Organic horticulture has gained popularity from people who no longer wish to consume produce that has been treated with chemicals and pesticides, which can damage the environment and a person’s health. Additionally, a lot of organic gardening techniques do not cost a lot of money. Read on for some advice about how to work in your organic garden.
Use pots to start your plants, then transfer them to a garden when they become seedlings. By allowing them to sprout first, you are increasing the odds of a seedling reaching maturity. In addition, you can shorten the intervals between your plantings. As soon as you harvest the mature plants in your garden, your new seedlings will be large enough to plant outside!
Starting off your garden with healthy soil can be the best defense against those pesky garden bugs. Healthy plants can better ward off pests and diseases. So give your garden a kick start by beginning with a healthy batch of natural and organic soil.
Baking Soda
Don’t bother with expensive chemicals if your plants start to sport powdery mildew. Plain water with a bit of liquid soap and baking soda will do the trick. Once every week, you should spray the mixture on your plants; the mildew will disappear shortly thereafter. Baking soda treats the mildew effectively and gently and it won’t damage your plants.
Climbing plants and vines are great for covering fences and wall structures. They can be used to cover up unsightly fences or walls. Often, they can grow enough to cover up an eyesore in one season. No need to worry if a bush or tree is in the way, as climbers can grow through them. Also, they can match the shape of an arbor. Some climbers will attach themselves to a support using twining stems or tendrils, while other varieties need to be held up by tying them in place. Reliable varieties include clematis, honeysuckle, wisteria, jasmine and climbing roses.
For the right results, get the right type of soil. Depending on the type of plants you desire in your garden, your natural soil may or may not be appropriate. It is also possible to set aside a portion of your garden to include just one type of soil.
Bulbs are a great option for people who want to enjoy spring and summer flowers. Most bulbs are hardy and require little to no care in order to develop into beautiful perennials that will reappear each and every year. Remember that different bulbs will bloom at all different times of the year, so if you are careful to choose the right bulbs, you will see blooms in the early spring, and have flowers all the way to late summer.
If you are growing vegetables in your garden, it is important that you have them in a spot where they can get at least six hours of sun a day. Most vegetables need this amount of sunlight to grow the right way at a faster pace. It’s also the same for some types of flowers.
There are natural materials, and you can also use other plants to help keep pests away from your garden. Planting marigolds or onions around the border of your vegetable garden will help repel slugs. Another way to get rid of pests is to spread wood ash at ground level around shrubs and tree plantings. These are proven methods without having to use harsh chemical pesticides.
Buy a wheelbarrow and kneeling stool to work with in the garden. Gardening can be very tough on the knees as you spend much time leaning near the ground, so a portable stool can make all the difference to your comfort. There is also a lot of heavy lifting involved with horticulture, so a good wheelbarrow is a great tool to have around.
Learn the best harvesting time for each kind of vegetable you plant. Different vegetables and fruits have their ideal seasons and months where they flourish, survive, and are harvested at the highest quality. For example, zucchini and baby peas are best picked young. Tomatoes, in contrast, taste better the longer they are allowed to ripen on the vine. So, it is good to learn about the best time to harvest your vegetables.
Planting organic strawberries is a great way to encourage your children to get involved. Children love to snap up these sweet juicy fruits for themselves and will be much more willing to eat other foods you’ve planted as well.
Have your horticulture tools near you to minimize the time spent searching for them. You could do this by using a big bucket, or just wear old pants that have some deep pockets. Keep your trowel, pruning shears and gloves handy so you can do your garden work quickly and easily.
By following some of the tips we include in this article, you’ll be up and running in no time and will soon have a good supply of produce grown in your own garden. When your garden works with nature, you will also be able to notice an increase in the number of wildlife inhabiting your garden.