Organic Gardening Information
An Introduction To Organic Gardening
Organic gardening is a similar format to regular gardening except that no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides are used. This method of gardening can give problems in certain areas, as with, controlling disease, insects, and weeds. There are curatives. Organic gardening also requires continuous attention to the soil and the many requirements of plants.Starting with the soil for organic gardening. Ideally, the soil should be of a dark colour, have a sweet aroma and plenty of earthworms present. If you about to use a new plot of land to start your organic venture or even extending your present area, you would by necessity require to use your garden fork to turn over and remove all the weeds you can find. This is a great opportunity to see whether earthworms are active.
Test your soil at this point. Soil testing kits are regularly available at a very reasonable price, this test will show you the PH balance of the soil and likely tell you the nutrients required to rectify any deficiencies. The addition of well-rotted compost will rarely go amiss. Next to the garden hoe, good quality compost is the organic gardeners best friend.
If anything makes even the most ardent of organic gardeners want to reach for the pesticide spray or aerosol can, it is insects on their plants. The best way to defend plants against insects is to take preventative action. The healthier the plants that you put into the ground the more chance of survival they have. That may sound like an obvious statement, but should you introduce poor quality plants you will encourage more damaging insects. The introduction of a variety of plants often helps. Your healthy plants can out-grow minor insect damage.
Encouraging certain wildlife to your plot can be rewarding. Insect eating birds, lady birds, frogs and of course the hedgehog. The hedgehog likes nothing butter than a nice juicy slug or snail to chew on. Slug traps can be purchased or you can make your own, sink a jam-jar or similar receptacle into the ground and put some beer in it. A light spray of diluted hand soap has also been found very affective at eradicating insects. Keep a source of water near your plot if at all possible to entice the frogs and lizards.
When planning your plot, try to lay it out so that you allow for plenty of air circulation, bad air circulation can be the cause of any disease to spread, again, over-watering or allowing your plot to dry out can have the same affect.
Weeds, where do they all come from? Nothing is more frustrating than not being able to get to your plot for a couple of days only to find when you do get time it looks as though you never weeded in the fist place.
Persistence, minor weeds with only a couple of leaves are easy to remove with the hoe. The bigger ones are best removed with the help of your border fork. This will not disturb your growing plants, but will allow you to be sure you get all the root out, Don’t just pull weeds out without loosening the soil first, the chances are you will leave some of the root in the ground.
You will in time, be patient, get on top of the weed situation and be able to control it solely with the hoe.
Organic gardening is the perfect way to ensure that the produce you grow for your own consumption is totally free from any pesticides, insecticides or any other man made chemical content. It may initially take a bit more time until you get into the swing of it. Just think of the pleasure and peace of mind.
Author: Norman Macey Photograph by Linda Loughead
