DIY Organic Gardening

I won't pretend gardening is easy, as it requires patience and perseverance, however it's dynamite to sit down to a meal with your friends and family that includes fresh fruits, veggies and herbs from your own backyard! With today's food prices, it makes serious sense to start digging and planting as soon as possible. Whether you rent an apartment, lack space or just don't know the first thing about gardening, after reading this post you will learn some tips and tricks that will help transform your outdoor space into a garden of your dreams!

The key to good gardening is to be creative with the space you have (no matter if you have a cement backyard or a tiny patio to work with), you can always find a place, even if it's a sunny windowsill for a planter!

The first thing to remember is to keep it REALLY simple. Choose to plant what you love to eat and make sure your seedlings are seasonally appropriate. Good soil is super important and make sure that the area in which your plants will grow has at least six hours of sunlight each day.

Herbs are always a good idea, as they add something special to any meal, not to mention herbs are really expensive to purchase fresh at the store. 

What should you plant in early summer? Here are a few suggestions: arugula, beans, basil, beets, carrots, corn, cilantro, cucumbers, melons, sage, soybeans, summer squash, chard, thyme, zucchini, lavender and rosemary.

Quality soil is the key to successful gardening. Have no fear, it's much easier than you think to create a stellar soil. I have one word to say "compost"! Whether you make your own compost or buy it, your soil will be loaded with micronutrients and enzymes for the plants to be able to grow and thrive.

Another important tip, an organic pesticide, it's a must to keep pests at bay. Here is a great recipe for an effective, non-toxic pesticide you can make at home:

Ingredients

1 onion

1 whole garlic bulb

12 inch piece of fresh ginger

1 tbsp cayenne pepper

2 cups water

2 tbsp liquid organic castile soap

Directions

1. Place the onion, garlic, ginger and cayenne pepper in a large mason jar and cover with boiling water. Leave overnight and then strain.

2. Add the onion liquid to the water and liquid soap.

3. Pour into a large sprayer bottle and spray generously over the tops and bottoms of the plants' leaves and stalks.

If you have a hard time finding a sunny spot to plant or lack space, an Earthbox may be a wise investment. These genius boxes come with everything you need to grow a box full of your favorite veggies, best part is the box comes on casters so you can move it around to follow the sunlight without straining your back. The really great thing about the Earthbox is its irrigation system. It has a patented tank with a watering tube underneath the soil. You just fill the tank through the tube every few days and that is it! You can find the Earthbox at Two Dog Organic Nursery (www.twodognursery.com)

When you plan out your garden, it is a good idea to figure out which plants make good companions for the ones you want to grow. "Companion" planting can help repel pests and enrich the soil with appropriate nutrients. Companion planting is the primary method used today for successful organic gardening. So what should you plant together? 

Here are a few examples:

Basil: tomatoes, asparagus, oregano

Bell peppers: onions, potatoes, marjoram

Carrots: lettuce, onions, tomatoes

Cucumbers: corn, beans

Lettuce: beets, cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, onions, strawberries, radishes

Parsley: asparagus, carrots, chives, onions, tomatoes

Peas: parsley, potatoes, spinach, sweet peppers, turnips

When planning your gardening, I highly recommend making a plan on paper first. Think about what you and your family eat most and make your plan according to that! 

Happy Gardening!