Chances are you have probably heard about or seen organic foods in your local grocery store. It is typically easy to identify organic products. These items are packaged in a different manner, and they typically cost much more. Follow the advice given here, and learn exactly how to grow organic produce at home.
When winter arrives, transfer a few plants into the house for safe storage during the cold weather. Maybe you’d like to save the most expensive plants you have or the most resistant. Carefully dig up the plants, using caution not to disturb the roots, then transfer into a pot.
Stink Bugs
When gardening, beware of stink bugs and other insects, particularly in the autumn. Fruits, peppers and tomatoes are among the foods they love to eat. If they go unnoticed, they can cause large amounts of harm to your garden, so remember to take protective measures to reduce the population of stink bugs there.
Make sure to pre-soak seeds, preferably in a dark location. Place some seeds into a small container, then fill it with water until it is almost to the top. When you do this, you hydrate your seeds and they can start growing. The seeds will be better able to survive and grow up.
Balance your alkaline soil with the acid found in used coffee grounds. The coffee grounds are an inexpensive way to give some acid back to the dirt. You will notice that your vegetables and greens will have a stronger taste.
Protect your delicate shrubs from harsh, wintry elements. If the temperature drops below 50 degrees, you should consider protecting them, especially if they do best in warm environments. First tie together the tops; then take a sheet or blanket and loosely shroud the wigwam. Covering your foliage in plastic will let the air in – and may lead to decay.
Ensure that your plants are kept dry, and aerated daily. Plant moisture is a big attraction to both parasites and plant diseases. Fungus infections are common in overly moist plants. Fungicidal spray treatments can contain fungi, but spraying prior to problems even developing in the first place is the best way to go about it.
Place organic mulch as close to your vegetables as you can. Mulch will retain water so that you won’t have to water your plants as often. Mulch will help a lot in preventing weeds from growing. This can save you a lot of time and effort in pulling out the weeds.
Give them a boost by watering them with the cooled water that is left after steaming vegetables. Tea and coffee grounds can be used to add acidity to your soil for plants like gardenias and rhododendrons. If you are having problems with fungus, you may find that sprinkling Chamomile tea on the plant is effective.
If you pick vegetables around high noon when it is very hot, you are likely to damage them. Vegetables and fruits should always be cut from the vine, not twisted; twisting subjects a plant to needless stress.
Heather is a magnet for friendly insects. Bees are naturally attracted to heather for its nectar. In addition, beds of heather are usually left alone. Because of this, insects that are good for your garden often make them a home, such as beetles or spiders. Keep this in mind and always wear gloves when you prune your heather!
If you’re planning on horticulture inside, the first thing you should consider is an adequate light source. If your apartment or home does not receive a huge amount of sunlight, you might want to grow plants that adapt to medium and low light environments instead. You can also get special lamps if you want a different kind of plants.
Top all your garden beds with several inches of organic mulch. Doing this keeps weeds down, keeps the moisture in your plants, and gives more nutrients to the plants. This will also make your flowers appear beautiful and finished all year long.
Green Plant Material
The compost pile should include equal parts of dried material and green plant material. Green plant material comprises leaves, weeds, spent flowers, grass clippings, and fruit and vegetable waste. The leaves you rake in the fall, straw, sawdust and the like are dry material. Materials to avoid during composting include diseased plants, meat, ashes and charcoal.
You may be able to find botanical insecticides locally, which are often very helpful for preventing pest infestations. Some natural insecticides are stronger and more effective than the chemically engineered synthetic pesticides that are commercially available. However, because botanical insecticides are biological, they often decay and disappear quickly.
You can simply make a newer garden for perennials with a few steps. Use a spade to cut beneath the turf, and cover the entire area with wood chips after flipping it over. Let it sit for a few weeks, and then plant your new perennials.
If you’re trying to decide how to water the plants in your organic garden, consider a soaker hose. As the water slowly seeps out of the hose, it is directed right to the plant roots so the leaves do not get wet. These hoses don’t use as much water as a sprinkler does and are much more convenient than watering plants by hand.
Be sure you know how you should buy plants that you want to add in your organic garden. This is true especially when you purchase perennials or annuals. It’s important to select plants that have budded but haven’t bloomed yet. This way, they’ll able to develop a strong root system within your own garden.
Growing your garden at home might not be the most convenient thing for you, but you will save a lot of money and always have the confidence that what you’re eating and feeding your family is as fresh and as healthy as possible. Use the tips you’ve learned here and get started on your garden today.