| To be successful at organic vegetable gardening you | | | | right balance, start working it into the soil at least two |
| must draw up detailed plans. The soil is your first | | | | weeks before you plan on planting. |
| consideration; how to make it rich and fertile, and how | | | | The pH in the soil must be right for healthy plants. Test |
| to prepare it so harmful pests won't attack your | | | | your soil, if it has a ph of 0 it is very acidic, while a 14 is |
| vegetable garden. The two ways that organic | | | | extreme alkaline. Of course a seven indicates neutral |
| vegetable gardening differs from conventional gardens | | | | soil. To raise the pH of the soil inexpensively use |
| is the usage of fertilizer and how to keep pests under | | | | ground limestone. An additional benefit of the limestone |
| control. Phosphorous, nitrogen and potassium are the | | | | is that it contains magnesium something that most soils |
| three components essential to your organic garden. | | | | lack. If, on the other hand, you have extreme alkaline |
| For lush, green foliage you must have nitrogen. For | | | | soil use sulpher to bring the pH down. |
| strong roots and stems phosphorus is needed. And for | | | | Pest control in organic vegetable gardening is also |
| the important protection from disease and brief cold | | | | different that conventional gardening. In many |
| snaps, potassium is a must. Let's call them the big | | | | conventional beds gardeners wish to eradicate all |
| three. The big three are available in commercial | | | | pests with pesticides. Many in organic gardening only |
| fertilizers however they are synthetic. In organic | | | | wish to keep the pest population down so to have a |
| vegetable gardening the big three are added in a much | | | | balance in the garden. Obviously, whenever possible, |
| different way. | | | | plant pest resistant vegetables. In order for harmful |
| The best way of enriching your soil is by compost. Dig | | | | organisms to grow, they need bright sunlight so keep |
| some pits in your back yard to start your compost | | | | thick mulch around the plants to deny the organisms |
| from kitchen refuse. Use things like pine needles, corn | | | | that needed sunlight and to help hold moisture into the |
| stalks, leaves, carrot tops, fruits or vegetables that | | | | ground. If you find you have a heavy infestation here is |
| have spoiled, manure, egg shells and coffee grinds. | | | | a natural pest control formula: |
| Some organic gardeners use weeds in their compost | | | | In a jar, combine 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid and 1 |
| but I do not recommend this for obvious reasons. As | | | | cup vegetable oil. Shake vigorously. In an empty spray |
| the compost materials decompose they release | | | | bottle, combine 2 teaspoons of this mixture and 1 cup |
| bacteria and fungi into the soil that you are preparing. | | | | water. Use at ten-day intervals (or more often if |
| The bacteria and fungi convert nutrients like nitrogen to | | | | needed) to rid plants of whiteflies, mites, aphids, scales, |
| ammonia and nitrates that will be usable for your | | | | and other pests. |
| vegetables. Use substances such as seaweed, potash | | | | Follow this tips and you are on your way to raising a |
| salts, tobacco stems and wood ash to help make | | | | healthy and plentiful organic vegetable garden. |
| potassium in your compost. By making your own | | | | Happy Gardening! |
| compost, you are controlling the mixture and balance | | | | Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved. |
| to achieve the right combination for your organic | | | | This article may be distributed freely on your website |
| vegetable garden. | | | | and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, |
| To be absolutely sure that your compost has | | | | copyright notice, links and the resource box are |
| completely broken down and is now offering up the | | | | unchanged. |