Having kids gardening is an excellent way to teach them about a huge number of aspects of the world around us, as well as being a whole lot of fun. Small children can be amazed when a seed they planted suddenly produces a green shoot. Older kids can take pride in producing flowers for the home or vegetables for the table.

One of the things that kids like about gardening is that it is “for real”. They are used to doing a lot of things in fantasy play or with toys, but kids gardening are interacting with the real natural world. Whether they grow small plants in a pot at their bedroom window, or help mommy, daddy or grandparents planting flowers and vegetables outside, they are witnessing life and death happening before their eyes.

Most people want to focus on the happy aspects of kids gardening, but it is also a great way to introduce them to the concept of death in nature. Not all of their plants will thrive. From those that do, some will be weeded out. Others may be hit by pests or disease. All of this needs explaining to kids. They may be disappointed at first but understanding how nature works will help them later, if they are faced with the death of loved pets or even family members.

The best way to start kids gardening is to take one plant at a time. Favorites for little kids are plants that sprout easily, grow quickly and have brightly colored flowers or attractive leaves. Examples are primrose, pansy, geranium, lamb’s ears.

Sunflowers are great for a sunny garden, because they grow so big. You can measure their progress each week just like measuring your kid’s growth, but faster. Little kids will also recognize sunflowers easily, because they look just like the typical picture of a flower that they see in cartoons and books.

Kids also love to grow plants that they can eat. Strawberries are perfect because they can go hunt for them in the garden. Salad vegetables are good too. Anything that needs to be cooked is not so interesting for most kids, unless you want to involve them in cooking too.

Organic kids gardening is the best kind, of course. You would not want your children to be exposed to a lot of chemical pesticides or even fertilizers when they are working with you in the garden. With small children especially, they will touch the earth as well as the plants, and some of what they touch usually gets into their mouths.

This also means that you will probably want to avoid poisonous plants if you have very small children. This requires a little research because some plants are toxic where you would not expect it. For example, the plants of the nightshade family, which includes potatoes, tomatoes, bell peppers and eggplant, often have poison in the leaves even though other parts are edible.

If you do not have a garden or have no interest in gardening yourself, you still have plenty of options. As we said already, they can grow flowers or herbs in containers in the house. They can also become involved in gardening projects in the community, or when visiting friends and family members. However, it is important to keep in mind that kids gardening need to visit the garden often if they are going to understand and care about what is happening.

Using organic insecticide is an option if you have a problem with pests in your garden. You can purchase organic insecticide from many garden supply stores these days. However, it is important to buy the right product to control the pests that you have.

Organic gardening means not killing off more insects than you need to. You would not want to buy the type of commercial chemical insecticides that kill virtually every six legged creature in the garden. Some of them are useful, such as ladybugs which will feed on your aphid pests. They can be beautiful too. Remember, butterflies are insects.

For this reason, many gardeners prefer to avoid organic insecticides and use other methods for controlling pests in the garden.

For soil-based pests, the best method of control is to rotate your plants so that the plant they feed on is not in the same place year after year. Insects are easily confused, especially those that live in the soil. This is often enough to prevent them from becoming established and numerous.

However, if you are considering organic insecticide then it is probably too late for prevention. You will need to look for other methods of controlling pests. The best ways are those that target the specific pest that you are having trouble with. That way, you will not kill off beneficial and friendly insects that contribute to the natural food chain in your garden.

Many pests are repelled by garlic. For this reason, gardeners often plant garlic around their other crops. It is especially effective this way against red spider mite and the borer beetles that attack fruit trees.

You can also use garlic in sprays.  Simply crush garlic cloves into water and spray the mixture directly onto your plants. This will keep off many of the pests that like to eat vegetables and flowers.

Soap solutions are well known to be effective against aphids and other small flies that attack roses and similar flowering plants. A soap solution spray can also prevent slugs from eating your flowers.

Against slugs and snails, you can either use salt or beer. Salt solution sprayed onto plants will often keep off these pests in the same way that garlic repels other pests. You can also make traps containing beer. Place a flat container of beer into the ground so that the rim is at ground level and the slugs can easily access the beer and fall in. As far as we know, they will die happy.

This article on how to grow organic tomatoes will show you how you can have a big crop of delicious and healthy organic tomatoes on your table in the easiest way possible. The tomato is a sensitive plant and there are several traps that lie in wait for your juicy fruit, but with a little care you can expect to have results to be proud of this season.

How To Grow Organic Tomatoes: Planning And Planting

The first point to consider is where you will grow them. If you have a sunny, sheltered, well-drained part of the garden, that is great. Ideally you can train them against a fence or wall, but if that is not possible, it is simple enough to construct a trellis for them. Keep in mind that some varieties grow up to 6 feet tall.

