Starting and maintaining an organic garden requires a lot of patience, and an affinity for growing plants. It is a good way to grow healthy fresh foods in an environmentally friendly, chemical-free way. How hard can it be, right? See these tips to learn how to get started with this healthy, rewarding hobby.
Put sod down the right way. Before laying the sod, the soil must be prepared. Remove any weeds, and break the soil up into a fine tilth. Make sure the soil is packed firmly and even. Water the soil until it is saturated. Lay the sod in straight rows, ensuring the seams meet perfectly. The sod should form a flat and firm surface. Fill in gaps with soil. Keep the sod moist and avoid walking on it until it is well-rooted, usually two to three weeks.
Fight pests before you even plant, by getting your soil in shape. If you are producing healthy plants, they will be stronger and better able to resist bugs and diseases. To boost your garden's prospects of giving you the healthiest possible plants, make sure you begin with premium soil devoid of salt-accumulating chemicals.
Do not improperly lay your new sod. You will need to prepare your lawn soil before laying the sod. Pull any weeds that you see, and work to break up the soil so that it is a fine tilth. Lightly, but firmly compress the soil, making certain it is flat. Make sure the soil is thoroughly moist. Be sure to stagger the rows of sod. The joints should be offset like bricks in a wall. Pat your sod to form an even and flat surface, fill any gaps with some soil. Keep the sod moist and avoid walking on it until it is well-rooted, usually two to three weeks.
Baking Soda
If mildew is forming on your plants, you should not purchase an expensive chemical. Mix some baking soda and a very small amount of liquid soap into water. Once every week, you should spray the mixture on your plants; the mildew will disappear shortly thereafter. Baking soda is not harmful to your plants and will take care of the issue as well as any other treatment.
During winter, you should take your favorite plants inside. Choose the plants that are most likely to survive. Dig carefully around their roots and place them into a pot.
Choose plant strains that will give you the best harvest with the biggest yield. Normally, hybrid plants that are disease-resistant and cold-tolerant have a greater yield than traditional varieties.
Pick the proper soil in order to get the best outcome. The type of plants you're planning to grow will determine the type of soil you need, and whether the soil will or will not be adapted. You can make an artificial area that uses a single kind of soil.
You should think about planting evergreens that yield berries in your garden. These will help give your garden a burst of color, even in the winter months when most other vegetation has lost their colors. Some plants provide color during the winter like the Winterberry, and American Holly, the American Cranberrybush and the Common Snowberry.
Be aware of the optimum time frame for harvesting vegetables. Each variety of vegetable has a specific time to be harvested so that you may enjoy its fullest flavor. Some vegetables, such as zucchini and baby peas, should be harvested when they are relatively young. Tomatoes, in contrast, taste better the longer they are allowed to ripen on the vine. Take some time to learn about the best harvest time for the vegetables that you have growing.
The handles on your gardening tools can be used as a convenient measuring instrument. Tools that have long handles such as rakes, hoes and shovels can be used in place of a measuring stick. Lay your handles on the floor, and put measuring tape right next to them. Then, transfer the measurements to the handle using a permanent marker. Now you will always possess a large ruler ready for your use in the garden.
Organic gardening allows you to work hard and enjoy the fruits of your labor. This skill utilizes a simple patch of ground to produce healthy, delicious, natural foods. By using these tips and giving some effort, you can be a skilled organic gardener.