Vegetable Gardening Guide
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ORGANIC VEGETABLE GARDENING
from: FancyGardening.comPeople who have eaten food produced by organic vegetable gardening say that it is difficult to go back to eating other vegetables. They say the sweetness of the sun is in food produced by organic vegetable gardening. Whether it's the first lettuce of spring, the juicy tomatoes and peppers of summer, or the last squash and pumpkins harvested in the autumn, organically grown vegetables are simply the most delicious of all.
There are other reasons for keeping an organic vegetable garden. Dozens of scientific studies have shown that there is a connection between chemical pesticides and fertilizers and human health. Use of these chemicals has been linked to cancer, hormonal imbalances and even neurological damage. This is especially true in the case of pesticides. With organic vegetable gardening, you keep your garden and your food free of these chemicals. This is especially important for families with children. Kids have a much lower tolerance of chemical residues than adults have.
With organic vegetable gardening you allow a natural balance to be maintained with the soil, plants, insects and other animals. First, you have to stop using chemicals if you are presently using them. Pesticides, herbicides and synthetic fertilizers do more harm in the long run than they do good. Don't throw kitchen scraps in the garbage. Start a compost heap and turn those scraps into nutrients for your organic garden. Don't kill every caterpillar or other bugs you see in your garden. Some of them are actually beneficial. There are books that will help you identify the good bugs and the pests.
In organic vegetable gardening you learn to stop compacting your soil. Compacting happens when you step on your garden beds. It crushes the soil particles together, eliminating the tiny spaces needed by water, air, organisms and roots. Make pathways between your garden beds and be sure you can reach all of the plants from the paths. Don't till the soil too frequently. Once in the spring and once in the fall is enough.
With organic vegetable gardening you do not use sprinklers. They deliver water faster than the ground can absorb it. Use a hose to gently and thoroughly wet the ground. Also, if you rotate the locations of your different crops from year to year, you will help prevent diseases and pests.
With organic vegetable gardening you keep your garden beds covered with a layer of organic mulch such as straw, chopped leaves or grass clippings. This will improve the soil, help the ground hold water and control weed growth. It is one of the best things you can do for your organic vegetable garden.
Vegetable Gardening Club Louisville Ky News