Getting Started with Organic Gardening

More people are trying organic gardening because it is more environment-friendly, more healthy, a wonderful pastime and can help them save money by having all the crops they need in the backyard. If you are planning to have your own organic garden, here are some helpful tips:

1. Decide which crops you want. It's best to start with seeds first. There are many available seeds in most groceries and markets. But, you cannot just grab a pack of seeds without considering if it will grow in your environment. For starters, stick with vegetables and beans. Once you have determined which plants are suited for the condition of your site, you can purchase other seeds that you want to grow.

2. Prepare the proper containers. There is no need for expensive and special containers. Check out your kitchen first. If you can find old yogurt containers, empty juice and milk cartons, tubes of potato chips, cans of sauces and juices, you can clean then up and start filling them with clay and other organic matter to prepare for seed planting.

If you don’t have any of the mentioned containers, you can always buy in the nearest supermarket but make sure that these have tapered sides so the seedling and roots can easily slip out. Aside from containers that are at least 3 inches deep, other container options include flats or shallow trays.

Make sure that the containers are very well cleaned using lukewarm water dashed with chlorine bleach. After washing, leave in open air to dry.



3. Have packets of planting mix. Sterile Planting mixes help seeds to sprout very well.

4. Label each container properly. Since seeds look alike when they sprout, it's best if all the containers are labeled. Aside from making it easy for you to identify which is which, labeling is also crucial to avoid planting the same seed over again.

5. Let there always be light. Make sure that there is plenty of air and light available. If natural sunlight is not available, try to create a makeshift light source such as a 'plant grow light' bulb or tube that can be bought in most grocery and hardware stores.