Tips for A Successful Organic Garden

If you’re considering bringing the joy of organic gardening into your life, you may be intimidated by thinking that you’re going to have to do everything au-naturale. Don’t be. It’s easy to find the best ways to prevent or get rid of pests and fungus invasions and how to plant and care for your organic garden. Here are some organic gardening tips that will help get you started.

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Prepare – Prepare your garden long before you begin to plant by mulching the soil with organic materials (compost from plant or animal waste). You’ll be so glad you did when you see the results. Mulching helps the soil retain water and nutrients and even keeps weeds from taking over your garden.

Start a compost pile – Recycling certain food waste and other materials that add strength to the compost. Besides enriching the soil, composting will help your plants develop a strong and healthy root system.

Choose plants according to environment – Plant certain plants where they’ll thrive. If a plant is known to adapt best in the shade, don’t plant it in full sun.

Treat infestations without chemicals – It is important to use natural means to treat problems with insects and other types of infestations. You can find formulas online that can be mixed at home and that will prevent certain pests from invading your garden.

Use organic alternatives whenever possible – There are so many organic and earth-friendly products on the market today that keeps toxic buildup from forming in our drinking water and soil. Look for those rather than chemical and synthetic solutions.

Use soaker hoses – These cleverly made hoses will water the base of your organic plants, keeping moisture from evaporating, and preventing water waste.

Red earthworm enjoying organic garden soil. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Utilize helpful bugs – There are a number of varieties of insects that actually help your organic garden. Insets such as ladybugs, praying mantises, spiders, ground beetles and fireflies work to decompose organic matter and help to pollinate plants.

Organic gardening should be largely simple and fun. There doesn’t have to be a lot of work involved in preparing the garden, preventing problems and addressing the problems organically if they do occur.

Many online sites can tell you everything you need to know about becoming a successful organic gardener – visit http://www.newholisticliving.com/sustainablegardening.html for helpful tips and resources - or if you prefer a book, see below for some suggestions, or check your local library or book store. You’ll learn the best material for composts, how to mulch your garden and how to plant so that you’ll get the most yield from vegetables and herbs and the most beautiful flowers. And of course be sure to check this blog often for more ideas!

After learning a few organic gardening tips, you’ll have more self-confidence to begin your own sustainable organic garden.

A Few Helpful Organic Gardening Books:
   

Composting Tips For Organic Gardening

I just put my summer compost to bed for the winter, but that doesn't mean I'm done composting! For the past couple of years, I've been composting year-round. I just couldn't stand throwing away so many great compost materials during the winter, so I improvised a system of storing vegetable kitchen waste in buckets during the winter - it doesn't decompose very quickly, but at least I'm not throwing it away. When spring comes, I clean last year's compost out of the composter and use it in the garden or bag it for future use, and then I dump the buckets into the composter with plenty of leaves, straw, sawdust, etc., a scoop or two of dirt and a bit of last year's compost (or unfinished compost from the top layer) to get it started. The buckets are always pretty gross, but it gives my compost a head start in the spring, and at least I'm not wasting stuff throughout the winter.

When you think about it, composting is just one more way of recycling. And when you create compost for your organic garden, not only will the plants benefit from this recycling, but so will you and your family, as you eat the fruits and vegetables that the garden produces.

Yard waste composting bin (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What you are doing when you compost is decomposing previously existing organic matter, so it can be used to provide nutrients in the soil for new plants. The process does require some careful work, so you would be wise to do some reading and consulting on the subject first, to make sure you do it correctly. Also check out the archives on this blog, as we have a lot of good info on composting here.

You'll want to put all your materials into a container or at least into some environment that you can control. Some websites suggest buying an actual composting drum (like I have), that you can turn (since the material does need to be turned from time to time). Otherwise, a large garbage can might do, or just a pile on the ground, with some sort of enclosure around it to hold it in and help keep the critters out.

You can put in all the fruit and vegetable food scraps you would normally be throwing away. Add leaves, grass, and straw, and you'll have a good mixture. The general rule, according to the Garden Organic website, is about equal volumes of "green" and "brown" ingredients.

"Green" items would be things like weeds, grass cuttings, the raw vegetable leftovers from your kitchen, tea bags and coffee grounds, soft green prunings from plants, and animal manure from herbivores. All of these things are nitrogen rich, and also rot more quickly.