You can also grow tomatoes in containers. This is the ideal solution if you do not have a good site in the garden or if your soil type is not ideal. Tips on how to grow organic tomatoes in containers are pretty much the same, but you have more options. You can move the containers if you wish, even bringing them indoors in cold weather. Your plants also have a greater chance of escaping some of the earth-based pests if they are in containers.

There are many varieties of tomato plant. You will find that you have a little less choice of organic varieties, but most gardeners are not put off by this. There are so many benefits to eating organic, especially for your health.

Having chosen your seeds and planted out your young plants, it is important to keep checking on them. They need frequent watering when the weather is dry, or they will not produce much fruit. The leaves should never be allowed to wilt. You can mulch under the plants to keep the moisture in the soil when the weather is dry, and remember that small, frequent waterings are best.

How To Grow Organic Tomatoes: Dealing With Pests

No article on how to grow organic tomatoes would be complete without a few words on pests. Hornworms are probably the most feared tomato pest in North America. They love plants of the nightshade family, including tomatoes, eggplant, tobacco and potato, and they will eat all parts of the plant that grow above ground.

Hornworms can easily be squished, but you need to check the underside of all leaves frequently if you are going to rely on this method of hornworm control. The best organic alternative is to invest in some braconid wasps which will prey on the hornworms while being harmless to humans.

Eelworms or nematodes are a worldwide tomato pest. They live in the soil and you may not know that you have them until you first try to grow tomatoes. You can spray with an organic fungicide to prevent them attacking future crops. Rotating the location of your plants and having marigolds growing nearby will also help to discourage eelworms from establishing themselves in your garden.

Organic anti fungal sprays can also be used against tomato blight. If you find blight among your plants, it is very important to remove affected plants as fast as possible to stop it spreading. You can often prevent blight by making sure that your plants are not too crowded, but you may still be caught out in a wet summer.

If you are still having difficulty growing organic tomatoes, you could have somebody else show and tell how they do it. Ask your neighbors and friends and find somebody who is really successful with it. They may be doing something different that you never thought about, or they may simply have some tips for you. It could make all the difference to your own success to have somebody else show you how to grow organic tomatoes their way.

When it comes to creating compost, there is no better solution than worm composting.  Worms will aide your compost pile’s decomposition rates and actually introduce more beneficial nutrients than your compost could ever create on its own.  Not only will you have healthier plants because of worm composting, but you can actually save on your fertilizer costs and give back to the earth just by feeding worms.

Worm Composting Preparations

The first and most important step is to create your worm composting bin. Though you can purchase a ready-made tub, it’s easy to create your own by simply re-using a cheap eight-gallon plastic tub that is already lying around the house.

To use a plastic tub, you will first need to drill or cut small holes (about a quarter inch diameter) in the bottom every few inches.  You will then need to place wire mesh that can be purchased at your local hardware store, to cover the bottom fully.  On top of your wire mesh you will place two to three average size bricks and top them with a drip pan.

After the overall structure has been completed, you will now need to start the compost.  Use moistened strips of newspaper and some dirt to sprinkle along the bottom of the bin.  Using leaves from your backyard, add a thin layer of dead leaves into the mix.  Ensure that your tub is at least ¾ of the way full of this preparation material.  If for some reason your layers are too moist, use more newspaper to soak up the excess moisture; you need to have just the right level of moisture in order for a healthy compost to form.  Once you have prepared the surface, you are now ready to add the next pieces to your compost.

Worms and Kitchen Scraps

After the base of your compost has been created, it is now time to add kitchen scraps and worms into the mix.  The best rule of thumb is for every pound of garbage you add in kitchen scraps you can feed up to two pounds of garden earthworms (which are rather easy to find if you already have enough moist soil in your yard).

Gather up your earthworms and place them gently on top of your compost pile.  Be sure to do this in bright sunlight or with a bright flashlight nearby.  The bright lights will force your worms to burrow into the dirt rather than try to make an escape.  After your earthworms have dug into the compost, replace the lid.

When it comes to kitchen scraps that you can and should toss into your compost, try using things such as vegetable and fruit scraps, crushed egg shells from breakfast, dry bread that you can no longer eat, lint from your dryer, coffee grounds, and even tea bags.  No matter what you add to your compost, however, it needs to be chopped enough for your earthworms to actually eat it.

Good compost takes about three months to fully form. You will know that you have created a healthy compost if it is brown, crumbling and has a nice appearance.  If you are going to use your entire compost pile for your garden, try creating another compost to start and add your old earthworms to it.  If you are done worm composting, then give your earthworms to a friend as a gift to start their very own pile.  No matter what, keep the green cycle going by reusing and recycling what you can when it comes to worm composting.

