People in poor health who need to lose weight or lower their blood sugar sometimes turn to an all-organic diet in order to once again get healthy. It really is a great way to live. So if you need to get healthy, or even if you want to grow your own food instead of purchasing it, take your time to read these tips on organic gardening.
A great tip when beginning an organic gardening is to add lime to your seed-starter mix. This is done to reduce the acidity of your peat. Too much acidity can damage it. You should aim to add around 1/4 teaspoon of lime in every single gallon of your seed-starter mix.
If you have a compost pile, but have very few leaves to add to it this fall, try incorporating straw or hay into your compost pile. This is a great way to add carbon which is very beneficial to the growth and health of plants. The straw and hay may contain seeds, so it is best to use an organic weed spray on your compost pile to get rid of the unwanted weeds.
If you don’t have a big yard, or any yard at all, you can still grow great organic produce in containers. Most vegetables, other than some root vegetables, grow just as well in pots as they do in the ground. There are also many varieties which have been bred to do well in containers.
Use compost to improve the quality of your soil. Compost comes from the breakdown of natural vegetation, and it is organic. It improves the structure of your soil by making it less dense, thus allowing better water permeability. Compost can also be used to balance the pH level of your soil.
You can kill weeds naturally. A good thick layer of newspaper can be laid down to control weeds. In order to grow, weeds need sunlight. If you place sheets of newspaper over the weeds, they will die due to a lack of sunlight. The paper will break down quickly and cleanly, adding to your compost. Try adding some mulch on top of it to make appear more attractive.
A carpenter’s belt is a great investment for any organic gardener. This is because organic gardening involves many small tools that are all frequently used such as trowels, water sprays, pruners, and gloves. Rather than making several trips back and forth between your shed and the garden, a tool belt can help you carry all of your tools at all times.
Treat your roses! To naturally remedy black spots on roses in your organic garden, use milk! For some unknown reason – using a 1:2 ratio mixture of milk and water – has been shown to get rid of black spots! Use a spray bottle to apply the mixture directly to the leaves of the affected plant.
When you start your organic garden, start a garden journal at the same time. Make note of when you planted seeds, how successful they were, any pests that you noticed, and what tricks proved to be effective. This information will be very helpful when you plant your garden in the following years.
Use a soaker hose to water your garden. A soaker hose allows the water to be absorbed directly in to the soil, rather than disbursed in to the air. This helps to conserve water, a valuable resource. Plant leaves also stay dry, which means you get to avoid pesky fungus problems.
While all kinds of gardening can help you feel more connected to the planet, gardening organically is especially good for this. You will be a witness of the growing process of many different plants and understand how a whole ecosystem functions.
Water your organic garden, thoroughly. If you only water your garden for brief periods, the water will stay near the surface of the soil and the roots of your plant will likewise stay near the surface of the soil. To establish deep, strong roots on your plants, water the ground thoroughly, so that the water and roots travel deep into the soil.
When you are maintaining acid loving plants mulch your soil with pine needles every fall. As the pine needles decompose over the winter months they will deposit their acid into the soil and give your acid loving botanicals what they need to thrive instead of relying on harsh chemical fertilizers.
Sometimes it’s helpful to spread grass clippings or other kinds of decomposing plant matter around your plants. The plants will decompose and allow their nutrients to go back into the soil. This same theory works for many kinds of decomposing matter such as rotten apples, eggs, and pretty much everything else that can be considered organic matter.
As we stated up top, getting healthy is a great reason to go organic, but generally speaking, there are endless reasons, you should choose to go this route. It’s just a great idea if you love to grow things or enjoy eating fresh, healthy food. Make sure you remember these tips as you start to grow your organic garden.
