Organic horticulture can either be a nice, calming hobby, or a considerable annoyance. The following article is designed to turn you into a successful and happy organic gardener.
The quick and drastic change in the weather conditions can shock your plants and cause them to die. It’s important that you gradually change temperate conditions over time, so that your plants can adjust. Leave them outside in sunlight for a couple of hours on the initial day. Slowly, day after day, you can leave your plants outside for a little longer. The plants should be prepared to move outside permanently at the end of this week.
Clay is difficult to dig through with a shovel, as it is sticky and compact. Take the hard work out of using a shovel in clay soil by rubbing a light coat of car or floor wax over the surface with a clean cloth and buff the surface. This will make your task easier because the clay won’t stick to the shovel. It will also keep your garden tool from rusting.
Baking Soda
If you notice powdery mildew on your plants, do not buy an expensive chemical. Put a little baking soda and some dish soap in water. Use a spray bottle to apply to your plants weekly until the issue clears up. Baking soda will bring no damage to your plants, and will treat the mildew in a gentle and efficient manner.
Cover fences and walls with lots of climbers. Climbing plants can cover a wall after one growing season only. They can grow through shrubs and trees, or even cover an arbor. Some climbers you plant will have to be tied off and supported, but others have no problem attaching themselves to any surface using their tendrils or twining stems Trusted variations of climbers are honeysuckle, jasmine, clematis, wisteria and climbing roses.
CO2 is essential for growth. When exposed to high levels of CO2, most types of plants will grow better. The best way to get higher CO2 for your plants is to grow them in a greenhouse. CO2 levels are usually kept high to get the best growing situation for your plants.
Prepare your seeds by soaking them in a dark environment. Simply place a handful of seeds in a container, cover the seeds up with water, and stash it away. This way, your seeds are well-hydrated and can start growing with a head start. The seeds will then have a greater chance at lasting and blossoming.
Divide irises. Take clumps that have become overgrown and divvy them up into separate plants. After foliage is no longer alive, remove the flowers with bulbs. The bulbs will split up naturally in your hand, and when replanted, will often flower the next year. Rhizomes, however, need to be divided by using a gardening knife. Cut new outside pieces and dispose of the center. Each piece must have a minimum of one strong offshoot. Replant them immediately.
Learn the proper way to handle chemicals, and the right way to use garden tools. If you don’t pay good attention, you could wind up with skin irritations or other issues. Ensure that your body is protected by always following instructions.
Get a wheelbarrow and a kneeling stool to work in your garden. You can make horticulture much more comfortable on your knees by using a portable garden stool. Horticulture also usually requires that you transport heavy loads, such as dirt or mulch, and a wheelbarrow will make this much easier to do.
Learn the best harvesting time for each kind of vegetable you plant. Each variety needs a slightly different amount of growing time to produce the most flavorful vegetable. Harvesting zucchini is best done when they are small and baby peas should be harvested when they are young. Yet, in reverse, tomatoes must wait for prime-ripeness before they are subject to being picked. To get the most out of your gardening efforts, find out when to harvest your crops.
Water your garden wisely. A soaker hose will save you time because you won’t have to individually water each plant, like you do with a regular nozzle, or a can that you need to constantly refill. Make sure that your water pressure is set to low, so that no harm will come to any tender plants. Let it water the plants for a while as you do other things.
Planting organic strawberries is a great way to encourage your children to get involved. Your children will enjoy being able to pick strawberries and will be ready to help you if they can get something sweet to eat.
It’s important to let your cuts heal prior to doing any gardening without gloves. If an open wound is not protected while you are working in the garden, dirt and bacteria may cause the cut to become infected. Look for newer bandages which are able to completely seal your cut.
Plastic bags can be kept on hand and reused to slip over your dirty horticulture shoes. This keeps your flow going, so you can get back out to the garden quickly and finish your work.
Do you prefer to eliminate weeds without the use of harmful chemicals? Pile newspapers on top of each other to kill weeds. Weeds must have sunlight in order to grow. They will suffocate and die if you cover them with newpapers. The paper will break down quickly and cleanly, adding to your compost. Cover the newspaper with a thick layer of mulch for a more attractive look.
As this article has demonstrated, organic gardening is more complex than some may think. It takes effort and a willingness to learn. It is rewarding for those with patience, supplying healthy food and an attractive addition to the home. The ideas presented above should help you hone your skills and reap a great harvest from your organic garden.