The more you get into it, the more you may realize that organic horticulture can be a little on the complicated side. This is due to the different factors you must learn about when going all natural. Things like pH balance and proper compost and sunlight all take on more importance due to the lack of chemical enhancers. Growing an organic garden can be a bit difficult for a newbie. Give yourself an advantage by applying the advice from the following article.
Consider starting your plants in pots and then planting the seedlings in your garden. This insures that the plants will grow and thrive into adulthood. This method also reduces the waiting time between plantings. The seedlings are ready to go, once you remove the mature plants.
Turn the handles of your garden tools into measuring rulers. Tools with substantial handles, like rakes, hoes and large shovels are great for taking measurements. All you have to do is lay them on the floor then use a measuring tape to measure their length. Have a marker handy, and mark the distance with it. This modified ruler will serve you well as you begin working in your garden.
Use bulbs to ensure continuous flowers throughout the spring and summer. Most people have no trouble successfully growing bulbs, and their flowers will return each and every year. Different bulbs will bloom during different time periods. Therefore, if you select your bulbs correctly, you could have blooms in your garden for all of spring and summer.
Think about using evergreens in your yard that produce berries during the year. This will keep your garden colorful, even during those months when other plants are not growing. Plants which you can purchase that offer color during the winter are the Winterberry, the Common Snowberry, the American Holly, and the American Cranberrybush.
Know the perfect time to harvest the vegetables in your garden. Different vegetables and fruits have their ideal seasons and months where they flourish, survive, and are harvested at the highest quality. For example, baby peas and zucchini taste best when they are picked young. The opposite is true of tomatoes. They taste their best if you allow them to ripen on the vine as long as possible. Thus, you ought to familiarize yourself with the best times to pick the produce from your garden.
Don’t use broad-spectrum pesticidal products anywhere in your horticulture area. While broad-spectrum pesticides will kill most pests, they will also kill helpful insects. Beneficial bugs are more sensitive to these pesticides than the bugs that are detrimental to plants, so if the good bugs are eliminated, the bad pest population may grow. This will cause a cycle to start where you will need to keep increasing the amount of pesticide you are using.
Fall Colors
Garden for fall colors. However, that does not have to be the case! When it comes to vivid foliage, autumn offers the best opportunity to view it. Maple trees come in a variety of fall colors ranging from yellow to deep crimson, as do Beech trees and Dogwood. Consider hydrangea, barberry and cotoneaster when considering purchasing a shrub.
When you are gardening out in the sun, wear the proper clothing so that you do not get any type of sun damage. Wear sunscreen, wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses. Utilizing the correct sun protection makes it less likely that sunburn will occur and decreases the chance that skin cancer will develop.
You don’t want to pick vegetables during the day when it is hot, as that is when they are prone to damage due to them being softer. You should also be sure to cut them off the vine and not twist them, as twisting can hurt the plant.
Now, you shouldn’t get your hopes up and believe that a few tips are going to turn you into an instant professional gardener. However, these tips are a great starting point if you do plan to grow organically. As you implement these tips and hone your skills, you’ll be a professional green-thumb-holder in no time.
Originally posted 2013-06-26 14:29:23.