How to Start Your Own Organic Garden By Dave Mathews

 

Organic vegetable gardening has been done for centuries before the introduction of pesticides. This type of gardening requires that no artificial means be used to kill pests. So what is a garden of this type, how to create one and what to plant are some questions that need to be answered? This type of a garden is done without pesticides. This type of a garden is also nourished organically from a compost heap that consists of table scraps, egg shells, coffee grounds, ect. This not only enriches the soil, it also allows for healthier plants.

So how do you create an organic vegetable garden? It is simple really. For organic vegetable gardening, you will need the following. A sunny location with soil that is well drained is the first step. You also need to measure a length and size that will be convenient for your garden and these beds should be about 30 inches. You will need to either build a frame that is between 10-12 inches high or stake out the bed. Before planting, you will need to mix your compost at least three weeks in advance. This can be either plant material or manure.

The next step in your organic vegetable gardening is to choose the varieties of vegetables that will not only be resistant to pests and disease, they also need to be well adapted for the region in question. The next step in your gardening should be to plant usually when the soil thaws in spring or in the fall. Your first idea may be to start planting broccoli, spinach and peas first. Corn, squash, tomatoes and peppers can be planted when the soil is warmer and after the danger of frost has passed. This will get the garden started quite nicely.

Now there are several things that you can add to your gardening in order to help your organic vegetable gardening. The introduction of beneficial insects such as ladybugs will keep your garden free of pests and help keep the garden growing. Another thing to do is to rotate your crops and keep the garden well weeded so that disease and pests cannot get a foot hold in your garden. Remember to water and mulch as needed. You can also cover susceptible crops with lightweight fabric to discourage pests. When you are speaking about beneficial bugs, remember to plant the plants that nourish these bugs as well.

So this, in a nut shell is how you do a vegetable garden of this type. It isn't that hard to do and the fruits and vegetables will nourish your body without the fear of pesticides. This is a win-win situation for all involved and will lead to a much healthier lifestyle for you and your family. It may take time and effort, but you will be well rewarded for your hard work with healthy fruits and vegetables that will nourish your body and be good for you as well. So an organic garden of this type is well worth investing the time and money in.

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About Author:
If you are interested in knowing more on how to start your organic garden then do visit our site for more information . The author is an online marketing expert with LinksTonite, an Internet Marketing Firm helping firms get targeted traffic thru higher search engine rankings.

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An Exciting New Fruit - The Pineberry By Blane Tarr

 

The pineberry is not a new fruit, but it is new to the commercial markets. It has received a lot of buzz recently as it was snatched from shelves in the United Kingdom. Here is this novelty's story:

The story starts in the 1700s. At that time, strawberry plants were taken to France from both North America and South America. The North American strawberry, Fragaria virginiana and the South American strawberry, Fragaria chiloensis were cross-bred. The resultant cross became known as Fragaria x ananassa and became cultivated more widely. Through breeding and selection programs, the large-fruited Garden Strawberry eventually became grown and consumed widely. That stereotypical strawberry that we all know and love, however, wasn't bred and selected overnight. And, there were other genetic traits sacrificed in favor of others.

In 2003, a few Dutchmen stumbled across some strawberry plants in France that were still hanging on and took them back to the Netherlands. These strawberry plants produced small, white fruits with red seeds. This is almost an inverse strawberry when compared to a "normal" red strawberry. But, even more interesting than the appearance, is the taste of these strawberries. Instead of tasting like normal strawberries, their flavor profile is a fusion of pineapple and strawberry. Hence, the fruits received the moniker, "pineberry."

The plants taken from France were cared for and nourished and selectively grown to strengthen the plant line. After six years of careful plant selection, the once-feeble plants were strong enough to be cultivated commercially. And so they were. They are now offered by VitalBerry, a Dutch company, through Waitrose, a grocery store chain in the UK for a period of 5 weeks in the spring.

They are still a novelty item and have received mixed reviews. Some culinary "experts" have reported that the fruits are watery and merely a sales gimmick. Others genuinely rave about them.

Unfortunately, however, they are only sold commercially in the UK at present. This will likely change if demand increases and the small white fruits with red seeds rise in popularity.

Retail pineberry sales do face a significant hurdle before they can be produced on a large scale. The pineberry plants produce berries that are quite small when compared to the typical store-bought strawberry. Additionally, each pineberry plant produces significantly fewer berries. This means that the demand will have to increase exponentially in order to get commercial growers to grow them. With small yields and small strawberries, it is just not profitable for the big agricultural giants and strawberry farms to bring them to market.

So, at least for the present, pineberries will fill a niche market and will most likely stay within Europe. If varieties of pineberries are developed that retain their unique flavor while improving size and fruit production, they will likely become as ubiquitous as their red cousins are during the early summer months.

If you can't wait until that day (if it ever comes), you can always buy a few plants and begin to grow your own!

You can grow your own buy purchasing your own pineberry plants. Find out more details here: Pineberry

For other varieties, you can reference this directory: Strawberry Plants for Sale

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

Tips For Growing Lettuce in the Garden By Dave Truman

 

There's nothing better than a salad made with fresh lettuce from the garden. Adding lettuce to your garden can be a welcome addition. Not only is healthy and tasty to eat but it needs very little space to grow. But there are some guidelines you should know before planting lettuce.

To grow lettuce or any other vegetable, you need to have good soil. For lettuce, keep the nitrogen level high by using 30-10-10 NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) fertilizer. This will provide the lettuce with the nutrition it needs to produce healthy leaves.

When planting lettuce seeds make sure they are planted 1/8-3/8 inch deep, separated by 6-12 inches (2-3.5 m) from the next plant. Romaine lettuce can be planted closer together but other crisp lettuce need more space. If you plant in rows, keep the rows separated by about 20 inches (6m).

The roots of lettuce do not grow very deep so it is important to weed often. Many other grasses and plants with deeper root growth can invade the lettuce.

Since lettuce lacks deep root growth it has to find moisture near the surface. Therefore it is important to keep the soil moist but not saturated. Try to keep the water off of the leaves and into the soil except for the occasional washing. Wet leaves especially during nighttime temperatures can lead to disease.

Like any other vegetable, lettuce plants have problems with diseases and pests. Many insects enjoy the lettuce leaves and the folds of the leaves also offer many places for fungi to grow.

Aphids, flea beetles, leafhoppers, slugs and cutworms are common insects that feast on lettuce. Washing the leaves with a high-pressure hose can temporally help get rid of the insects. Insecticide lightly applied to the lettuce will provide better long-term control.

One common fungal disease is anthracnose (Microdochium panattonianum). This fungus can stay alive in soil for many years. Bottom rot (Rhizoctonia solani) is another common fungus. This type of fungus usually occurs in soil that drains poorly. To combat these fungi, keep foliage dry and plant in good soil.

Another common problem with lettuce is bolting. Bolting is not a disease or pest but occurs when the plant goes to seed and the leaves stop growing. Bolting happens when the temperatures are consistently too high. To prevent this from happening, plant lettuce in shaded area or plant next to a shading crop such as corn.

Lettuce is a wonderful vegetable to have in your garden. With proper preparation and care, you can enjoy salads with fresh lettuce throughout the growing season.

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Looking for creative ideas for your vegetable garden layout? You can stop searching - visit the Vegetable Gardeners website at http://www.vegetablegardeners.com for lots of helpful tips and advice. Plus get your own copy of our free reports for growing better vegetables.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com