There are many reasons to garden organically and I will explore these with you, but the main reason is to provide healthy, more nutritious, and flavorful food for you and your family.
What is Organic Gardening and Why you should Garden Organically
First, it is using natural and not synthetic fertilizers in your yard, this includes vegetables, fruit, plants, and trees. You should not use pesticides or other chemicals in your soil to enhance growth and eliminate pests. Instead, use natural organic materials to supplement your soil with nutrients to grow healthy plants.
To do this use materials derived from plants, animals, and minerals to build your soils for organic gardening.
Understand what pests and diseases you are faced with to know how to safely and organically resolve each of these problems.
Using organic methods of growing a flower, vegetable, and fruit garden eliminates the chemicals that stay in the ground for years and are absorbed into the fruit and vegetable and passed along to you to be absorbed in your body causing diseases and damage to your health.
Start by Understanding your Soil
Get your soil PH tested to see what its makeup is and what it needs to grow strong plants.
When you have good PH for your plants it will allow them to grow strong plants that are resistant to diseases and they will produce the most fruit that is nutritious and full of flavor. Having a strong plant also allows the plant to defend itself from pests more easily.
- Quick, at home results for Soil pH
- Easy-to-use capsule system
- Contains all components needed for 40 tests. 10 for each of pH
- Simple, detailed instructions included
Understand what your Plant Needs
Like buying a home, the key is Location, Location, Location. If you plant your plants in a location that is not ideal you will not get the strongest plant producing the most flowers or fruit. Know how much sun or shade your plant needs to grow the best.
Research the specific feeding for each plant, knowing what organic fertilizer it needs and how often it needs to be fed to grow the best.
Know how much water your plant needs too much water can be more damaging than too little. Typically you should water 1 inch per week but that too is general, not specific to your plant’s needs.
Watering the roots and not the leaves are best to eliminate bacteria from impacting your plant.
Composting is Critical
There are many composts you can use to feed your plant and retain moisture for the roots. The best compost is one that feeds the plants and keeps the plant roots cool and retains moisture for the roots to absorb.
2-3 inches of compost to mulch the plants is best. You want a mulch that allows water to freely flow through it to the plant’s roots.
Options like straw, mint mulch, and bark mulch are good compost that feeds and retains moisture for the roots.
Plant Rotation
Plant rotation is good for plants to be resistant to diseases and allows the soil to not be depleted of good organic matter to grow a strong plant. If you rotate your crops in your garden you can have plants that add good materials to the soil and not just deplete the soil.
The best way to stay organized is to draw a garden plan for where you plant each year so that you know where to move plants for the next years planting to maximize the soil used to grow strong plants.
Variety Choice
Each variety of a plant has specific needs by knowing this you can select the best plant variety for your growing region, length of season, and resistance to diseases and pests that are specific to your region.
Don’t force a plant to grow in a climate or zone that hinders a plant look to optimize the plant, climate, and growing zone.
Pest Control
You can reduce pest damage organically by doing these things.
Companion planting with plants that deter pests is a great way to reduce pests that attack your plants.
Going into your garden daily to observe what is happening so that you can investigate and attack the pests early.
Get a small bucket and remove the pest by hand.
Use things like stale beer to attract slugs and snails for you to then dispose of.
Reduce Disease
All of these tips can be done without using chemicals.
To do this know what plant grows the best in your area.
Use a drip system to water the plants keeping the leaves dry.
Trim lower leaves on plants that come into contact with the ground.
Plant the plant in the ideal location for sun and shade.
Production
When you grow organically and feed the plants the nutrients they need you will increase the production and size of fruit, and flowers.
Nutrition and Taste
You know the difference between a store-bought tomato in taste and one you grow. But did you know that the difference between a vegetable or fruit grown with specific organic fertilizers and one grown with manmade chemicals is that much more flavorful?
To get the best nutrition from your vegetables and fruit you must feed it the best food that is natural since these will be absorbed by the plant and the fruit and vegetables will be more nutritious for you and your family.
Gardening organically is important for everyone
Now that you know why you should garden organically get started in your own garden and share the knowledge with family, friends, and neighbors to get them growing organically.
