Organic Vegetable Gardening For
Beginners
By Mary
Hanna
To be successful at organic vegetable gardening you must draw
up detailed plans. The soil is your first consideration; how to
make it rich and fertile, and how to prepare it so harmful
pests won't attack your vegetable garden. The two ways that
organic vegetable
gardening differs from
conventional gardens is the usage of fertilizer and how to keep
pests under control. Phosphorous, nitrogen and potassium are
the three components essential to your organic garden.
For lush, green foliage you must have nitrogen. For strong
roots and stems phosphorus is needed. And for the important
protection from disease and brief cold snaps, potassium is a
must. Let's call them the big three. The big three are
available in commercial fertilizers however they are synthetic.
In organic vegetable gardening the big three are added in a
much different way.
The best way of enriching your soil is by compost. Dig some
pits in your back yard to start your compost from kitchen
refuse. Use things like pine needles, corn stalks, leaves,
carrot tops, fruits or vegetables that have spoiled, manure,
egg shells and coffee grinds. Some organic gardeners use weeds
in their compost but I do not recommend this for obvious
reasons. As the compost materials decompose they release
bacteria and fungi into the soil that you are preparing. The
bacteria and fungi convert nutrients like nitrogen to ammonia
and nitrates that will be usable for your vegetables. Use
substances such as seaweed, potash salts, tobacco stems and
wood ash to help make potassium in your compost. By making your
own compost, you are controlling the mixture and balance to
achieve the right combination for your organic vegetable
garden.
To be absolutely sure that your compost has completely broken
down and is now offering up the right balance, start working it
into the soil at least two weeks before you plan on
planting.
The pH in the soil must be right for healthy plants. Test your
soil, if it has a ph of 0 it is very acidic, while a 14 is
extreme alkaline. Of course a seven indicates neutral soil. To
raise the pH of the soil inexpensively use ground limestone. An
additional benefit of the limestone is that it contains
magnesium something that most soils lack. If, on the other
hand, you have extreme alkaline soil use sulpher to bring the
pH down.
Pest control in organic vegetable gardening is also different
that conventional gardening. In many conventional beds
gardeners wish to eradicate all pests with pesticides. Many in
organic gardening only wish to keep the pest population down so
to have a balance in the garden. Obviously, whenever possible,
plant pest resistant vegetables. In order for harmful organisms
to grow, they need bright sunlight so keep thick mulch around
the plants to deny the organisms that needed sunlight and to
help hold moisture into the ground. If you find you have a
heavy infestation here is a natural pest control formula:
In a jar, combine 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid and 1 cup
vegetable oil. Shake vigorously. In an empty spray bottle,
combine 2 teaspoons of this mixture and 1 cup water. Use at
ten-day intervals (or more often if needed) to rid plants of
whiteflies, mites, aphids, scales, and other pests.
Follow this tips and you are on your way to raising a healthy
and plentiful organic vegetable garden.
Happy Gardening!
Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.
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