Living in a city apartment does not mean you can’t have an organic garden. As long as you have windows – and even if you don’t – you can grow anything. Containers are a popular way of growing fruits and vegetables on a small scale indoors. The only requirements for organic indoor gardening are proper-sized containers, some sun and water, and a bit of patience.

An indoor garden is often easier to maintain since you aren’t likely to have to use pesticides or other poisonous chemicals. It’s also healthier for you to share your living space with greenery. The humidity and oxygen produced by the houseplants create a people- and pet-friendly environment.

Organic Soil Choices

There are a variety of soils available for your organic container garden. Before you decide on a soil mix, however, you need know what you’ll be growing, since each plant has its own nutrient requirements. Some options for growing plants indoors include humus, which is moist and full of nutrients; manure, which is what it sounds like, though it’s been refined to the point where it no longer smells; or peat moss, which is harvested from peat bogs and is very rich in vitamins and nutrients for your garden.

Organic Fertilizers

While the soil you choose may appear to have adequate nutritional properties, many garden plants require a bit of extra help to produce top-quality vegetables. For example, bulbs such as onion and garlic – both of which grow well in small containers – like to have a healthy dose of bone meal. Tomatoes like an acidic soil, so adding decent dose of nitrogen keeps plants healthy and is a very important tactic for indoor organic gardening.

Remember to choose healthy plants for potting as they’ll fare better in the lower sunlight found in a typical apartment. However, you can also use artificial sunlight in the form of grow lamps or even simple fluorescent light fixtures to create better growing conditions. After purchasing keep the plants in a sunny place or in front of a window for two or more days before transplanting.  This helps plants to acclimate to their environment.

Growing Vegetables Indoors

Hanging baskets and containers can be used for planting bush beans directly from seed. Peas and other vines are usually planted in hanging baskets so that the plant can drape over the sides. Beans prefer morning sunlight, so an east-facing window is best.

Tomatoes can be planted indoors but individual pots must be used, not less than eight inches in diameter. Herbs like thyme, oregano, rosemary and basil can be planted in small pots in the kitchen. Plant them in separate containers and place them in the same window.

Apartment living doesn’t have to put an end to your gardening ambitions. Indoor organic gardening is a satisfying hobby that can be enjoyed in even the smallest of apartments. From tiny herbs like parsley and thyme to large tomato plants and even citrus trees, nearly every fruit and vegetable can be successfully grown indoors.

Organic gardening has been growing in popularity over the past few years, especially with more consumers turning to gardening their own products over actually purchasing them. Organically grown produce and even flowers are more vibrantly colored, healthier and definitely more flavorful than those grown with chemical-based gardening aides. If you are new to the organic gardening world, then it can be difficult to know where to start and avoid any chemically based gardening aides. To help get your new hobby moving along, we have a few tips that will get you started the organic way.

Creating Garden Soil

Ready-made soil purchased at your local gardening center usually contains chemically based nutrients. Instead of purchasing ready-made soils, consider using nutrient-rich compost. Compost bins are relatively easy to create and they are handy to keep around throughout the seasons. Essentially, compost is created from the natural waste of your kitchen with scraps such as egg shells, fruits, etc. If you are in a hurry to get your planting done, many garden centers sell organically created composts or compost starter kits as well.

Buy the Right Plant for the Site

Though you would love a blooming rose bush under the awnings of your front entranceway, without the proper sunlight your roses will most likely not bloom. Just the same, you will not be able to grow herbs in heavy clay soil. By understanding the current conditions of your planting location, you can plant the right flowers, herbs and other items that will grow successfully in that location.

Start with Healthy Plants

Though your local garden center is having a clearance on a few plants, a bargain is not the way to go when it comes to gardening. Purchasing plants that are already wilted or which have been grown in a pot in high heat for three months is not the best start to your organic gardening experience. Ensure you are purchasing fresh and new plants that have not been overexposed to the elements. You will also want to inspect your plants for any pest infestations or signs of spider mites. Things to look for are broken leaves, sagging petals, black spots on petals or leaves, and even small holes.

Organic Fertilizers and Garden Maintenance

All plants need some sort of routine maintenance to survive and there is no such thing as a no-maintenance garden. Always ensure that your garden has a solid three inch layer of organic mulch created from compost and replenish it as it decomposes into the soil over time. Water your established plants less often, but ensure that water reaches the roots. The best method for reaching the roots of your plants is the use of a soaker hose, which can be purchased at just about any gardening center. Purchase organic-based fertilizers, but use them sparingly and always according to directions; using too much fertilizer, even when organic, can burn your plant’s roots.

