Organic gardening is undoubtedly a very enjoyable pastime, despite the effort, patience and skill involved. You want to grow healthy and non-contaminated food that can be enjoyed by you and your loved ones. Are you intimidated? Read the following tips to discover how to begin gardening like a pro.
There is no need to purchase a costly chemical if your plants develop powdery mildew. Mix a little liquid soap and baking soda in water. Once weekly, spray this mixture to the affected areas of your plants, and the mildew should be eliminated shortly. Baking soda will not damage your plants and treats the mildew gently but efficiently.
If you're planning on gardening, carefully watch for stink bugs! You should be particularly careful during Autumn. This insect will gladly devour your tomatoes, beans, and peppers, as well as a variety of other fruits. If kept unchecked they can certainly do a ton of a damage to your garden so you should do what you need to to reduce their population.
Plant some wheat grass or cat grass near where you car tends to nibble in your garden. Another option is to protect your plants by lacing them with offensive entities, such as peels from citrus fruit or even moth balls from your closet.
If you have a vegetable garden, it is crucial they are kept in a spot with at least six hours of sun each day. Most vegetables need at least that much sun exposure to grow properly. This holds true for some types of flowers.
Every good gardener knows when the best time is to begin harvesting one vegetable or the other. Every vegetable has a proper time to be picked in order to capture the perfect flavor. Baby peas, for example have much better flavor if they are harvested early in the ripening process, as does zucchini. Tomatoes, however, are best picked from the vine later when they are very ripe. It's best to learn when the harvest time is for your vegetables.
Before you start working in your garden, purchase a wheelbarrow and a good kneeling stool. Spending time on the ground is rough on the knees, a portable and light stool can help make gardening easier. Also having a garden usually requires moving heavy dirt and objects, so investing in a wheelbarrow is a very sound investment.
Split up the irises. You can increase the number of irises you have by splitting clumps that are overgrown. Once the foliage has died off, lift out your bulbous irises. They will literally split in your hand, flowering the next year after replanting. Rhizomes may need to be divided by using a knife. New pieces should be cut from the outside, then the old center you want to discard. Each new piece you cut should possess at least one healthy offshoot. Immediately replant all your selected cuttings.
Think about planting evergreen plants that will produce berries in the backyard. The berries will provide a boost of color to your backyard, even during the colder months when most of the other vegetation has been drained of their color. These plants come in several different varieties, including the Winterberry, American Holly, Cranberrybush, and Common Snowberry.
To keep your dog out of your garden, spray old perfume, aftershave, or other scented items in the grass around it. This covers up the smells that bring dogs to gardens in the first place, which means dogs are less likely to enter the garden.
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.
