I have garden fever. A few nice days and a trip to the grocery store confirmed I am not alone. It is getting to be that time of year.
My husband has expanded our gardens to about 800 square feet. 11 years ago I had breast cancer and my oncologist recommended eating organic foods only and gardening organically. We took his advise to heart. From May through October we feast on fruits and vegetables from our garden. Some years we are still eating squashes, potatoes and onions through December. Our freezer is full of blueberries, applesauce, tomato sauce, leek or onion quiches, roasted eggplant, beets and carrots, carrot muffins and apple pie. The production of the produce at the time of harvest can seem overwhelming but the rewards later on are worth the efforts.
So here are my tips on how you can have your very own organic garden:
1. Organic soil.
Don’t be fooled or seduced by anything but 100% Organic soil.
2. No chemicals.
Yes that will mean more weeding when plants are small!
3. Organic Seeds.
Again it is buyer beware. Unfortunately organic seed packets are usually not 10 for $1.00 or starter plants priced at $1.00 each. Tomatoes and peppers, lettuce and melons are grown easier and yield sooner from starter plants.
4. Plan where you plant
Plant where the plants will get plenty of sun and a readily available water source.
5. Sometimes there is crop failure
I am thankful every year I am not a farmer dependent on my garden yield for income. There is always the Farmer’s market!
Here is a list of vegetables and fruits that are “dirty” if you don’t buy Organic in the grocery store that you can have totally organic grown at home:
Celery
Sweet Bell Peppers
Strawberries
Spinach
Lettuce
Cucumbers
Potatoes
Green Beans
Leafy Greens
Blueberries
If you want to container garden, invest in some wheeled platforms for your pots. As the season advances so does the sun’s heat that you will want to move to or away from on your deck or patio. The pots can be heavy!
Happy Gardening. Do you have any additional gardening tips?