Pest Control

Garden pests are a way of life and they will never be completely out of your hair. One of the best ways to prevent a full-blown infestation is to monitor your garden regularly for signs of unwanted insects or pests. If you note any diseased leaves, prune them away immediately. By controlling problems early, you can prevent the spread of insects and diseases to other portions of the garden.

When it comes to the use of pesticides, commercial varieties can have over fifteen different chemicals and ingredients listed on their contents. Often these pesticides are harmful to essential insects such as bees, butterflies, and parasite-eating wasps. So instead of removing pests you want in your garden, purchase organically based pesticides that are specifically targeted to a particular type of pest. Also, it is important to note that a small amount of pests is actually okay. Nature brings to you the lady bugs, which are natural pest eaters, especially of spider mites.

Organic gardening can be a rewarding experience. You will notice the difference instantly in your flowers as they bloom or when you taste the vibrant and tantalizing flavors of fruits and vegetables from your garden. Without exposing your garden, nature or yourself to unwanted chemicals, you can live a healthier lifestyle and promote the health of your garden’s soil.

Gardening organically can be a challenge at times, especially when it comes to pests. Many avid organic gardeners want to stick to their all-natural beliefs, but are often tempted by a quick-fix chemical treatment for pests. Spider mites, for example, are a number one priority to be removed from your garden immediately upon recognition of an infestation. They often grow so quickly that by the time the infestation has been noted, the damage is far further than you would like. Though you may be quick to jump to a chemical solution, there are ways to control spider mites organically and naturally.

Isolate Infected Plants
If you are able to, immediately move the infected plants away from any healthy ones. Keep those that are infected clustered together. Since spider mites are notorious for using air currents to transport them to different feeding grounds, it is important that they are contained in an area in which they cannot easily jump to a healthy plant for feeding. Keeping the infected plants clustered will also help them retain moisture, which is something spider mites hate. Since spider mites rely on evaporative properties of dry air, they are not able to reproduce in moister environments.

Retain Humidity and Moisture
As stated before, spider mites cannot thrive in moist environments. Therefore adding moisture and aiding in retaining that plus humidity will help limit the reproduction and ability to feed of your spider mites. To do this, simply place your potted plants on plates or platters to help from any moisture leaking out from the bottom. You can also fill gaps in the soil with peat moss. If you are able to bring your plants in doors, this will aide in keeping them moist and humid. Mist your plants thoroughly at least two to three times per day. This can be done with outdoor plants as well. Be sure to only spray enough to drown the spider mites, but not your plants. For plants that you are able to take indoors, a cool mist humidifier works well to keep the humidity up.

Limit Late Afternoon Sun Exposure
Spider mites love the afternoon sun. If you are able to remove your plants fully from the sun and place them in well-shaded areas, you can limit the cozy environment you are providing for your spider mites. The best place to place your plants is indoors.

Spider Mite Treatments
If you are unable to rid your plants of spider mites even after you have increased moisture and limited sun exposure, then the next step is a treatment. This does not mean you have to use chemically-infused treatments, though. There are still many natural remedies that can be used first.
•Rubbing Alcohol – A simple compound of 1:1 rubbing alcohol to water can be effective against spider mites. Simply mix this solution in a spray bottle and apply to your infected plants up to twice a day. Rubbing alcohol is deadly to insects, but relatively safe to plants since it dries quickly and without leaving a residue. Be sure to spray your solution on the bottom of the leaves where spider mites tend to reside, but also cover the entire plant to ensure you catch any stragglers.
•Lady Bug Exposure – Another popular method for ridding your plants of spider mites is the use of lady bugs. Lady bugs are natural predators of spider mites and can easily rid your plant life of this pest in less than 24 hours. Purchase lady bugs from your local gardening supplier and carefully lay them on your infected plants to feed.
•Lemon Water – A solution of 2 parts lemon to 3 part water can work just as well at removing spider mites. The natural acidic properties in lemon juice will deter spider mites from reproducing or feasting on the particular leaves sprayed with this solution.

Today it is all about being “organic.”  Organically grown produce and flowers are more vibrant, better tasting and better for you and the environment.  If you have looked into starting your garden the organic way, then you have probably noted a lot of references to using neem oil.  So why do you use it?  Here we are going to discuss why neem oil is important in organic gardening and how to use it properly.

The Uses for Neem Oil

Neem oil is the best treatment for common garden ailments that can include insects, fungus and diseases.  When it comes to the problem of pests and insects, neem oil safely kills and prevents them from coming back to harm your garden.  Using neem oil will also protect your garden against diseases and fungus such as black spot, rust and even mildew.

