Organic gardening

Six Ticks For Organic Gardening

Organic gardening is the way of growing vegetables and fruits with the use of things only found in nature.

Why would one want to indulge in organic gardening?

1.One can easily make compost from garden and kitchen waste. Though this is a bit more time-consuming than buying prepared chemical pesticides and fertilizers, it certainly helps to put garbage to good use and so saves the environment.

2. Organic farming does not use chemicals that may have an adverse affect on your health. This is especially important when growing vegetables. Chemical companies tell us that the chemicals we use are safe if used according to direction, but research shows that even tiny amounts of poisons absorbed through the skin can cause such things as cancer, especially in children.

On the average, a child ingests four to five times more cancer-causing pesticides from foods than an adult. This can lead to various diseases later on in the child's life. With organic gardening, these incidents are lessened.

Remember, pesticides contain toxins that have only one purpose - to kill living things.

3. Less harm to the environment. Poisons are often washed into our waterways, causing death to the native fish and polluting their habitat.

4.Organic farming practices help prevent the loss of topsoil through erosion.
The Soil Conservation Service says that an estimated 30 - 32 billion tons of soil erodes from United States farmlands every year.

4. Cost savings. One does not need to buy costly chemical fertilizers and pesticides with organic gardening. Many organic recipes for the control of pest and disease come straight from the kitchen cupboard. Sometimes other plants can be grown as companions to the main crop. An example of this is the marigold, which helps to repel aphids from vegetables.

Mixing 1 tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap and 1 cup of cooking oil can make a cheap garden pest spray. Put 3 tablespoons of this mixture in 1 quart of water and spray on plants.

5.A simple mulch of pine needles will help to suppress the growth of weeds as well as keeping the moisture in.

6. Organic gardening practices help to keep the environment safe for future generations.

Pest Management In The Garden

Early detection and treatment

of pests means a healthier

growing environment.

In your garden

Pest management can be one of the greatest challenges to

the home gardener. Yard pests include weeds, insects,

diseases, and some species of wildlife. Weeds are plants

that are growing out of place. Insect pests include an enormous

number of  species from tiny aphids, that are nearly invisible to

the naked eye, to  the large larvae of the tomato horned worm.

Diseases are caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses, and other

organisms, some of which are only now being classified. Poor

plant nutrition and misuse of pesticides also can cause injury to

plants. Slugs, mites, and many species of wildlife such as rabbits,

deer, and crows can be extremely destructive.

Identify the problem

Careful identification of the problem is essential before control

practices can be used. Some insect damage may appear to be

a disease, especially if no visible insects are present. Nutrient

problems may also mimic diseases. Herbicide damage resulting

from misapplication of chemicals also can be mistaken for other

problems.

What to look for

Insects and mites All insects have six legs, but other than that

they are extremely variable. They include such organisms as

beetles, flies, bees, ants, moths, and butterflies. Mites and spiders

have eight legs– they are not insects. But for the purposes of this

article, they will be considered as insects.

is a cooperative project of:

Pest Management BARD

Insects damage plants in several ways. The most visible damage is

chewed plant leaves and flowers. Many pests are visible and can be

readily identified, including the Japanese beetle, Colorado potato

beetle, and numerous species of caterpillars such as tent caterpillars

and tomato horned worms. Other chewing insects, however, such as

cutworms (which are caterpillars) come out at night to eat, and burrow

into the soil during the day. These are much harder to identify but

should be considered if young plants seem to disappear overnight

or are found cut off at ground level. Sucking insects are extremely

common and can be very damaging. These insects insert their mouth

parts into the plant tissues and suck out the plant juices. They also

may carry diseases that they spread from plant to plant as they move

about the yard. You may suspect that these insects are present if you

notice misshapen plant leaves or flower petals. Often the younger leaves

will appear curled or puckered. Flowers developing from the buds may

only partially develop. Look on the underside of the leaves as that is

where many species tend to gather. Common sucking insects include grasshoppers, aphids, mealy bugs, and mites. Other insects cause

damage by boring into stems, fruits, and leaves. They may disrupt the

plant’s ability to transport water. They also create opportunities for

disease organisms to attack the plants. You may suspect the presence

of boring insects if you see small accumulations of sawdust like material

on plant stems or fruits. Common examples of boring insects include

squash vine borers and corn borers.

