Instead of chemicals in your soil and on your food, why not try organic gardening?A good start is a few plants in pots or tucked in your flower beds, or a small garden area, or you can get really ambitious and turn your whole yard into a garden!
Actually, if it’s your first garden, it’s better to start small.Gardeners want to plant everything they see in those wonderful garden catalogs, so it's easy to plant way more than the gardener can reasonably take care of!Even though gardening is a rewarding and fun pastime, it helps to keep in mind it's also a lot of work.A little ways into the growing season you might find yourself wishing you hadn't gotten so carried away and planted such a huge garden.It's a lot easier on your sanity and back to start small, then work up to bigger gardens as you gain experience!
On Location…
Like the real estate agents are fond of saying, “It’s all about location, location, location.Most plants that grow in the shade are flowers. For the most part, vegetables need lots of sunshine. An ample amount of sunshine is one thing you can’t provide artificially, unless you’re planning on a huge bank of portable lights out in your garden, and with the price of electricity these days, that’s a definite no-no.
A garden must have plenty of sunshine to grow well. Put your pots or garden plot where the plants will get at least 6 hours of sun a day for best results.Having the organic garden close to the house to allow easy access is a great idea, but shade from the house or trees may make it impossible.Easy access is nice but sunshine has top priority.
Be sure your garden location not only gets ample sunshine, but drains well so the plants don’t sit in water.It's great to have fertile soil, but you can always add soil amendments if needed.
Down and Dirty
Adding compost will help your soil no matter what type it is. You can also use natural fertilizers and organic materials to improve the soil and help the plants grow.Double digging or tilling materials into the soil will easily mix them in where roots can reach them since most vegetable roots are in the top 6 inches of soil.
Time to Plant
Seed catalogs and nurseries are brimming with all types of vegetables.Take into account what kind of vegetables you and your family like to eat, then choose varieties that will do well in your area.Sweet potatoes, for instance, need a longer time to mature and generally wouldn't do well in the far north, while on the other hand, peas thrive in cool climates and wouldn't do well during a southern summer.
A mulch of organic material around the vegetables will help conserve water, add humus and nutrients, plus discourage the growth of weeds.That will both improve your soil and help your plants do better!
Don’t Let Them Bug You
Where there’s lovely young plants, there’s bugs looking for a meal.Spraying plants with plain or soapy water will dislodge bugs, or hand picking caterpillars and other bad bugs off plants is another option..
Not all bugs are bad, and some are even beneficial such as ladybugs, green lacewings, praying mantis, spiders and wasps since they eat insects that try to eat your vegetables.
Companion planting with insect repellant plants such as marigolds or nasturtiums can also help keep bugs away from your garden.
Be flexible. Don't expect your vegetables to look picture perfect. The vegetable doesn’t have to be perfect to taste good. You can cut off any problem spots before eating it.
No Weeds Allowed!
You can call a weed "a plant growing in the wrong place.That pretty well sums things up.If something grows you didn't plant, consider it a weed and get rid ot if.Whatever it takes, just get the weeds out of the garden.Weeds take nutrients and water from your vegetable plants.
Ready, Set, Garden!
Keeping the garden weed and bug free, placing it in a good location with fertile soil, and planting the right vegetables are all the right ingredients for a super organic garden. Growing an organic garden is a wonderful way to put great tasting food in your diet. So get out there and get your garden growing!
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