Organic gardening can be a wonderful thing. In terms of taking better care and showing some skill in the application of products and techniques to help something grow is truly wonderful. To start learning some basics as to how to make this work for you, refer to the tips below. Organic foods are a great part of life and helps us to continue with a healthy lifestyle.
Calculate how much water your plants truly need. Thinner plants generally need more water; they contain larger surface area with less capacity to store water. Plants with large, thick waxy leaves are often more suited for water-starved environments. Over-watering may also cause problems with the plant due to microbial growth on their roots.
Keep your pest control free of unneeded chemical treatments. First physically remove the pests. Next place barriers, and traps against them. Then try some biological controls. As a last resort use botanical and mineral type pesticides. Go out of your way to avoid using industrial methods to best protect your organic garden. This is not a good thing to do since we want a healthy life, not a toxic one.
When planting new plants, make sure you know when the best times are to plant them in your organic gardens. Try planting your new plants during the late evening or during a cloudy day. These plants have a better chance of surviving if you plan them during cloudy days, in rainy weather versus dry, or in sunny weather.
Try using ladybugs rather than pesticides to protect your plants from insects. You can order large quantities of ladybugs from gardening supply stores for very little money. If you release them near your garden, they will eat pests such as aphids, leaf hoppers, mites and other soft bodied insects, helping to protect your plants from these unwanted critters in the process.
Get rid of Japanese beetles. Once quite rare, and only found in the eastern United States, these pesky beetles are now moving west. They attack many different types of herbs and vegetables and are difficult to eradicate once established.
Handpick them in the early morning by shaking tree limbs and branches. Bait them by mixing together water, sugar and mashed fruit. Place this concoction in a sunny spot at least 1 inch off the ground. Strain out the beetles every morning. Plant 'trap' crops between vegetables and flowers: Japanese beetles favor marigold, barrage and evening primrose. If you plant these throughout your garden, they will naturally navigate toward those specific plants.
Make easy work of washing your organic produce with a laundry basket. As you pick your produce, lay them in a plastic laundry basket, which works as a strainer. Hold the hose over the top and the water can make quick work of rinsing all the dirt and other matter off of your fruits and veggies.
Use rainwater for your organic garden. Water can be collected in barrels when rain fall is at high levels, and then used on your garden during drought periods. This will help to conserve water and provide your plants with all the hydration they need. Most rain barrels have a spicket so you can attach your soaker hose directly to the barrel.
Use a rain gauge. Most plants require about an inch of water per week. To know how much you need to water, it is important to know how much water the plants received from rain. As rainfall can vary greatly within a city, don't depend on your weather report; instead use a rain gauge to determine the amount that fell at your location.
So, now do you see why organic gardening is such a wonderful thing? Discovering you can grow healthy plants and add them to your healthy diet is indeed a thing of wonder and also one of great skill. The tips above should have created a good foundation for you to build upon and successfully grow your own organic garden.
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