a swimming pool?

An idea of the plants you want to be there will also help. Focus on the area where you spend most of your time. That's a good place to start.

2. Think twice before hiring a pro. An independent designer might cost you hundreds of dollars when you may be able to access free plans on the internet or at a nursery. But if you have an awkward block such as very steep ground, a pro might give you the expertise to save costly mistakes.

3. The style of your home must be taken into account. If you have a rural cottage, formal gardens surrounding it will look out of place. Think also about your lifestyle. Do you want to spend hours caring for many beds of annuals or pruning beds of roses? If so, go ahead and plant them, but if you'd rather spend your free time at the beach, then go for an easy-care garden and landscape.

Perennials . . . Organic Flower Gardening

2012-04-14T14:35:00.000-07:00

In an effort to encourage community pride, my other half and I take great pains to insure that our yard is presentable! After spending the first three years with my organic vegetable gardening, it was time for me to try my hand at the organic flower gardening. It was time to liven up my yard with beautiful flowers so I had to do my research and this is what I discovered . . .

Perennial flowers are a hardy, strong, local flowers that come back every year without you having to replant. During the off seasons, the flowers and stems of the perennials die back and you can hardly even tell the plant is there. When it’s time to bloom, entirely new flowers shoot up where the old ones once were, reoccurring year after year.

You need to make sure that your soil has proper drainage before you decide what type of perennial you are going to plant. If the water stays saturated for long periods of time, you should build a raised bed for proper drainage. To do a drainage test, dig a hole and fill it with water. Wait a day, and then fill it with water again. All traces of water should be gone within 10 hours. If the hole isn’t completely dry, you will need to build a raised bed.

Picking your perennials can be a complicated process. The goal should be to have them flowering as much as possible during the year, so you should create an outline of the year. Research the different types of flower you want, and create a timeline of flowering. If you plan it right, you can have a different type of flower blooming at any point in the year. Getting just the right mixture of seeds can give your yard a constantly changing array of colors.

When you go to buy the seeds from your local florist or nursery, you might be able to find a custom seed mixture for your area. This takes the really tough research part out of the job. Usually these blends are optimized for the local climate, and do great jobs of having flowers always grow in your yard. If one of these isn’t available, you can ask the employees what they think would be a good mixture. They should be happy to help you put something together which will be optimal for whatever you desire.

You should definitely use mulch when planting perennials. This will reduce the overall amount of work you have to do, by reducing the amount of weeds and increasing the water retention. Bark or pine needles work great, I have found, and depending on the rest of your yard you might have them on hand at no charge. As for fertilizer, you should use it sparingly once your plants start to come to life.

When you actually go to plant the seeds, you should put them in small, separate clumps according to the directions. This is because they tend to spread out, and if you have too many too close together then they will end up doing nothing but choking each other out. As you plant them, throw in a little bit of extremely weak fertilizer. In no time at all you should start to see flowers blooming up.

2012-04-12T14:18:00.001-07:00

5 Tips For Growing a Healthy Organic Flower Garden

Believe it or not, just having the basic knowledge of how to care for your organic flower garden can truly be the determining factor when it comes to the presentation and health of your plants. Here are a few simple tips to make your organic flower garden bloom with health:

Organic Flower Garden

Tip#1

A major perquisite should ALWAYS be the fundamentals . . .

Essential to healthy growth, it is imperative that you have enough water, sunlight, and fertile soil and the absence of these basic conditions can and will greatly affect the health of plants. Water flower garden more frequently during dry periods. When planting bulbs, make sure you go right into the depths. When planting shrubs and perennials, make sure you do not heap soil or mulch around the stem. If not, the water runs off instead of sinking, and in particular to develop rot overheating.

Organic Flower Garden

Tip#2

Annuals with perennials formulate a good mix . . .

Just be aware that perennial flower bulbs need not be replanted since they grow and bloom for several years while they grow and bloom year for a while. If you mix some annuals with you perennials you will be guaranteed to always have flowers coming.

Organic Flower Garden

Tip#3

You will get more blossoms from Deadheading . . .

Deadheading is merely snipping off the flower head after it has wilted. By consistently doing this you will make the plant produce more flowers. Be careful to make sure that you don't throw the deadheads on the garden or it can cause mildew and other plant diseases to attack your plants.

Organic Flower Garden

Tip#4

Know the Good Guys . . .

