Certified organic farmers must meet the U. The Organic Materials Review Institute OMRI is a nonprofit organization that provides professional, independent reviews of materials and processes for suitability in organic food and fiber production Figure 17—1.

Home gardeners can consult the OMRI Products List © to find products that OMRI has determined are allowed for use under NOP organic standards. Rodale, who popularized organic gardening in the United States Figure 17—2.

Figure 17—2. An organic vegetable garden that is just as productive as a conventionally grown garden. Organic gardeners generally subscribe to the following principles, each of which will be discussed in greater detail in subsequent sections of this chapter:. Rather than a traditional approach of applying fertilizers to feed plants, the foundation of successful organic gardening is building healthy soils.

Healthy organic garden soils have a strong nutrient reservoir and proper pH for plant growth, which are provided by adding organic matter rather than traditional fertilizers.

Soil amendments are used to improve soil health and condition. Incorporating organic matter into tight clay, for example, lowers soil bulk density, creates pore spaces for air and water, and improves soil structure and tilth, allowing expansion of roots.

Adding organic matter to sandy soil improves water-holding and nutrient-holding capacity, feeds soil microbes, and improves soil structure. In the warmer North Carolina piedmont and coastal plain, higher temperatures lead to faster rates of decomposition, and soils can require up to twice as much organic material compared to cooler environments.

If practical, it is a good idea to mulch areas after adding organic matter. Mulch is material layered over the soil surface to reduce evaporation and keep roots cool. Mulch also reduces weed emergence, soil compaction, and erosion.

In the case of plant-based mulches, the addition of mulch further contributes to soil organic matter content. Most of the amendments listed in Table 17—1 will improve a clay or sandy soil.

Peat and sand, however, are two amendments that warrant caution. As the product of wetland ecosystems, sphagnum peat and sedge peat are not renewable at the current rate harvested to satisfy horticultural market demands.

Coir dust, derived from coconut husks, may be a more sustainable alternative to peat, and more consistent in pH and quality Figure 17—3.

Coir dust performs better in light, sandy soils where its moisture retention qualities are appreciated. Like peat, however, coir may overwhelm clay soils, making a saturated native soil even stickier.

Heavy clay soils always benefit from the addition of compost. Fine sand is not recommended as a clay conditioner because small clay particles mixing with fine sand particles cause compaction and a loss of aeration, resulting in a concrete-like soil.

For heavy clay, rocky, poorly drained, or contaminated soils, create raised beds. Table 17—1. Soil amendments and mulch a. Rather than relying primarily on applied fertilizers, many organic gardeners seek to build a nutrient reservoir in the soil through the periodic addition of organic soil amendments and the use of green manures cover crops that are incorporated back into the bed.

As with any gardening project, start with a soil analysis to determine initial nutrient and pH levels, and monitor with follow-up sampling at least every three years. Use organic materials listed in Table 17—2 to address soil test recommendations. Note that some materials are not allowed by OMRI for use as crop fertilizers, but may be considered for household use.

Nutrients listed are averages. Some gardeners have seen damage to their plants or crops after the application of hay, manure, compost, or grass clippings. This is due in part to the persistence of some herbicides that were used on the plant materials before they became mulch.

It is important to know the source and chemical history of any green material before it is used in the garden. Learn more in the NC State Extension publication Herbicide Carryover in Hay, Manure, Compost, and Grass Clippings. Organic fertilizers abc. Items below are generally acceptable under the NOP for commercial organic farmers, unless otherwise noted.

As you refine your observation skills regarding soil type and quality, you may be able to identify soil conditions and estimate soil pH by the plants growing in it. Weed seeds prosper in niches with the light, water, and soil conditions that each weed prefers.

The presence of some weeds can indicate certain soil conditions Figure 17—4. Cover crops, or green manures, are plants grown specifically for incorporation into the soil to improve fertility and add organic matter, which in turn improves soil structure.

Cover crops reduce erosion, suppress weeds, and aerate compacted soils. It is common to combine cover crops such as rye and vetch in the winter with soybean and pearl millet in the summer Figure 17—5. Examples of common cover crops are found in Tables 17—4 and 17—5.

Table 17—4. Winter cover crops for North Carolina Evans, ; Hamilton, Table 17—5. Summer cover crops for North Carolina Evans, ; Hamilton, Figure 17—3. Coconut husk coir can be used as a soil amendment as a replacement for sphagnum peat moss. Matis Miika, Wikimedia CC BY 2.

Kathleen Moore CC BY 2. Figure 17—5. A cover crop of clover in this vegetable garden provides nutrients to the soil when it is tilled under. Graibeard, Flickr CC BY-SA 4. Organic gardeners rely on methods other than synthetic pesticides to manage weed, insect, and disease pests.

