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Most gardeners have no idea what organic gardening entails or how to maintain an organic garden. Organic gardening involves gardening without the use of synthetic goods such as fertilizers and pesticides.
It entails just using natural things to develop plants in your yard. Organic farming uses and replaces natural resources.
If you’ve been thinking about eliminating the chemicals and going organic, now is the time! There are several reasons to plant an organic garden, but health is at the top of the list.
Food is more nutritious and fresher, and you want edible crops free of artificial fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. Here are eight easy steps to getting started with an organic garden.
How to start organic gardening
Soil Analysis
Getting a soil test is the first step towards getting organic. It will teach you the fundamental texture of your soil as well as its acidity or pH level.
You’ll be able to determine the amount of nutrients currently present in your soil as well as which nutrients are deficient.
Plants forced to grow in poor soil are typically stressed, leaving them fragile and more sensitive to insect and disease assault.
Compost
Start a compost pile in a corner of your yard if you don’t already have one. Compost is the greatest soil conditioner and slow-release plant nourishment you can use,
and it’s completely free to make! It promotes the growth of beneficial soil organisms, increases soil fertility, and enhances the structure of any soil type.
Plants and seeds
Look for resistant kinds of seeds and plants while buying. When feasible, use organic seeds, but avoid those that have been chemically processed. (This should be stated on the packaging. For details, check our guide on buying best quality seeds here)
Always buy organically grown transplants or create your own. The majority of commercially cultivated plants are raised in a chemical bath.
Sanitation
Work in your garden when the plants are damp to avoid spreading infections. Remove ill plants and tidy up wasted plants as soon as possible.
You must also clear debris at the conclusion of the season. They may host pests and illnesses that overwinter and return to wreak havoc the following year.
Rotation
If this isn’t your first year gardening, be cautious about where you put your plants. Plants should not be grown in the same garden bed year after year.
Rotating planting areas keeps your soil from being exhausted of the same nutrients season after season, and it also aids in disease prevention and breaking the cycle of bug infestation.
Obstacles and traps
Row coverings and cutworm collars work effectively as barriers to keep insects away from your plants, especially while the plants are young. Slugs can’t resist a saucer of beer, and sticky traps can lure and capture them.
Keep your eyes open and your hands on your hips
Try to examine your garden on a daily basis for any indicators of problems. Many issues can be avoided if they are identified early on. Look for insect eggs under leaves and remove them before they develop.
Leaves may also reveal a lot about the health of your plants! Be on the lookout for brown edges, white areas, curling, and yellowing.
Organic gardeners must be aware of what is happening in their plots. Gardening safely and sustainably will bring you closer to nature.
Remove the Chemicals
If you have any leftover garden chemicals, take them to your local transfer station on the following hazardous waste collection day to guarantee their safe disposal.
Getting weapons from your property reduces the likelihood that you may use them in a “weak” moment. It’s time to put down the spray, dump the 10-10-10, and bag the Sevin! A healthier garden and greater health are on the way!
What exactly is organic garden matter?
Organic matter is a broad word that refers to a variety of important resources that may be used to feed plants, improve soil, and as mulch.
Organic matter is also known as’soil improver’ or’soil conditioner,’ and soil organic matter as ‘humus.’
Conclusion
In organic gardening, you consider your plants to be a part of a wider natural system that includes the soil, water supply, animals, insects, and humans.
Everyone wants the food we offer our family and the surroundings we live in to be safe and healthy.
A good organic gardener works to guarantee that his or her actions are in harmony with the natural ecosystem and aims to minimize exploitation while replenishing all of his or her garden’s resources.
Reference
- Organic Gardening, retrieved from here
- Development of an Organic Gardening Workshop and Community Engagement Activities to Develop a Healthy, Local Food System
- A review of the influences of organic farming on soil quality, crop productivity and produce quality
