Starting and maintaining an organic garden requires a lot of patience, and an affinity for growing plants. It is an activity that has a goal of growing fresh, nutritious food that is free of pesticides. Are you intimidated? Read the following tips to discover how to begin horticulture like a pro.
Your plants need to adapt and must be gradually introduced to changes in temperature or condition. On the first day, place them in the sun outside for only an hour or so. Over a period of several days, slowly increase the time they are allowed to stay outside. By the week's end, your plants should then be ready for the big move!
Clay soil is hard and will also stick to a shovel, making it difficult to work with. Rubbing wax on the shovel prior to digging can kick this challenge to the curb. The clay will no longer stick to the shovel, and this also helps to prevent other problems like rusting.
Your plants will respond better to gradual changes of environment. Try placing them outside in sunlight for about an hour or maybe two the first day. Throughout the week, gradually increase the time they are spent outside. Finally, after about a week, you should be able to move them outside and leave them there for the summer.
Baking Soda
There's no need for chemical intervention if you discover powdery mildew on leaves. Mix a little liquid soap and baking soda in water. Once every week, you should spray the mixture on your plants; the mildew will disappear shortly thereafter. Baking soda will bring no damage to your plants, and will treat the mildew in a gentle and efficient manner.
Create your own garden from scratch with seeds, rather than plants. As a green-friendly gardener, you always want to use seeds to start your new plot. It is common for commercial plants to be packaged in plastic that is not commonly recycled, and therefore, it is better to use seeds or purchase plantings only from merchants who make use of organic packaging.
Digging in hard clay soil is made even more difficult because it sticks to the shovel. Take the hard work out of using a shovel in clay soil by rubbing a light coat of car or floor wax over the surface with a clean cloth and buff the surface. The shovel will glide through the clay and as a bonus, your shovel will be resistant to rust.
An easy, inexpensive way to give them nutrients is to pour the leftover water from your steamed vegetables into the soil. For gardenias and rhododendrons, try putting your used coffee grounds or tea bags in the soil so they may acquire the acid they need for proper growth. Chamomile tea is effective in combating a fungus problem within your garden.
If you have problems keeping the dog out of the garden, spray things like aftershave, perfume or other scents on the grass surrounding the garden. This will help to cover the scents that are attracting the dog, and make it less of an appealing place for your dog to be.
The hobby of organic gardening requires patience and effort, with a little help from Mother Nature. This wonderful past time uses land to produce delicious foods for your table. Follow the tips and put in the needed effort, and you will be a successful organic gardener.
Choose plant strains that will give you the best harvest with the biggest yield. Hybrids are usually hardier in terms of disease and weather resistance, and are designed to produce more.