Organic gardening, however, is more than simply substituting a naturally derived pesticide for a synthetic one. Organic gardeners must take a holistic approach to pest management and focus on using all available methods to support plant health, including good fertility, proper irrigation, crop rotation, conserving beneficial insects, and mulching.

Even those who do not strictly follow organic gardening practices benefit from following this holistic approach. Organic pesticides should be handled with the same care and caution as synthetic pesticides because even naturally derived products may pose risks to health and the environment.

Weeds are a mixed aspect of the landscape. Weeds compete with desirable plants for water, nutrients, and sunlight. Some harbor insect pests and diseases, cause allergies, or are poisonous.

Nevertheless, weeds also make many positive contributions. Weeds are indicators of soil problems, such as compaction. Weeds return nutrients to the soil when pulled and composted, and weed roots can help break up compacted soil. Weeds provide habitat, shelter, pollen, and nectar for beneficial organisms, such as spiders Figure 17—6 , praying mantises Figure 17—7 , beetles Figure 17—8 , predatory wasps Figure 17—9 , syrphid flies Figure 17—10 , and bees Figure 17— It may be advantageous to permit certain weeds during the season, but prevent them from going to seed.

As you learn more about the different weed species and the benefits of having some weeds in your garden, you may even learn to regard some of them as allies to promote soil and plant health.

Weed management is most effective if you know what species of weed you are fighting and how it spreads, so proper identification is important.

Repeated cultivation with hand tools or powered tillage equipment is very effective on many annuals and biennial weeds, but less so on many perennial weeds.

Many perennial weeds have underground structures such as tubers and rhizomes that allow the weeds to regrow Figure 17— Such structures are easily spread to new areas if tillage equipment is not cleaned after use. Most perennial weeds are well-managed in small gardens, ornamental beds, and turf by hand-pulling or digging the roots out and removing new sprouts.

Larger areas may require hoe or rotary cultivation. Take care when using these tools to avoid damaging the roots of nearby desirable plants. Cultivation is best done one or two days after watering when the soil is still damp, but not wet.

Working wet soil degrades soil structure, especially that of heavy soils. When the soil is too dry, weeds are hard to pull and hoeing is difficult. Weeds that have been pulled, but have not yet gone to seed, can be used to return organic matter to the soil. Hand-pulled weeds may be laid on top of the soil to dry out, with the exception of rhizomatous grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass, Canada bluegrass, and creeping red fescue.

Succulent weeds, such as purslane, and weeds that have gone to seed, which may inadvertently reestablish, should be completely removed from the garden. Reducing weed growth in the surrounding yard by mowing or other means also helps prevent the spread of weeds in the garden.

Pulling weeds by hand is a necessary part of maintaining any garden, organic or not. As with tillage, pulling weeds is easiest when the soil is slightly moist and when the weeds are young and small. Scouting beds on a weekly basis makes this routine chore easier.

Organic mulch prevents most annual weeds. Applied annually in late winter before deciduous plants leaf out and before summer annual weeds germinate, mulch covers winter weeds, suppresses germination of summer annual weeds, holds soil moisture, and improves aesthetics. For best results, remove existing weeds before applying the mulch.

Select the type of mulch based on availability, cost, aesthetics, and personal preference. Examples include shredded hardwood, pine straw, pine bark, and cedar. Maximum weed management benefits can be seen with 3 inches to 4 inches of organic mulch.

In general, 1 cubic yard covers square feet to a depth of 3 inches. Materials such as newspaper or cardboard that are covered with an attractive mulch such as pine bark, shredded hardwood, or pine straw provide excellent weed suppression Figure 17— Some gardeners use living grass as a weed barrier between raised beds.

Fescue works well because it does not spread into adjacent beds Figure 17— Planting cover crops, also called green manures , is another effective strategy for weed management Table 17—4.

Oats, a widely grown cereal grass, is a winter cover crop Table 17—5 that does not pose a weed problem upon maturation Figure 17— Left over the winter, winter-killed oat grass creates a thick mat of mulch that prevents soil erosion and suppresses late-fall and early-spring weeds.

Rye is a good winter cover crop for late-season plantings. Rye typically establishes better than wheat and is thought to be allelopathic , inhibiting the growth of other plant species. Green manures are also used as living mulches , meaning that they are planted among crops where they help to fill the open spaces, reduce weeds and erosion, and conserve water.

For example, late-season broccoli benefits from underseeding with a winter-hardy legume like hairy vetch. To do this, maintain a weedfree seedbed for one month after the broccoli is planted by cultivating or pulling weeds in and between rows, being careful not to disturb the roots of your garden plants.