Unknownst to many, the vast majority of garden insects do a lot more good than they do harm. Butterflies, beetles and bees are known as the pollinators because they fertilize plants through unintentional transfer of pollen from one plant to another. Up to 75% of flowering plants rely on insects for their survival.

Aphids

By fortifying your soil and making nutrients more available to growing plants is accomplished thru sowbugs and dung beetles. Together with fungi, bacteria and other microorganisms these are the good guys that are necessary to help in the decomposition of dead plant material.

Lacewings

However it is important that you are aware that other insects like lacewings and dragonflies which are natural predators of those insects that do the real damage, like aphis.

An occasional application of liquid fertilizer when plants are flowering will keep them blooming for longer.

Organic Flower Garden

Tip#5

Prune, Prune, Prune

Always prune dead buds, branches and leaves. There are those that you will have to handle more carefully than others while pruning, such as Fuchsia. Fushsias are particularly prone to snapping when you brush against them so use caution when pruning. Just know that the broken branch can be potted up to give you a new plant, so with that being said . . .

GOOD GROWIN!

Organic Gardening Tools - Growin with the BIG BOYS!

2012-04-04T20:55:00.000-07:00

Organic Gardening Tools - An Overview of What You May Need

It is basic knowledge that to achieve sustainable growth of your garden plants, good soil quality, sunlight and sufficient water and VITAL. Of course nature has blessed with the bare necessities and you will find the need for modern gardening tools as well to upkeep your garden. Gardening tools aide greatly in the maintenance of your organic vegetable garden as well as the good growing conditions.

Just be aware that defective or inadequate gardening tools can cause injury to your plants, cut your plants or actually plug your plants from the soil. To prevent such an occurrence, look for the best gardening tools that will provide your plants the best of care.

Here are some points for you to consider regarding garden tools:

Lawnmowers

The Luxus Push Reel Mower has been rated as best by the gardening aficionados provides large top cover that protects overhanging flowers and shrubs. Another special gardening tool called American Lawn Mower Deluxe has also been accredited as best which will be helpful to operate on elbow grease alone and also causing no pollution. But this is not conducive for too tall grasses.

Garden Shredders

All the garden shredders have a high power motor and come with a silent crushing system and is utilized to accelerate your shredding activity. Garden shredders with electric shredder is an easy to assemble gardening tool, which aids in tree pruning with maximum of 40 mm and making healthy hedges. This gardening tool is considered to be a best among all the garden shredders since it is available with a plunger for increased portability and built-in wheels.

Cultivators

Cultivators are modern gardening tools which are available with patented tines to help in cutting the hard compacted soil smoothly. Cultivators are available with a free border edger. It is perfect to use in cleaning the moss, aerating and in thatching. This garden tool helps extensively in preparing vegetable plots and flowerbeds.

Edge Trimmer

This gardening tool has also been accredited as important equipment by the gardening equipment reviewers. This aids in trimming the hedges and also aids in plant pruning.

Spading fork

This is a wonderful gardening tool used for aerating and transplanting. By using this gardening tool it is possible to perform splitting grasses and perennials. In addition to this these gardening tools helps a lot as the job of a manure fork, mulch, sorting hay, for tiny gardens.

Mattock

Mattock is an important gardening tool for breaking up the clay soils and also working around established trees with the roots. There is no need to have a pick and a hoe and handles in your garden, if you are having mattock with you.

Of course you may find that based on your own person organic vegetable gardening needs that you may only have need for one or two of these items. However, once you have utilized some of this equipment, you will realized how much of the work that they do for you and how much easier they make it to maintain a healthy organic vegetable garden.

Good Growin!

Products and More Tips for Organic Vegetable Gardening

2012-04-03T20:28:00.000-07:00

Due to the fact that Organic Vegetable Gardening has truly evolved into such a popular activity, organic vegetable gardening products are not difficult to come by. You can buy organic vegetable gardening products in various stores or nurseries, or you can order organic vegetable gardening products from catalogs as well as online.

You will need the basic organic vegetable gardening tools no matter what you are planting, such as a hoe, spade, and maybe even a shovel.

You must have watering supplies, like a water hose and perhaps a sprinkler. Of course there also may be an occasional need for a spade, a pot or containers (if you are a recycler like me) and a pair of gloves for your hands and a rake. When first starting an organic vegetable garden you will definitely want some type of mulch or potting soil to get your dirt ready.