"Browns" would be cardboard items like cereal boxes or egg cartons, shredded waste paper, hedge clippings, old bedding plants, sawdust, and wood shavings. These items are rich in carbon, and slower to rot.

Items to avoid completely, say the people at Garden Organic, would include meat, fish, cooked food, feces from your pets, and disposable diapers. (Note: Compostable diapers such as g-Diapers can be composted if they only contain urine.)

There are also some plant materials that should not be put into your compost bin, such as those that have been infested with insects and molds. Some of these might be fine to include, but unless you're going to do a lot of careful research to discover which is good and which isn't, it's best just to leave them out. You also should avoid including weeds that are going to seed, as you don't want to spread a bunch of weed seeds in your garden next year! However, weeds that haven't yet gone to seed are great to include - you're putting the nutrients they "stole" from your soil back in.

Garden Compost bin, in Toulouse, France.(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

You can create the compost in your container by mixing the greens and browns together in equal volumes, with some twigs and scrunched up cardboard here and there to create air spaces and to allow drainage. As time passes, the materials on the bottom will heat up and you'll know that the composting process is well underway. You'll need to turn the mixture occasionally, so that the top and bottom layers change places and non-composted material also has the chance to decompose. The turning provides oxygen, which is the catalyst for the decomposition. The more often you turn the bin, or at least turn the material inside it, the more quickly it will compost - as long as the proper moisture balance is maintained.

The composting itself, once the mixture is in the container, could take up to a year if the container is full and you just leave it (apart from turning). It's likely to take at least six months even using smaller amounts and turning often. But you could take at least a partial shortcut before turning material that's been in the bin for a while, by checking if the layers at the bottom have composted enough to be used. You might then lift off the top, less-composted material and pull finished compost from the bottom to mix into your garden soil, and then simply replace the other material back in the bin, with new layers going on top.

If you create your own compost, you'll go a long way toward producing a very healthy organic garden with lush, well-fed plants. And on top of that, you'll be doing your bit toward responsible recycling!


Composting Bins:
    

Creating Healthy Organic Soil for Your Organic Garden

When you are trying to get started with organic gardening, you may think of buying heirloom plants and seeds, avoiding pesticides, or rotating your crops for the best yield. But organic gardening actually begins several steps earlier than that, with your preparation of the soil itself.

After all, apart from using water and sunlight to energize the process, this is where the plants will acquire most of the nutrients they need to grow properly. If they don't have nutritious soil, you won't get very healthy plants, which will likely defeat your purpose in trying to garden "organically" in the first place.

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So what is necessary for nutritious, healthy soil, as a foundation for your organic garden?

You'll need to do some research to refine the details, and it will be best if you consult with an organic gardening expert or read up on it if you're really serious about this (I can recommend some good books for you). But here are a few basic tips to start with.

There are four prime ingredients that your soil must contain: lime, phosphate, marl (potassium), and humus.

Lime, in the form of ground limestone, helps maintain a good pH balance, and must also contain magnesium and calcium for good plant growth. Phosphate provides the phosphorus that all plants need, and should be applied in your garden once every four years. Marl is rock powder that contains potassium, which works hand in hand with the phosphorus.

All three of those things should be applied with the help of a consultant. And it would probably be a good idea to start with soil testing in your garden first, to make sure what the existing levels are. That will help determine just how much of each element you need.

Humus, meanwhile, is essentially compost. You can buy this at an organic gardening supply store, and it can be made either of animal manures or from a vegetable base. In fact, you can create your own compost at home, starting with a base like straw, and adding vegetative matter like the leaves you raked up from your lawn as well as some of the remains of the previous year's garden. And one of the best sources of materials will be vegetable peelings from your own kitchen.

Real Compost (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

You can buy compost bins, with instructions on other materials to add that will give you a rich source of organic matter to work into the soil of your garden. If you just want to develop a compost pile yourself, without a lot of extra cost, you would still be wise to do some online research or speak with organic gardening experts, for advice on how to go about it. There are pitfalls you'll need to avoid, that you might not even think about. For example, while the compost pile should be damp, it shouldn't be allowed to get too wet. And although you can use the remains of the previous year's garden, if you had plants that had a serious insect problem, those leaves and branches should be discarded and not put into the compost pile. (Or just browse the archives of this blog for a number of helpful composting articles and tips.)

