Growing an Organic Garden

Growing an organic garden is a big goal for a lot of gardeners because it allows them to get organic produce in their own backyards. Some people are hesitant to go organic because they think it will be too difficult to control weeds and pests. However, the truth is that organic gardening isn't any more difficult than conventional gardening.

Planning an Organic Garden

The first step to growing an organic garden is thinking about the kind of crops you want to grow. You'll probably want to grow those things you find yourself buying most often.

Unless you don’t like them, tomatoes should without a doubt be on your list of things to grow. There is nothing more delicious than a home-grown organic tomato still warm from the sun when you eat it.

Other vegetables you might want to consider include:

• Lettuce and other greens
• Squash or zucchini
• Bell or hot peppers
• Cucumbers
• Onions
• Green beans
• Carrots
• Herbs

All of the things on the above list are pretty easy to grow, and growing onions may even keep pests out of your garden.

While planning your garden, it's a great idea to think about companion planting or planting marigolds and nasturtiums. Scented marigolds drive off pests and kill nematodes. Nasturtiums are perfect companions for cucumber and squash, since they repel insects that favor those plants. They're also great for getting rid of aphids.

If you're new to gardening, organic or otherwise, start with a relatively small garden or even a container garden to make sure you're up for the work and will actually use the produce you grow.

Growing an Organic Garden from the Ground Up

Technically, an organic garden needs to start with organic plants or seeds to be truly considered organic, but for a home garden some gardeners are willing to start with conventionally grown plants and seeds that are raised organically in the ground.

It's up to you what level of organic gardening you want to take part in; just know that it may be more difficult to find organically grown plants and seeds where you live. You might have to plan far enough ahead to place an online order so you will have your plants in time to plant them.

One of the keys to organic gardening is having really healthy soil. Get your soil tested and visit your favorite organic gardening center or the extension office again to learn what organic soil amendments are best for your situation. You can buy a kit or take a soil sample to your local Cooperative Extension Service office.

Adding organic compost is always a good idea. It makes the soil more airy and nutrient-filled, both of which are important for the health of your plants.

Once your soil has been properly prepared, planting an organic garden happens the same way you'd plant a conventional garden. Space plants or seeds the distance recommended on the package or plant stake and be sure to give the garden a good watering when you're done.

Maintaining an Organic Garden

The part of growing an organic garden that worries most people is having to deal with weeds and pests. If you buy good plants and seeds and have taken care to have the healthiest soil possible, neither of these will be a big issue.

You can always install a drip hose to water the plants and cover the exposed soil with mulch to keep the weeds down. This will also ensure that all the water is going to the plants' roots rather than splashing up on the plants, which is less wasteful and better for the plants.

Pest control can be an issue regardless of the quality of your soil. While companion plantings help, attracting beneficial insects like ladybugs (which you can even buy online if you want), which eat aphids. Ladybugs love plants like coreopsis, geraniums, cilantro and white cosmos.

Insecticidal soap and other organic pest killers can also help control your pest problems. In many cases you can simply remove the offending bugs (like grubs and slugs) when you see them and relocate them to another part of the yard (or another yard).

Organic gardening has many benefits, including letting you get your hands dirty and eat really delicious, fresh food while not harming the planet with pesticides.

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