Traditionally, vegetable gardens have taken the form of those all too familiar plots of rows that are found in large, open fields or nestled away in the backyard. While this layout was once considered quite popular; times have changed. Large plots often require more attention, and some people don’t have the option of growing vegetables in large plots anymore.
Many of us actually require something taking up less space and less time. There is another alternative, which can be just as effective with an additional bonus - a layout designed for small areas. The layout, which seems to fit the busy person’s lifestyle as well as one that can accommodate those who have limited room for a traditional garden, comes in the form of small beds. These not only save on space but can be helpful to the plants themselves by allowing them to grow closer together, which essentially provides the soil with shade and results in more moisture for the crops and less weed growth for the gardener to deal with.
Beds should not be more than 1 to 1.2 metres in width since your main objective is easy maintenance. Smaller beds allow you to maneuver around the area while watering, weeding, or harvesting. Dividing beds with pathways also will lesson the chances of harming crops by preventing yourself and others from trampling the plants and surrounding soil. Placing plastic or some type of garden sheeting over the paths will also keep weeds out, and adding some type of mulching material or gravels will improve the appearance. You should mulch around crops as well to help them retain moisture.
In arranging the garden bed, plant the early crops in such a way that will allow for other crops to follow once these varieties have faded out. For instance, rather than wait for these earlier crops to die out completely, go ahead and plant the later crops in between beforehand. This technique will help keep the garden alive with continual growth while adding to its appearance.
Keep the taller plants, such as corn, towards the back of your beds or consider placing them in the center with other crops working downward in size. Instead of flat beds, you might consider raised ones that are edged with wood or stone.
You do not necessarily have to limit yourself to beds for a unique vegetable garden. Browse through books, catalogs, or public gardens for new and interesting ideas. Family, friends, and neighbors are also a great source of ideas, and many of them are more than willing to share their successful secrets with others.
There is also the option of growing your vegetable garden strictly in containers. These can be arranged in a number of ways including hanging them from baskets on your porch. Containers can also be moved around with others added as needed. In fact, you could incorporate some containers into your beds for additional interest.
If you happen to live in an area close to wildlife, you might consider surrounding your garden by a fence to keep pesky animals out. A fence also can serve as a trellis for beans, peas, tomatoes, and vine crops that often require support. For just an extra touch of beauty, incorporate flowers and herbs around the outer edges of the garden as well.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
What Does it Mean to be an Organic Gardener?
- An organic gardener will use natural mineral and organic fertilizers to build up the soil. Instead of chemicals, you will learn how to use natural fertilizers like composted manure (don’t worry, it’s not stinky!), bone meal, fish meal, gypsum, eggshells, and of course, the best of all (and free!), your own compost.
- There are a lot of natural and even home-made alternatives to chemical pesticides and herbicides. Chemicals are often broad-spectrum, meaning they will kill good and bad insects. As an organic gardener, you will know how to treat specific pests and diseases without harming your plants, butterflies and birds.
- You will be thinking long-term. Instead of dumping flowers into a flower garden every spring, you will be aware of soil conditioning, what plants work best together, and how you will help regenerate your garden next year. You will be thinking of your garden as a whole, not as individual beds.
- For your lawn, weaning the grass off chemicals and replacing it with natural fertilizers and mulch will take a few seasons. You will know about optimal soil acidity and how to cultivate good fungi in the soil. In the long run you will be caring for it less, because your lawn will be thicker and stronger, due to the healthy soil underneath. This will mean weeds will have a harder time taking root, and brown patches will disappear (because you will know why brown patches exist and how to combat them.)
- Weed control without herbicides means knowing how to prevent them from growing in the first place ands discouraging their growth.
- Organic gardeners have a certain philosophy. Instead of taking from the soil, you will be conscious of giving and restoring it, as part of nature’s life cycle.
Organic Gardener Philosophy - Reap the rewards of going organic
The benefits of organic gardening are clear, perhaps so simple and straightforward that gardeners used to complicated explanations must dial down their expectations and adopt an attitude closer to those of previous generations.
The earth matters. What we do in our own backyards matters. The food that we put in our bodies matters. And it matters especially to the smallest residents of the planet, birds and bees and other critters whose numbers are dwindling; children, whose bodies take in more pesticides relative to body weight than adults. The American National Academy of Sciences estimates that 50 percent of lifetime pesticide exposure occurs during the first five years of life.
Gardeners don't have to contribute to the grim statistics. They can learn to follow the advice of J.I. Rodale, paraphrased by Texas organic leader Malcolm Beck when he writes that "poor soil can only produce poor plants, and poor plants produce poor animals and human bodies."
The opposite is also true. By building up soil content with composting, cover crops and the addition of minerals, plants become less prone to pests and diseases, and the people who eat those plants (or work alongside them) are healthier for it, as are streams, creeks and rivers.
The education of people about gardening expectations, that using native or well-adapted plants reduces the need for water or that reducing lawn space has similar benefits, helps take the desire to be part of a solution to environmental concerns and makes it something tangible and do-able.
Easy to use products and feedback for fledgling gardeners with problems are other keys to organic gardening.
