Organic horticulture can yield many healthy benefits, but figuring out how to prepare it properly can be a challenge. Organic gardening also involves choosing from a large variety of different seeds as well. Read on for a handful of tips and tricks for nurturing your garden with an organic approach.
Start your seedlings in pots inside and then transplant them into your garden. They are more likely to survive the transition to adulthood with this method. In addition, you can shorten the intervals between your plantings. After you remove the mature plants from your garden, you can immediately replace them with the seedlings and start the cycle over again.
Baking Soda
There is no need to purchase a costly chemical if your plants develop powdery mildew. The best solution is mixing baking soda, a drop of liquid dish detergent and water together in a spray bottle. Once weekly, spray this mixture to the affected areas of your plants, and the mildew should be eliminated shortly. The baking soda is harmless to your plants and a very effective remedy.
Before you even place the first plant in your garden, you need to check the composition of your soil. Soil analysis costs a little money, but the report can inform you how to enrich your soil and open the door to a lush garden. Cooperative Extension departments often offer this testing service. It is a worthwhile effort so a garden can be productive on the first year of planting.
If you’re like many gardeners, autumn means that it’s time to get some delicious fall edibles growing in your garden. Why not plant lettuce and kale inside a hollowed-out pumpkin? 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. Finished? Now you’re all set for planting!
Always have a plan for the garden prior to the start of planting it. A thoughtful plan can remind you of previous plantings and what you will see appearing from the soil in the months of spring and summer. The plan will also help you keep track of your more diminutive plants and smaller groups that could otherwise become lost among a sea of larger plantings.
Do you enjoy your mint leaves, but can’t stand how they dominate your garden? Rein in their growth by planting the mint in a large pot or garden container instead. You can simply put the container below the soil level. Once you do, the container will constrain the roots, preventing them from overshadowing all of your other plants.
Familiarize yourself with the optimum harvesting time of your vegetables. Every veggie variety has an ideal time frame for picking, so it’s important to catch them when their flavors peak. For instance, zucchini and baby peas have the best taste when you pick them early. On the other hand, tomatoes taste best when they are as ripe as possible from the vine. Research the best time to pick your produce.
As you read, an organic garden can be incredibly important to your current and future dietary habits and so is understanding all the different kinds of plants you can grow. Apply the tips you just read to start your garden to save money and eat healthier foods.