When plants are 6 inches to 8 inches tall, spread the mulch crop seed over the entire area. By the time the broccoli is ready for harvest, the vetch can be walked on without being damaged.

Turn under the vetch several weeks before planting the following spring so that the vetch does not go to seed and become a weed itself. Thermal weed management, using either flame weeders or hot water, is most effective on young broadleaf weeds that are 1 inch to 2 inches tall.

Perennial weeds and grasses may require repeat treatments. Hand-held propane gas burners, which produce a carefully controlled and directed flame, sear leaves, causing the plant to wilt and die Figure 17— High temperature water or steam eliminates the hazard of flame application.

It is possible for hot water to infiltrate to the roots or move across the soil surface, so only use it in open areas where there is less contact with roots and crowns of desirable plants.

Spacing of vegetable garden plants is an effective weed suppression tool. Establish transplants or plant seeds close together so that a foliar canopy quickly develops Figure 17— This shades the soil and prevents the growth of many weed seedlings, giving crop plants a head start.

As vegetable plants become larger and require more room, they can be thinned to maintain the canopy and plant health. Note that excessively close spacing reduces yields and increases insect and disease pressure.

Vinegar acetic acid , salts of fatty acids, the soap-based herbicide ammonium nonanoate, lemongrass oil, eugenol oil clove oil , cinnamon oil, and corn gluten are examples of chemical organic weed managment. Enhancing habitat attracts and sustains beneficial organisms in the garden.

Pest problems in the garden and landscape may indicate less than optimal growing conditions or an ecological imbalance.

However, some familiar pathogens, such as tomato early blight Figure 17—19 , that spread by insects, irrigation, or garden tools, may always be a threat in North Carolina. For example, most home gardeners do not keep the extensive records that commercial organic growers must maintain.

Here are some other differences between certified commercial organic growers and home organic gardeners:. In summary, home organic gardeners are not certified and so are not required to adhere to the NOP guidelines.

Many gardeners fall somewhere on the spectrum between conventional gardening and organic gardening. Take note of the insect pests you have struggled with in the past and concentrate on techniques to manage those. Be aware of recent climatic conditions. For example, Colorado potato beetles may be more numerous after a mild winter Figure 17— Unusually wet springs favor slugs Figure 17—22 , and dry summers favor spider mites.

The integration of cultural, biological, physical, and chemical management methods help prevent many problems from becoming serious enough to affect plants or yields.

Cultural management. Emphasize plant health. That is the basis for cultural management, which relies on inexpensive measures to prevent infestations.

Other cultural management strategies include managing soil fertility, cultivating and hand-pulling to manage weeds, and mulching to reduce pests. Biological management. Blend natural defenses into your management plan.

One example is parasitic wasps, which seek host insects for larval development Figure 17— It is possible to enhance the habitat for beneficial insects so they do much of the pest management for you.

Learn more about the beneficial insects you want to attract, the plants they prefer, and their life-cycle needs as they emerge and scout for prey. Be aware that microbial sprays also negatively affect some beneficial insects.

Physical management. Copper strips Figure 17—30 , sticky traps Figure 17—31 , wrapping fruit in cloth or paper bags Figure 17—32 , wrapping stems in fabric or foil Figure 17—33 , covering fruit in kaolin clay Figure 17—34 , and pheromone traps Figure 17—35 are other types of physical barriers.

Pheromone traps are not effective at significantly reducing larval populations but may be helpful in monitoring movements of adult insects. Place pheromone traps far away from the garden to avoid luring pests into the garden. Chemical management.

All pesticides are chemical whether they are categorized as botanical, inorganic, microbial, or petroleum-based. Chemical controls can be integrated into a management plan if garden pests are out of balance and overwhelming other management options.

In addition, OMRI lists a select few synthetic pesticide products derived from fatty acids of potassium salts, such as insecticidal soap, and petroleum-based horticultural and dormant oils, used to smother scale and other soft-bodied insects.

Horticultural oil in combination with bicarbonate salts, such as baking soda, may also be used to prevent powdery mildew on crops such as cucurbits.

Organic pesticides are not necessarily safer than synthetic insecticides, either to the user or the environment. For instance, products containing rotenone or pyrethrins are extremely toxic to fish.

Insecticidal soaps are phytotoxic to some crops, and many organic pesticides are harmful to some beneficial insects. All pesticides, natural or synthetic, are toxins designed to kill pests, and should be treated as poisons.

Read the label carefully and use the product only as directed. The Organic Materials Review Institute OMRI is a nonprofit organization that provides independent reviews of products based on organic standards.

It provides the results for organic certifiers, growers, manufacturers, and suppliers. If the products pass the review, they are OMRI Listed ®.