The Advantages of Using Neem Oil

There are a lot of advantages to using neem oil, but the biggest one is that it is completely non-toxic.  That means that when you use a product containing this essential oil, you will not harm essentials to your garden such as earthworms, spiders, ladybugs, honey bees or even wasps.  It is also non-toxic to human beings and birds; therefore it is safe to use both indoors and out.  Not only is it non-toxic, but it is also an organic product derived directly from the neem tree and it is completely biodegradable so there will be no harmful residue left behind.  Neem oil is completely safe for fruits and vegetables and you will notice that there is no film or residue left behind on the items that are freshly picked from your garden.

How to Use Neem Oil Effectively

When you purchase neem oil, you will typically find it in both pure and diluted form.  It is usually recommended for beginners that you buy the pre-diluted form so that you do not have to worry about messing up the ratios or worrying about how much oil to water you will need.  Even when purchasing pre-diluted mixes, you will need to shake or stir them prior to applying them to your garden.  Oil and water tend to separate and this is no different when it comes to neem oil and water.

For insecticides that are organic, mix a dab of neem oil with insecticidal soap to create a strong treatment for your garden.  Prior to spraying the solution on your garden, ensure that your mixture is the right concentration for your type of garden.  Different solutions are meant for fruits, vegetables and flowers. Most manufacturers will have their own table and uses listed on the back, so be sure to follow instructions carefully.

Other Common Uses of Neem Oil

Believe it or not, neem oil is not just meant to be used in a gardening aspect. It is also a common ingredient found in things like organic cosmetics, shampoos (both human and animal), insect repellents, and even antiseptic solutions.  Though it is commonly used, you should always consult a physician prior to using it directly on your own skin and all fruits and vegetables should be washed regardless of how harmless the solution may be.

Dyna-Gro Pure Neem Oil – 8 Ounces

• Neem oil leaf polish solution
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Making your own compost can be an economical way to use kitchen scraps and yard waste, and it is a natural means of keeping your yard, garden, and plants healthy. If you’d like to get started composting, here are some simple guidelines.

How Much?

Before you begin, sit down and think about how much compost you need, how much kitchen and yard waste you generate, and what kind of space you have. Depending on these factors, you’ll need to decide whether or not you want to go with indoor or outdoor composting, whether or not you want to use worms, and whether or not you want a bin.

Indoor composting is recommended for people whose space is limited, such as those with small houses and yards or apartment dwellers.

Worms are often used in small, indoor compost systems.

For those with larger outdoor areas, compost bins can be built outdoors for little money and effort. You can also compost without a bin and simply make a pile in a sheltered corner of your yard.

Build the Bin

If you are going to compost indoors, you will need a container of some sort, and worms are considered essential for indoor composting. You can purchase a ready-made worm composting system, or you can make your own by poking holes in an opaque, plastic container and setting it on a drainage tray. The worms initially feed on wet, shredded newspaper; then you begin adding kitchen scraps and more newspaper. The worm bin should never be allowed to get below 55 degrees.

For an outdoor bin, a low-cost, easy method is to use wooden packing pallets. Most stores that receive shipments in these slatted containers are fine with people taking them (use packing pallets are usually discarded). You just need four of the pallets to make an open-topped square to hold your compost. You can wire or nail them together; just make sure one side is easily removed so you can access the compost.

Piles of Compost

If you don’t want to build a bin, you can just make a pile of yard and kitchen scraps. You will need to turn it often to keep its heaped shape, but this basic method can work. It seems to work best if the compost pile is against a house or other building.

Compost Care and Feeding

Excepting dairy products, fish and meat, you can put most kitchen scraps into your compost, including egg shells, tea leaves, and coffee grounds. Any organic matter from your yard can be added, such as hay, straw, cut grass, leaves, mulch, wood chips, and slender prunings from shrubs. You can also add a modest amount of shredded newspaper. Any paper, however, takes longer to decompose.

If you have chickens, the cleanings from their coop can be added to the compost. Chicken manure makes the compost rich and full of nutrients. However, the waste from other pets (dogs, cats, etc.) should not be added to compost.

Turn your compost once a month or so, stirring to aerate it and get the top layer down into the middle.

Water your compost briefly with a garden hose if the weather is very dry. Better yet, water it with rain water from a rain barrel.

Organic garden fertilizer is a must for anybody interested in organic gardening. Just because you are gardening in a natural way does not mean that your garden will not need fertilizer. Plants deplete the soil of its minerals and vitamins, especially if similar crops are grown repeatedly in the same place.

So to get the biggest and best fruit, vegetables and flowers from your garden you will need some type of organic garden fertilizer. If you have it, you can use compost produced in your own garden. If not, you have several other choices.

1. Manure and guano

One of the oldest forms of fertilizer used in both farming and gardening is manure or guano. If you have access to horses or other large animals you may be able to use their manure on your garden. However, it has the disadvantage of being rather odorous.

You will also want to think about whether the animals have been raised and fed organically. If not, their manure could contain chemicals and hormones that you may not want in your organic garden.

