Garden Tips

Growing Organic Plants

As people become more and more aware of the damage they are all doing to the planet, they want to do something to help. Growing Organic plants and vegetables will not only help the environment but also will be healthier and kinder to your body. Wildlife can fully flourish if there are no chemicals and pesticides being used in the growing process. You do not need a great deal of knowledge and expertise to grow organic plants; you just need a lot of enthusiasm. To grow organic fruit and vegetables is cheap, and it will save you money on your household shopping each week.

Organic fruit and vegetables are often not as cheap as chemically produced foods; this is often because they are grown on smaller farms to enable them to be totally organic. People do not want to spend more for their organic produce, and this is the main factor why many people have chosen to grow their own organic plants. Organic plants can be grown anywhere in your back yard, either in raised beds or directly in a patch in the ground. They are cheaper and healthier than chemically produced plants, and if you use your own organic fertilizer on your fruit and vegetables, then you will save even more money.  By using organic fertilizers you are putting all the nutrients back into the soil, kitchen scraps, manure and dying household plants all can be used, and when you harvest your vegetables you will see the difference in size and taste. You might want to consider building a compost heap, so you will have a regular supply of organic fertilizer. Also having a water butt to collect the rain water, to use on your garden will cut down the cost of your water bill.

Organic plants are very beneficial to your health; it has been proven that there are several benefits to eating organic food products. Growing your own organic plants is a personal commitment and one that will make you feel better inside and out. The physical benefits of eating natural organic food is based on the nutrient levels in the food. The levels of these nutrients are higher in organic natural food, and there are no toxins in this type of fruit and vegetables. Worryingly there are very high levels of toxins, in most food products that we consume. Over 350 pesticides are permitted to be used for growing fruit and vegetables. Lithium which helps with depression, Calcium for strong bones and teeth and Chromium which helps reduce diabetes are all found in higher levels in the organic natural food.

Doctors are now realizing the health benefits of organic foods, rather than prescribing extra vitamins and nutrients for their patients they are advising them to eat organic fruit and vegetables. Alongside an already healthy diet and exercise programme, eating organic foods and drinking plenty of water can really benefit a person. The money that you might spend in doctors’ bills and medicines would be better spent on organic food products. If you grow them at home instead of buying them from organic food market then you will save a great deal of money in the long run.

Stop giving health food stores and supermarkets your hard earned money for natural organic food and learn how to grow your own organic plants with The Best Organic Gardening Book !

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Organic gardening – General Notes on organic horticulture Organic gardening systems

Organic horticulture employs the crucial principles of organic agriculture for the successful herbs, fruits, vegetables, flowers and ornamental plants growing. These principles concern the management of pests in the garden, soil composition and conservation, etc.

General Notes

Mulches, Double Digging, compost, Vermicompost, cover crops, mineral supplements and manures are the main constituents of the soil mixture in this kind of gardening in contrast to the commercial farming. Organic horticulture expects to minimize the risk of insects, fungi, and diseases development with the help of maintaining the high quality of the soil. Nonetheless, sometimes it is still necessary to use insecticidal soaps and sprays, pheromone traps, or other pest-control means, created especially for organic farmers.

Experts define five fields of horticulture:

-           olericulture, which stands for the production and marketing of vegetables;

-           pomology that means the production and marketing of fruits;

-           floriculture, which is the production and marketing of floral crops;

-           landscape horticulture that includes the production, marketing, and      maintenance of landscape plants;

-           and finally, post harvest physiology that studies and practices the preservation and maintaining of the quality of horticultural crops

All these areas can utilize the key principles of organic gardening.

Organic horticulture employs the methods and uses data, which have been collected for thousands of years. Generally speaking, this type of gardening is based on the natural, long-term processes and eco-friendly, global approaches, in contrast to horticulture, based on the use of chemicals that speed up the processes and aim at the separate results and reductionist strategies.

Organic gardening systems

There exist various formal organic gardening systems that utilize peculiar methods. They are listed among the general organic standards, but are more specific than them. For example, Rudolf Steiner developed the so-called biodynamic farming. Masanobu Fukuoka, the Japanese writer and farmer, practiced Natural Farming, based on the so-called no-till system for the small-scale production of grain. Finally, intensive and biointensive techniques and SPIN Farming (Small Plot INtensive), developed in France, also belong to the small-scale gardening methods.

A garden in a container or growing box provides healthy, organic, and highly nutritional food. Moreover, it is also the means to share one’s experience, to improve local economy, and to offer better and more sustainable way of living. A small raised bed garden of 32 square feet is capable of supplying tasty, healthy, and organic greens to a family, requiring, at the same time, less water and fewer nutrients if it is based on the postulates of bio-intensive planting and square foot gardening. 

