Simple Tips For Growing An Organic Garden

~ craigb

TIP! To keep your plants from getting shocked, you need to gradually introduce them to changes in temperature and conditions. Try to place them in the new area for a couple of hours at a time the first day.

Gardening can seem complicated at first, if you do not know what you are doing. If you want a natural garden, you will have to find out about things such as natural bug repellent or pH balances of a soil. Organic gardening can be quite challenging for anyone with limited experience. If you want your organic garden to be a success, read the tips presented here.

TIP! Try planting seeds in pots, and then transferring the seedlings to your garden. This increases the chance that your plants will survive to adulthood.

Consider planting slug-proof perennials. These mollusks are capable of consuming an entire garden full of flowers in a single night. These pests normally go after plants with thin little leaves and plants that have yet to fully mature. Some perennials, however, leave a bad taste in slugs’ mouths or are difficult to chew through because their leaves aren’t tender. Several good choices include heuchera, campanula, achillea, and euphorbia.

TIP! Pre-soak your seeds to keep them healthy. Place a couple seeds in each container, then fill it close to full with water.

When partaking in horticulture activities, particularly in the autumn months, keep an eye on those stink bugs. Stinkbugs are most prevalent on tomatoes, beans and peppers. If you do not keep them under control, the damage can be excessive, so keep an eye out for them.

TIP! If you want a strange, yet successful, green answer to getting rid of weeds, boil them to death. A pot of very hot water is one of the most effective ways you can get rid of the weeds in your garden.

Bulbs are a great option for people who want to enjoy spring and summer flowers. Most people have no trouble successfully growing bulbs, and their flowers will return each and every year. Different varieties of bulbs flower at varied times and if you make the right choices you can have blossoms from early spring through late summer.

TIP! Broad-spectrum pesticides should be avoided in your garden. Broad-spectrum pesticides will kill insects that are helpful to your garden as well as the harmful ones.

Grow wheat or cat grass around the plants your cat likes nibbling. Another option is to protect your plants by lacing them with offensive entities, such as peels from citrus fruit or even moth balls from your closet.

TIP! Gardening is a great way to relax. There are numerous ways to seek personal comfort and peace.

Deciduous shrubs need protection from the cold. Any potted shrubs should be sheltered in the winter from cold weather. Try to tie the tops all together and cover them with a sheet, large piece of cloth, or blanket. This method is much better than wrapping the plant in plastic, as it allows air to circulate, which can prevent rotting.

TIP! If you want your children to enjoy your organic garden, plant some tasty strawberries. 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.

When it comes to harvesting your vegetables, know when the optimal time is to do so. Most vegetables have a relatively small harvesting window when they will taste best. Baby peas, for example have much better flavor if they are harvested early in the ripening process, as does zucchini. However, you get better taste out of tomatoes that have been allowed to ripen as much as practical while still on their vine. Take the time to learn when your produce will be at its best for harvesting.

TIP! If you are a fan of organic, sustainable gardening methods, consider leaving part of your backyard untouched so that natural plants and wildlife can flourish in the area. This is a great natural way to allow the insects and animals found in nature to assist with the growth of your garden.

Do not use broad-spectrum pesticides within your garden. These pesticides can kill the useful insects that work as predators to pests. Bugs that are good for your garden tend to be more susceptible to these types of pesticides, and using them could mean an increase in the pests you are actually trying to get rid of. Your problem will only get worse and you will find yourself using more pesticides.

TIP! Keep the temperature in your home between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, if you are keeping or growing any kind of plant in your house. Warm temperatures encourage plant growth.

It can be easy to prepare the soil in a perennial garden. Take your spade and work up a thin layer of soil. Turn that soil over, then spread a few inches of wood chips on the newly turned area. After a few weeks, dig, then plant your perennials.

TIP! Keep your gardening tools close by to maximize gardening efficiency. You can do this by using a bucket, or you can wear rugged pants or a gardening apron that has several pockets.

After your seeds sprout, the containers do not need to stay as warm as they once did. Remove plants from the heated environment once they begin growing. You should also remove plastic films that you had on your containers to keep the humidity and warmth out. Check on your seeds periodically to make sure you know when to remove the films.

Pine Needles

TIP! Over-watering plants is counterproductive, as too much water reduces plants’ ability to absorb nutrients from the surrounding soil. Before watering your organic garden, check weather forecasts to determine if it is likely to rain later that day.

Pine needles make a great organic mulch. There are many common acidic plants that prefer acidic soil. When you have any plants like this, it’s very simple to just collect pine needles to use in your bed. If you spread a few inches of pine needles around your garden beds, when they break down, the acid they contain will leach into the soil.

TIP! When you water your organic garden, choose a soaker hose for the best results. Water seeps slowly from a soaker house, and can be aimed right at the roots, leaving leaves dry.

Using coffee grounds as part of your soil mixture in your garden is often advised for healthy plants. Plants can use the nitrogenous nutrients found in coffee grounds. Plants need nitrogen in order to thrive, so give it a natural source with coffee grounds, then watch everything come to life much more quickly.

Laundry Basket

TIP! Make a shade garden out of your organic garden. Shade gardens are designed to be hardy and low maintenance.

When it is time to gather your produce, you should use an older laundry basket. You can also use a laundry basket as a strainer. Just rinse the produce right in the basket; the water will drain through the holes.

TIP! Use at least 3″ of organic material to mulch flowers and trees. By using mulch, you will be able to save money on your water bill and help your plants grow.

Do you want to get rid of weeds in a natural way? Pile newspapers on top of each other to kill weeds. Without light, there can be no weeds. If you put a thick layer of newspaper on them, weeds will not be able to get light or air, and they will die! Newsprint also breaks down well, incorporating itself into the compost. To improve the appearance of newspaper, simply spread a bit of mulch over it.

TIP! An effective way of organic gardening is to grow produce that costs a lot to purchase at the grocery store. Of course, a particular plant’s value will be subjective.

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.