An alternative natural organic garden fertilizer is bat guano. This is one of the richest and most concentrated fertilizers for the soil that you will find. Containing high quantities of nitrogen and phosphorous, it is particularly good for flowering plants.

Bat guano is also reported to be effective in neutralizing or removing certain toxins from the soil. This makes it an ideal choice if you are converting a garden that has not been managed in an organic way in the past.

2. Seaweed

Seaweed or kelp is a vegetable-based source of fertilizer for gardens. It is particularly rich in iodine, potassium and other minerals. If used in its pure form, it contains no animal products and may therefore be more suitable for vegans and strict vegetarians than many other products.

Often, seaweed extract is used to produce organic garden fertilizer. The extract may be mixed with water or with other products to increase its mineral profile.

Seaweed based organic garden fertilizer can help to promote disease resistance and healthy root and seed growth in your plants. It is especially good for leafy plants like tomatoes, bell peppers and corn. It has the advantage of delivering its nutrients in a form that is very easily absorbed by plants.

3. Worm castings

Worm castings are the earth that has been ingested, partially digested and excreted by worms as they pass through the soil. You can often see them left as thin spirals of fine soil on the surface of beds. They make good fertilizer and are particularly beneficial for the roots of plants including root vegetables and grass lawns.

Worm castings will be formed naturally by the worms in your garden if you have plenty. If your garden is newly established or you want to increase the variety of worm castings, you can buy either the castings or live worms from garden supply stores.

4. Bone meal

Many regular fertilizers contain bone meal, but you can also find organic garden fertilizer that is based on by products of animal farming including bone and blood meal.

You can either choose a fertilizer that is 100% organic or one that is all natural but not certified organic. You may decide to choose the all natural option if you think that your garden has non-organic aspects anyway, for example from neighbors’ chemical sprays. But if you want to be sure that your garden remains completely organic, you will want 100% organic garden fertilizer.

Growing your own organic fruit is one of the most rewarding aspects of gardening.  It means that you and your family can have fruit that is delicious, healthy and picked at the absolute peak of ripeness.

Tree Fruits

Most tree fruits are easy to grow organically. Of course, you need to be sure that you are starting out with an organic fruit tree that has not been treated with chemicals in its first stages of growth. That is something to check with your supplier.

Fruit trees make a beautiful addition to any garden. If space is limited, consider dwarf or semi dwarf varieties. These smaller fruit trees also have the advantage that you may not need to climb to pick the ripe organic fruit.

Growing Organic Berries

Blueberries are one of the most popular choices for organic fruit in the garden. There are many varieties, most being classed as either Highbush or Rabbiteye. Highbush types grow taller and can handle cooler climates. Rabbiteye varieties are more suited to hot, dry summers and less acid soil.

Strawberries will grow in many climates but need to be protected from birds, pests and dampness, since they grow so close to the ground. If your garden is not well drained you may want to consider growing them in traditional straw-covered beds or containers.

Raspberries grow upward on canes, which means that you can get a lot of organic fruit from a small bed of soil. It is important to check on them regularly as they are growing, to tie back branches and make sure the air can circulate. Raspberries react badly to plants of the nightshade family (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant and peppers) so do not try to grow them nearby or in soil that was previously used for these plants.

To maintain the spirit of an organic garden, choose plants that will easily and naturally grow in your climate and soil type. This means a lot less work in terms of preparing and maintaining the soil, as well as giving you organic fruit that is less likely to succumb to disease.

You may also want to choose more traditional varieties when it comes to selecting your plants. This may mean smaller fruit but they will usually be more flavorsome. Commercial growers usually want to maximize the size of fruit and do not care if the extra size is just water, because fruit is sold by weight. In your organic fruit garden you can ignore commercial considerations and go for flavor every time.

Harvesting Organic Fruit

Of course, many people who grow organic fruit find that they have an overabundance at certain times of year. To some extent you can manage this by growing only a small amount of each type of fruit. Variety is the spice of life and if you can mix it up, your fruit harvest will naturally spread over a longer season.

You can also plant different varieties of a particular fruit. For example, some varieties of blueberry will produce ripe fruit earlier in the season than others. Or you can spread the plants over different parts of the garden. A blueberry bush that is in full sun will usually produce fruit earlier than one that is in a shadier spot.

If you still have a lot more organic fruit than you need, you can give some away and either freeze, bottle or preserve the rest. Homemade jelly makes a wonderful gift at Christmas or other times when there is not so much fresh organic fruit in the garden.

An indoor vegetable garden may be the perfect answer for anybody who wants to grow their own organic vegetables without having any outdoor space. There are plenty of vegetables that you can grow in containers indoors.