OMRI also provides technical support and training for professionals. Occasionally cultural practices are not enough, especially with fungal diseases, and a preventive chemical is necessary. Sulfur, copper sulfate, and lime-sulfur are OMRI allowed for the following fungal diseases: rusts, black spot on roses, and powdery mildew.

Bordeaux mixture is not allowed by OMRI because it contains hydrated lime, in addition to copper sulfate. One tablespoon of baking soda plus 1 tablespoon of summer horticultural oil mixed with a gallon of water prevents the following fungal diseases: black spot, powdery mildew, botrytis, alternaria leaf spot, and many others.

The oil acts as a sticker-spreader, or surfactant , and can be replaced by insecticidal soap. Mixing the ingredients in higher concentration than recommended may result in leaf scorch.

Spray as a preventive every three to five days for best results. Neem oil prevents fungal infections such as powdery mildew on grapes and cucurbits and black spot on roses, as well as being a miticide and insecticide that kills aphids, white flies, and eggs of other insect pests.

Neem does not persist on foliage. Water and sunlight break it down after hours; therefore, it must be reapplied frequently. Bacillus subtilis, a biofungicide, contains beneficial organisms that attack and control foliar diseases. It suppresses many different diseases on roses, vegetables, fruits, flowering plants, trees, and shrubs.

Growing the same crop in the same location year after year not only decreases yields. It sets a gardener up for weed, insect, and disease problems. By establishing a three-year or four-year rotation sequence and diversifying the crop and the crop family , gardeners can avoid many problems with soil fertility, weeds, insects, and diseases.

Rotate crops by the type of food that is produced such as fruit, root, stem, or leaves. For example, a gardener may choose to rotate a garden bed for four years beginning with tomato fruit , followed by beets root , followed by celery stem , followed by spinach leaf.

Planting cucumbers followed by cantaloupes and then corn would not be a good option because cantaloupes and cucumbers are both in the cucurbit family, and they are also fruit crops. Tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, and potatoes are all in the nightshade family.

Rotating beans, or legumes, through a plot naturally adds nitrogen to the soil through nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the legume roots. Keeping a plot fallow for a year can break an insect or disease cycle. Sowing a cover crop is one way to add nutrients to the soil.

If cucumber beetles have been a problem in the past year, select another crop family to plant in that spot and plant cucumbers as far away from the original plot as possible. This prevents the adult beetles that overwinter nearby from spreading to the new crop of cucumbers.

Pulling weeds by hand is hard work, but it is something that needs to be done. It is best to look at the positives of this job. You will be outside and getting some great exercise during the process. To reduce the amount of weeds in your garden you can apply mulch around your plants.

Use organic mulch that rots into the soil or landscape fabric. Straw is another option, but it will not last long. Wood chips work, but are expensive. Some people simply use lawn clippings, but because grass is high in nitrogen clippings should only be used for plants that need this nutrient such as lettuce or squash.

If your plants are being bothered by pests, there could be some underlying issues. The first thing that you need to do is make sure your plants are getting enough nutrients, moisture, and light. Remember, having a diverse garden will prevent pests. Limiting the amount of a single type of plant offered to the enemies and boosting biodiversity, pests should not be as big of a problem.

It is a good idea to foster natural predators to your garden. Toads, lizards, frogs, bats, and birds. Some insects can be your greatest allies for your garden as well. Lady bugs are especially good to have around. Leave a small amount of water out in order to attract these friendly predators.

Growing dill and sweet alyssum or other small blossom plants can help attract predatory insects as well. It may be a bit surprising, but overall homeowners use more pesticides in their yards and gardens than farmers do per acre according to data from the EPA.

It is important to know that there are some organic alternatives that are safer for your food and for the environment. Find out the problems that you are having and then look for organic alternatives.

One organic weapon is bacillus thuringiensis. This is a natural occurring bacteria that will disrupt the digestion of caterpillars as well as other pests that are eating your plants. Horticultural oils, garlic, insecticidal soaps, and hot pepper sprays all work as well. The best part about organic gardening is harvesting the food that you have labored over.

During harvest season you will want to check your garden on a daily basis. If you have herbs you will want to pick them fresh as you use them. If you plan to dry them or freeze them, pick them before they flower as this is when they have the most flavor.

You should gather herbs during the middle of the morning, after the dew of the day has dried. Basil should be harvested in the late afternoon because it will last longer after spending some time in the sunshine. You should not wash herbs before use as this can leach the flavor.

When harvesting your leafy greens make sure that you pick sporadically from the crop. Take a little from each of your plants. If you grow broccoli wait until the central head gets as big as it is going to and then cut it off above the leaf nodes.

