Planting and Growing an Organic Vegetable Garden

Interested in growing organic? For many, it's the only way to
grow.

When starting an organic vegetable garden you must start from
the ground up. Compost is the key to a lush, bountiful organic
garden. If you don't already have your own compost, check with
your local municipality. Most give away leaf compost for free.
Some even deliver by the truckload to your home!

Leaf compost is very rich in organic matter; however, it still
needs a few amendments. Lime added to your compost will balance
the Ph and Gypsum added (about 5lbs. per 100 sq. ft.) will keep
the soil nice and loose, it also adds trace minerals such as
calcium which is great for the soil. Adding these will also help
plants intake the nutrients they need to thrive. Work this into
the top 4"-6" of soil.

Another important key to growing organic veggies is sunlight.
Take some time to watch the sun as it moves across your property
throughout the day. Start your garden where it will get the
maximum amount of sun and plant your rows from NE to SW. It is
also important to water your garden in the early morning between
the hours of 6 and 10 am. The will allow for good water
absorption and any water left on the leaves will evaporate
before the heat of mid-day. Watering in the middle of the day is
not recommended because the water will evaporate before it has a
chance to really soak in (or you will have to water longer to
get the same effect). The leaves of the plants may also burn as
the water on the leaves heats up. Never, ever water your garden
in the evening unless you want a tough battle with the evil
fungus! Let me explain. When you water in the evening it is
cooler and dark. The ground will absorb the water well, however,
the round will only suck up so much, and then the garden is left
with water on the leaves and puddles (even small ones) around
the stems. There is no sun to gently evaporate the excess. Water
and air can carry fungus spores naturally. The water laying on
the leaves and around the stems acts as a fertilizer to the evil
fungus and it grows literally overnight. Before you know it you
have black spots on your tomato and pepper plant and curling
leaves on your cucumbers!

Ok, once you have chosen your location, prepared the soil, and
have placed your plants in rows, use your recycled newspaper as
a weed preventer between the rows. Once the newspaper is wet, no
weed can penetrate it.
It's not very pretty, do like I do and give it a covering of
mulch. Newspaper and mulch also serve a dual purpose…they help
retain moisture around the plants. Just try to keep them away
from the stems of your plants.

Pretty simple so far, huh? There is a great misnomer about the
word ORGANIC. Many people think that organic means work. It's
just the opposite. Working with nature, and using simple
principles is always easier and more successful than working
against nature with harmful chemical based fertilizers and
control products.

Beneficial insects in your garden are a must. Lady bugs and
Preying Mantis will eat many unwanted insects. Bats are also
great insect eaters. And no, they will not get stuck in your
hair! Install a bat box up in a tree and you will have less
garden pests and mosquitoes in your yard. Bats are nocturnal so
they won't bother you at all. They are actually great fun to
watch at dusk, dancing in the moonlight.

If you do find yourself with a garden invasion of nasty little
critters, there are a few easy tricks. If you only see a few
insects, pick them off, put in a refuse bag and throw in the
trash. If you have more than a few, a solution of soapy water
generally will do the trick. Using recycled bath or dishwater
works great. It also saves precious water. If your garden is too
large to bucket the water from your sink or tub, pour some
liquid dish soap in a hose end sprayer and spray the garden. A
good soak of the plants is what you want. You can do this weekly
all the way until harvest.

As for fertilizing your veggies, there is nothing better than
Merrill's! When I find a product that works this well, I have to
spread the word. Merrill's Compost Fertilizer or Compost Tea (a
water soluble fertilizer) is an All Natural Certified Organic
Fertilizer. Your plants will love it! They will grow bigger, and
yield more veggies than any other fertilizer I've ever used.

Ok, now let me tell you how to rid your garden of the EVIL
FUNGUS. If you come across a plant (particularly tomatoes) that
is curling or wilting with no other apparent signs of disease,
(and it's been getting adequate water) pull it our and dispose
of it immediately. Throw it in the garbage… do not put it in
your compost bin!

Do not replant in that spot again this season? It could have
Fusarium Wilt or some other disease that attacks the root system
of the plant and can travel quickly from plant to plant. If you
have Black Spot or Powdery Mildew, make sure you are only
watering in the morning, and you can get an organic fungus
control at greennationgardens.com or your local garden center.

Now that the gardening season is over, when breaking down your
garden… COMPOST IT! Any newspaper and mulch can be placed in
your compost to break down naturally to be added back into your
garden next year. Plant stems unfortunately have to go into the
garbage. They are fibrous and difficult to break down. You do
not want any disease spores wintering over in your compost bin.
Make sure to test the Ph and amend your soil yearly to replace
the nutrients and trace minerals your veggies took from the
soil. After all, the organic vegetables you'll be growing the
following growing season will be looking for those very same
nutrients. They'll thank you for it with a bountiful array of
fresh organic produce, and your family will thank you for all
the wonderful goodness you have provided them with no chemicals,
and that is a wonderful thing!

HAPPY "ORGANIC" GARDENING!

About The Author: This article may be reproduced and/or
distributed. Written by Vera Pappas, Owner of Green Nation
Gardens, suppliers of unique and eco-friendly garden supplies.
Visit http://www.greennationgardens.com, Today!

Please use the HTML version of this article at:
http://www.isnare.com/html.php?aid=275596