The Cheapest Way to Garden

To some, gardening may seem like an expensive waste of time. However, this is only true based on the decisions you make. If you wish to have a non-organic garden, the cost will most likely be expensive. But, if you wish to have an organic garden, the cost is more affordable.
Here are some ways to make your garden a productive, but inexpensive one:

• Reuse rain water! If you live in a climate where you get rain at least once a day, don't bother about hooking up with a sprinkler system. But if you live in a drier climate, it is advised that you hook up with a sprinkler system and reuse rain water when it's possible.
• Save and use your own compost. Kitchen scraps, and things found in nature are the best composts, instead of purchasing manure at a local nursery. Manure is a very helpful complement, but if you would like a more affordable garden, natural compost is the way to go.
• Fencing--If you have pests such as deer, rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, etc. that get into your garden, the most affordable way to get rid of them is the natural way. Fencing really depens on what kind of animals are trampling, eating and otherwise destroying your garden. If you have deer problems, you want the fence to be high enough so the deer can't jump over it. For rabbits, it needs to be made with small enough holes (like chicken mesh) so they can't squeeze through it. And for raccoons, it needs to be strong enough so they can't bite through it. Electric fences are thin, and a great way to keep plants in and animals out. But they are not recommended if you have children, dogs or cats.
• Plants-- if you have rabbit problems, plant a row of lavender, thyme, marigold, onion, chives or garlic around your other plants. Catnip is a plant that many animals do not bother with. But do not plant this if you have a lot of cats in your area... or you might have a new pest problem to take care of.

How to Grow Potatoes

Potatoes are not that easy to grow. Your soil has to have a pH of 5.8 to 6.5. The ground cannot be soggy; it must be evenly moist, or the potatoes may rot. The potato can also be hard to grow because of pest and disease problems.
Growing:
When you purchase potato seeds, if you are not going to plant them immediately, store them in a cool, dry place. For larger potato seeds, cut them in half. Each section that you cut must have two or three eyes (green sprouts growing out of them). Put small potatoes in the ground whole. What I have done before (and it worked) is buy a bag of potatoes from the grocery store and wait to plant them until one of them has eyes growing out of them. Grow potatoes in an area that receives full sun.
Watering:
Black, hollow dents on potatoes are often caused by over-watering. Knobby, stiff potatoes are the cause of under-watering. Water thoroughly once a week on warm sunny days.
Harvesting:
Harvest when the top of the potato plant dies off or when it starts to flower. You may leave the potatoes in the ground for a few weeks longer, but any more than 3-4 will make the potatoes no good.

How to Garden Organically

If you purchase your vegetable plants from a local nursery, as I do with tomato plants, instead of starting all of them from seed, there is no way that you will have a 100% organic garden. Since the tomato plant (in my case) is fed by the nursery with gardening food, it is not organic. Unless there is an Organic Nursery in your area, you will have a little garden food in your garden, or, not a totally organic garden.
But, if you are completely into organic gardening, DON"T purchase seedlings from a nursery. Start them inside or in a greenhouse from organic seeds. This will allow you to have a 100% organic garden!
It isn't easy to plant seedlings inside. You must first plant them, care for them and, finally, harden them. The hardening process is a harsh but necessary process that gets the plant used to the outdoors after being raised in a warm indoor environment.

The Benefits of Organic Gardening

Before you start gardening, you must choose if you are going to garden organically or non-organically. This article explains the benefits of organic gardening.
Pesticides are not only harmful to people, they are also harmful to animals. Pesticides may make the produce from your garden good-looking and beautiful, but they are harmful.
Organic gardening, on the other hand, is a smart, affordable choice. Using only natural composts, no garden foods or pesticides, the plants are healthier and much, much more flavorful. Though pesticides may keep away the bad bugs and slugs, it also keeps away the good flavor of vegetables. For the three years I've been gardening, I've noticed that my garden does fine without pesticides. If there are plenty of compost and other natural nutrients in it, the garden will flourish... without pesticides.
Here are even more benefits of organic gardening:

• It's affordable. You don't have to go to your local nursery to purchase any food for your garden.
• It's healthy for both you and your garden.
• It tastes SO much better!
• You won't have to worry about killing ladybugs and worms.
• Grows plants the NATURAL way.
• Produce may look healthier with pesticides, but it's only skin deep.

So, although pesticides are sometimes said to be: "the way to go", it is not altogether the best choice. Consider some other alternatives!

How to Prepare your Garden for Planting

There are several different things you must do to get your garden planted. You can read how to prepare your soil in the previous article (down).

First, you should prepare the soil. Make sure you have plenty of compost and manure to mix into the soil before you plant your garden. You will want to rototill all the compost in thoroughly.

Then, water your garden until it is well soaked. All this should be done one week before planting day. Leave the garden for about 4 days or until you think the soil is at a consistency that is good for planting.

The Key to a Flourishing Vegetable Garden

There are several keys to a flourishing and healthy vegetable garden. However, few are as important as rich, fertile soil. The soil needs to have enough nutrients for the plants to feed from and grow. Without rich soil, the produce from the garden is often small in size and flavorless.

The question is: What are the factors to fertile soil? There are several answers.

• Steer manure has proven to be very beneficial in my garden. For larger gardens, 6 bags at least will be needed (1 cubic ft. per bag). For smaller gardens, 4 bags at most will be needed (1 cubic ft. per bag).
• Kitchen refuse is excellent for garden compost: banana peels, orange peels, rotten or old produce, etc. But do not use moldy or mildewy foods, as mold can harm and destroy plants.
• Some natural compost is: pinecones, pine needles, dead leaves, grass clippings, dead flower heads (NOT dandelions) mulch, and moss. However, do NOT use weeds, dead or alive, as they may spring up later.
• Fruit and vegetable remnants, egg shells, nut shells, tea leaves, tea bags, and coffee grounds
• Lint, shredded paper, saw dust, straw, bird seed and sea weed
• Dead plants from last year's garden

Although everything mentioned above will decompose over time, a faster way to compost is with a composter. There are outdoor composters and indoor composters, which conveniently fit right into your kitchen. Outdoor composters are faster, however, as the sun warms the food and quickens the process.