Generally speaking you should cut your produce using scissors or a sharp knife instead of ripping it off with your hands as this can cause damage to the plant tissues. If you find that you have too much produce, you can always freeze most vegetables or store some of it in a root cellar.

You can also learn how to can. Once harvest is over it is time to clean up your garden bed. If there are sick plants make sure that you pull up the entire plant. Make sure that you rake underneath the plants as diseased leaves can create problems for long periods of time.

All infected material should be buried or burned. Expired or otherwise healthy plants can typically be left through the winter.

This will provide food for birds and other wildlife and the plant cover can keep your soil from eroding. Annuals should be chopped off and not yanked out so that you leave the soil intact, which prevents weeds from gaining traction.

Organic gardening can be a fun activity with great results. When you start an organic garden you are on your way to helping to feed your family with fruits and vegetables that are free of pesticides and other harmful chemicals. Getting an organic garden started will take some work on your part.

The most important thing to do is to make sure that your soil is ready. If you live in an area with poor soil quality, consider creating raised garden beds to use. These beds can then be filled with high quality organic soil to grow your vegetables in.

You can also purchase grow bags and other types of containers to use to create a small organic garden to begin. These containers are great for people who want to grow their own food, but may not have a lot of room available.

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Pre-Digested Means Fast Acting Traditional organic fertilizers are simply blends of organic nutrients. When applied to soil, the plants rely on soil microbes to break down those nutrients to a simple form that the plants can eventually absorb. This digestion process usually takes anywhere from weeks in soil, which can make growing organically quite a challenge.

AgroThrive is the only organic fertilizer that has already gone through this digestion process before going into the soil, which is why users can see results in less than a week! Learn More. Environmentally Friendly Industrial food waste has been a burden for every sector involved: concentrated animal feeding operations, food processors, local waste collectors, and above all — our environment.

Traditional disposal methods all have their own environmental risks as highlighted in this video. The Progressive Digestion Process PDP is an environmentally responsible technology that bridges the gap between industrial food waste and nutritious organic fertilizers in just 21 days.

PDP harnesses the natural microbial and enzymatic digestion of organic inputs to break down raw materials while creating biological heat, eliminating harmful pathogens in the process. This digestion is achieved without adding any outside inoculum or external heat to kill pathogens.

PDP is the most energy-efficient technology available today that can handle every part of the animal and convert it into something beneficial for our planet. This process is done in a fully solar-powered facility in the heart of Salinas Valley, California. This is a confirmation to the consumers that these products have been scrutinized, inspected, and are vetted annually for compliance with NOP organic rule.

Farmer Trusted In , our inspiration was to develop an environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers by harnessing the power of natural digestion of organic wastes.

We have since become trusted by many of the largest USDA-certified organic farms across the nation. These certified organic farmers have depended on our products for over a decade to provide our local grocery markets with the safest, tasty organic produce on a regular basis. At AgroThrive we believe that food safety starts with fertilizer.

The fertilizer we use inevitably comes into contact with the food that we eat, which is why it is critical that growers use a fertilizer that is completely pathogen-free and safe for home use.

AgroThrive, Inc. is the only organic bio-fertilizer manufacturer that uses HACCP, a food safety technology reserved for production of food for human consumption.

Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply has the best selection for organic gardeners and farmers: Organic Seeds, Fruit Trees, Garlic, Fertilizers, Cover Crops Missing When you garden organically you work with nature to produce plants that are healthy and safe to eat. Everything you can grow and/or eat organic cuts down on

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Organic gardening samples - Don't underestimate the work involved in organic gardening. Once you decide your goals, develop a planting and harvest guide to fit your commitment. For example Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply has the best selection for organic gardeners and farmers: Organic Seeds, Fruit Trees, Garlic, Fertilizers, Cover Crops Missing When you garden organically you work with nature to produce plants that are healthy and safe to eat. Everything you can grow and/or eat organic cuts down on

As you may have guessed we live in a remote rural area. Over the years especially the last 50 years chemical farming replaced organic farming, but before that it was pretty much the only way to farm. When you garden organically you work with nature to produce plants that are healthy and safe to eat.

Organic gives you a much better shot at good health and long life. If you are into chemical gardening and want to change — take a small step in that direction. The longest journey starts with one small step. Set your priorities and your goal. Take at least one small step towards it.

Join me here at Tending My Garden for help and encouragement in the form of stories, tips, anecdotes, experiences and explanations acquired over my 40 years of organic gardening. A warning: Peer pressure can cause some to waiver, especially if they are not convinced in their own minds that organic gardening is best.

Although I am committed to gardening organically and have been for 40 years, I still feel the dread when a visitor shows up who is under the impression that gardens should be perfect and flawless at all times. Visitors to my garden and most especially Miracle Gro advocates whose tomatoes were planted at the same time as mine are always amazed and I think delighted that their plants are twice the size of mine after one month of growth.

