Comments on: Organic Gardening – The Essentials Of Going Organic! http://www.smarterorg.com/organic-gardening-the-essentials-of-going-organic.gardening_tips The Smarter Organic Gardening Blog Sun, 05 Sep 2010 23:53:18 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Lilian B http://www.smarterorg.com/organic-gardening-the-essentials-of-going-organic.gardening_tips/comment-page-1#comment-153 Lilian B Thu, 27 Mar 2008 07:33:02 +0000 http://www.smarterorg.com/organic-gardening-the-essentials-of-going-organic.gardening_tips#comment-153 In organic gardening, soil quality decides vegetable quality. That's why you need good quality compost to keep the soil productive for organic vegetable gardening. Compost can be made from leaves, dead flowers, vegetable scraps, fruit rinds, grass clippings and manure. The ideal organic soil has a dark color, sweet smell and is full of earthworms. Some soil may need more natural additives such as bonemeal, rock phosphates or greensand. A simple soil test will tell you the pH balance and which nutrients you need to use. In organic gardening, soil quality decides vegetable quality. That's why you need good quality compost to keep the soil productive for organic vegetable gardening.

Compost can be made from leaves, dead flowers, vegetable scraps, fruit rinds, grass clippings and manure. The ideal organic soil has a dark color, sweet smell and is full of earthworms. Some soil may need more natural additives such as bonemeal, rock phosphates or greensand. A simple soil test will tell you the pH balance and which nutrients you need to use.

]]> By: merloutre77 http://www.smarterorg.com/organic-gardening-the-essentials-of-going-organic.gardening_tips/comment-page-1#comment-152 merloutre77 Thu, 27 Mar 2008 04:27:40 +0000 http://www.smarterorg.com/organic-gardening-the-essentials-of-going-organic.gardening_tips#comment-152 Square Foot Gardening. http://www.squarefootgardening.com/ Square Foot Gardening.

http://www.squarefootgardening.com/

]]> By: todieisgain_121 http://www.smarterorg.com/organic-gardening-the-essentials-of-going-organic.gardening_tips/comment-page-1#comment-154 todieisgain_121 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:01:47 +0000 http://www.smarterorg.com/organic-gardening-the-essentials-of-going-organic.gardening_tips#comment-154 I have been making my living growing produce organically for the past 14 years. For 8 years i was certified organic. I assume you don't care to get certified, you just want to grow pure food. http://www.idigmygarden.com/forums/ is a great forum to learn the ropes. Organic gardening also has a really good forum and the magazine is an excellent resource http://www.organicgardening.com It will take many years to get you soil in shape and learn the techniques for successful organic growing so don't expect a great garden for a few years. Start small, no more than a 10' x 10' (3m x 3m) garden the first year or you will get overwhelmed in august when the weather is hot, the insects are out and the weeds are growing high. Mulch everything with straw (not hay as hay tends to have a lot of weed seeds) and mulch well-at least 6" thick. Straw mulch will keep weeds down, moisture in the soil and blight from happening on plants like tomatoes. It also adds organic matter to your soil. Have a good hoe, rake, wheelbarrow, trowel and garden fork as your basic garden tools. Start a compost pile ASAP, compost will be the main thing you will feed to the soil/plants. Compost is the best thing to build healthy soil and organics is all about building healthy soil as any organic grower worth their salt knows soil is alive and healthy soils means healthy pest free plants. Good luck I have been making my living growing produce organically for the past 14 years. For 8 years i was certified organic. I assume you don't care to get certified, you just want to grow pure food.
http://www.idigmygarden.com/forums/ is a great forum to learn the ropes. Organic gardening also has a really good forum and the magazine is an excellent resource http://www.organicgardening.com

It will take many years to get you soil in shape and learn the techniques for successful organic growing so don't expect a great garden for a few years. Start small, no more than a 10' x 10' (3m x 3m) garden the first year or you will get overwhelmed in august when the weather is hot, the insects are out and the weeds are growing high.