There are a few types of potting soil to choose from, including organic potting mix, seed starting potting mix, cactus potting mix, and root development potting mix, just to name a few.

Once you have your organic vegetable garden planted, you must have gardening products so that you can add nutrients to the soil to ensure a healthy plant life.

One such nutrient that can be purchased is Miracle-Gro which is one of the most popular growing enhancements for plants utilized today.

Just be aware that there are many different types of Miracle-Gro to choose from and the type that you choose to utilize should depend on what you are growing.

When you are growing vegetables or herbs, you will need different gardening products than you would need for a regular flower garden. For instance, when you are growing tomatoes you will need a tomato cage and ties to protect the plants against the wind. Many plants, mostly vines, are designed to grow on something and you will have to have a fence or trellis of some sort for support.

New and upgraded gardening products are always popping up on the market. It seems like every day there is some gardening product that claims to be bigger and better than the last. While many gardening products are not a necessity, they sure make the job a lot easier to handle and far more enjoyable!

Good Growin!

Organic Vegetable Gardening Tips for Beginners!

2012-04-02T19:53:00.001-07:00

If you are anything like me, getting started is the biggest hurdle, so don’t over complicate things when you start your Organic Vegetable Garden! You will want to start small. For instance a small plant bed, approximately 25 or 30 feet square is ideal and is enough room for about 25 to 30 plants. All you need for your successful organic vegetable garden is the mere opportunity to try out your green thumb and you will experience that joy. Keep in mind that as you continue to grow in knowledge and experience, your organic vegetable garden can always grow and increase your plantings when YOU are ready to increase your gardening space.

Choose your organic vegetable gardening site carefully because you will need an area that gets at least six hours of sunlight. This is why you will want to stay away from large trees that will deprive your plants of the necessary water and nutrients. You will also want to plant a minimum of three feet from any fences or buildings. If you are located in an area of hotter climates it will be necessary for you to select a location that will provide shade from the intense afternoon sun that can burn plants.

You will want to avoid areas that have rocky soil, standing water or slopes a lot . . . Now it is time to start digging! Trust me when I say that if you have a problem with getting dirty, then you may want to rethink your choices! The first thing that must be done is the removal of rocks, assorted debris, and all grass and weeds. Then you will want to dig organic vegetable gardening location up about one foot in depth, spread out and level the dirt. This will be you r time for adding compost or minerals if truly needed. The thing to be aware of is the acidic levels of your soil. When the soil is too acidic, add lime; when the soil is too sandy, add peat moss. Your plants will thrive in neutral to acidic soil, just add some fertilizer.

Be sure that if you are starting from seed that you plant them according to the directions provided. If you choose to start with plants, insure that they are the ones with green, healthy leaves, stems and roots. It is best to put the smaller plants towards the front of the bed and larger ones in the rear. Just know that the key to a successful beginning in gardening is planting at just the right time by making sure the frosts are over before planting.

It is imperative that you realize that making sure your plants receive enough water is essential to their growth.

Hand watering your organic vegetable gardening works well if you only have a few plant. Of course you also have the option of sprinklers or sprinkler hoses. You will find that watering is more effective during the cooler parts of the day. The majority of plants require about an inch per week. Just know that during the hottest periods, your plants will be require watering about three times per week at the minimum.

You will find that the most helpful of things that you can add to your garden is mulch or compost. By utilizing a few inches of organic mulch, you will improve the fertility and assist the soil in holding moisture. Wood chips, grass clippings, leaves, manure, and pine needles are all things that can be used as mulch and can b found in abundance.

Good Growin!

If you are leaning towards organic greenhouse gardening . . . check this out!

Successful Organic Gardening For Beginners

2012-03-23T16:29:00.000-07:00

To have a successful organic garden, it is imperative that you keep yourself updated with how things are being done. You should be in tuned with the local gardeners in your area so that you can talk things out with enthusiasts like you.

Generosity if the theme of nature and this is also the basic idea of the organic process of gardening. The object is to give back to nature what nature has bestowed upon you. In gardening, there is no place for synthetic materials because you only have to use what can be found on the ground or the environment around you.

An example of this would be in regards to composting, you have the option to make your own compost, just know that this is not an easy task but a necessary one. Doing so will take a lot of effort and time on your part. The first method to go about this is to gather dried leaves, certain animal manure, vegetable peels and the likes on a compost bag. You have to attend to it periodically to add moisture once in a while and to make sure that you are doing things right.