Before the season is over, the tables are reversed. My plants get huge and from what they tell me, I get a lot more production for a longer period of time than they do.

I know from experience that most of the time organically grown vegetables grow slowly. If you are buying starter plants make sure to choose plants that are raised without pesticides or chemical fertilizers.

It is a good idea to purchase stocky seedlings that have few or no blooms and roots that are not overcrowded. There are some things that are best grown from seeds such as annual poppies, sunflowers, coriander, dill, squash, sweet peas, morning glories, and cucumbers.

Plants that will be harvested such as cutting flowers or vegetables should be grouped tightly in a bed that you will not walk on. A raised bed will work well for these. Grouping these plants tightly together will reduce weeding and also wastes less water.

In addition, it helps you target nutrients and compost. Having ample space between rows will help promote air circulation. Proper air circulation is important for repelling fungal attacks. Remember, seedlings will not stay small and you want to prevent overshadowing.

Make sure that you thin your crops out based on the nursery suggestions. It is typically best to water your garden in the morning. The reason for this is because mornings are often cooler and there is less wind.

This reduces the amount of water that is lost to evaporation. If you water your garden in the evening the plants will stay damp overnight and this makes them more likely to be damaged from bacterial diseases and fungal diseases.

When watering your plants you will want to water the roots and not the greenery. Drip and soak systems work well.

You can also just carefully water the base of each plant by hand. It is typically recommended that you provide infrequent, but substantial watering for plants that are established.

This amounts to about an inch of water a week, including rain. Watering once or twice a week will encourage deeper rooting, which promotes plants that are stronger.

Collecting rainwater to use on your plants is the best. No matter where you live, weeds are going to grow in your garden. Pulling weeds by hand is hard work, but it is something that needs to be done. It is best to look at the positives of this job.

You will be outside and getting some great exercise during the process. To reduce the amount of weeds in your garden you can apply mulch around your plants. Use organic mulch that rots into the soil or landscape fabric.

Straw is another option, but it will not last long. Wood chips work, but are expensive. Some people simply use lawn clippings, but because grass is high in nitrogen clippings should only be used for plants that need this nutrient such as lettuce or squash.

If your plants are being bothered by pests, there could be some underlying issues. The first thing that you need to do is make sure your plants are getting enough nutrients, moisture, and light.

Remember, having a diverse garden will prevent pests. Limiting the amount of a single type of plant offered to the enemies and boosting biodiversity, pests should not be as big of a problem.

It is a good idea to foster natural predators to your garden. Toads, lizards, frogs, bats, and birds. Some insects can be your greatest allies for your garden as well. Lady bugs are especially good to have around. Leave a small amount of water out in order to attract these friendly predators.

Growing dill and sweet alyssum or other small blossom plants can help attract predatory insects as well. It may be a bit surprising, but overall homeowners use more pesticides in their yards and gardens than farmers do per acre according to data from the EPA.

It is important to know that there are some organic alternatives that are safer for your food and for the environment. Find out the problems that you are having and then look for organic alternatives. One organic weapon is bacillus thuringiensis.

This is a natural occurring bacteria that will disrupt the digestion of caterpillars as well as other pests that are eating your plants.

Horticultural oils, garlic, insecticidal soaps, and hot pepper sprays all work as well. The best part about organic gardening is harvesting the food that you have labored over.

During harvest season you will want to check your garden on a daily basis. If you have herbs you will want to pick them fresh as you use them. If you plan to dry them or freeze them, pick them before they flower as this is when they have the most flavor. You should gather herbs during the middle of the morning, after the dew of the day has dried.

Basil should be harvested in the late afternoon because it will last longer after spending some time in the sunshine. You should not wash herbs before use as this can leach the flavor. When harvesting your leafy greens make sure that you pick sporadically from the crop. Take a little from each of your plants.

If you grow broccoli wait until the central head gets as big as it is going to and then cut it off above the leaf nodes. Generally speaking you should cut your produce using scissors or a sharp knife instead of ripping it off with your hands as this can cause damage to the plant tissues.

If you find that you have too much produce, you can always freeze most vegetables or store some of it in a root cellar. You can also learn how to can. Once harvest is over it is time to clean up your garden bed. If there are sick plants make sure that you pull up the entire plant.

Make sure that you rake underneath the plants as diseased leaves can create problems for long periods of time. All infected material should be buried or burned. Expired or otherwise healthy plants can typically be left through the winter.

This will provide food for birds and other wildlife and the plant cover can keep your soil from eroding. Annuals should be chopped off and not yanked out so that you leave the soil intact, which prevents weeds from gaining traction.

