Regular tending is a necessity for any garden. It is particularly important for the organic garden. Sound organic horticulture techniques can help you do just that. Nurturing your organic garden ensures that your veggies are bigger and your flowers are more beautiful. Keep reading for tips on how to transform your organic garden into the best that it can be.
Starting seedlings in pots before planting in your garden is a smart idea. Doing this betters your odds of your plants making it to adulthood. This method also reduces the waiting time between plantings. Your next crop of seedlings will be started and ready to be planted immediately after you remove your last crop from the garden.
Plant annuals and biennials to make your flower beds brighter. Fast-growing annuals and biennials can brighten up a flower bed, and allow you to change the look from season to season and year to year. They can be used to fill in gaps in your garden between the perennials or shrubs so your garden looks fuller. Some examples include sunflowers, marigolds, petunias, hollyhocks, cosmos, and rudbeckia.
Pick the correct soil to get the best results. Different types of plants require different soils, so check soil requirements for the ones you choose. It is also possible to create individual areas with one specific soil type.
While caring for your garden in the fall, you will want to keep a lookout for stinkbugs. Stinkbugs are most prevalent on tomatoes, beans and peppers. If they are left in the garden, they can do great damage to your plants, so you should do whatever you can to eliminate them.
When the fall season arrives, it is time to plant your fall edibles. This year, instead of using your regular clay pots to plant your kale and lettuce, use a pumpkin as the container instead! After cutting an opening and removing the meat and seeds from inside the pumpkin, use Wilt-Pruf, sprayed throughout the inside and cut edges, and prevent rot from occurring. When you finish this, you can plant!
Always make sure to mow your lawn to the appropriate length, always making sure that the cut is not too close. If you leave your grass a bit longer, the roots can grow deeper. This results in a lawn that is stronger and less likely to dry out. Leaving the grass short makes it more prone to drying out, which leaves your lawn look really brown and yucky.
Always fertilize your garden. Use commercially composted products in your garden to help your plants grow. This will reduce the chance of pathogens. Of all the fertilizing options available, it doesn’t really matter which one you choose as long as you use something.
Purchase a wheelbarrow, and a kneeling stool to use in your garden. Spending lots of time close to the ground while working tends to be hard on your knees, that is why it is important to have a portable and lightweight garden stool that you can use for comfort. Also having a garden usually requires moving heavy dirt and objects, so investing in a wheelbarrow is a very sound investment.
There is always a best time to pick your garden’s vegetables, and you should know them. Each type of produce has unique time frames for harvesting at the peak of flavor. For instance, zucchini and baby peas have the best taste when you pick them early. Tomatoes, however, should be plucked from the vine the moment they appear ripe. Thus, you ought to familiarize yourself with the best times to pick the produce from your garden.
Water your garden wisely. A soaker hose can save valuable time by watering all of your plants simultaneously, removing the need for hauling a watering can or hose around to each plant. Use a low water pressure to avoid damaging tender plants. Allow it to water your plants for a couple of hours, so that you are free to do other things.
You can create the look and feel of an English garden by mixing different plants of varying heights throughout your flower bed. A uniform and flat bed is created by using plants that are the same height.
If you have plants inside, make sure the thermostat stays between 65 and 75 degrees. The temperature needs to be this warm so they are able to grow. If you want to save money on gas bills in the winter, you can provide local heating for the plants with a heat lamp instead.
Don’t let the chores for your organic garden pile up. If you can’t get out in your garden every day, there are still a number of things you can do to keep things from falling into disarray during your absence. If you put the dog outside, weed a few spots in the garden while your dog goes to the bathroom.
Old laundry baskets are handy tools at harvest time. It makes a great strainer for your vegetables. Rinse off your produce while it’s in the laundry basket, and any excess water will be strained out through the basket’s holes.
Grow garlic in your organic garden. You should plant garlic cloves in either early spring or late fall. Your soils should be well-drained. Place them about one or two inches deep into the soil pointed upwards and four inches apart. You can cut the shoots of green garlic as they are growing and use them as an alternative to scallions and chives. The garlic will be matured when the green tops start drying out and turning brown. Harden the skin by setting the bulb in the sun, it usually takes several days. Finally, store the garlic in an area with low temperatures like a pantry, either by themselves or tied into bunches.
Organic horticulture can help you develop an appreciation for the taste and freshness of your food. It requires a good work ethic, but an organic garden is indeed worth the effort.