
Organic gardening is very popular these days but many people are afraid to dip their toes into it. To many people, it seems too complicated and unfamiliar, so they don’t know how to start. Peruse the following article to discover some very useful advice that will prepare you for success in this most enjoyable pastime of organic horticulture.
Check the soil before you plant anything in your garden. You can actually get an analysis of soil for a little fee, and with the report you get back you can figure out how to create a vibrant garden by enriching it properly. Ask about this service at a local university or the county Cooperative Extension office to improve the soil and insure fruitful crops.
Draw up a garden plan before you plant the first seed. This will help you to remember where you planted the different plants when sprouts begin to shoot up from the ground. It can also keep you from planting any of your garden favorites too close to each other.
Protect your deciduous shrubs which are tender. If you’ve got tender shrubs which are potted, you need to protect them from cold weather. Connect the tops, and then place a sheet over the top of the wigwam. You will protect your shrubs from the cold without having to cover them in plastic, which can cause rot.
If you want an organic way to weed your garden, try “boiling” them. Boiling water can be considered as an herbicide, and it is a safe one. Douse the weeds with this pot, just avoid the nearby plants. Boiling water damages weed and plant roots, so be sure to avoid the plants you don’t want to eliminate.
Protect your plants from moisture on a daily basis. Damp leaves can lead to plant disease and parasites. An example of a common plant parasite is fungi. Be sure to prevent the growth of fungus with a spray that will inhibit their growth.
Your vegetable plants need about two or three inches of mulch placed around them. The soil around plants can stay damper through the use of mulch. This is also efficient in preventing weeds from growing. You’ll save a ton of time if you don’t have to constantly pull out weeds.
You should be cognizant of the peak time for harvesting your vegetables. Each variety needs a slightly different amount of growing time to produce the most flavorful vegetable. For instance, for the best flavor, zucchini and baby peas should be picked when they are young. By contrast, it’s best to wait until tomatoes are fully ripe before picking them. So, it is good to learn about the best time to harvest your vegetables.
Beneficial Insects
Avoid using broad-spectrum pesticides in your garden. These pesticides will also kill any beneficial insects that consume the pests you are trying to get rid of. Beneficial insects are more susceptible to strong pesticides than the insects you are actually trying to get rid of. This will lead you to end up killing off the good bugs in your garden, leaving the field wide open for the harmful ones. If this happens, you just fuel an expanding cycle of needing even more pesticides.
Vegetables are softest during the warmest hours of each day, so picking them then, no matter how gently, runs the risk of damage. Cut vegetables off at the vine, and don’t twist them off, as this could hurt the plant.
The information you’ve been given in this article should have done a great deal to ease any apprehension that you have about starting your own organic garden. Add the information you’ve read here to your horticulture strategy to create an amazing oasis to enjoy every day!