Establishing an organic garden is a smart way to work towards a healthier diet. However, you will need to put forth an effort in order to make it grow. Oftentimes, new gardeners can be intimidated because they're not quite sure where to start.
Think about starting plants in pots, and then placing the seedlings in the garden later. This raises the chances of the plants growing until adulthood. It also helps you make your planting times more frequent. When you remove your mature plants, the next batch of seedlings should be ready.
If you're like many gardeners, autumn means that it's time to get some delicious fall edibles growing in your garden. Try something different by planing kale or lettuce inside a pumpkin, instead of using the planter pots you traditionally use. Cut an opening in the pumpkin and scoop the insides out. Then spray the edges and empty inside of the pumpkin with Wilt-Pruf so the pumpkin doesn't rot. Once you've done this, you can plant.
Always allow your plants to adapt gradually to any changes in light conditions, temperatures or soils, if you do not, you might shock them and cause them to die. Put them in the sun outside for a couple of hours during the first day. As the week progresses, gradually increase their exposure to the outdoors. After one week, the plants should be fully acclimated and ready to move outside.
For weeds that aren't in the middle of your plants, use boiling water to kill their roots. Boiling water in a pot is a safe “herbicide.” Just pour boiling water directly on top of the weeds cautiously to avoid damaging your plants. Boiling water can hurt the roots of weeds and can prevent them from growing.
Your plants should always be kept in an aerated, dry area. Moisture on plants is sure to attract disease and parasites. One common organism that thrives on moisture is the fungi family. You can rid your garden of fungi with fungicidal sprays. However, it is best to treat your garden before there are problems.
Using natural materials in the garden will keep pests away. Slugs stay away from marigolds and onions when they are planted in a garden. You can also prevent insect pests by using wood ash like mulch around your trees and shrubs. Using methods like these eliminates the need for chemical pesticides, which can be harsh or even harmful.
Plants that result in a larger yield should be higher on your priority list when planning the garden. Normally, hybrid plants that are disease-resistant and cold-tolerant have a greater yield than traditional varieties.
Protect the soil around your vegetable plants with an inch or two of organic mulch. Mulch has a nice moisturizing effect on the soil it's spread over. It will also prevent weeds from popping up around your plants. This will save you tons of time from pulling out tons of weeds.
If you want your garden to be off-limits to your dog, spray a scented perimeter around it using things like old perfumes or aftershave. These scents overpower the garden's scents, which causes your dog to lose interest.
Organic Horticulture
For the right results, get the right type of soil. Depending on what kind of plants you want in your garden, the soil might or might not be adapted. You may also be able to design an artificial area that contains one type of dirt.
So, as you have seen, it is true that organic horticulture requires research, work, and effort to start growing your own organic plants. It also holds true, that if you want to see results, you need to keep putting effort into it. Keeping the aforementioned tips in mind, you are well on your way to becoming successful with organic horticulture.