If you prefer the enhanced flavor and general peace of mind you earn through buying organic foods in the market, you might consider organic gardening rather than just the more standard gardening. For a backyard project, organic gardening does not require any paperwork or registration – that exists only at the commercial level. For your small gardening project, growing food products organically is as simple as learning the value of compost and avoiding the use of toxic chemicals such as fertilizer and insecticides.
Prepare Your Soil
Organic standards require that the soil you use for your garden be free of chemical residues and pesticides for a certain number of years, three is typical. If you’ve been gardening before using chemicals, you might need to start your garden in containers to give the soil time to clear out the chemicals. Speak to an organic gardening expert about how to help create new soil.
If your soil is clean, you might still need to add compost and other natural materials to create the ideal balance your chosen plants need to thrive. You’ll want to check the acidity levels of the soil and research the ideal conditions necessary before planting anything. Be careful of yard fertilizers as well as they might overspray and enter your gardening area.
Select Your Plants
When gardening organically, the positioning of your plants is important. For example, you’ll want to plant herbs that repel bugs and other parasites close to plants that would naturally attract them, such as tomatoes. You’ll want to include as many natural insecticides as possible to avoid the need for chemicals down the road.
As you are selecting your plants, be sure that the varieties you chose have been raised organically up to this point. This means you’ll want to buy from a knowledgeable and reputable organic nursery. Organic growing conditions include being free of pesticides, fungicides and fertilizers that contain chemicals as well as avoiding genetically modified plant varieties.
Planting and Growing
As you plant your new items, follow the ideal growing scenarios for each plant including the drainage of the soil, the availability of sunlight and spacing. Fertilize your plants with compost that contains only organic material and water properly.
As your garden continues to grow and thrive, always be aware of what you are including. Spraying for bugs or adding most kinds of fertilizer is against the codes of organic gardening, and you’ll want to be sure that any compost you use has been properly decomposed using only air – no chemicals.
Enjoying the Fruits of Your Labor
When it’s time to harvest your produce, you will not only be able to enjoy the taste of truly fresh vegetables, but you’ll also know that the food you’re putting into your mouth is free of the harsh chemicals and toxins that are present in many of the commercially grown products found in the market.
