Infolific » Organic Gardening

Drawing a Plan for an Organic Garden

Donna Winchenbach — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:43:54 +0000

Once you have made your lists and have a good idea of your priorities, make a detailed plan of how you will carry out the work. First measure the boundaries of the garden, draw the area on a piece of paper, then transfer it to graph paper. If your house [...]

Pod and Seed Vegetables: A Guide to Growing

Donna Winchenbach — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:58:37 +0000

Aside from the pleasure in eating peas and beans and the like fresh from the pod, these leguminous plants have other benefits to the organic gardener. Their ability to "fix" nitrogen in the soil means that not only do they need little feeding, but that, if you dig the plants [...]

How to Make Good Compost

Donna Winchenbach — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:53:55 +0000

Obviously, the first requirement for good compost is something to compost. Then the heap needs air, nitrogen, lime, water, heat, and bacteria. There are a great many old wives' tales about what can and cannot be used, but the rule is very simple: anything entirely organic in origin can be [...]

Potting Mixtures

Donna Winchenbach — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 06:46:36 +0000

Trial and error is the only way to evaluate commercial organic potting mixtures. Once you have found one that suits your plants, it is best to stick to it. Or you can make your own. Making potting mixtures To make soil-less potting mixture, add 1 oz Dolomite lime to every [...]

Shrubs

Donna Winchenbach — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 14:41:05 +0000

Shrubs form the framework of any border as well as attracting birds and insects. Some plants, including the beautiful butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii), prove irresistible to butterflies. Birds, on the other hand, particularly appreciate dense, berried shrubs like the snowberry (Symphoricarpos doorenbosii). When choosing shrubs, cast your mind forward at [...]

Roses

Donna Winchenbach — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:20:52 +0000

A particularly popular shrub is the rose. There are many types of rose and classification can be confusing. Species roses are the original ancestors of modern, hybrid roses and should be grown in the same way as other shrubs. The modern, hybrid roses can be grown as bushes or standards [...]

Controlling Animals in Organic Gardens

Donna Winchenbach — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 22:02:04 +0000

The most destructive pests in gardens are the larger ones -- birds, deer, rabbits, moles, mice, and so on. There is no doubt that the most effective control is to prevent them reaching the crops by physical means. Animals Animals such as porcupines, frogs, and toads should be encouraged in [...]

Protecting Crops Against Cold

Donna Winchenbach — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 14:42:59 +0000

In temperate climates, the earliest crops have to be grown in a heated greenhouse, but many vegetables can be accelerated by at least a month by using cloches, teepees or row covers -- simple synthetic or glass covers -- outside, with no heating. To raise an early crop, use these [...]

Growing Citrus Fruit Trees

Donna Winchenbach — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 11:24:27 +0000

In temperate climates, grow citrus trees in a greenhouse, or varieties recommended for outdoor use in tubs of diameter at least 18 in, with soil-based potting compost at 45°F or more. Water well during growing season, but allow to dry out between each watering. In summer, spray foliage every morning [...]

Choosing the Right Garden Tools

Donna Winchenbach — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 06:22:33 +0000

If you are new to gardening, you might easily spend hundreds of dollars on a complete set of tools. Alternatively, by choosing the bare essentials, you can buy just what you need for relatively little money. Bear in mind, however, that it is a false economy to buy anything but [...]

Herbs: A Guide to Growing

Donna Winchenbach — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 05:35:00 +0000

he following pages explain how to grow a basic selection of herbs, but there are hundreds of different kinds with culinary and decorative attributes (such as potpourri, flower arranging, and cosmetics), so you may well want to experiment with others. Many herbs will grow from seeds and readily self-seed once [...]

Natural Pest Control

Donna Winchenbach — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 05:33:18 +0000

A natural balance in the organic garden ensures predators to feed on garden pests. A simple rule for distinguishing between "friend" and "foe" is that pests are usually slow-moving and predators faster and more agile. Attracting helpful creatures often eradicates or lessens the need for other forms of pest control. [...]

Useful Weeds for Organic Gardens

Donna Winchenbach — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 05:31:19 +0000

It is important to be able to recognize weeds that can play a constructive role in an organic garden. Do not grow weeds where they will compete with cultivated plants, but think again before digging up any of the useful weeds shown. Weeds can embellish your garden; attractive ones, like [...]

Ponds

Donna Winchenbach — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 04:46:27 +0000

The simplest way of making a pond is to buy a ready-made waterproof shell and dig a hole for it. Alternatively, dig a hole the size you want and line it with a flexible P.V.C. liner or a butyl-rubber liner (slightly more expensive, but much more durable). Dig the hole [...]

Watering

Donna Winchenbach — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 04:21:12 +0000

All plants require adequate supplies of water and there are always occasions when it is necessary to water artificially. However, simply pouring water on to the soil can, in fact, do more harm than good. First, never add water in small amounts. You must apply enough to get right down [...]

Weed Control in Organic Gardens

Donna Winchenbach — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 03:56:47 +0000

Whether starting a brand-new garden, taking over a weed-infested one, or incorporating a new area, the first stage in weed control is to make the ground as clean as possible. Dig over the whole site and remove as much as you possibly can. In an area infested with one of [...]

Greenhouses

Donna Winchenbach — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 02:42:53 +0000

A greenhouse is an asset in any organic garden as it enables you to sow and harvest crops months earlier than otherwise possible in temperate or cold areas. Many frost-tender plants can be "overwintered". You can raise a great many plants from seed, and cultivate tender plants normally grown outside [...]

Perennials

Donna Winchenbach — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:33:16 +0000

Perennials are plants with soft stems that generally die down every winter and produce new growth in spring, persisting for many years. There are many hundreds available, providing a good selection for every soil type and sun preference. Confusingly, perennials may be sold as "herbaceous perennials", "herbaceous plants", "hardy plants", [...]

Alternative Sources of Compost

Donna Winchenbach — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:18:41 +0000

Few gardens can produce enough waste organic material to be self-sufficient in compost. But a remarkable amount of good stuff that is thrown away can be "harvested" by the organic gardener. The local grocer or produce market after closing time on Saturdays is an excellent source of greenstuff. The local [...]

Grafting and Budding

Donna Winchenbach — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 23:29:07 +0000

These are two similar techniques used to put new varieties on to existing plants, particularly fruit trees, and certain ornamental plants. Grafting is generally used to change a variety of an apple or pear tree completely, or to put a pollinator on to an existing tree. With the latter, if [...]