A smart way to build a healthier diet is to start an organic garden. However, you should be aware that organic horticulture is hard work. Oftentimes, new gardeners can be intimidated because they're not quite sure where to start.
Pay attention to how you lay sod. Get your soil ready before you lay the sod. Remove the weeds, then break up the soil into fine tilth. Compress the soil lightly yet firmly, and make certain it's flat. Gently sprinkle water on the soil until you are certain that it is thoroughly moistened. You should lay your sod staggered, and have the joints offset. Make sure the sod is firmly placed to ensure a surface that is sufficiently flat and even. Also, make sure to use soil to fill the areas where there are gaps in the sod. For the best results, you need to water the sod every day for a two week period. After this time the sod will have rooted into the soil and can be now walked on.
Deciduous shrubs and young trees need to be protected. Shrubs in pots especially need special care in the colder weather. Fasten the tops of the canes together, and cover this wigwam loosely with a cloth. Covering your foliage in plastic will let the air in – and may lead to decay.
Keep the weeds out of your garden by removing them regularly. Weeds can be extremely detrimental to your garden. To help with weed destruction, use white vinegar. White vinegar will definitely kill the weeds! Putting white vinegar on your plants gets rid of much of the need to pull out the weeds.
Your plants need to be kept dry, but sill receiving a good amount of air. Parasites are attracted to the moisture on plants. One parasite you have to watch out for in particular is fungi. Fungi can be controlled with fungicide sprays, but it is important to treat your area with the spray, before you see any problems.
Try growing your peas indoors for the first couple months. When you plant them indoors first, the seeds will germinate better. The baby plants will also be stronger and will resist pests and disease better. The seedlings can then be transplanted outside after becoming strong enough to withstand the elements.
Know the perfect time to harvest the vegetables in your garden. Different veggies have different windows of time in which they should be picked; it is during this period that the vegetable is most flavorful. For instance, peas and zucchinis are tastiest when picked young. Tomatoes, though, are tastiest when they have been allowed to ripen on the vine as long as possible. Educate yourself about the best time to harvest your veggies.
If your soil is highly alkaline, try mixing used coffee grounds into the soil. Using coffee grounds is a low-cost way to increase the acidity of the soil. You will discover that your vegetables are more flavorful than ever before.
The flesh of vegetables gets soft in the heat of the day, making them especially vulnerable to inadvertent damage with even the gentlest picking. Cut vegetables to remove them from vines rather than twisting and pulling them. Twisting vegetables off vines damages them.
Organic gardening requires work, effort and research. If you want to see success at your efforts, you have to continue working at it. If you keep all these suggestions in mind, you have taken the right steps towards becoming a successful organic gardener.