Diseases

Plant disease identification is extremely difficult. In some cases,

only laboratory analysis can conclusively identify diseases. Disease

organisms injure plants in several ways. Some attack leaf surfaces

and limit the plant’s ability to carry on photosynthesis. Other organisms

produce substances that clog plant tissues that transport water and

nutrients. Other disease organisms produce toxins that kill the plant or

replace plant tissue with their own. Symptoms associated with plant

diseases may include the presence of mushroom-like growths on trunks

of trees; leaves with a grayish mildewy appearance; spots on leaves,

flowers, and fruits; sudden wilting or death of a plant or branch; sap

exuding from branches or trunks of trees; and stunted growth.

Misapplication of pesticides and nutrients, air pollutants, and other

environmental conditions such as flooding and freezing can also mimic

some disease problems. Yellowing or reddening of leaves and stunted

growth may indicate a nutritional problem.At first glance, blossom end

rot of tomato, in which the bottom of the tomato turns black, might

appear to be a disease caused by some pathogen. It is actually caused

by the plant’s inability to take up calcium quickly enough during periods

of rapid growth. Prevent this problem with adequate moisture–adding

more calcium is of no benefit! Leaf curling or misshapen growth may be

a result of herbicide application.

Pest management practices

Preventing pests should be your first goal. But it’s unlikely you will be

able to avoid all pest problems, since some plant seeds and disease

organisms lay dormant in the soil for years. Diseases need three elements

to become established: the disease organism, a susceptible species,

and the proper environmental conditions. Some disease organisms can

live in the soil for years; other organisms are carried in infected plant

material that falls to the ground. Some disease organisms are carried

by insects. Good sanitation will help limit some problems. Planting

resistant varieties of plants prevents many diseases. Rotating annual

crops in a garden also prevents some diseases. You will likely have the

most opportunity to alter the environment in favor of the plant and not

the disease. Healthy, vigorous garden plants have a higher resistance

to pests. Plants that have adequate, but not excessive, nutrients are

better able to resist attacks from both diseases and insects. Excessive

rates of nitrogen often result in extremely succulent vegetative growth

and can make plants more susceptible to insect and disease problems,

as well as decrease their winter hardiness. Proper watering and spacing

of plants limits the spread of some diseases. Some disease species

require free standing water in which to spread, while other species just

need high humidity. Proper spacing provides good aeration around plants.

Trickle irrigation where water is applied to the soil and not the plant

leaves may be helpful. Barriers may be effective to exclude some pests. Mulching is effective against weeds. Fences can limit damage from

rabbits. Row covers may prevent insect damage on young vegetable

plants. Netting can be applied to small fruit trees and berries to limit

damage from birds.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

It is difficult, if not impossible, to prevent all pest problems every year.

If your best prevention efforts have not been entirely successful, you

may need to use some control methods. Integrated Pest Management

(IPM) relies on several techniques to keep pests at acceptable population

levels without excessive use of chemical controls. The basic principles

of IPM include monitoring (scouting), determining tolerable injury levels (thresholds), and applying appropriate strategies and tactics. Unlike

other methods of pest control where pesticides are applied on a rigid

schedule, IPM applies only those controls that are needed, when

they are needed, to control pests that will cause more than a tolerable

level of damage to the plant. Monitoring is essential for a successful

IPM program. Check your plants regularly. Look for signs of damage

from insects and diseases as well as indications of adequate fertility

and moisture. Early identification of potential problems is essential.

There are thousands of insects in the garden, many of which are

harmless or even beneficial. Proper identification is needed before

control strategies can be adopted. It is important to recognize the

different stages of insect development for several reasons.

The caterpillar eating your plants may be the larvae of the butterfly

you were trying to attract. The small larvae with six spots on its

back is probably the young of the ladybug, a very beneficial insect.

Some control practices are most effective on young insects. Different

stages may also be more damaging than others.  This is where the

concept of thresholds comes in. The economic  threshold is the point

 where the damage caused by the pest exceeds  the cost of control.

In a home garden, this can be difficult to determine. What you are

growing and how you intend to use it will determine how much damage

you are willing to tolerate. Remember that larger plants, especially those

close to harvest, can tolerate more damage than a tiny seedling. A few

flea beetles on a radish seedling may warrant control whereas numerous

Japanese beetles eating the leaves of beans close to harvest may not.

If the threshold level for control has been exceeded, you may need to

employ control strategies. Strategies can be discussed with the Cooperative Extension Service, garden centers, or nurseries.