But the real essence of it is an approach that honors and supports something you can't quantify; the delight in raising fruits and vegetables you know are the best for your family, the pride in producing a healthy green lawn without chemicals or undue water use, the satisfaction of turning fallow land into something that draws butterflies, earthworms and other signs of a healthy, vividly functioning environment.
The earth matters. What we do in our own backyards matters. The food that we put in our bodies matters. And it matters especially to the smallest residents of the planet, birds and bees and other critters whose numbers are dwindling; children, whose bodies take in more pesticides relative to body weight than adults. The American National Academy of Sciences estimates that 50 percent of lifetime pesticide exposure occurs during the first five years of life.
Gardeners don't have to contribute to the grim statistics. They can learn to follow the advice of J.I. Rodale, paraphrased by Texas organic leader Malcolm Beck when he writes that "poor soil can only produce poor plants, and poor plants produce poor animals and human bodies."
The opposite is also true. By building up soil content with composting, cover crops and the addition of minerals, plants become less prone to pests and diseases, and the people who eat those plants (or work alongside them) are healthier for it, as are streams, creeks and rivers.
The education of people about gardening expectations, that using native or well-adapted plants reduces the need for water or that reducing lawn space has similar benefits, helps take the desire to be part of a solution to environmental concerns and makes it something tangible and do-able.
Easy to use products and feedback for fledgling gardeners with problems are other keys to organic gardening.
But the real essence of it is an approach that honors and supports something you can't quantify; the delight in raising fruits and vegetables you know are the best for your family, the pride in producing a healthy green lawn without chemicals or undue water use, the satisfaction of turning fallow land into something that draws butterflies, earthworms and other signs of a healthy, vividly functioning environment.
Companion Planting
Organic gardening uses cultivating practices that benefit the plants, thus avoiding artificial commercial remedies. One of those practices is companion planting.
Organic gardening uses cultivating practices that benefit the plants, thus avoiding artificial commercial remedies. One of those practices is companion planting. Native Americans were familiar with this practice. Over time, they discovered that corn, beans and squash, planted together, produced better crops for all three. The bean vines climb up the corn stalks, which give them elevated support along with an extra bit of shade. As we discovered later, beans add nitrogen to the soil. The squash vines ambled around the base of the plantings, providing ground level shade with their large leaves, conserving moisture. These big leaves on thick vines also discourage ravaging animals like raccoons. This winning combination was named the Three Sisters. If you can find some fast growing corn seed, it's not too late to start your own Three Sisters garden. Check the label on the seed packet. In 65 days, we'll be in the middle of September, in good time for a harvest.
Other boon companions in your veg bed include carrots and tomatoes. Parsley's aroma helps to repel carrot flies. Radishes and pole beans do well together. The radishes you plant now will be HOT, but some people like them that way. You can wait until late in the summer when temperatures start going back down to plant for a fall harvest. At that time, you can sow radish with spinach and more beans. If sown with lettuce, radishes will be more tender.
Garlic cloves planted in a circle around roses reduce blackspot, mildew, aphids and Japanese beetles. It can winter over if it is mulched well in the fall. Another benefit of garlic is that it can reduce red spider in tomatoes. It is not a good neighbor for peas or beans.
Planting a diverse variety in any garden will reduce problems, sometimes simply by separating like plants (as opposed to the common "monoculture" method). Pests and diseases will spread much more slowly, if at all, when the next meal is not placed so conveniently nearby. There are some plants that do not benefit each other, so that needs to be taken into account.
Two excellent books on this subject written in the 1970's by the late Louise Riotte are "Roses Love Garlic" and "Carrots Love Tomatoes". Both have been revised and updated, and I have found them to be very useful as well as fun to read. Companion planting makes a dramatic difference in the health of your plants, reducing stress for plants and people, too.
Organic gardening uses cultivating practices that benefit the plants, thus avoiding artificial commercial remedies. One of those practices is companion planting. Native Americans were familiar with this practice. Over time, they discovered that corn, beans and squash, planted together, produced better crops for all three. The bean vines climb up the corn stalks, which give them elevated support along with an extra bit of shade. As we discovered later, beans add nitrogen to the soil. The squash vines ambled around the base of the plantings, providing ground level shade with their large leaves, conserving moisture. These big leaves on thick vines also discourage ravaging animals like raccoons. This winning combination was named the Three Sisters. If you can find some fast growing corn seed, it's not too late to start your own Three Sisters garden. Check the label on the seed packet. In 65 days, we'll be in the middle of September, in good time for a harvest.
Other boon companions in your veg bed include carrots and tomatoes. Parsley's aroma helps to repel carrot flies. Radishes and pole beans do well together. The radishes you plant now will be HOT, but some people like them that way. You can wait until late in the summer when temperatures start going back down to plant for a fall harvest. At that time, you can sow radish with spinach and more beans. If sown with lettuce, radishes will be more tender.
Garlic cloves planted in a circle around roses reduce blackspot, mildew, aphids and Japanese beetles. It can winter over if it is mulched well in the fall. Another benefit of garlic is that it can reduce red spider in tomatoes. It is not a good neighbor for peas or beans.