In addition, the existing garden can be improved with the help of composting or vermicomposting. These methods allow getting the best organic fertilizers by reusing organic matter, which provides necessary nutrients to the organic garden. Besides, compost and vermicompost are always an easy way to improve the results.

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Hydroponics Gardening for Organic Vegetables – Introduction

Hydroponics gardening or growing plants in the growing media other than soil has been known to humans since ancient times. It is known that during the times of King Solomon, people practiced soil-less gardening, which later became known as hydroponic gardening.

The word “hydroponics” is derived from two Greek words: “hydro”, which means water, and “ponics”, which stands for labor. The principles of gardening without the use of soil were developed many and many years ago. Since then this type of gardening demonstrates certain valuable benefits in comparison to traditional growing plants in soil. One of the key benefits is that hydroponic plants grow 30-50% faster than plants, grown under the typical conditions in soil.

Traditional organic gardeners have always demonstrated certain level of contempt for hydroponics as the type of efficient and successful gardening. The followers of the traditional soil gardening consider hydroponics to be a kind of chemical gardening. Organic gardeners have always been pretty pessimistic as to supplying their plants with a balanced and calculated set of chemicals, which is a common practice among hydroponics gardeners. However, such an attitude of wide publicity and professional gardeners to hydroponics had changed after Steve Fox demonstrated his achievements in hydroponics gardening.

One of the key components of hydroponics gardening is growing media, an inert material, which unlike soil, does not supply any chemicals or nutrients to the plant. There are multiple types of growing media used today. The examples are sand, gravel, coconut fiber, perlite, and vermiculite. Amazingly, but even air can be used as a growing media for growing hydroponic cultures under the certain conditions.   

The undeniable benefit of hydroponic gardening is that it protects the fertile soils from exhaustion. Besides, it does not presuppose the use of chemical pesticides and other chemicals, which are extremely harmful for the environment. In general, hydroponic gardening may ensure greater yields and, at the same time, let the fertile soil regenerate itself for further organic farming.

Though hydroponic gardening also uses some of the chemicals to feed the growing plants, all the chemical plant fertilizers and nutrients are contained within the enclosed area of hydroponic greenhouse and do not spoil the open air, water or fertile soil.

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Starting your own organic hydroponics gardening setup – hydroponics gardening supplies and points to remember

When Starting your own organic hydroponics gardening setup, you should remember that you will need to arrange two beds or layers in your hydroponic garden. The upper bed is, actually, a box to keep the plants in. This box should contain a growing medium for the plants to grow in. You can use perlite, coconut fiber, lava rock, Styrofoam pellets, rockwool or vermiculite for this purpose. The main thing about medium is that it should be able to keep a small amount of moisture for a long time. Experts assure that lava rock is best in this respect.

The lower bed is necessary to keep the water with the dissolved nutrients in it. The water is pumped with the help of an aquarium pump to the upper bed in order to water the plants. This procedure is repeated several times a day at equal intervals, being controlled with a timer.

Gardeners sometimes find it difficult to maintain the pH level of the water, its nutrition rate, and the ration of nutrients at the right level. These are, actually, the key factors, due to which a hydroponic garden or an organic hydroponics prospers. If these three crucial things in gardening are kept in balance with the help of Organic fertilizers, such technique of plants growing is called an Organic Hydroponic Garden.

Organic fertilizers are better for the plants than the chemical ones, as the latter are capable of burning the roots if used in higher concentrations.

When water solution is pumped to the trail with plants, it is partly absorbed by the medium and by the plants roots till saturation point. Consequently, the pumped water, returning back to the reservoir, contains lesser amount of parts per million (ppm) than before. 

Organic nutrients make hydroponic gardening easier, as they do not contain any chemicals, which can change the pH level or ppm of the solution. As a result, many problems, listed among the most common ones of organic hydroponic gardening, get solved on their own.    

It is a common knowledge that the upper part of a plant’s root uptakes nutrients, while the lower one absorbs water. To increase plant’s saturation with nutrients, it is possible to directly add them to the upper part of the roots, which, in the long run, will result in the more efficient organic hydroponics. To introduce such technique into your organic hydroponic garden, you should develop an organic hydroponics system.

The container can be similar as in the hydroponics gardening, or it can be a coir fiber container. It should be half filled with lava rock at the bottom. Then it is preferably to use a medium divider (e.g. coir fiber). The upper part of the tray should contain a mixture of 1/3 horticulture perlite of coarse grade, 1/3 potting soil, and 1/3 of large horticulture vermiculite.

When all this is set, it is necessary to place this container in the grow bed, with water level being a bit lower than the mixture of soils. Such arrangement will ensure the higher efficacy of the organic hydroponic gardening.

