Many people are interested in organic horticulture but are unsure how to get started. Some people think horticulture is just too complicated and are intimidated by the many details. The following article will give you some techniques that can be used to help you start growing your own organic garden.
It is important that you give your plants the chance to gradually adjust to the change in temperature and conditions, or you risk shocking them. On the first day, put them out in sunlight for about an hour or so. Then over the next week, gradually increase the time they are in their new habitat. By the week’s end, your plants should then be ready for the big move!
You can use the wooden handles of your tools as measurement sticks. Tools with long handles, such as rakes, shovels or hoes can work as great measuring sticks. Measure the handles with a tape measure laid out in the floor. Then, with a permanent marker, you want to label distances. When you are at work in the garden, you will always have a handy measuring device on each and every tool.
Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds can be used to amend soils that are high in alkaline. Coffee grounds add acidity to the soil and are very cheap. With it, you will find that your greens and vegetables will be more vibrant and tasty!
You must protect tender, deciduous shrubs. If you have them in pots, you need to guard them from cold weather that will damage or kill them. With a sheet or blanket, you want to loosely cover the wigwam after you tie the tops of the canes together. This method works better than covering your bushes in plastic, allowing air to circulate and preventing rotting.
It is possible to use natural materials as well as other plants to help keep pests away from your garden. A good way to keep slugs away is to create a border with onions around a garden with vegetables. Marigolds would do this trick as well. Wood ash around your tree will help you keep pests away as well. These methods are environmentally-friendly and mean you do not have to resort to harsh chemicals.
Protect the soil around your vegetable plants with an inch or two of organic mulch. The soil will stay moist thanks to the mulch. An added benefit is that it also inhibits weed growth. Every gardener can appreciate pulling fewer weeds.
Use a wheelbarrow and a kneeling stool when you’re working in your garden. Spending a lot of time near the ground working is very hard on the knees, so a lightweight and portable garden stool will make gardening more comfortable. Using a wheelbarrow or wagon to transport heavy loads of dirt will help protect you from back injuries so make sure that you have one.
Learn the best harvesting time for each kind of vegetable you plant. Each type of vegetables has its own ideal time for picking for the best flavor. Peas, for instance, should be harvested rather young if you wish to obtain the best flavors and texture. The opposite is true of tomatoes. They taste their best if you allow them to ripen on the vine as long as possible. Find out what the best harvest time is for your vegetables.
Once you understand and begin utilizing the tips you have read, the thought of working on your own organic garden should not seem intimidating at all. Incorporate the knowledge you have gained here and apply it to your own garden, and soon you will have a kitchen filled with delicious meals.