You can create a genuinely organic, healthy and sustainable garden if you start at the foundation: preparing the soil so it will contain all the nutrients your plants will need.

Some Helpful Organic Gardening Books:
   

Watering Your Sustainable Garden

Right now we are in dire need of rain in Ohio, and my garden shows it. Looks like it's time for a good watering.... Ninety-five percent of the structure of most plants is composed of water. Almost all of the processes of the plant involves water, and this is why watering is one of the more important aspects of effective gardening for your vegetables. Together with light and carbon dioxide, water helps accelerate the necessary processes needed in effective care of your plants.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

With vegetables, you cannot afford to go wrong since the fruits of your garden will provide nourishment to your family as well. Aside from rainfall, in most areas of the country your garden will need supplemental help. Depending on the size of your garden, an irrigation system may be necessary to provide the required amount of water, as natural sources of water, namely, precipitation and underground water systems, are not often sufficient for the plants. The frequency of your watering depends on the average amount of rainfall that falls on the area where your garden lies.

The type of soil also affects water retention. Soils heavy in clay are usually good at holding water, but they also are more prone to runoff, so care must be taken so that the soil absorbs the water you give your garden.  Sandy soils tend to allow more evaporation, and dry out more quickly. The addition of organic matter such as a good compost helps improve the ability of both types of soils to absorb and hold water.

When watering your garden, make sure that you are able to soak the soil thoroughly before doing anything else. Another thing to consider is what time of day to water. Although your plants may look more wilted in the evening after a long day in the hot sun, evening actually isn't the best time to water. Wetting down the plants before dark can encourage mold and fungal growth. However, watering during mid-day also isn't advisable, as during times of strong sunlight, excess moisture can actually cause burns on the leaves. The best time to water is early in the morning, so that water has time to evaporate from leaf surfaces before the sun gets too strong. But sometimes it's unavoidable - due to other scheduling constraints, I usually end up having to water in the evening - but I try to make it early enough that the plants at least start to dry out a little before dark.

"The principle behind drip irrigation is to deliver water directly to the base of the plant, as opposed to indiscriminately watering the ground around the plants. This means that all the water being expended is being used to nourish the plant, while wasting less in the surrounding soil, and losing less to evaporation." (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Often, vegetables picked from well-watered plants last longer than their less watered counterparts, and some plants will not yield a good crop if they've been lacking in water. There are various ways to water your plants: by a sprinkler that is manually controlled or automated, by hose or other means. Depending on the shape and size of your garden, an automated sprinkler may be the best choice. Proper scheduling of the frequency of your water sprinklers' operations will also ensure that your plants will be consistently watered at the best times of day.

It is also recommended that uniform distribution of water be maintained in order to ensure that all the plants in your garden are well-cared for. A drip-irrigation system may work well for this, and these can also help save water. Despite the need for frequent watering, also bear in mind that there is also a need to conserve water, so make sure that there are no leaks that may waste water beyond what your organic garden needs.

A Few Irrigation Options:
   

Sustainable Gardening Strategy: An Introduction to Companion Planting

One of the secrets to successful organic and sustainable gardening is something called companion planting.  When you wish to avoid chemical herbicides and pesticides, or they aren’t allowed, as they wouldn’t be if you’re gardening organically, then companion planting is an excellent solution.

What is Companion Planting?

Some plants give off scents or chemicals that repel insects, insects like worms and beetles that can destroy your garden.  Other plants help prevent disease or attract insects, which are beneficial to plants. And some plants are exceptional at breaking down the soil and helping other plants absorb vital nutrients.  Essentially companion planting is used to help your core plants thrive without chemicals. 

Companion planting of carrots and onions (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Examples of Companion Planting and How it Works

Marigolds are widely known to have a very strong fragrance.  Many people consider it unpleasant despite the gorgeous flowers. However, many insects also find marigolds quite distasteful including nematodes (roundworms), whiteflies, beetles, and aphids.  To use marigolds as a companion plant, plant them at the perimeter of your garden.  If your garden is large you may want to plant them throughout.  Take care to not plant them too closely to your vegetables because they do attract spider mites and slugs. 

Alfalfa actually helps the soil absorb nitrogen, iron, magnesium, phosphorous and potassium which makes the soil ideal for growing vegetables.  Because alfalfa has very long and sturdy roots, it breaks up hard clay soil. It’s a great plant to help keep your soil rich in nutrients. 

