Articles | Growing Plants in an Organic Garden

Spring is an interesting time for gardeners. It is when they roam around their bare garden plot, plan what to plant and look forward to seeing them grow from seedlings to fruits. For gardeners, spring equates plenty of hard work. Organic gardening is literally one of the most fruitful ways to exercise and here are some tips on how to start on one.

Plan Your Crops

In order to make sure that you are getting the best from your garden, plant the seeds and seedlings at the appropriate time in your location. To determine precisely the correct planting times, use a soil thermometer. This is an important organic gardening tip. If the average soil temperature for 5 consecutive days is 40(F, it's time to plant cold season crops such as carrots, spinach and beets. You can plant warm season crops like asparagus, tomatoes and corn when the soil temperature reaches 50(F. And when soil temperature increases to 60(F, start planting hot weather crops like beans, squash, melons and peppers.

Preparing Your Garden Soil

When you know it's already safe to plant, start preparing the garden soil. Start digging only when the soil moisture conditions are ideal since the ground has to be sufficiently moist but never too soggy. Get ready for your garden bed by working the soil as deeply as you can without destroying its natural structure. Once you have done this, put lots of organic compost into your soil. Wrap up your soil preparation by raking over it a number of times in order to get rid of large clumps and throw away stones you will find. This will help encourage the growth of seeds since your soil is now free of rocks, wood and clods of soil.

Seed Planting

Follow the seed package directions regarding distance between seeds and depth. In planting small seeds, prepare a trench of your desired depth using your finger. Take some seeds and scatter them on the trench. Usually, seeds are planted closer than the final spacing since you can always thin them out in case they grow thick. After placing the seeds, spread a thin layer of soil or mulch to protect them. Water the soil carefully instantly after planting.

Planting Transplants

First of all, determine the suitable depth and distance between plants. Dig a hole which is about 1.5 times as wide and as deep as the container. Get rid of rocks and other matter to make room for the roots to grow. If you choose, you can also add some compost or organic fertilizer into the hole, one of the major techniques in organic gardening. Then, remove the transplant and inspect its root ball. If some of its roots are attached at the bottom, lightly loosen them. Avoid disturbing the roots as much as possible. When planting into the hole, be sure that the plant's roots are even with the surface of the soil, neither sunken nor protruding. Fill the hole then tamp using your hands. Be sure to water the plants after planting.