Control strategies

Mechanical/physical controls

Insects--

Many insects can be removed by hand. This method is preferable if a

few, large insects are causing the problem. Simply remove the insect

from the plant and drop it into a container of soapy water or vegetable

oil. Caution: some insects have spines or excrete oily substances

that can cause injury to humans. Use caution when handling unfamiliar

insects. Wear gloves or remove insects with tweezers. Many insects can

be removed from plants by spraying water from a hose or sprayer. Small vacuums can be used to suck up insects. Traps can be used effectively

for some insects. These come in a variety of styles depending on the

insect to be caught. Many traps rely on the use of pheromones--naturally occurring chemicals produced by the insects and used to attract the

opposite sex during mating. They are extremely specific for each species

and, therefore, will not harm beneficial species. One caution with traps is

that they may actually draw more insects into your yard. You should

not place them directly in the garden. Other traps are more generic

and will attract numerous species. These include such things as yellow

and blue sticky cards. Different insects are attracted to different colors.

Sticky cards can also be used effectively to monitor insect pests.

Weeds--

Hoeing, pulling, and mulching are the most effective physical control

methods for weeds. Weeding is most important while plants are small.

Well established plants can often tolerate competition from weeds.

Diseases--

Removal of diseased material limits the spread of some diseases. Clean

up litter dropped from diseased plants. Prune diseased branches on

trees and shrubs. When pruning diseased trees and shrubs, disinfect

your pruners between cuts with a solution of chlorine bleach to avoid

spreading the disease from plant to plant. Control insects known to

spread plant diseases.

Other pests--

Fences, netting, and tree trunk guards can be extremely successful

in limiting damage from small mammals and birds. Numerous traps

are also available to catch or kill some animals. (Caution: In many states

it is illegal to move wildlife, including squirrels. Traps may also catch

animals other than the ones targeted. Check local regulations before

trapping.)

Diatomaceous earth, a powder-like dust made of tiny marine

organisms called diatoms, can be used to reduce damage from

soft-bodied insects and slugs. Spread this material on the soil--

it is sharp and cuts or irritates these soft organisms. It is harmless

to other organisms. Shallow dishes of beer can be used to trap slugs.

Biological controls

Biological controls are nature's way of regulating populations. Biological

controls rely on predators and parasites to keep organisms under control.

Many of our present pest problems result from the loss of predator

species. Other biological controls include birds and bats that eat insects.

A single bat can eat up to 600 mosquitoes an hour. Many bird species eat

insect pests on trees and in the garden. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a

bacteria that specifically attacks larvae of some insect pests including

white grubs in the lawn and Japanese beetles. This bacteria is harmless

to desirable species.

Chemical controls

When using chemical controls, be very careful with pesticides. Most

common pesticides are broad spectrum in that they kill a wide variety

of organisms. Spray applications of insecticides are likely to kill

numerous beneficial insects as well as the pests. Herbicides applied

to weed species may drift in the wind or vaporize in the heat of the day

and injure non-targeted plants. Runoff of pesticides can pollute water.

Many pesticides are toxic to humans as well as pets and small animals

that may enter your yard. Some common, non-toxic household

substances are as effective as many more toxic compounds. A few

drops of dishwashing detergent mixed with water and sprayed on plants

is extremely effective in controlling many soft-bodied insects such as

aphids and whiteflies. Crushed garlic mixed with water may control

certain insects. A baking soda solution has been shown to help control

some fungal diseases on roses.

When using pesticides, follow label directions carefully. Altering the

rate of application or increasing the frequency of application can injure

desirable plant and animal species. Spot applications of the pesticide to

the targeted pest can reduce the amount used and help reduce the

risk of injury to non-targeted species. Do not apply on windy days.

Read the label for information on other environmental conditions such

as temperature and rain that may influence the pesticide’s effectiveness.

Be aware that many so-called "organic" pesticides may be just as toxic as

the synthetic or chemical products.

Tasty vegetables

Vegetable Gardening Tips

With the costs of living rising all the time, it may be possible to save money and increase your family's health at the same time by growing vegetables in your backyard.

It's a good idea to choose your favorite vegetables to grow and plan beds for early, middle of the season and late varieties.

Most vegetables require at least 6 hours of sunlight per day, some need 8. Some quick growers like lettuce and radish can be grown between the rows of plants that take longer to mature, like beet or corn, thus making full use of the area available.

Throughout dry periods, vegetable gardens need extra watering. Most vegetables benefit from an inch or more of water each week, especially when they are fruiting.