Organic gardening can be a fun activity with great results. When you start an organic garden you are on your way to helping to feed your family with fruits and vegetables that are free of pesticides and other harmful chemicals. Getting an organic garden started will take some work on your part.

The most important thing to do is to make sure that your soil is ready. If you live in an area with poor soil quality, consider creating raised garden beds to use. These beds can then be filled with high quality organic soil to grow your vegetables in.

You can also purchase grow bags and other types of containers to use to create a small organic garden to begin.

These containers are great for people who want to grow their own food, but may not have a lot of room available. My Account. Search Clear. Shop Expand menu Hide menu Shop. Bundles Expand menu Hide menu Bundles. Landscape Fabric with Heavy Duty Staples Bundle. Raised Bed Planter Expand menu Hide menu Raised Bed Planter.

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This organic gardening chapter from the Extension Gardener Handbook provides systematic approach to fertilization, soil, and pest management Buy subscriptions and issues of Good Organic Gardening - FREE Sample Issue. Available on Desktop PC or Mac and iOS or Android mobile devices When you garden organically you work with nature to produce plants that are healthy and safe to eat. Everything you can grow and/or eat organic cuts down on: Organic gardening samples

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Organic Gardening can be an extremely fun experience, but there are some specific steps you'll want to take before getting started. In this article, organic gardening expert Logan Hailey walks through what you can expect. Written by Logan Hailey Last updated: October 5, 28 min read.

Tiptoeing out to my organic garden on a cool summer evening , I cut an emerald zucchini from the squash patch, pull handfuls of crisp sugar snap peas from their vines, snip some rosemary and thyme from the herb gardens, and pull some kale for a delicious homegrown Italian meal.

In a world of uncertainty, climate change, and food insecurity, gardening remains perennially relevant. There is something incredibly special about growing humble seeds into fruitful meals straight from the Earth. It is a reconnection to our primal roots.

Nature is notoriously forgiving and gardens are a place to experiment and have fun. A lot of people these days overcomplicate organic gardening. There is plenty of time to learn, grow, and perfect your gardening skills. You probably want to start a garden to live healthier and more naturally, therefore using toxic chemicals is off the table.

Organic gardening is all about growing plants in tune with Nature. Nature does not use harmful man-made chemicals to kill pests or weeds, nor does she disturb the soil or plant monocultures the way industrial farms do. Organic gardening takes an ecological approach to cultivating food. Most importantly, eating organically ensures that you are feeding your family the most wholesome food possible and maintaining a healthy environment in your yard and garden for years to come.

There are a number of different tools that are important for every organic gardener to have. An organic garden is an investment for many years to come, so you want to make sure your hard work is not in vain.

First things first, take a look at your climate. What are the coldest and hottest temperatures? Plant hardiness simply refers to how cold-tolerant a crop is. For example, garlic can survive deep freezes , broccoli tolerates mild frosts, and tomatoes typically die at the first freeze unless they are protected.

Use the USDA Hardiness Zone map , simply enter your zip code and use the colored key to determine your zone. If you are on the edge of a growing zone e.

between 5a and 5b , use the colder one just to be safe 5a. When you start shopping for plants and seeds, most labels will include a hardiness zone. A microclimate is a small, super localized area that has unique weather patterns from the general surrounding climate.

The concrete jungle of downtown Manhattan is going to be significantly hotter and drier than the tree-filled grassy areas of Central Park. Similarly, different areas of your yard will have different temperatures, levels of sunlight, soil types, and drainage.

To determine the best place to put your garden, start by observing the microclimates of your yard. Ask yourself:. Ideally, your garden should be in the flattest area possible , with good drainage no pooling of rainwater , maximum sunlight or only slight shade , and close to the house or tool shed for easy access.

A bed is simply where vegetables, herbs, or perennial plants are grown. It is helpful to divide garden beds from other areas of the yard to keep grass from encroaching in. Clearly marked beds also help keep kids and pets out of the garden. In terms of shape, curvy artsy garden beds are super fun, but they can be harder to maintain and irrigate.

This is the reason farmers grow in straight lines. However, if you prefer a more wild or native garden, by all means, build some crazy beds! Raised beds are typically the best option for small-scale urban and suburban gardeners.

It is also easier to maintain grass or wood chip landscaping around raised beds. Also, if you have a gopher or rodent issue, it is easy to install hardware cloth at the bottom of a raised bed to keep them from digging underneath your vegetables.

Raised beds are large planting boxes that can be made to fit your style and budget. The most common materials are untreated lumber double-check it is not pressure-treated or painted , large logs, or even galvanized cattle troughs. For elderly people or those with back pain, you can design raised beds that are feet tall for less bending over , but keep in mind this will require a lot more soil or compost to fill the boxes themselves.

