It goes without saying that taking care of an organic garden is critical for its success. In order to get good results in an organic garden, you need to use smart gardening techniques. This will make the fruits and vegetables in your garden healthier and taste better. Use this advice to take your organic garden to the next level.
When choosing plants, pick those that produce a high yield. If yield is important, choose hybrids designed to resist cold and diseases rather than traditional varieties.
Use slug-proof varieties of perennials wherever possible. Snails and slugs can do irreparable damage to your garden in a single night. These pests are especially attracted to tender sprouts and to delicate, soft leaves. Some perennials are not preferred meals for snails and slugs, especially if their foliage is hairy and tough, or tastes bad. Consider planting these varieties of perennials to discourage slugs and snails from eating your flowers. Euphorbia and achillea are examples of slug-proof perennials.
Healthy Plants
A garden with a foundation of healthy soil is the best defense against pests. Healthy plants grown in robust and enriched soil have an advantage in fighting pest infestation. If you start with balanced soil, your garden will produce healthy plants with the best yield. Refrain from using chemicals since these will increase the salt content of the soil.
Your plants will reach maximum growth if they have a sufficient supply of carbon dioxide. Most plants grow better in higher levels of CO2. The best way to get a high level is to plant them in a greenhouse. CO2 levels are usually kept high to get the best growing situation for your plants.
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 at least that much sun for optimal growth speed. This holds true for some types of flowers.
Try to have a plan with your garden. A thoughtful plan can remind you of previous plantings and what you will see appearing from the soil in the months of spring and summer. In addition, your small plants or groups of plants that are limited in number won’t become lost if you have a large garden.
Your plants need to be kept dry, but sill receiving a good amount of air. Excess moisture creates an appealing environment for disease and parasites. A fungus is one of the most important and debilitating parasites for plants. It is possible to control fungi by using fungicide sprays. However, these sprays should be used before issues become apparent.
Split up the irises. You can increase the number of irises you have by splitting clumps that are overgrown. When you see the foliage is definitely dead, lift up the bulbous irises. The bulbs often divide in your hand with no intervention on your part, and when you replant them, they will usually flower the following year. Use a knife to divide the rhizomes. Discard the center and cut pieces from the exterior. Every piece is suppose to have at least one durable offshoot. Replant your pieces right away.
Take a look at planting berry-producing evergreens in your yard. These help to give your garden nice looking color, even during winter when most vegetation is colorless. These plants come in several different varieties, including the Winterberry, American Holly, Cranberrybush, and Common Snowberry.
Choose one plant and make it the focal point of your garden. A focal point can help direct a viewers gaze. Frequently, it will be a plant that’s very different from others in the neighborhood.
Try to keep plastic bags on hand to cover shoes that are muddy. This lets you be able to return to the garden without interrupting your work.
Your watering schedule should flow perfectly with the seasons, yet be adjustable according to climate. The amount of water you need to give your plants depends on soil type, quality of water and time of day. For instance, if you live in a warm, humid climate watering the leaves can cause leaf fungus. Instead, water the roots only.
Excessive amounts of water makes it harder for plants to get the nutrients they need from the soil. Before watering your plants outdoors, check to see if there is rain in the forecast. After reviewing the weather forecast, you can decide whether or not to spend the time and resources watering the garden.
One thing that sets organic gardening apart from conventional horticulture is that commercial pesticides are not used. Organic horticulture is wonderful for your family and their health, but you also need to be vigilant about pests.
Rotate where you plant each type of plant each year. For example, if you usually plant corn in one area of your garden and flowers in another, switch which plant is planted in each section. Keeping plants that belong to the same family in the same place can eventually spark fungus growth and disease. The diseases and fungi are harbored in the soil and are ready to make a comeback each year. Change the design of your garden regularly to prevent diseases from spreading.
Tomato Seedlings
Look closely at the seedlings you purchase. When buying tomato seedlings for the garden, keep an eye on lush green starts with root systems that are bad. These starts can stay on the tomato seedlings for a long time, and the seedling won’t start to grow until these starts have gone.
When mulching your flowerbed or garden, most people recommend adding about three inches of mulch. Mulch adds nutrients to your soil, prohibits water evaporation, inhibits weeds and creates a finished look to your flower or gardening beds.
Having an organic garden means that you can enjoy fresh, healthy fruits and vegetables whenever you want. Organic gardening takes patience and manual labor, but it’s worth it when you start reaping the benefits of your labor.