Planting an Organic Garden: Samuel J. Lopez

Starting

For the healthiest plants, make sure you have good growing conditions. For most vegetables, that means full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sun a day). If you have poor soil, amend it with lots of organic matter, such as compost.

Organic Vegetables

Compost Pile

Carefully choose the vegetables you wish to plant.

• Some plants, such as tomatoes, are naturally more susceptible to pest and disease compared to other plants. To reduce problems, look for disease-resistant varieties. (Disease resistance is usually mentioned in catalog listings, seed packets, and plant tags.)

Seed Packets

After planting you seeds be sure to feed them naturally.

• When you feed your plants, choose natural products. Well-rotted animal manure from plant-eating animals such as rabbits, horses, sheep, and chickens is a great source. Also look for prepackaged organic materials online or at your local garden center.

Horse Manure

Organic Garden Materials

• http://www.planetnatural.com/site/index.htm• This website provides various resources used

for organic gardening, from lady bugs to compost kits.

Plant vegetables in different spots in the garden each year. (rotate)

• If you plant the same vegetables in the same spot every year, disease can build up and be ready before your plants have much of a chance. Keep the element of surprise against your disease foes and try to plant your crops in different parts of the garden each year.

• Because many closely related plants are affected by the same diseases, avoid planting them where their relatives were the year or two before. Two of the biggest families are the tomato family which includes tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, eggplant) and the squash family squash, pumpkin, cucumber, watermelon.

Planting Seeds

Garden Maintenance

• Mulching • A layer of mulch over the soil not only helps reduce

weeds, but it creates a barrier that can prevent fungal disease spores from splashing up onto plant leaves. In most cases, a layer of mulch 1 to 2 inches thick is best.

• For an extra bonus, use a mulch made from an organic material that will decompose such as cocoa hulls or pea straw. As it breaks down, it adds organic matter to the soil for you.

Cocoa Hulls

Pea Straw

Weed your garden daily.

• Weeds not only compete with your plants for water and nutrients, but they may also attract insect pests. And many insects spread disease as they feed from one plant to the next.

Weed your Garden

Keep your clean.

• Many diseases spread rapidly in dead, fallen foliage. At least once a week you should pick dead foliage from your garden.

• Also: You can sometimes prevent disease from spreading through an entire plant just by picking off an infected leaf. Throw dead or diseased leaves in the trash, not in your compost pile. Remember they are infected.

Clean your garden.

Water your garden accordingly.

• Wet leaves, especially in the afternoon or evening hours, can attract disease. Avoid watering your plants with a sprinkler. Instead, use a water-saving soaker hose to deliver water directly to the roots, or use an old fashion water bucket.

Water plants daily.

Plant flowers around the border of your garden.

• Planting flowers around garden perimeters may deter certain insects and rodents from entering the garden. Furthermore flowers may attract good insects such as lady bugs which feed of insects aiming to harm your garden. Plus flowers add to the looks of a garden.

Plant flowers around your garden.• These are flowers suggested to plant around your garden: Bachelor's

Button • Cleome • Cosmos • Black-eyed Susan • Daisy • Marigold • Nasturtium • Purple • Salvia • Sunflower • Yarrow • Zinnia

Your garden grows, and is becoming ready to harvest.

Harvesting your garden.

• Most vegetables will be ready to be harvested during the months of August and September.

• Once you have harvested your crop, put the spent plant and other vegetable matter into your compost pile so that it can be recycled into your garden again, next spring.

If you follow these instructions this will be what a good harvest brings you.