Organic gardening is the act of planting flowers, shrubs, fruits and vegetables without the use of synthetic, man-made fertilizers or chemically-laden pesticides. Garden guides will also tell you that what you do in home vegetable gardening and flower gardening is just as important as what you don’t do.
Gardening organically has evolved to be a sort of philosophical approach to planting. Organic gardeners look at the bigger picture, how humans are at one with nature, and how the use of natural elements is ideal for replenishing ecosystems.
Whatever the garden consumes, typically gets replaced. A rich gardening experience can be cultivated through organic gardening.
Advocates for growing food organically argue that this method is better for several main reasons. First, gardening organically reduces your exposure to pesticides, which have been linked to everything from skin rashes, eye irritations and neurotoxicity to cancer, birth defects and hormone disruption.
Secondly, organic food contains a higher concentration of nutrients like chromium, selenium, calcium, boron, lithium, magnesium, vitamin C, carotene and vitamin B. Thirdly, organic gardeners work with manual vegetable garden supplies and tools, so they avoid gasoline-powered machines that leave emissions.
At the same time, the organic gardener is getting a great workout in! Lastly, this method for growing plants prevents chemicals and contaminants from leaching into the soil and down to our water table, so this style of gardening is much better for the planet overall.
Composting is an essential part of organic gardening because it ensures that your soil will be healthy and fruitful. You can add compost, aged animal manure, green manure (like cover crops), mulches, peat moss and kitchen scraps.
Be cautious about adding high-carbon material like straw, leaves, wood chips and sawdust because microorganisms will consume a lot of nitrogen to digest these materials, which could deplete your soil.
The best way to increase your organic matter is to add organic compost bought from the store and made in your own kitchen.
Pest control will be another concern for your garden. Believe it or not, marigolds are some of the best pest controls with organic gardening. Marigolds keep away aphids, earworms, leaf hoppers, Mexican bean leaf beetles, rabbits, squash bugs, thrips and tomato heartworms.
Chives planted near apples, roses and tomatoes can reduce the risk of apple scab and aphid infestation. Other natural vegetable gardening pest deterrents include basil, green beans, nasturtium, tomato, wormwood, anise, borage, sage, thyme, radish, garlic, onion, potato, turnip, oleander, hyssop, rosemary, lavender, pennyroyal, mint, tansy, coriander, cilantro, horseradish, geranium, butterfly sage, larkspur, cloves, petunia and parsley.
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Topics: Growing Organic