In-ground beds are more like a production farm or market garden. The best way to begin in-ground beds is with the tarping method described below. Be sure to leave a pathway between each bed that gives you enough room to stand, kneel, haul a wheelbarrow, and set a harvest tote.

When your beds are marked, we recommend adding a layer of compost on top of each bed to raise them up above the ground. You can also use the lasagna method below. If your soil is already of good quality, you can simply broadfork, rake, and then prepare for planting! You may be familiar with standard landscaping beds that surround your home.

This style of garden bed is perfect for perennials, which are woody and herbaceous plants that stay alive year after year. The opposite of perennials is annuals, which have to be replanted every year from starts or seeds.

Most vegetables are annuals. Fruit trees, ground berries , many herbs, and ornamental landscape plants are typically perennial. To establish landscaping beds, begin by tarping or mulching existing vegetation.

The mulch can be compost, topsoil, woodchips, or another weed-smothering material. Next, line your beds with bricks or rocks.

You will need to measure out the recommended spacing between perennials and take into account how big they will be at full size. Double-digging the planting holes for perennials like certain berries or apple trees will help them take off and yield more quickly.

There are many different methods for successfully breaking ground in your garden. Some are more involved than others, and those that take a little more effort, generally can end up producing a better harvest , so keep that in mind. You can use tarps weighed down with rocks or sandbags to establish new garden areas with minimal effort.

Simply measure and place the tarp over the existing lawn or ground. It will smother weeds and grass in weeks, depending on the climate and plants.

It can be left longer for better results. Check under your tarp to see that the grass has fully died back. Then, you can begin building your raised wooden beds or layering organic matter as lasagna-style in-ground beds described below. I recommend mulching your pathways with wood chips, leaves, or straw to keep the grass from growing back.

Next, choose a material to smother the grass. This could be cardboard no tape , newspaper, leaves, or straw not hay. This can also be done at the bottom of your planting boxes if you are building raised beds.

If you are starting a garden on really compacted clay, a weedy vacant lot, or a lawn, lasagna-style gardening will help you get started right away and build lush soil for years to come.

You use these materials to build a lasagna bed of thriving soil that will break down over time. Things that will take the longest to break down twigs, sticks, woody material go at the very bottom, and then upper layers move toward materials that break down more quickly straw, leaves, grass clippings, aged manure.

The top should be inches of high-quality compost or topsoil. One more note regarding the establishment of garden beds: it is best to avoid rototilling.

A rototiller or tiller is a machine that grinds up soil using metal tines. This may seem like a great way to establish a garden at first, but it destroys soil structure very quickly and ultimately results in more concrete-like compaction especially in clay soil.

Compaction creates anaerobic without oxygen conditions that favor disease-causing organisms in plants and make it harder for plant roots to reach downward. Rototillers also destroy important soil biology that helps keep gardens healthy and thriving.

Lastly, tilling will make weed issues much worse by spreading around perennial weeds and annual weed seeds. Building a garden is a time full of excitement and auspiciousness. But before you start throwing seeds and transplants into your new beds, it helps to plan out what you want to grow and the needs of each type of plant.

Whether you're planning to use all-purpose fertilizer from the garden center or you're going to grow your plants completely chemical-free, your soil needs organic matter before you ever put in a seed or seedling. The most important part of planning a garden is getting the soil ready for planting.

Without the right nutrients and conditioners in the ground, your plants will never thrive. What is organic material? Basically, anything that occurs in nature can be considered organic material, although not all of it is useful as a gardening addition.

If you read organic gardening information , you'll find that almost every plant and animal by-product can be used in one form or another, and most of them can be added to composting.

Using organic material for gardening helps sandy soil to retain moisture while it allows clay soil to drain more efficiently. It breaks down to feed organisms, such as earthworms , as well as feeding the plants around it. The types of organic matter needed in your soil will depend on the conditions you're working with.

Compost is considered by many organic gardeners to be the most perfect of soil additives. It's known in gardening circles as black gold because of the many purposes it can fulfill.

And not using synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. This way of gardening does good instead of harm to you and the environment. You feed the soil and it feeds your plants and gives health to you and your family. Some years back a neighbor of ours visited while my husband and I were working in our garden.

He loved gardening and his was a traditional bare ground garden on which he used chemical fertilizers and insecticides. Jim had been gardening with chemicals all his life and had never even heard of organic gardening. As you may have guessed we live in a remote rural area.

Over the years especially the last 50 years chemical farming replaced organic farming, but before that it was pretty much the only way to farm. When you garden organically you work with nature to produce plants that are healthy and safe to eat.

Organic gives you a much better shot at good health and long life.