Basic Steps For Growing Your Organic Garden

~ craigb

TIP! It is important that you give your plants the chance to gradually adjust to the change in temperature and conditions, or you risk shocking them. Put them outdoors in the sun for no more than two hours the first day.

Organic horticulture will require some extra research and active avoidance of chemicals. Once you have decided to garden organically, you need to learn about your soil’s pH balance, as well as things like natural pesticides. Growing an organic garden can be hard for someone inexperienced. Keep reading to find out how the professionals do it.

TIP! Keeping your garden soil rich and healthy is the best way to discourage garden pests. If you have healthy looking plants, they are stronger and more resistant to diseases and bugs.

Start your plants in containers before transferring them to the garden. Doing this betters your odds of your plants making it to adulthood. This method also gives you the freedom of tightening time periods between each planting. Once you remove the most recent mature plants from your garden, the seedlings are immediately ready to be planted.

TIP! When winter arrives, you could save some plants by placing them inside your house. Maybe you’d like to save the most expensive plants you have or the most resistant.

Before actually putting plants into your garden, check the type and compostion of your soil. You can obtain a soil analysis for a nominal fee. Using that report, you can amend your soil as needed for a thriving garden. Ask about this service at a local university or the county Cooperative Extension office to improve the soil and insure fruitful crops.

TIP! Be sure to weed your garden. If you’re not careful, weeds can take over your beautiful garden, ruining it.

Plants need C02 for maximum growth. Plants are more likely to thrive in environments where high levels of CO2 are present. The best way to get a lot of it is through a greenhouse. It’s very important to keep the CO2 levels high so your plants have the best possible growing conditions.

TIP! If you’re like many gardeners, autumn means that it’s time to get some delicious fall edibles growing in your garden. Rather than putting standard clay vessels into use when planting crops of lettuce and kale, think about using pumpkins instead.

While caring for your garden in the fall, you will want to keep a lookout for stinkbugs. These destructive pests enjoy many kinds of fruit, as well as beans, peppers and tomatoes. If left uncontrolled, they can cause substantial damage in your garden, so make plans for how to protect your plants from these pests.

TIP! Do you enjoy fresh mint, but don’t like how they engulf your garden in their growth? You can control the growth of the mint leaves by growing them in a large container rather than in your garden. By using a separate containment unit, you are limiting the plant’s ability to spread its roots and subsequently grow like wildfire.

Take the time to remove weeds. Weeds can turn a beautiful garden into an eyesore. To help you do this, you may want to consider using white vinegar. It can kill weeds. Load up your spray bottle with some white vinegar, and spray the weeds away instead of breaking your back removing them by hand.

TIP! Avoid damage from the sun by dressing correctly when you garden. Choose hats with overlapping brims, don those sunglasses and smear on the sunscreen.

Deciduous shrubs need protection from the cold. If the temperature drops below 50 degrees, you should consider protecting them, especially if they do best in warm environments. With a sheet or blanket, you want to loosely cover the wigwam after you tie the tops of the canes together. When you do this you allow air to flow and circulate which can actually prevent rotting, this method is great and better than just wrapping your plant in some plastic.

TIP! Plant heather to attract beneficial insects. Bees love heather, and it is a favorite stop when they emerge in early spring.

Do you want fresh mint leaves without having to worry about them growing too quickly? Keep your mint growth under control by planting them in pots and/or garden containers. If you would like, go ahead and plant the container and the plant right in the ground to prevent root overtake.

TIP! When you plant a seed, take your time. Before taking any other steps, you should first moisturize the soil.

Take the time to spread around five centimeters of organic mulch near your vegetable plants. Mulch will retain water so that you won’t have to water your plants as often. It will also prevent weeds from popping up around your plants. You’ll find this is a time saver since you won’t have to pull them later.

TIP! Once your seeds have germinated they will not need to be kept as warm as before. After growth begins, you can remove plants from any excessive heat sources.

Having a good wheelbarrow and a kneeling stool makes garden chores a lot easier. Working in the garden means you’ll be down on the ground a lot. This can cause knee pain, so if you have a stool, you’ll have an easier time. It is also normal to move heavy objects and dirt around the garden, so a wheelbarrow is something you should have.

TIP! Believe it or not, pine makes great mulch. Some garden plants have a high acidity, and prefer acidic soil.

Gardening is an incredible method of relaxing. There are a wide variety of things you can do to release stress and relax. Gardening is a great way to just kick back, chill out, and enjoy your time with nature. You will not need to spend a lot of money to grow your garden, and it provides many benefits. Knowing that you have grown these plants yourself can give you a great feeling of joy and inner peace.

TIP! Stay on top of your organic gardening to-do list, and don’t let the work pile up. If your busy life prevents you from tending your garden every day, do small tasks to avoid having so much work when you do have some time.

In the hottest time of the day, most vegetables are less firm; even the act of harvesting the veggies may cause bruising. Cut them with a tool rather than pulling or twisting, otherwise you could damage the plant itself.

TIP! If you have recently planted seeds in your organic garden, you should regularly aerate the soil by using your hands to gently sift it. You may think it odd, but studies show that this action results in plant growth that is more substantial than would otherwise be achieved.

If little ones live in your home, consider including everbearing strawberries in the garden plot. Children love to pick their own fruit right out of the garden, and will be more willing to help with the process if they get something out of it.

TIP! Organic gardening is harder than relying on chemicals, but the results are worth it. Although the chemicals may claim greater results, using organic methods to tame your garden will do less harm to your body, and the environment.

It’s crucial for you to protect knees when doing horticulture work. Bending over while gardening can be painful and unhealthy for your back. If you have trouble with this, kneel instead of bending while gardening. Place a cushioning kneeling pad on the ground or wear knee pads to make kneeling more comfortable.

TIP! Avoid over-watering your plants. Excess water may hinder the plant’s roots from getting nutrition from the soil.

It is simple to prepare your garden for perennial flowers. With a garden spade, slice under the dirt then flip it over. Next, spread out wood chips several inches deep. Let the area sit for a fortnight, then turn the earth and set up your new perennial bed.

TIP! One of the best parts about using foods that are organic or from organic gardens is that they do not have any type of pesticides used on them. However, although this is a much healthier alternative, it is important to check surfaces of organic fruits and vegetables thoroughly to be sure that no unwanted pests are living in or on them.

When a seed actually sprouts, it doesn’t need to be in as warm an environment. As your plants grow, move them away from the source of heat. Also, remove plastic coverings from the tops of your growing containers to keep them from becoming too warm or humid. Keep an eye on your seeds in order to know when you should do this.

TIP! Spread three inches of organic material on your garden for mulch. Doing this will nourish the soil in your garden and improve its ability to retain moisture.

Now, you shouldn’t get your hopes up and believe that a few tips are going to turn you into an instant professional gardener. However, these tips are a great starting point if you do plan to grow organically. As you implement these tips and hone your skills, you’ll be a professional green-thumb-holder in no time.