For years, gardening has been a favorite pastime for many people and is growing more popular. In fact, over three-quarters of American households currently have gardens. Some might only grow plants they like to look at or enjoy caring for, but many are growing their food.
There are many benefits to growing and planting an organic garden. In addition to simply having a garden, many want to take it a bit further. Many want to ensure that their garden is planted and grown organically. Thankfully, growing an organic garden can be simple if you know what you’re doing.
With that in mind, this blog post will look at how to plant your very first organic garden and some tips to help you get by. Get out your shovels and rakes and get ready to plant!
Prepare the Soil Successfully
A successful organic garden starts with the soil. It should be organic, high quality, and have an appropriate amount of drainage. If you want to go the extra mile, you can have your soil tested. This is often as easy as sending out a sample or picking up a home testing kit. These tests often examine nutrients in the soil and pH levels. Healthy soil with the correct pH and nutrients helps grow healthier and more robust plants. Be sure to explore all possible soil treatments as some can hurt beneficial contents of the soil and potentially enter the plant or food you are growing. Mixing in compost, manure, leaves, and even clippings from when you mow the lawn can help soil be as productive and high quality as possible.
Pick the Right Plants
While you can technically plant and try to grow anything, it is generally better to plant indigenous plant material. It offers a better chance of growing in your area. Some things are better suited for milder-temperature areas, while others will thrive in the heat. The right plant in the right environment will certainly grow healthier and more successful.
The internet is a wealth of knowledge on which plants will often grow best in your area. So don’t hesitate to do your research before planting anything. Of course, if you are purchasing your plants as seedlings, be sure they weren’t raised using any chemicals. However, if possible, try to grow your plants from seeds, as many popular plants will grow the best when grown from seeds.
Know how to Protect Plants Without Chemicals or Pesticides
One of the most important things about gardening is being able to support your plants as they grow. They were watering it, and also protecting it from the likes of bugs, pests, weeds, and other nuisances. Unfortunately, this isn’t always easy. As a result, many people will turn to pesticides or other chemicals.
However, if you want to have an organic garden. As a result, you need a different method to protect your plants and allow them to grow successfully. This could be allowing natural predators to live in your garden or growing some plants that don’t attract many pests. Also, it could be worthwhile to research any natural bacteria that can fight off pests.
In conclusion, we hope that this article has been able to help you learn a little more about how to plant your first organic garden. Of course, these aren’t the only things to keep in mind while organically gardening, but they are some of the most important to get you started.
Ashley Lipman wrote this guest blog post.
