Grow organic. Fertilizer and green gardening

The use of concentrated fertilizer is probably one of the most controversial areas in organic gardening. Opinions vary. Some gardeners claim that additional fertilizer is unnecessary if the correct cultivation methods are observed. Others employ methods that appear to be identical to the chemical grower except that the products used are organic in origin. 

Organic plants need a wide and varied range of nutrients to be present in the soil for normal healthy organic growth. Chemical growers assess the nutrient needs of each plant every year and supply those needs in the form of a fertilizer that is immediately available to the plants. They simply use the soil to hold the plant nutrients. The result of using fertilizer as an alternative to organic matter is that the soil becomes an inert medium, devoid of life and the lost nutrients have to be replaced every year. The principle of green organic gardening is to feed the soil rather than the plants growing in it. If high soil-fertility levels are maintained by regular additions of organic matter, the plants can simply draw on the material as it is required. There is no danger of an overdose and a steady supply is ensured by the activity of all the various organisms in the soil.

For many crops, very acceptable yields can be obtained without the addition of fertilizers, but you have to be realistic. Fertilizers are normally required for several reasons. You may not be able to supply your soil with all the manure or compost needed to provide the necessary nutrients. You may find that your soil is grossly deficient in one or more of the essential nutrients. To correct this by adding bulky organic material can take several years; it is more realistic to add concentrated organic fertilizer as well as the organic material. Also many gardeners wish to make much higher demands on their soil than even the hardestworking colony of bacteria and fungi could provide in the time.

So, there are always occasions when fertilizers are required. What you must do is ensure that they are compatible with the requirements not only of the plants but also of the organisms in the soil. The beauty of organic gardening is that, provided you supply nature with the tools of the trade, she will do the rest.

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Home organic growing

For most people, growing chemical-free vegetables is what organic gardening is all about. As more and more news comes out about the dangers of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, more people are choosing to grow their own organic food. They are finding that homegrown vegetables are fresher and taste better than the store-bought kind.

How to plan your organic vegetable garden? You may dream of a big organic garden filled with all types of fresh and inviting vegetables.  But this takes experience and preparation. For the first-timer, small is beautiful; take time to get it right on a small scale before launching a huge project. Keep the following ideas in mind to save yourself a lot of work and frustration later in the season. Start small. Little organic plants and seeds turn into a big commitment as they grow. A 10-x-20-foot garden is plenty to grow a variety of vegetables, such as lettuce, beans, carrots, tomatoes, and peppers. If you want to grow vining crops or space hogs such as corn or pumpkins, you can expand it to 20 x 30 feet. Planting too large a space to keep well tended probably is the number-one cause of gardener frustration and burnout.

Put the garden in full sun. Organic vegetable plants need at least six hours of full sun daily to grow fast. Orient and plan your organic garden, so that tall plants such as corn and tomatoes don’t cast shade on shorter plants such as beets and cabbage. Make it convenient and inviting. Place your organic garden in a location where you’ll see it daily. Your garden is more likely to thrive when you visit it regularly.

Grow a mix of crops. Planting a variety of organic vegetables ensures that something will produce. Also diversity in the garden encourages good insects and helps reduce problems from harmful ones. Choose a well-drained spot. Organic vegetables are more prone to disease in soggy soil. Consider building raised beds.

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Green farm and water

A green farm must be aware of the resources used. The most important of them is the water. Every living thing needs water. Without water life cannot exist. That’s important for a green farm in order to grow quality organic food. Plants need water so that the vital process of photosynthesis, respiration and absorption of nutrients can occur. Farms need water to grow their plans. 

Home green farms may have flowers, vegetables or fruits. Each of them is growing organically. Being an organic gardener means being aware of the resources used in the garden and the wider implications of their use. So, organic green garden includes water. Water conservation, storage and recycling are essential organic gardening strategies. 

Organic methods of soil care and management, careful plant choice, correct timing and appropriate delivery of water help to minimize use of this valuable resource and avoid problems of drought and of overwatering in a green farm. 

Storage of water affects plants in a number of ways, depending on the type of plant and the extent of the storage. Even before plants show obvious signs of drought stress, their growth and performance may be reduced. Not only too little, but also too much water presents plants with problems. A green farm must have taken care all of these parameters, in order to have a viable organic growth.

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