If sustainability and organic gardening are appealing to you, leave a portion of the property you own undeveloped to give wildlife a place to thrive. You will find that many of the supporting cast of insects and birds that aid in plant production and pollination will be present on your land and actually help your developed gardens to produce better.
Organic indoor plants may need additional light sources to make up for the light they miss out on by being indoors. This needs to be considered. If your dwelling does not enjoy a great deal of natural sunlight, it makes sense to grow only those varieties meant to thrive in such environments. If you already have plants that need full light and the natural light provided is not sufficient, artificial lights can supplement their needs.
To be more efficient when working in your organic garden, have your tools close at hand. You can wear an apron or pants that have a lot of pockets, or use a big bucket or can. Have gloves, shears, a trowel and anything else you need handy for quick use.
Do not overlook the benefits of pine mulch for your garden. There are many common acidic plants that prefer acidic soil. Pine needles are an excellent form of mulch for these types of plants. Spread a few inches of pine needles on your organic beds so that it will put the acid into your soil.
Use an old laundry basket to gather your vegetables and fruits. This laundry basket can be used as a type of strainer for all your produce. Rinse your crops while in the laundry basket to strain the excess water.
Your compost pile should contain green plants and dried ones in equal amounts. Examples of good green material to use for compost include grass clippings, flowers, leaves, and weeds. Dry materials, like sawdust, cut up wood pieces, cardboard, straw and shredded paper are good for your compost pile. Certain substances will undermine your composting efforts and cancel out any benefits; these include meat, charcoal, ash or plants that have diseases or fungal growths.
If you are building a raised bed utilize stone, brick or wood that is untreated. If you choose wood, ensure that it has not been treated with a sealant or other chemicals. The best varieties include cedar, locust and cypress wood. Treated wood can leach chemicals into any soil it rests against, so don't use it in a garden with vegetables. If you're using treated lumber, line it with a barrier, or some plastic.
Add mulch to keep your soil healthy. The right amount of mulch in a garden also works to protect the soil underneath. It keeps the soil cool on very hot days, thus protecting the roots in the ground. By reducing the evaporation rate of your soil, you will not need to water as often. As an added bonus, weed growth will be stunted.
When you water too much, then you can actually harm your plants due to the fact that the roots can't get the nutrients they need. If you are going to water your plants outdoors, you should first check the weather for you area to see if any rain is coming that day. Depending on what the weather is going to be like, you might not want to water your plants for the day.
Grow garlic. Plant garlic cloves individually. Do this in early spring or during the fall in moist and well drained soils. Put them an inch or two down into the soil with the pointed end up placed about four inches apart. You can cut green garlic shoots while they grow, you can then use them in place of scallions and chives. The bulbs are ready to harvest when the tops start to turn brown. You should dry them outside in a sunny spot for a couple of days to harden http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/fertilizing-your-organic-garden.html the skin. Store the dried bulbs loosely or in bunches in a dark, cool area.
Plant your tomatoes in intervals of three weeks, starting from the original strain and they will grow in a more organized structure. This staggers your harvest over time. In addition, if there are any problems with one harvested batch of tomatoes, you still have subsequent batches to harvest, so you will not be left without any.
Growing your garden at home might not be the most convenient thing for you, but you will save a lot of money and always have the confidence that what you're eating and feeding your family is as fresh and as healthy as possible. Use the tips you've learned here and get started on your garden today.
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