The second method I will introduce you to is to pile up the materials that you have gathered on the ground. Pile those up in a space that you will allocate for your compost. You just leave them there and let nature takes its course through those materials. Through time, years even, that pile will be turned into compost materials that you can also use as fertilizers for your garden. But you've got to be careful to choose only the part that is not infested with pests. If not, you'll have bigger problems with your garden just know that this method will take longer

The latter method will take longer. And because it is open and you cannot regulate it, certain elements can be accommodated into the pile which may be harmful to your garden. So when you are already using that, you still have to check very closely so that you will retain your garden's health and beauty.

You have to remember that you must be picky with your plants. Ask a local dealer what plants will grow easily on your location. You must not opt for something you like that will not survive the site's conditions.

Learn the art of mulching. You have to do this periodically in your garden beds. This will kill the growing weeds. You'll be able to monitor the unnecessary pests and get rid of them. This also moderates the temperature of the soil. And by mulching it, you'll prevent the soil from eroding.

Have a variety of plants in your garden. This way, you will be able to attract beneficial insects. These are the types that would feed on the pests that your garden may incur.

And the most important thing to do in organic gardening is to befriend your plants. You must know all them fully well. This way, you will have an idea as to what to do in cases where a problem struck and you have no one to help you.

Tips For Successful Organic Gardening

2012-03-14T20:23:00.002-07:00

Now it is time to get down to the nitty-gritty of Organic Gardening which truly required certain skills.. It is imperative that you know the type of soil, what type of plants you can place on them, how you will take care of those plants. Believe it or not, you can get from the earth all that you will then use for your organic venture into gardening. . . . so you see organic gardening entails hard work but the rewards are more than worth it!. So let's get ready to sweat!

Tips for Success With Your Organic Garden:

TIP #1 The most important thing to do is to decide what you want to grow. There are so many vegetables from which you can choose so keep in mind the amount of space needed which will make it easy for you to plot on a sheet of paper the layout of how you want your vegetables to grow and what climate will be required for your vegetables.. If you buy vegetables that are grown instead of using seedlings, most of these come in plastic containers. Be very careful when removing them so you avoid tearing the outside roots.

TIP #2 It is highly recommended that you mulch your vegetables with organic material that can be made from food waste, dead leaves or grass and manure. This will aide in conserving water, adds humus and nutrients as well as discourage weed growth.

TIP #3 The good part about planting is that you don't have to dig deep to put these in because 80% of the vegetable's roots are found in the top 6 to 7 inches of soil. You can utilize compost or you can use natural fertilizers and organic material to help the vegetables grow more abundantly. It is also recommended that you utilize native earthworms which are nature's tillers and soil conditioners.

TIP #4 Remove weeds that come out in your garden as soon as you see them! You can pull these out by hand or spot spray it with a full strength of household vinegar. Best of all, it is safe for the environment.

TIP #5 Crop rotation is vital and will make ensure that the soil is always fertile. When planting the new vegetables, avoid regular deep cultivation as this will damage the roots, dry out the soil, disturb healthy soil organisms and bring weeds to the surface that will soon germinate.

Origins of Organic Gardening

2012-03-14T19:49:00.000-07:00

I was truly surprised by the explosive interesting in organic gardening, so much so that I just had to find out what all the hoopla was about. Much to my amazement . . . And amusement, organic gardening is actually the only form of gardening that I knew existed! When I was coming up, we always had a organic backyard garden because there were 4 kids that had to eat. We did not use pesticides or insecticides because they were too expensive and we always recycled, not for the sake of mother earth but for the sake of survival.

The first thing that you simply must do is determine your reasoning for organic gardening. If your motivation is the environment, then we are moving in the correct direction. It will be necessary for you to stay clear of synthetic materials and use what nature provides through your environment. The strategy behind organic gardening is focused on sustainable development so that the land used today can continue to be used by the future generations because we have left a healthy ecosystem.

Be very aware that certain aspects of organic gardening can be somewhat daunting when attempting to control weeds, insects and diseases. You will also find that organic gardening requires far more attention to soil and plant needs so having the proper organic gardening supplies is essential to your success.

Unbelievably, the history of organic vegetable gardening has now come full circle and we are now practicing the habits of the ancients that came long before our existence. The ending result being that we eat healthy without consuming harmful chemicals and disturbing the ecosystem.