Planting a diverse variety in any garden will reduce problems, sometimes simply by separating like plants (as opposed to the common "monoculture" method). Pests and diseases will spread much more slowly, if at all, when the next meal is not placed so conveniently nearby. There are some plants that do not benefit each other, so that needs to be taken into account.
Two excellent books on this subject written in the 1970's by the late Louise Riotte are "Roses Love Garlic" and "Carrots Love Tomatoes". Both have been revised and updated, and I have found them to be very useful as well as fun to read. Companion planting makes a dramatic difference in the health of your plants, reducing stress for plants and people, too.
Organic gardening techniques and philosophy
Biointensive, sustainable and permaculture explained
Choose plants that thrive in your climate.
Organic gardening often is thought of as simply gardening without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers -- but it is so much more than that.
Organic gardeners strive to replenish resources the garden consumes by adding organic matter to give the soil the nutrition it needs.
And they work in harmony with nature by selecting plants best suited for the site. As a welcome bonus, plants that thrive in your existing climate and conditions won't require as much time and attention.
Under the umbrella of organic gardening, you'll find several types of natural and eco-friendly gardening. Each type offers slightly different techniques and philosophies. Here's a look at three of them.
Permaculture gardening is an integrated approach; plants, animals, land, people, buildings and nature work together to support a multidimensional ecosystem. In other words, you're working with, not against, nature.
To be a permaculture gardener, repurpose an area of your lawn to create a food-producing garden that includes fruit trees and vegetables. Or just grow meadow mixes and other flowers that are beneficial to wildlife.
Sustainable gardening contributes to, rather than takes away from, the planet. This type of gardening conserves water, doesn't use chemicals and doesn't add to pollution. And because it is sustainable (which really means it sustains itself), this gardening technique requires less work and input from the gardener, which also makes it more efficient and less time-consuming. As with all of these forms of organic gardening, the foods grown via sustainable gardening -- whether they're vegetables, herbs or fruits are much healthier to eat. So it can have a positive effect on our health as well as the environment.
To be a sustainable gardener, maintain soil health by using increasing amounts of compost. Use only natural fertilizers such as seaweed and kelp, which encourage plants to grow at a natural rate and help prevent pest problems. Choose hardy plants that are well-adjusted to your climate and will feed birds and attract other types of wildlife.
Biointensive gardening, which is rooted in ancient Chinese agricultural practices, combines Eastern and Western techniques to yield a large amount of crops in a small space while requiring little annual maintenance and no use of power tools.
To be a biointensive gardener, grow cover crops -- which include alfalfa, oats, clover and other grains during the time that your garden is not planted with vegetables. Cover crops feed and replenish the soil, which means you will have higher yields. Also, consider planting your crops in closely packed hexagonal (six-sided) patterns. This style of planting maximizes the amount of vegetation in your garden, eliminates weeds (which require extra work to remove) and decreases the amount of water needed.
Choose plants that thrive in your climate.
Organic gardening often is thought of as simply gardening without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers -- but it is so much more than that.
Organic gardeners strive to replenish resources the garden consumes by adding organic matter to give the soil the nutrition it needs.
And they work in harmony with nature by selecting plants best suited for the site. As a welcome bonus, plants that thrive in your existing climate and conditions won't require as much time and attention.
Under the umbrella of organic gardening, you'll find several types of natural and eco-friendly gardening. Each type offers slightly different techniques and philosophies. Here's a look at three of them.
Permaculture gardening is an integrated approach; plants, animals, land, people, buildings and nature work together to support a multidimensional ecosystem. In other words, you're working with, not against, nature.
To be a permaculture gardener, repurpose an area of your lawn to create a food-producing garden that includes fruit trees and vegetables. Or just grow meadow mixes and other flowers that are beneficial to wildlife.
Sustainable gardening contributes to, rather than takes away from, the planet. This type of gardening conserves water, doesn't use chemicals and doesn't add to pollution. And because it is sustainable (which really means it sustains itself), this gardening technique requires less work and input from the gardener, which also makes it more efficient and less time-consuming. As with all of these forms of organic gardening, the foods grown via sustainable gardening -- whether they're vegetables, herbs or fruits are much healthier to eat. So it can have a positive effect on our health as well as the environment.
To be a sustainable gardener, maintain soil health by using increasing amounts of compost. Use only natural fertilizers such as seaweed and kelp, which encourage plants to grow at a natural rate and help prevent pest problems. Choose hardy plants that are well-adjusted to your climate and will feed birds and attract other types of wildlife.
Biointensive gardening, which is rooted in ancient Chinese agricultural practices, combines Eastern and Western techniques to yield a large amount of crops in a small space while requiring little annual maintenance and no use of power tools.
To be a biointensive gardener, grow cover crops -- which include alfalfa, oats, clover and other grains during the time that your garden is not planted with vegetables. Cover crops feed and replenish the soil, which means you will have higher yields. Also, consider planting your crops in closely packed hexagonal (six-sided) patterns. This style of planting maximizes the amount of vegetation in your garden, eliminates weeds (which require extra work to remove) and decreases the amount of water needed.
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