You may think that you can only grow certain vegetables inside the house, but that is not necessarily true. Of course, if you only have a very small space, there will be limits to your indoor vegetable garden. You probably do not want a room full of giant pumpkins, for example. But you could grow one or two pumpkins, or maybe a smaller variety of squash.

There are even some advantages to having an indoor vegetable garden. The main one is that your plants are less likely to suffer from disease and pest damage. Provided you are careful not to introduce pests into your home, most of them will probably stay outside.

It is worth taking a little time to plan your indoor vegetable garden before you start. If you make a list of planting and harvesting dates for a lot of different vegetables, you will see that you may be able to have two plants growing in a pot in the same year, by planning for a second vegetable crop that you can plant after harvesting the first. This is a great way to make the most of limited space.

Another option is to have hanging pots, either outside on walls or inside, near the window. The indoor option may block light. If you choose to have hanging pots outside, it will need to be in a place that you can easily reach. This could be from a window if you live in an apartment.

You will need to use organic soil, compost and fertilizer if you want to grow organic vegetables. It is not so easy to produce your own compost if you do not have a garden, but you may have a friendly neighbor who would share. Most gardens produce more compost than they need.

If you are just starting out with indoor garden or if you have never grown vegetables before, it is probably better to start with those that are easy to grow. Radishes and carrots do not require much care and can be delicious. Lettuce grows quickly and you probably do not need more than one ready at a time, so you can make the most of a container and have them growing one after another.

Most herbs grow very well indoors and do not require much space. You can create a herb garden on one or two windowsills and it will produce enough for the fresh herb needs of most small households.

Some plants do require a certain amount of sunlight, so some research and planning is needed before you start out. Fruit needs sun, and many plants that people think of as vegetables are actually fruit in botanical terms.

Tomatoes, for example, grow well in pots with a trellis, but they will ripen best in sun. So you may need to think about which plants are placed near windows. Of course, you may have roof lights or even a conservatory that will allow a lot of sunlight in. That is the ideal situation for an indoor vegetable garden, but not everybody is that lucky.

Herb gardening is a simple and satisfying way to get the most from a small area of garden or yard. If you do it organically, you also have the satisfaction of knowing that the herbs you grow and eat are the healthiest that they could be, as well as the freshest.

Most herbs are easy to grow. They mostly like sunlight so you will want to position them in a sunny part of the garden.

It is best if your herb beds are close to the house where you can easily reach them. You will want to be able to run out and pick a few leaves whenever you are cooking. If the plants are too far from the door, you may not always bother, and that would be a pity.

It is also a good idea if you can see them from the kitchen window. That will remind you that they are there are prompt you to keep them well watered in hot weather.

Some herbs are perennials, meaning that the plants will remain from year to year. Perennial herbs include rosemary, sage, thyme and lavender. These are usually best planted outdoors in your herb gardening beds. An exception is spearmint, which can take over the whole garden if not contained. We recommend growing spearmint in an outdoor container.

Other herbs are annuals that will need to be raised from seed each year. This includes parsley, dill and basil. You may prefer to grow these in pots or containers.

The difference between organic and non-organic herb gardening is simply that if you are doing your herb gardening the organic way, you will not use chemical pesticides or fertilizers. For most herbs, this is not a problem. They are generally hardy plants that are resistant to pests.

When it comes to fertilizer, you will need to use something to add nutrients to the soil but there are plenty of organic choices. Natural compost from your own garden is one. Other options include bone meal and seaweed extract. You can buy these from garden supply stores. Just check that your choice is organic in order to maintain standards in your herb garden.

Some herbs like rosemary can be used straight from the garden all year round. Others will have a particular harvest time when you will want to pick, dry and store them. In most cases, they are best harvested a day or two before the flowers would bloom. This ensures that you get the maximum amount of the plant’s essential oil.

It is best to harvest most herbs around the middle of the morning, when the dew has dried but the sun is not yet shining at full strength. The growing tips and young leaves are best.

Most people doing organic herb gardening do not wash their herbs before drying them. If you do, they will need to be dried quickly, perhaps in the oven, to avoid fungal growth.

Herbs that have not been washed can be dried on wire netting, covered with paper or a light cloth. Remove stems and try to keep only a single layer of leaves on the wire. Place these racks in a well ventilated area in the shade.

Herbs are dry enough to store when they are crisp, so that they break and crumble easily. Many people prefer to crush them so that they take up less storage space; others like to keep larger pieces, especially if they are to be used for teas. If they are truly dry you will not be likely to keep whole leaves. These final products of your herb gardening can then be stored in airtight bottles or jars.

Growing organic vegetables is so rewarding that it is always worth doing even if you only have a small space for containers outside. You may have a roof garden or a small patch of concrete to call your own. That is fine. You do not need a big garden with beds to benefit from the pleasure of being able to cook, serve and eat your own delicious home grown vegetables.

