Complete guides for every information about organic gardening

Archive for April, 2009

Matching The Right Plants When Growing An Organic Garden

Sunday, April 26th, 2009

by conor mc keown
It is important to know your companion plants in an organic garden.

Organic is a fast growing trend these days,many people are growing in their own plots others like the small farmer on a couple of acres and then theres the larger scale farmer going full heartly at it having hundreds of acres.

As a gardener, you must have noticed that certain plants thrive better when grown near certain other plants. Some plants have been found to be averse to specific plants. Keeping this in mind, organic gardeners always grow their plants near to the ones they prefer.

Companion planting improves the general health of your plants and reduces stress on them. If you want to benefit from natural plant alliance read on.

Companion Plants
Tomatoes thrive better when grown near basil and parsley plants. Peppers prefer to be grown near basil plants. Basil plants retain moisture in the air near their surroundings and pepper plants benefit from this humid condition.

You can also plant lettuce amongst pepper plants.If you are planting cabbage, broccoli, or other brassicas plants, you can plant onions in between them. This would ensure that your cabbage is not infested by cabbage worms.

Similarly, planting tomatoes near cabbage will deter loopers, flea beetles, and whiteflies. Beet, beans, and dill thrive well near cabbage. Melons and pumpkins grow exceedingly well near corn. Broccoli and cucumber planted together deter striped cucumber beetle.

Leek plants deter carrot flies, so it makes sense to grow them near each other too. Some flowers are also very helpful for vegetables. Marigold can deter Mexican bean beetles, cabbage pests, and promote growth in rose plants. They attract hoverflies, which in turn kill aphids.

Marigold and chrysanthemums reduce nematodes in the soil, thus making it healthier. Mint is helpful for the growth of squash and brassicas plants. Wonder herb, tansy has been found very efficient against cabbage worms, Colorado beetles, Japanese beetles, ants, aphids, and squash bugs. Garlic planted near roses helps reduce blackspot, mildew, aphids, and Japanese beetles.

Alyssums add to the organic content of the soil. They reseed frequently and this helps to breakdown the soil.

What Not To Do, When Planting Companion Plants

Never grow plants near the ones they are averse to. Carrots, cauliflower, and potatoes should never be planted near tomatoes. Asparagus should not be planted close to onions and potatoes. Beans do not go with chives, fennel, and garlic.

Potatoes are averse to pumpkin and summer squash. Carrots hate to be grown with dill. Peas cannot stand onion, garlic, and shallots. Make your plants happy by giving them ideal companions. A happy garden will definitely put a smile on your face and a spring in your step.

It is critical to your organic garden to match the right plants, so go here to get your FREE book on the little known secrets of really effective organic gardening http://www.Organic-GardeningToday.com

Conor McKeown

Article Source: Article Junction Network

Growing Your Own Garden Requires Seeds, Water, And Lots Of Love

Sunday, April 26th, 2009

by Aydan Corkern
Every time spring rolls around and especially with our country is such bad shape, a lot of you are thinking of planting gardens. If you have never planted a garden, there are so many things that can go wrong. You will need to make sure that you have the room needed to put a garden. You will need to find out when the best time to plant the vegetables you want because if you plant too early, you might lose them to frost. If you plan on only using the garden for your family, put only the kinds of vegetables that you know you will eat. If your garden is small, then it would be a good idea to plant only a few of each variety.

If you buy your seeds in a package, follow the directions to insure the best yield. This package will tell you how far apart to plant, how deep to plant, and when to plant. You must get the ground ready for these plants ahead of time. Then you will need to find some professional gardener that can plow up and till the garden plot for you. You might have to remove a lot of rocks and also large amounts of grass. If the ground does not look healthy, you can go buy fertilizer and spread it throughout to prepare the soil You might wish to consider now what you will want to use to help keep insects away.

Let the rain water settle the fertilizer in the ground for you. If the skies are clear then you will need to water it yourself. After everything is set, you will need to wait until the ground temperature is right. When this is reached and the chance of a frost has passed,you may then start planting to your hearts content. You will then need to water this plot at least every other day unless you should have some rain in between. You never want to over water the plants as this could cause them to die as easily as not getting enough water.

Remember that there is all kinds of gardening shows on television, helpful websites on the Internet, and plenty of books available to help guide you through your first gardening experience. Just remember that gardening can be a lot of work, but the rewards are usually well worth the effort. You must keep a total of how much you spend if you want your garden to save you money. Saving your own seeds from season to season, investing in your own tiller, and using natural ways to fertilize and eliminate insects can keep more money in your pocket.

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Article Source: Article Junction Network