Well, you've decided to perfect your organic gardening skills. Good for you! However, there is so much information that you may not know where to begin. Don't worry, organic gardening tips are here! Listed in this article are some tips that will help you to get started and organized so that you can become an organic gardening expert.
To keep your garden organic, be sure that any seeds you buy are authentic, high quality organic seeds. Check to make sure that the seed company has been certified organic and does not sell any genetically modified seeds. There are a growing number of sources for organic seeds, so shop around.
Sprinkle crushed egg shells around the stems of your organic plants. The egg shells are sharp and calciferous. They will serve as a ready deterrent for any wayward snails and slugs that would like to crawl up on your plants and eat all of the leaves and vegetables for themselves.
Be careful when you are moving your plants from plastic containers to the soil. Plants often will end up with bound roots when they have spent too much time in plastic. Turn the plastic container upside-down slowly and tap gently to remove plant. Avoid damaging the plants delicate root system.
If you are growing tomatoes, you should make sure you have them in a place where they can get ten hours of light at the minimum during the summer. Otherwise, your tomatoes will not grow properly. You also want to have space in between your tomato plants so that the air can circulate.
A great trick for organic gardeners and a neat way to reuse plastic milk jugs are to use them as a form of self irrigation for your garden. All you need to do is poke little holes into the bottom of plastic 1 gallon jugs, bury the jugs next to your plants and make sure to leave an opening. Fill the jugs allowing the water to seep slowly into the ground.
Never use 'unfinished' compost in your garden. Unfinished, meaning still 'hot' compost can burn plants or bulbs if you try to amend your soil. An excessive smell of ammonia means that the compost hasn't broken down sufficiently. You can work unfinished compost into a patch of bare soil, but be careful not to plant anything in the area for at least one week.
Want to watch the birds during the day. If you have a small outdoor space, decorate your deck or a balcony with planter boxes of flowers and deciduous and evergreen shrubs. To passing birds this habitat will resemble a ledge on a cliff. A small tree in a tub increases the effect of the mini-oasis. Offer food to keep the birds returning.
Mulch should be your best friend when it comes to organic gardening. You need mulch to protect your plants and soil for when there is runoff after a rain storm or after using an irrigation system. The water runs off the land and it will erode and deplete any unprotected soil.
You can still collect compost material in the winter even when the ground has frozen. Just collect your old newspapers, shred them and place them in large garbage bags. Also add some finely chopped kitchen wastes (never meat) and work into the paper. Place the bags in a warm area. In the spring, the material in the bag will have degraded enough to work into your soil.
Keep a journal of your gardening adventures. In your journal write down the date you plant each plant. Also, take note of any pests or plant diseases you see as well as the date you see it. It can be helpful, too, to write down when each plant is doing its best.
Cover bare spots when you plant. When you put a new plant into your organic garden, do not leave the earth bare where you planted. Make sure you mulch the area all around your new plant. This will protect it while it begins to grow. This will also keep the ground moist.
Save water by planting drought resistant plants. There are many varieties to choose from so look for plants with deep tap roots, silvery leaves, and small leaves. Succulent plants are also a great low water choice for your landscape needs.
Are you busy with your organic garden? Remember, before you replant your flowers or vegetables outside in cooler weather, you need to get them ready for the change in temperature and light! For a few weeks, move your plants to a colder spot with no light for a few hours. Gradually increase the amount of time you leave your plants in the cold. After a few weeks, your plants should be ready for the cooler outdoors.
You should feel better after reading these tips when it comes to organic gardening. That was a lot to read through, but at least now, you should have an idea of what to do and where to begin with your organic garden. In addition, you can always return to this list.
