Most likely, you have seen organic foods in your local grocery store or read about them in a newspaper. Distinguishing which foods are organic is really quite simple. These items are packaged in a different manner, and they typically cost much more. Keep reading this article to find some great tips on how to grow an organic garden and stop paying too much at the store.
Learn about plant varieties so you can choose the ones with the best yields. Frequently, a hybrid that is able to deal with extreme temperatures will bring higher yields than the more traditional variety of a plant.
The handles of your tools can double as clever rulers. Handles of things such as rakes, hoes or shovels make excellent measuring instruments. On the floor, simply lay out the handles, then take a tape measure and run it next to them. Label the distances using a permanent marker. Next time you are working in the garden, you will have a large ruler at your fingertips!
Check your soil before you begin planting your garden. Have a soil analysis completed so you can know what you need to add to have soil which will fully support your garden. Ask about this service at a local university or the county Cooperative Extension office to improve the soil and insure fruitful crops.
Keep your plants dry and aerated daily. If your plants are moist, this can attract disease and parasites. One common organism that thrives on moisture is the fungi family. Sprays and liquids exist that are perfect for killing the fungi, but be sure you use it on the area before the fungi actually appear.
To keep pests away, you can use plants in the garden or other natural materials. For example, slugs can be deterred by the presence of marigolds or onions. Wood ash, when used like mulch, can keep away pests after it is spread around a tree base and shrub seedlings. These are methods you can use to get rid of the need to use pesticides.
Think about adding some berry-producing evergreens to your landscaping. These plants will look good year-round, even during the winter, when your other plants have lost their bloom. There is quite a variety of plants that will give your garden a splash of color during winter, including the American Cranberrybush, American Holly, Common Snowberry or Winterberry.
You should purchase a wheelbarrow, as well as a kneeling stool to help you garden. Horticulture can take a toll on the knees, but a small ergonomic stool will be a comfortable solution. Horticulture also requires transporting heavy objects and lots of dirt, so purchasing a wheelbarrow can be a very smart investment.
Learn the ideal times for harvesting your vegetables. 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. In contrast, tomatoes are best when left on the vine as long as possible. So, make sure you do some research, and find out when the best time to harvest your vegetables is.
A good tip to help your plants stay healthy and fight diseases is to use aspirin water. An aspirin and a half, combined with a couple of gallons of water, will do amazing things for your plants. The simple practice of spraying them with the mix will help them fight off diseases. Be sure to repeat this process every two or three weeks.
Pine Needles
Pine is a wonderful mulch so do not discard the idea. Some plants do better in soil with high acidity as they are highly acidic themselves. Use pine needles to increase the acid level in your soil if you have plants that require higher acid. Spread a few inches of pine needles on your organic beds so that it will put the acid into your soil.
Use equal parts of green and dried plant material in your compost pile. Green plant material consists of spent flowers, veggie and fruit waste, leaves, weeds, and grass clippings. Dried plant materials are things like shredded newspaper, cardboard, sawdust, straw, and any cut up wood materials. Diseased plants, meat and fire-waste like charcoal or ashes should not be placed in your compost pile.
If you have problem slugs in your organic garden, get rid of them naturally with a beer trap. Get a clean, empty glass jar to use as a trap. Bury it with its mouth facing upwards. Keep putting dirt over the jar until the mouth is at the surface of your garden. Fill the jar with beer within one inch of the top. Slugs will be attracted by the beer and fall into the jar.
Add mulch for healthy soil. A layer of mulch can protect the soil beneath. It protects the plant roots, keeping the ground cool on a hot summer day. It greatly reduces water loss, keeping the soil moist with fewer waterings. It also keeps the weeds under control.
When working in the garden, know exactly what you are using. Try using natural alternatives instead of the chemicals you normally use. Compost works great for this. Inorganic fertilizers can cause toxic chemicals to buildup. That’s why it’s best to use an organic method.
Transform your organic garden into a shade garden. You might be interested to know that these gardens are very low maintenance. They will require much less watering, which saves a lot of work and time. Growth is sustained, but weeds will be less of a problem.
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.