The good news is that almost any type of vegetable can be grown in containers. Of course, what you plan to grow needs to be adapted to how many containers you have and how big they are. But many vegetables now come in dwarf plant sizes.

If you want to be sure of growing organic vegetables, of course you need to check that your chosen varieties are available as organic seeds. Then set up your containers with organic compost.

In most cases you will start by planting in seed boxes indoors. Then when seedlings have formed, choose the strongest and healthiest to plant out in your containers.

Your plants will benefit from being well nourished. For some plants, like tomatoes, you can buy organic fertilizer or food that you can add to the soil in the containers from time to time. For others, it is enough to add more compost at the end of the season.

Even if you want to keep growing the same plants over and over, it is best to rotate them around your different containers each year. That way, you will benefit from improved soil fertility without having to change the compost every time. You can also rotate plants by growing one crop in for half the year and a different crop for the other half year. This also has the benefit that you can be growing organic vegetables all the year and make the most of your containers.

You do not have to limit yourself to growing one type of plant per container. You can also gain space by mixing herbs or other small plants around your larger vegetables. Just be sure that they will not be shaded when the larger plants grow.

Upward growing plants like tomatoes or green beans are ideal for this purpose. For example, you can grow tomatoes at the back of a container and have cucumber, radishes or even small lettuces at the front for a self-contained salad garden.

Other plants that grow well in containers include eggplant (aubergine), especially small varieties like Bambino or Slim Jim; bell peppers, small squashes and green onions (spring onions).

You can use many types of containers for growing organic vegetables. You do not have to go buy expensive pots. You probably want to avoid plastic containers if you are growing organic vegetables, to avoid chemicals leaking into the soil, but there are many other options. Wooden containers are perfect and give a great organic look to your garden space. Wire tubs or baskets have the advantage of allowing drainage without you having to drill holes.

Dark colors absorb heat, so if you live in a hot, sunny climate you might want to paint the outside of your containers white. Plants expect to grow in a situation where the roots below ground are cooler than the stalks and leaves, and they may simply die if the soil in your containers becomes too hot.

Plants in containers need more frequent watering than plants growing in the ground. In summer, you may need to arrange for somebody to come water your plants any time you are away, even if it is only for a few days.

Keeping all of these tips in mind will help you enjoy delicious and healthy food from your container garden by growing organic vegetables successfully.

These organic vegetable gardening tips can help both experienced and new gardeners. It is not surprising that interest in organic gardening is growing when you consider the publicity that has been given to the dangers of pesticides in food. If you have a garden, either large or small, then you have the opportunity to grow your own vegetables. And why not go organic?

Unlike store bought food, organic grown at home is hardly any more expensive than the regular variety. You will need to start with organic seeds of course, to be sure that your crop is not genetically modified and does not carry any chemical pesticide residues in the seeds.

If you are starting organic vegetable gardening for the first time, the first thing to do is go through your old products such as sprays, fertilizer, etc and throw out any that is not marked organic. Then start to plan your garden.

Organic Vegetable Gardening Tips: Choice Of Plants

There is no difference between organic and non-organic when it comes to choosing what to grow. You can plant anything that would grow in your soil type and climate. Check out local information or ask at your local plant center to find out which vegetables will do well in your garden, if you have not grown any vegetables before.

You can also ask neighbors, whose gardens are probably in a very similar situation to yours in terms of soil and exposure to sun, frost and wind. You might want to take the opportunity to ask them not to spray chemicals toward your garden, too.

It is best to have as wide a variety of plants as you have room for. This is good both for variety on your table and for keeping the garden productive. Rotation of plants is important from year to year.

Some plants grow well beside each other, and can protect each other from pests. For example, it’s a great idea to grow garlic around other plants.

Don’t forget to consider what you and your family like to eat. It’s wonderful to have a garden full of your favorite vegetables … but not so great to have a ton of stuff that nobody likes.

Organic Vegetable Gardening Tips: Managing Your Garden

When planning your garden, it’s a good idea to keep it close to the house. That way you will be reminded to check on it often. This is more important for organic gardens because you cover them with pesticides, anti fungals etc. So you need to check for pests and disease regularly, and deal with any problems fast to prevent them from spreading.

For the same reason, be sure that you can see and reach all of your plants easily. You may need to create pathways into your vegetable beds.

Having a compost heap will be very useful so start one right now if you don’t already have one. Compost is an excellent natural and cheap fertilizer. You can add it to the soil a couple of times a year, or after harvesting a particular area of plants.

Turn your garden into a wonderful source of fresh home grown vegetables by following these organic vegetable gardening tips – starting today.