Lava rock with the secondary roots of the plants will be submerged in the water, and it will also serve to make this water flow up and moisten the soil mixture. At the same time, the upper layer of medium will be free to absorb the nutrients added directly to the primary roots.

Such hydroponic system saves a gardener from constant controlling and maintaining of the pH level and ppm of the growing medium. Nevertheless, beware of adding too many liquid nutrients to the soil layer: they may leak into the lava rock layer and disarrange your organic hydroponics gardening.

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Growing Vegetables In Your Organic Garden With The Right Fertilization

For effective gardening of vegetables in your organic gardening, you must first think about fertilization. This is almost always attributable to mulching. But there are other things to consider as well, such as the introduction of fertilizers that are available to you both naturally or commercially. To simply define this, it means to place materials, wether they be inorganic or organic in your garden around your plants.

By doing this you will also provide fertilization, it also helps to protect your soil as well. If you garden receives a lot of heavy rain, or is susceptible to high weed growth causing it to be a weed trap, then mulches will provide some much protection from this and much needed supplementation that will aid the natural growth process of your organic garden vegetables.

Beside this, you will also find it will help to regulate the temperature of your soil. Also the added bonus of gardening this way is the aesthetic look this lends to your garden and the improved ground texture. By spreading the mulch to areas not planted will also help to keep any weeds under control.

If you do decide to establish mulches in your garden, you will find that you need to water less often. This is because it help your plants retain water. Also your plants will have far better growth levels because of this added water retention. It will also help you with your weed control, but it will never stop them completely stop them.

You should always test your soil, this way you can maximise your fertilization efforts. Never buy your fertilizer in bulk before doing a test on your soil, this way you make sure you get the correct fertilizer suited for your soil type. Just what could be a worse experience, than having not tested and then having bought in bulk to find that it is of no use to you.

When you do apply your fertilizer, it is recommended that you should maintain it. Always go for a high quality fertilizer, this in an absolute must do for any gardener, especially if you are a beginner. There are also many fertilizers available to you, that are tailored solely to the beginning of your planting experience. These will require no extra maintenance through your gardening activities. In any rate, make sure that you are getting your money’s worth and have thoroughly proven for yourself that the given fertilizer you are putting on your garden has been tried and tested on your soil type.

Organic material is always the best source of fertilization for your plants, this is because it adheres closely to natures natural growth process. Always try to avoid introducing any chemicals in to your soil, this is so that your plants will get used to growing and maximizing there potential via natural means. Going organic has many added health benefits for you and your family and by growing green you are doing your bit to help the environment. So why not go ahead now and grow organic?

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Organic Container Gardening – Simple and Easy Ways to Grow Vegetables and Flowers in Pots

Organic container gardening is an excellent way to grow flowers and vegetables at home. It has removed the limit that associated home gardening with a large yard space. It makes possible for urban gardeners to grow plants in their high-rise apartments and compact condominium units. It is so space efficient and beneficial that even countryside gardeners still have some plants growing in pots despite owning a sizeable garden area.

The biggest and obvious difference is that instead of planting directly in the ground, you’ll be using containers to grow your plants. But using containers is where the added benefits come into play.

Containers double as barriers protecting plants from soil-born diseases and pests larvae that are present in the soil. It offers flexibility to move plants around as and when needed, to protect from unfavorable weather conditions such as hot summer and freezing winter days, for example. It allows for easier plantscaping, giving you more freedom to design a functional and attractive organic garden, as often as your whim dictates. Best of all, organic container gardening makes it possible to bring your garden indoors where you can enjoy the same benefit as you would outdoors.

And if that’s not enough, growing plants in pots is also fairly easy and requires no special effort. To illustrate the point, here are seven simple ways to grow vegetables and flowers in containers.

1. Choose the size of the container based on the size of the mature plant and its root system. Plants with expansive root system need large containers. The size and material of the container affects its ability to hold moisture. But moisture-retention capability can be improved through the soil or by lining pots with non-porous and non-absorbent materials. Choose decorative pots with provision for collecting drained water for indoor plants. Choose durable containers that can withstand the elements for outdoor gardening.

2. Ensure that containers are fitted with enough drainage holes to prevent standing water. Line the bottom of the container with coarse gravel to ensure proper drainage.

3. Start with a good standard potting soil mixture. Add compost to the potting mix to supply nutrient to the plant. Use organic liquid fertilizer to give your plants instant boost. Use slow-release fertilizers for a steady and longer nutrient supply.

4. Place plants in containers where they can enjoy adequate sun exposure everyday. Five to eight hours are recommended depending on the plant’s light requirement. Turn your plants regularly for equal exposure of all side to the sun.

5. During extremely hot days, move your plants under a shade to avoid wilting. Consequently, move them indoors to protect them from frost once winter sets in.

