Thursday, January 29, 2009

Organic Gardening - Tips You Should Know to Garden on a Budget

Organic gardening is a method of gardening in harmony with nature. It can be done with a minimal amount of cost by using methods of recycling organic matter that you already have on hand and the propagation of heirloom plants that are in your yard..

Saving money gardening takes planning. It is very easy to let the costs get out of hand when you purchase plants and other supplies for a garden, whether it be for a vegetable garden, flower bed and even landscaping. Once you put a plan together you just have to stick with it. The biggest mistake that is made is to many plants and supplies are purchased before a garden is planned out. It is very easy to go to a garden center and see all the plants that you want to plant, then come home to find out there isn't enough room to plant them.

Methods like the propagation of existing plants in your own yard is a big way to save on landscape plants, recycling organic household along with yard waste is a great way to improve the soil in your gardens and supply nutrients to your plants.

Growing heirloom plants that are open pollinated is also away that you can save by collection and storing your own seeds for the following years to come. Having your own seeds on hand will also give you the ability to grow your own transplants and save on the cost of purchasing plants every year. Starting your own transplants isn't that hard to do and the seeds can be started in containers that you already have around your house, egg cartons are great to use for starting your transplants in.

Planning your garden is the best way to garden on a budget.

www.organicheirloomgardening.com

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Learn the Benefits Of Raised Bed Gardening

Raised bed gardening is a method that has been around even before colonial times. It has been becoming more and more popular among home gardeners because they can be built in small uneasy to access locations, it is a solution to gardening on land that is untillable and can be built almost anywhere in a limited amount of time. They are also a great way to add attractive dimension to your yard and can offer many benefits along with being are work than a dug garden.

Raised beds are garden beds that are built up higher than the surrounding ground around them. They are built no wider than four feet so that there is easy access to working in them. The length can be any length that you want them to be. The width is keep narrow so there is no need to walk on the soil which prevents the soil from getting compacted.

The benefits of a raised bed garden are that they have easier access to work, soil conditions are easier to maintain and they produce higher crop yields with less square footage of space. They are a excellent choice to build in areas with poor soil conditions such as poor drainage or rocky areas.

Disease and pest control is a lot less difficult with this method of gardening. Mulching and companion planting will greatly benefit the soil structure and make for a healthier plant that can defend itself from these problems. The adding of organic mulch will also improve the soil structure and feed the microorganisms that live in the soil.These microorganisms are what is needed to work the soil and add the nutrients needed for plants to thrive.

Raised garden beds are a great do-it-yourself project. Depending on the size most gardens can be completed in one weekend, built and planted You can also build a raised bed garden to fit your yards natural setting and to attract wildlife like birds and butterflies into your yard.

A environment friendly and healthy way of gardening. Organic Gardening is away of gardening in harmony with nature. Growing a healthy and productive crop in a way that is healthier for both you and the environment.

John Yazo

http://www.organicheirloomgardening.com

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Growing And Caring For Tomatoes

The most popular plant that is grown in the home garden is the tomato. Most gardeners take more pride in growing tomatoes than any other crop. There is nothing like a ripe, juicy, fresh grown tomato.

There is a large variety of tomatoes that can be grown by the home gardener and they all have there own unique characteristics or qualities. That can be for there size, color, shape or taste. There are tomatoes that hybrids, heirlooms and plants that are indeterminate or determinate. The selections that you can choose from seem to be endless.

Tomatoes are easy to grow and will produce a large amount of fruit if properly cared for. There are a few basic tips that you should know that will help your tomato plants thrive and produce a high yielding crop.

Tomatoes like a good healthy soil that is full of organic matter and nutrients along with a good soil structure that provides good aeration, drainage and retains moisture well.

Never start your plants to early. Tomatoes like warm soil temperatures. If needed warm the soil two weeks before planting by covering with black plastic.

Direct sunlight is very important in growing a strong healthy tomato plant. Tomatoes should be planted in an area that will receive a minimum of eight hours of direct sunlight.

Preparation of the planting location is also very important. Bury your tomato plants deep, burying the stem a minimum of half it's total height. It takes a little more time to plant this way but the growth and productivity of the plant will be rewarding. When planting tomato plants deep it gives them the ability to form roots that will branch off of the stem. This will give the plant a big advantage of forming a large healthy root system which benefits it's nutrient intake greatly.

Give your plants enough room to grow. Plant tomatoes a minimum of two to three feet apart depending on the variety. This will allow for the proper air circulation and direct sunlight needed for the plants to thrive.

Watering of tomatoes is very critical. Tomatoes need a steady moisture content in the soil. Over watering or letting the soil dry out will stress the plant and cause the fruit to produce poorly.

Applying a good organic mulch like compost will greatly benefit the plants growth by retaining the moisture content in the soil while adding nutrients to the soil at the same time.

Tomatoes love a regular supply of nutrients. having a good healthy nutrient rich soil full of organic matter is the type of soil that tomatoes will thrive in. Watering your plants every two weeks with a nutrient rich compost tea will greatly boost the productivity of the fruit the plant will produce.

With a little care you can have the best home grown tomatoes in your own back yard.

http://www.organicheirloomgardening.com