During the growing season watch for insect pests. If you discover a bug problem early it will be much easier, but be careful to not use pesticides once the vegetable are close to being picked unless it becomes an absolute necessity. Organic gardening is one healthy and environment-friendly option. Once you have reaped your crop, put the vegetable waste into your compost pile so that it can be recycled for next spring.

It is important to protect your vegetable garden from wild animals looking for a tasty treat. Make sure your garden is surrounded by a fence that will keep out dogs, rabbits, and other animals. The harm done by wandering animals during one season can equal the cost of a fence. A fence also can serve as a frame for peas, beans, tomatoes, and other crops that need support.

Protection is needed in order for your vegetable garden to yield a bountiful harvest. Hard work will pay dividends if necessary precautions have been made.

Gardening gloves?

Healthy hands are the Gardener's Best Tools

Here are the major reasons why one should consider getting a pair of trusty gardening gloves:

Gloves protect your hands from blisters, thorns and cuts while doing rough work like digging or pruning in the garden. Investing in one or more pairs of quality gloves is a good decision.

Here are some tips on how to choose the pair that will suit you best:  
1. Look for quality leather gloves with a cloth back; this will let the gloves breathe and keep your hands dry, cool and comfortable.

2. If mud bothers you, select rubber gloves with cotton lining.

3. When spraying pesticides or chemicals choose gloves that are made from neoprene. Gloves made from latex or any type of plastic may not offer the best protection.

4. When pruning roses, use gloves that reach up to the arms.

5. If you usually operate large garden machinery, buy gloves in brown instead of red as the latter may dye your hands.

6. Light cotton or even fingerless gloves may be useful for transplanting seedlings. They will allow more dexterity and so help to prevent the tiny roots from being crushed.

7. And of course, make sure that the gloves you buy actually fit your hands. If you have small hands, try the children's gardening section. there's nothing worse than trying to garden is gloves that are too big.

Your gloves must be comfortable as well as give protection to best serve your gardening needs.

Choosing the Best Plants for your Garden

Choosing the Best Plants for your Garden  Many times we buy plants on impulse then find there is nowhere in the garden that really suits them. Before buying plants carefully examine your garden to see how much sun and shade it gets, whether the soil is well drained or waterlogged and whether your garden area is sheltered or windswept. You'll then be equipped to go and buy the best plants for your situation; shade-loving plants for the sheltered areas, sun-lovers for the warm spots, drought-resistant plants for the parched areas which may be either sunny or shaded, and swamp plants for the poorly-drained parts.   But wait! Test your soil first, to determine the pH level of your soil and what kind of nutrients you need to add, if any. Is the soil acid or alkaline? Most plants prefer soil that is slightly acidic, but there are some that must have alkaline soil to grow.  You can alter the soil's pH level, but it's much easier to simply plant for the soil you have.  Now you are ready to plant. Well - almost. Will you plant in groups or singly? If you buy 'one of everything' your garden may seem rather spotty. Group plantings are organized, harmonious and you can vary the color for interest.   Before planting, place your chosen plants around the garden bed in their pots to see how they will look. Re-arrange them until you are satisfied. Grouping plants in sets of threes or fives usually looks better than planting in groups of even numbers. Be sure that you have an interesting combination of colors and textures of plants. Tall plants should go to the back, or the center, if your garden will be viewed equally from all sides. Try to keep your plants away from trees. The roots of trees are fiercely competitive and will steal all the nutrients and moisture meant for your flowers.  The right color scheme is one way to maintain the harmony in your garden. Imagine the color of the flowers when they are in bloom. Some colors may clash with others, but can still be planted side-by-side if they have a different blooming season. Foliage color is also important. Many flower plants have silver, gray or purplish foliage that is just as attractive as the flower. This means that they are still attractive well past the blooming season and so have added value.are still attractive well past the blooming season and so have added value.

Opening Remark;

Mary Mary quite contrary how does your garden grow?  With silver belles and cockle shell and pretty maids all in a row.  This popular children's nursery rhyme explains the way we all want our gardens to be "Perfect."  Well gardens are hard work and take time but the benefits are many and the feeling of accomplishment is great. There are different kinds of gardens, flower gardens, vegetable gardens, herb gardens, Japanese gardens, rock gardens etc.  These are all beautiful in their own way and it all depends on what you like.  This blog is going to be presented as a site for gardening hints and advice. My hope is that it will benefit those of you who read it.  Feel free to comment and let me know if you have anything to add.  I welcome your input.