One of the key elements in sustainable farming is maintaining a fertile soil. When farmers grow crops, nutrients are removed from the soil, thus depleting its fertility.
Peas and beans (legumes) fix nitrogen from the air into the soil so plant them with nitrogen loving cabbages, cauliflower, broccoli, or corn. The organic gardener can use this information to increase productivity in a small area and repel pests by interplanting onions and carrots together.
A cauliflower plant requires 25 grams of nitrogen while one kg of cattle dung has only five grams of nitrogen. Though it is not difficult to get five kgs of animal dung to ensure that the plant gets 25 grams of nitrogen, it causes extra costs in terms of labour time needed to prepare a pit big enough to hold five kgs of animal dung but planting in an area previously used for peas and beans should mean that there is enough nitrogen in the soil.
Organic matter improves soil while preventing soil compaction and crusting. Soils low in organic matter often crust or seal over after a heavy rain, which prevents water and oxygen infiltration to the root system of growing vegetables. If the soil dries out during their growth, radishes will become bitter and mealy. Keep radishes evenly moist throughout the growing season.
Sawdust and peat are useful to lower the pH if your soil is too alkaline. Wood ashes, oyster shell, bone meal and lime are good for raising the pH of acid soils. At the end of the growing season, rototill the paper and straw into the soil to decay. Pots tend to dry out really quickly especially in the summer, and with constant watering the nutrients are leached from the soil and will need to be replenished.
Richer taste also comes from growing vegetables in naturally enriched soils. Making more nutrients available to the plants yields vegetables with more nutrients. Root crops need well-drained, loose soil for good root development. Specific soil requirements are listed with each crop. It makes a long groove in the soil, drops the seeds into it, and the covers and firms the soil above the seed.
With your own organic vegetable garden you can finally take back control over what is going into your body and have fun doing it. Growing organic vegetables 'now' will place you way ahead of the coming organic garden revolution.
Tuesday 29 April 2008
Sunday 13 April 2008
Organic Gardening
Organic gardening
Organic gardening is composed of numerous aspects that make up a whole interconnected system. This system relies upon insects, birds, shade, sun, and all other aspects of a living and working community. Organic gardening is the oldest method of cultivation, it's good for your family, and it's less expensive to do! You will find that organic vegetable gardening may become the most rewarding hobby, or lifestyle, you have ever undertaken.
Organic gardening is gardening without the use of man-made chemical pesticides or chemical fertilizers. It is said by some of its supporters to be more in harmony with nature. Organic gardening is a less expensive way to grow fruits, vegetables and herbs in such a way that they are as close to nature as possible. It is an evolving science which is considered by its followers to be much more sustainable than gardening with chemicals. Organic gardening is great because you don't have to buy anything to do it. It's easy and everyone can do it.
Organic vegetable gardening is different from conventional gardening in two major ways. The fertility of the soil depends upon three components: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium [Nitrogen promotes leafy growth, phosphorus encourages fruiting and rooting, and potassium promotes fruiting and flowering. These are macronutrients essential to all plant life].
Organic vegetable gardening is the wave of the future and is an insurance policy for you and your family’s health. Organic vegetable gardening is a rewarding and healthy hobby. With the proper planning and supplies, your jaunt into the world of organic vegetable gardening can be all that you are dreaming it to be.
Soil that is hard or dense will be almost impossible to aerate and therefore the plants will not get enough oxygen through the root system in order to thrive and flourish. Likewise, if there is no way for the water to evenly percolate to the plants roots in your garden, some plants will make it while others will die without consistent moisture, and some will be oversaturated and get root rot. Soil is the life force of the garden. When enriched with organic matter, the soil becomes moist, fertile, and airy -- ideal for healthy plants.
Soil can be enriched by placing a layer of animal manure or compost before covering with bark chips. Soil conservation districts sprang up to advocate contour plowing and fallow areas, but the real underlying problem, one that continues to today is simply this: The chemical fertilizers are made from ammonia salts. Synthesized nitrogen is salt based, and anyone familiar with what salt build-up does to soil knows that isn't a good thing . Soil fertility is enriched by the addition green manures , minerals and humus . Minerals are obtained from a variety of sources, such as calcium from fossil or recently deceased shellfish, potassium from wood ash, nitrogen from the animal urea in manures or leguminous plants , and phosphorus from bone.
Soil moisture is maintained at optimum levels. Each species of crops can also be planted in different plots each year. Soil is the foundation for plants which is why so much of organic gardening focuses on improving soil. A sure-fire way to improve your soil is by adding lots of organic matter such as compost .
organic gardening
Organic gardening is composed of numerous aspects that make up a whole interconnected system. This system relies upon insects, birds, shade, sun, and all other aspects of a living and working community. Organic gardening is the oldest method of cultivation, it's good for your family, and it's less expensive to do! You will find that organic vegetable gardening may become the most rewarding hobby, or lifestyle, you have ever undertaken.
Organic gardening is gardening without the use of man-made chemical pesticides or chemical fertilizers. It is said by some of its supporters to be more in harmony with nature. Organic gardening is a less expensive way to grow fruits, vegetables and herbs in such a way that they are as close to nature as possible. It is an evolving science which is considered by its followers to be much more sustainable than gardening with chemicals. Organic gardening is great because you don't have to buy anything to do it. It's easy and everyone can do it.
Organic vegetable gardening is different from conventional gardening in two major ways. The fertility of the soil depends upon three components: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium [Nitrogen promotes leafy growth, phosphorus encourages fruiting and rooting, and potassium promotes fruiting and flowering. These are macronutrients essential to all plant life].
Organic vegetable gardening is the wave of the future and is an insurance policy for you and your family’s health. Organic vegetable gardening is a rewarding and healthy hobby. With the proper planning and supplies, your jaunt into the world of organic vegetable gardening can be all that you are dreaming it to be.
Soil that is hard or dense will be almost impossible to aerate and therefore the plants will not get enough oxygen through the root system in order to thrive and flourish. Likewise, if there is no way for the water to evenly percolate to the plants roots in your garden, some plants will make it while others will die without consistent moisture, and some will be oversaturated and get root rot. Soil is the life force of the garden. When enriched with organic matter, the soil becomes moist, fertile, and airy -- ideal for healthy plants.
Soil can be enriched by placing a layer of animal manure or compost before covering with bark chips. Soil conservation districts sprang up to advocate contour plowing and fallow areas, but the real underlying problem, one that continues to today is simply this: The chemical fertilizers are made from ammonia salts. Synthesized nitrogen is salt based, and anyone familiar with what salt build-up does to soil knows that isn't a good thing . Soil fertility is enriched by the addition green manures , minerals and humus . Minerals are obtained from a variety of sources, such as calcium from fossil or recently deceased shellfish, potassium from wood ash, nitrogen from the animal urea in manures or leguminous plants , and phosphorus from bone.
Soil moisture is maintained at optimum levels. Each species of crops can also be planted in different plots each year. Soil is the foundation for plants which is why so much of organic gardening focuses on improving soil. A sure-fire way to improve your soil is by adding lots of organic matter such as compost .
organic gardening
Organic Gardening Tips
Welcome to my organic gardening tips blog. Here you will learn about organic gardening and get tips on how to grow the best organic vegetables and herbs.
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