Home-Grown Organic Gardens: Tips For Getting It Right
It can seem daunting to begin with an organic herbal or vegetable garden for the first time, but there are few better ways to be good to the planet while also being good to yourself and enjoying yourself.
If you already eat some organic herbs and vegetables, you will surely appreciate the better taste, the health benefits and also the lack of harmful residual substances. Imagine how great it would be if you had an organic garden that would furnish you wit a plentiful supply!
Unless you have no space to spare at all, one of the first steps to an organic garden is to set up a composting box, which will allow you to fertilize your herbs and vegetables, while also getting rid of kitchen waste. Even if you live in a flat you can compost, as it’s an odorless procedure if done right.
Besides eliminating the need for fertilizer, compost retains moisture and therefore allows you to use less water on your organic garden. You can put all kind of kitchen refuse and garden cuttings on your compost heap, just make sure to avoid big quantities of meat or fish, and don’t add human or pet dung! These are too acidic and also the wrong kind of bacteria.
The second step will be to get organic seeds so that you can start to grow vegetable and herbs in your organic garden. Don’t take any seeds, the vast majority are industrially and not organically grown.
There probably are specialized shops that sell organic seeds for gardening in your area, but you can also buy them through an online shop and have them mailed to you. Online is probably better for most users, as you get the convenience of choosing from home from a bigger catalogue, and as for all mailed products you can return organic gardening supplies if they are not up to your expectation.
Start seeds inside the house or in a glasshouse rather than putting them directly outdoors. Seeds should be put in small containers that contain organic soil. Make sure they have plenty of light and water, but don’t overwater them as they can die easily – the soil just needs to be moist.
Once there are two little leaflets on your seedlings, put them into bigger containers. The best are pots made of plant material, as you can plant these straight into soil and let them biodegrade. If you are planting organic herbs, you can put them outside or in window pots next to your kitchen.
Now that you have compost and grown seedlings, you will also need good organic soil. This earth is much better as it acts as a natural pest controller, and will let your plants grow more vigorous. If you had a on-organic garden or flower bed where your organic garden is going to be planted, we recommend removing and substituting a layer of old soil altogether.
Once you have some good compost, spread it over your soil. The layer should be about two inches thick. If done correctly, the compost alone will contribute all the necessary nutrients and minerals that your organic vegetable and herbal garden needs to grow and flourish.