Mulch everything with straw (not hay as hay tends to have a lot of weed seeds) and mulch well-at least 6" thick. Straw mulch will keep weeds down, moisture in the soil and blight from happening on plants like tomatoes. It also adds organic matter to your soil.

Have a good hoe, rake, wheelbarrow, trowel and garden fork as your basic garden tools.

Start a compost pile ASAP, compost will be the main thing you will feed to the soil/plants. Compost is the best thing to build healthy soil and organics is all about building healthy soil as any organic grower worth their salt knows soil is alive and healthy soils means healthy pest free plants.

Good luck

]]> By: Lindsay Jane http://www.smarterorg.com/organic-gardening-the-essentials-of-going-organic.gardening_tips/comment-page-1#comment-157 Lindsay Jane Tue, 25 Mar 2008 05:27:24 +0000 http://www.smarterorg.com/organic-gardening-the-essentials-of-going-organic.gardening_tips#comment-157 Well, far from self sufficient now. But organic gardening is fun. We started that idea from 40 over years ago. In those days, My dad would collect all the garbage and incinerate them and use the ashes as fertilizers. Our garbage bin is always empty. After harvesting all the beans, he would chop up the vines and bury them under the ground to keep it fertile for the next crop. We used to plant corn, long beans, kale, peanuts and sweet potatoes and cucumbers. Of course we have the problem of snails and catepillars. Organic was unheard of then. He just could not spend money on fertilizers. We had a big land area surrounding our house. All used water from the house flows into a pool and we use them to water the plants. Come to think about it, it is what people have been trying to advocate these days. Going green and organic and all that. Alas, Dad passed away at 1994 at age 85. Also, would be great to be still staying at that place. Keep it up, you are fortunate to have land like that. Well, far from self sufficient now. But organic gardening is fun. We started that idea from 40 over years ago. In those days, My dad would collect all the garbage and incinerate them and use the ashes as fertilizers. Our garbage bin is always empty. After harvesting all the beans, he would chop up the vines and bury them under the ground to keep it fertile for the next crop. We used to plant corn, long beans, kale, peanuts and sweet potatoes and cucumbers. Of course we have the problem of snails and catepillars. Organic was unheard of then. He just could not spend money on fertilizers. We had a big land area surrounding our house. All used water from the house flows into a pool and we use them to water the plants. Come to think about it, it is what people have been trying to advocate these days. Going green and organic and all that. Alas, Dad passed away at 1994 at age 85. Also, would be great to be still staying at that place. Keep it up, you are fortunate to have land like that.

]]> By: Hamish121212 http://www.smarterorg.com/organic-gardening-the-essentials-of-going-organic.gardening_tips/comment-page-1#comment-146 Hamish121212 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 03:48:02 +0000 http://www.smarterorg.com/organic-gardening-the-essentials-of-going-organic.gardening_tips#comment-146 Plant sprout side down? I always thought the sprout (eye) was up. Plant sprout side down? I always thought the sprout (eye) was up.

]]> By: Asfvfan http://www.smarterorg.com/organic-gardening-the-essentials-of-going-organic.gardening_tips/comment-page-1#comment-161 Asfvfan Tue, 25 Mar 2008 02:12:58 +0000 http://www.smarterorg.com/organic-gardening-the-essentials-of-going-organic.gardening_tips#comment-161 Contact your county extension agency and ask if there are any gardening classes. Some websites http://www.rodaleinstitute.org http://www.gardenweb.com/forums/organic http://forums.farm-garden.com/index.php http://alanbishop.proboards60.com/index.cgi http://www.johnnysseeds.com Contact your county extension agency and ask if there are any gardening classes.