Geranium, another flower with a strong aroma, repels cabbage worms and Japanese beetles, and leafhoppers.  Gardening experts recommend planting them around grapes, corn, tomatoes, peppers and cabbage.

Companion Plantings (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Deciding What to Plant and Where

Before you begin planting your organic garden, do a bit of research to find the best placements for your chosen vegetables. For example, tomatoes do well with a number of other vegetables including garlic, chives, cucumber and mint, however not all veggies get along with tomatoes.  Tomatoes can stunt the growth of carrots and dill, and kohlrabi slow tomato growth. 

Make a quick map of your garden before planting and chart where you want to plant each vegetable.  A quick trip to an organic gardening or companion gardening site will help you make sure each vegetable’s neighbor is a helpful one.

Companion planting is a very sustainable way to affect the health of your garden.  Not only do you help your garden stay pest and disease free, you receive the added benefit of a diverse and healthy garden - which means more tasty and healthy veggies for you!

Note: For some great detailed suggestions on companion and succession planting, see the excellent books below.
   

10 Tips For A Healthy Organic Garden

Organic gardening is the healthiest way to grow flowers, fruits and vegetables. When you consume your homegrown fruits and vegetables, you ingest whole, fresh foods at the peak of nutrition that are free of pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers.   Additionally, organic gardening is environmentally sound and keeps those toxins out of the soil and water supply.  Here are a few organic gardening tips to help you get the most out of your organic garden this year.

Cover via Amazon#1  Rotate crops.  Different vegetables and fruits absorb different nutrients from the soil.  If you plant tomatoes for example, in the same spot every year, eventually they’ll deplete the soil of the nutrients they need - and they'll also attract pests who think they've found a restaurant serving their favorite food year after year! However, if you rotate your garden, planting flowers where you plant veggies and veggies where you plant flowers, or different vegetable families in succession, or simply rotating where you plant your veggies then you’ll have healthier and tastier produce. Additionally rotation also helps prevent attack by disease and pests. (We'll post a longer article on crop rotation next week, so be sure check back to learn more.)

#2  Use friendly insects as natural pesticides.  Ladybugs are a great tool to eliminate aphids from your garden.  You can buy wiggly bags of them at your local nursery or even order them online.  Place them in your garden and prevent infestation.

#3 Organic insecticides can be used to prevent things like beetles and worms, when absolutely necessary. But don't overdo it - remember the principles of organic gardening are to keep everything in balance, which means not trying to kill off any particular species, but keeping things in harmony. 

#4  Use specific plants to attract or repel insects.  For example, Sage repels cabbage moths and black flea beetles and marigolds repel a variety of insects.

#5  If you’re sowing your own seeds, then you’ll want to sow them from organic fruits and vegetables.  If you’re buying plants to start with, you’ll want to make sure they’re organic. Otherwise you are starting your plants off right away in an unhealthy and artificial environment.

Organic vegetables (Photo credit: Wikipedia)#6  Plant vegetables in a rich soil. Compost is a wonderfully sustainable and nutrient rich way of providing everything your plants need to grow and survive. 

#7  If you’re sowing seeds, sow several times more than you think you’ll need. For example if you’re only going to plant one tomato plant in your garden, sow 3 or 4 seeds.  Seeds don’t always grow well and you can then choose the strongest looking to plant in your garden. 

#8  Read the information on the back of the seed packet or the tag.  This information will tell you how much sun and water the plant needs. This is all good information that will help you grow the healthiest plants. 

#9  Label your plants.  Use the tag attached to the plant when you bought it or make your own.  Mid-season, it can be easy to forget what plant is what, and you'll also want to write down what is planted where, so that you can practice crop rotation properly.

#10 Prevent fungus and disease. The biggest killer of most vegetable gardens in damp areas is fungus and mold.  Keep your plants pruned and keep the soil damp but not soaked.  Additionally, you'll want to mulch most plants to keep soil from splashing up on the leaves when it rains, which can cause some fungal diseases. But make sure there isn’t too much of an accumulation of mulch right around the plant stems - mulch only up to about 3-4 inches away from the stems to avoid the mulch holding water too close to the plants, which can foster mold or other fungal growth.

Organic gardening is a fun and easy way to bring fresh produce into your home.  You can grow flowers, herbs, vegetables and even fruits organically - knowing you're doing something good for both yourself and the planet!


Organic Gardening Resources: