Organic horticulture will require some extra research and active avoidance of chemicals. Some things to consider are the natural pH balance of the soil and fighting insects the natural way. Keeping up a natural garden is very rewarding but takes some work. However, growing organic food can be difficult for those who have not done it before. Be sure you learn to be a pro by using the tips laid out below.
A great horticulture tip to use is to always select types of plants that are more likely to produce a high yield. Hybrids are usually hardier in terms of disease and weather resistance, and are designed to produce more.
Use proper soil for the best results. Depending on the type of plants you desire in your garden, your natural soil may or may not be appropriate. It is also possible to create individual areas with one specific soil type.
Take the time to remove weeds. Those nasty weeds can turn your beautiful garden into a scruffy version of its former self. White vinegar is a pesticide-free way to battle weeds. That’s right, you have safe way to get rid of weeds right there in your kitchen cabinet. Keep a solution of vinegar diluted with water on hand to spray on weeds.
Try to grow some wheat or cat grass around your cat’s favorite plants. Another option is to place offensively smelling objects on the topsoil near and around the plants you want to protect. Citrus peels or mothballs are a couple of examples.
Look for evergreen variants that produce berries. These plants will look good year-round, even during the winter, when your other plants have lost their bloom. There is quite a variety of plants that will give your garden a splash of color during winter, including the American Cranberrybush, American Holly, Common Snowberry or Winterberry.
Do some research to find out the best time for harvesting your vegetables. Each variety needs a slightly different amount of growing time to produce the most flavorful vegetable. Zucchini and baby peas, for example, have the best flavor when harvested early. Contrarily, tomatoes should be left on the vine until maximum ripeness has occurred. You should know the proper time to pick vegetables.
The flesh of vegetables gets soft in the heat of the day, making them especially vulnerable to inadvertent damage with even the gentlest picking. Twisting off vegetables causes damage to the plant; always snip them at the base of the vine.
Water infused with aspirin is great for combating plant disease. Your plants can benefit from a solution you can make by dissolving one and one-half aspirins into a couple of gallons of water. You can just spray this on them to fight disease. The spray ought to be applied approximately every three weeks.
Your seeds, once they begin sprouting, don’t need the same amount of warmth as they did before. You should move your sprouted plants farther from the heat when they are past the sprouting stage. If you used plastic wrap to insulate your seedlings, you should now remove it. Watching your plants as they grow will give you the insight on when to employ these tactics.
Top all your garden beds with several inches of organic mulch. Mulching is the perfect way to lock in moisture, nourish soil, and to keep away weeds. This will also give a nice, professional appearance to your garden all year.
Coffee Grounds
Using coffee grounds as part of your soil mixture in your garden is often advised for healthy plants. Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, an essential nutrient for plant growth. Many times, nitrogen is a limiting nutrient in soils. Adding coffee grounds or compost can add nitrogen to your soils will help your plants grow tall and healthy.
Now, you shouldn’t get your hopes up and believe that a few tips are going to turn you into an instant professional gardener. However, these tips are a great starting point if you do plan to grow organically. As you implement these tips and hone your skills, you’ll be a professional green-thumb-holder in no time.
Originally posted 2013-09-26 08:00:50.