6. Water plants in containers more frequently than you would plants in the ground. Containers can only hold relatively small amount of soil and dry out quickly. Don’t water too often. Overwatering will suffocate the roots causing them to rot. Frequent watering also washes away the fertilizers in the soil. Don’t wait until your potted plants start to wilt before you water them.

7. Maintain 1:1 plant-container ratio for bushy flowering plants and vegetables. If you’re going to grow more than on plant in a container, make sure that they have the same sun, water and fertilizer requirement. Don’t have too many plants in a single container. Overcrowding impedes good air circulation that plants need.

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Growing Organic Fruit

Growing organic fruit in your garden has advantages over the fruit purchased in grocery stores. Organic fruit tastes better and you know that the fruit was not sprayed with any dangerous chemicals. The fruit that is planted in your garden was chosen by you because of its particular variety and you wanted to grow them organically.  

Many of the plants that you plant in your garden are annuals, producing flowers or fruit only once, all in the same year that they were planted. A vast majority of fruit trees will not produce any fruit until the third year or later after planting. Once they start producing fruit they will continue every year, some years better than others, for generations. Some organic dwarf fruit trees that are container grown will produce fruit 1 to 2 seasons ahead of the earth grown trees.

Even if your yard is a small one you can still grow a fruit tree. Fruit trees produce blossoms in spring and it will enrich the soil around it. Your yard size determines the variety of fruit tree that is best for growing. Semi dwarf and dwarf fruit trees are best types for container growing. Fruit trees will not only need sunlight but they need protection from the wind. In order for fruit trees to bare fruit they need to be pollinated. Some of them are self-pollinating, some need pairs planted, and others must have three of a kind in order to be pollinated. Your local nursery will let you know which varieties are which

The soil preparation is the same as for any organic garden. You can enrich the soil with any store bought organic compost or you can use your own compost. When selecting organic gardening fruit trees always visit a nursery in order to examine it before purchasing. There will potted trees to choose from and also bare-root trees. Areas in the garden that have deep soil that is rich in organic nutrients and minerals are the best places for planting any organic fruit tree. Organic pear trees and organic apple trees prefer a soil that is slightly acidic which is found in the coastal areas of the United States; the stone varieties such as organic plum trees and organic cherry trees would rather have a mild alkalinity as in the inland soils. Poorly drained soils that are damp will not handle fruit bearing trees very well.   

A young tree that is potted will probably adapt faster to a new environment than a tree that has been potted for a long time. Once that young tree has adapted and is healthy it will most likely bare fruit quicker than an older one, even though it may take years to produce fruit. A bare-root tree is less expensive to purchase and is sturdier than the potted tree; planting either type works fine for organic growing.  

You can train a tree to grow into any shape or style. You can train it to grow diagonally along a fence, or just have it grow wild.  Young trees will need to be staked for support after they have been planted; this procedure will keep the stem sturdy and help it to grow straight.

Pruning your fruit tree helps to train it in the direction you wish to have it grow and will encourage it to produce fruit. If you do not like to prune, the least amount that should be done is to take off any branches that are crossing each other. To grow a fruit tree horizontally, use chicken wire along the fence and carefully tie the branches with garden tape to the wire. If you plant native plants and grasses around fruit trees you may be able to avoid harmful pests. The bees are an important part of pollination for your fruit trees; entice the bees by planting flowers or lavender bushes near the trees. The more insects your garden attracts a healthier production of fruit will be yours.

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Go Organic – Growing vegetables in your garden

Growing vegetables in your own garden is an excellent idea. The cultivation of vegetables is not too difficult a task and something that people have done since ancient times, when there were no super-markets to go and buy vegetables and fruits from. When growing vegetables and fruits in your own garden, there really is only one question to be asked –What do plants need?

Sunlight: The plants should receive light and heat from direct sunlight for atleast 6 to 8 hours a day, and should therefore be placed in an appropriate site for this purpose.

Water: We need to irrigate the plants with water every day because they need it on a regular schedule so that the leaves do not dry out and become brittle.

Soil: The ground is the most important factor for a garden because the plants are healthy throughout the year when the soil is rich in organic matter. This will also allow them to grow strong and free from diseases and pests. Therefore, it is important to make sure the soil is ready and properly nourished to allow the plants develop well. We must also take note that the plants do not perform well with perennially wet soil or when planted on slopes. One will have to level the ground first and form barriers so that water does not flow in from other sources into the garden.

Tools: Although the tools you need for your vegetable garden are not complicated, you must procure the necessary tools for planting vegetables and for carrying out their daily care. Basically, you need a shovel, a rake, a hose, a trowel, a hoe, a skimmer, stakes and a mower.

The more practical the purchase with regards to your vegetable garden, the more will be the output, especially when you can harvest fresh fruit to prepare the meal of the day, without having to go to market for them.

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