Some websites
http://www.rodaleinstitute.org
http://www.gardenweb.com/forums/organic
http://forums.farm-garden.com/index.php
http://alanbishop.proboards60.com/index.cgi
http://www.johnnysseeds.com

]]> By: wagaboodles http://www.smarterorg.com/organic-gardening-the-essentials-of-going-organic.gardening_tips/comment-page-1#comment-155 wagaboodles Mon, 24 Mar 2008 21:49:45 +0000 http://www.smarterorg.com/organic-gardening-the-essentials-of-going-organic.gardening_tips#comment-155 I love the book Secrets of Companion planting. I've never used any chemicals, but thats probably why I spend at least a hour a day in my gardens pulling weeds. Composting is another great thing (and I have horses!) I love the book Secrets of Companion planting. I've never used any chemicals, but thats probably why I spend at least a hour a day in my gardens pulling weeds. Composting is another great thing (and I have horses!)

]]> By: jud http://www.smarterorg.com/organic-gardening-the-essentials-of-going-organic.gardening_tips/comment-page-1#comment-159 jud Mon, 24 Mar 2008 15:18:05 +0000 http://www.smarterorg.com/organic-gardening-the-essentials-of-going-organic.gardening_tips#comment-159 Corn Gluten is a pre-emergent; meaning it wont kill any existing weeds it just keeps the new weeds from sprouting. You can apply the gluten now, but I wouldn't use it in any beds that you'll be starting seeds in. It's safe for beds that will be planted with starter size plants or existing plants. Corn Gluten is a pre-emergent; meaning it wont kill any existing weeds it just keeps the new weeds from sprouting. You can apply the gluten now, but I wouldn't use it in any beds that you'll be starting seeds in. It's safe for beds that will be planted with starter size plants or existing plants.

]]> By: Hope's_My_Girl http://www.smarterorg.com/organic-gardening-the-essentials-of-going-organic.gardening_tips/comment-page-1#comment-149 Hope's_My_Girl Mon, 24 Mar 2008 08:36:51 +0000 http://www.smarterorg.com/organic-gardening-the-essentials-of-going-organic.gardening_tips#comment-149 Pepper plants are good for unwanted insects. You can also use dish soap. Nothing fancy just regular "Joy" soap cheap soap only. But, there is a good chance you will kill the good insects too. 1st: Get a bucket, fill it with water 2and: Pour the soap in (not to much because you don't want to get rid of all the good insects) 3rd: stir it up so it can blend. (not to much suds) 4th: Let the bucket of soap sit out in the sun for at least a couple of hours. 5th: Use a sprayer and distribute it all over your plants. See the soap gets in the insects esophagus and the insect dies because it can't breath. You can use this anywhere in your yard. works GREAT for cinch bugs. Pepper plants are good for unwanted insects.

You can also use dish soap. Nothing fancy just regular "Joy" soap cheap soap only. But, there is a good chance you will kill the good insects too.

1st: Get a bucket, fill it with water

2and: Pour the soap in (not to much because you don't want to get rid of all the good insects)

3rd: stir it up so it can blend. (not to much suds)

4th: Let the bucket of soap sit out in the sun for at least a couple of hours.

5th: Use a sprayer and distribute it all over your plants.

See the soap gets in the insects esophagus and the insect dies because it can't breath.
You can use this anywhere in your yard.
works GREAT for cinch bugs.

]]> By: Rene F http://www.smarterorg.com/organic-gardening-the-essentials-of-going-organic.gardening_tips/comment-page-1#comment-150 Rene F Mon, 24 Mar 2008 08:15:50 +0000 http://www.smarterorg.com/organic-gardening-the-essentials-of-going-organic.gardening_tips#comment-150 Organic gardening is a total myth. there is no such thing. The last organic gardening on this Earth was in N.W. Europe 400yrs ago before the rich landowners forced villagers off the land with the enclosure acts. They even used their own excrement on their fields. They were doing so well they wouldn't work for the rich, so the Tories ( Republicans)stole their land from them. Organic gardening is a total myth. there is no such thing. The last organic gardening on this Earth was in N.W. Europe 400yrs ago before the rich landowners forced villagers off the land with the enclosure acts. They even used their own excrement on their fields. They were doing so well they wouldn't work for the rich, so the Tories ( Republicans)stole their land from them.

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