Organic gardening is the way of growing vegetables and fruits with the use of things only found in nature.
Why would one want to indulge in organic gardening?
- One can easily make compost from garden and kitchen waste. Though this is a bit more time-consuming than buying prepared chemical pesticides and fertilizers, it certainly helps to put garbage to good use and so saves the environment.
- Organic farming does not use chemicals that may have an adverse affect on your health. This is especially important when growing vegetables. Chemical companies tell us that the chemicals we use are safe if used according to direction, but research shows that even tiny amounts of poisons absorbed through the skin can cause such things as cancer, especially in children.
On the average, a child ingests four to five times more cancer-causing pesticides from foods than an adult. This can lead to various diseases later on in the child’s life. With organic gardening, these incidents are lessened.
Remember, pesticides contain toxins that have only one purpose – to kill living things.
- Less harm to the environment. Poisons are often washed into our waterways, causing death to the native fish and polluting their habitat.
- Organic farming practices help prevent the loss of topsoil through erosion. The Soil Conservation Service says that an estimated 30 – 32 billion tons of soil erodes from United States farmlands every year.
- Cost savings. One does not need to buy costly chemical fertilizers and pesticides with organic gardening. Many organic recipes for the control of pest and disease come straight from the kitchen cupboard. Sometimes other plants can be grown as companions to the main crop. An example of this is the marigold, which helps to repel aphids from vegetables.
Mixing 1 tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap and 1 cup of cooking oil can make a cheap garden pest spray. Put 3 tablespoons of this mixture in 1 quart of water and spray on plants.
- A simple mulch of pine needles will help to suppress the growth of weeds as well as keeping the moisture in.
- Organic gardening practices help to keep the environment safe for future generations.
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July 15 2010 | Gardening | No Comments »
The season is changing. Its time to get the garden ready. Preparation is very important. It could save you time and trouble in the future.
Summer is near
Rake up all of the old, dead leaves. Examine the soil closely. Prune back any perennial plants. This will give them a chance to start growing early. Get some fresh soil in the ground. Buy bags of topsoil or manure. Spread them evenly throughout.
This is the time to make sure that your soil PH is right. You may need to buy a PH testing kit. Buy a PH meter. It will have a soil probe. The meter is very easy to use. However, it may not be as accurate as the kit. You should be able to have a close idea, in any manner. The PH meter will register numbers. A number seven is in the middle and is neutral. Lower numbers represent an alkaline content. Higher numbers are acid content.
Check your seed packets for soil information. There is also a great deal of information online. You need to know what the PH should be for your particular crops. For example, some may require neutral soil. This is neither alkaline nor acidic. If your ground is acidic, you may need to balance it out. Lime or ashes are a good alkaline source.
If you need acidic, you can add sphagnum peat moss. Compost may add a slight amount also. Decaying material will have acidic properties.
Now is a good time to add magnesium to your soil. You can add Epsom salts to the ground. This will work well.
Crop rotation is very important for your soil’s nutrients. Change areas where you plant certain crops. Do this with related crops like nightshades. This includes potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers. You will have to do less fertilizing, this way.
After adding nutrients, consider mixing them up. Do you have a garden tiller? This will work well. It will also aerate your soil. You will get rid of unwanted plants like weeds, in the process.
After the last frost, you can plant marigolds. They should be on the out edges of your garden area. Marigolds are good for repelling insects and pests. You can give the marigolds a head start also. Plant them inside, before your last frost. Then you can set them out as the warm weather comes.
Winter preparation
You have enjoyed the warm days of summer. Autumn is here. Before long, you will see snow and ice. It is time to get the garden ready for winter. Rake the leaves. You can also run over them with your mower. If you have a grass catcher, it will help shred them. It will also make them easier to use.
Start a compost pile, if you do not have one. Clear everything from the garden area. Throw the material in the compost heap. Separate good from diseased material. When cold weather is near, pick all of your fruits and vegetables. You can do many things with green tomatoes. You can also put them in a paper bag to ripen.
Final thoughts
Its time to get the garden ready for the coming season. If you clean up the area and prepare it well, you shall have few problems ahead.
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April 13 2010 | Gardening | No Comments »