Considering starting your own backyard organic vegetable garden? Great choice! Choosing to grow organic produces the healthiest, highest quality foods and flowers without using any harsh chemicals. Best of all, organic methods are healthier, better for the environment, and wildlife, and are less expensive because there are no chemical fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides to buy. All of this is accomplished by working with nature instead of against it. Let’s get started!
STEP ONE--Choosing the vegetables and location. The area should meet the growing conditions for the plants you wish to choose. First, do some research to find the best vegetable varieties that are well-suited to your climate. Secondly, be sure to consider environmental conditions, such as the amount of direct sunlight or shade, temperature and wind. Next, before you begin planting any vegetables, make sure you are planting in the appropriate time frame (spring, summer, fall, or winter) according to your region. Lastly, after you have decided on the varieties of vegetables that are best suited for you, decide whether you would prefer growing the vegetables from seed or using starter plants. If starting from seed, you can start the seed in a pot indoors or directly in the soil.
STEP TWO--Preparing the soil. How your plants grow depends on the quality of the dirt.
- Use Compost or Mulch: Compost is great for plants, as it is a natural fertilizer. One way to improve soil quality is to mix compost into your soil. You can either make your own, or purchase some from most garden centers or nurseries. Mulch is also a good fertilizer after it decomposes into the soil.
- Drainage: Different plants prefer different types of soil. This simple test can determine how well the soil drains. First, dig holes that are about 1 ft. high and 2 ft. wide, then fill them with water. If it takes about 1-12 minutes to drain, the soil drains very well and will dry out easily. If it takes from 12-30 minutes, it means the soil has good drainage. If it takes from 30 minutes to 4 hours, it doesn't have great drainage but will work for plants that like moist soil. If it takes even longer, then you probably won't be able to plant things until you fix the soil.
- Nutrients: You can buy a soil testing kit to find out the amount of organic matter, the amount of nutrients, and the pH level. Don't add more fertilizer than the directions tell you to. Extra fertilizer can be toxic to plants. Note that not all plants like fertilized soil; some would actually benefit from poor soil, so remember to find out the soil preferences of the plants you choose.
- PH Level: You can find out the pH level with the soil testing kit. Choose plants that grow well in the pH level of the soil. Or, you can add limestone to raise the pH, making it less acidic. Follow the directions given on the package and don't add too much. If your soil is alkaline, you can add cottonseed meal, sulfur, pine bark, compost, or pine needles to make it more acidic.
STEP THREE--Tools & Supplies:Gather your supplies and let’s get ready to plant!
Gardening Supplies:
- Organic starter plants or seeds
- Compost
- Mulch
- Gardening fork
- Small shovel
- Ruler
- Watering can (a great idea is to to collected water from a rain barrel)
STEP FOUR--Planting:Here is the fun part.
- In preparation for your starter plants/seeds, rake through the soil of your designated garden location, removing rocks, debris, weeds (weeds rob your vegetables of nutrients, moisture/water), and anything that could potentially interfere with the growth process of your garden.
- Add your compost to the existing soil and mix well (mixing 6-8 inches into the ground) with your gardening fork.
- Depending on your starter plant or seed packet's directions, follow the planting and spacing directions.
- Gently water your row of freshly planted plants/seeds.
- Adding mulch (an inch away from the planted seeds or starter plants) will help preserve soil moisture and help with smothering unwanted weeds.
Enjoy the bounty!
Article written by Wiki How, edited by Local Green Circle
by Local Green Circle, February, 2010