Why spend hundreds of dollars a month from your family's budget by buying conventional produce from the supermarket? You can turn a small plot of land near your house into fresh fruit, like strawberries and blueberries, and vegetables such as potatoes, tomatoes, onions, garlic, lettuce and much more.
Building your own organic garden will not only be healthier for you but also save on your food bill.
The first step of planting your organic garden is by learning what crops are native to your area or what crops will grow best in your climate.
When you purchase seed packets they have an average last frost date, which means that the last frost date for your area will be the last spring day when you might have a killing frost.
Then your organic garden will be for not.
When planting your garden be aware of spots with standing water.
You want your plants to have adequate soil drainage.
The most important factor in your organic garden is the soil and fertilizer.
Decaying matter such as leaves, chopped up twigs, coffee grounds, vegetable peeling, grass clippings, or just about anything that doesn't have fat or mean on it can be turned into compost that can fertilize your garden.
You can also purchase compost in bulk or build your own compost pile in another part of your yard.
The most important thing for your organic garden is to feed the soil with nutrients that will n turn feed your plants.
Now the fun part: choosing your plants.
Be sure your seeds are certified organic and not conventional.
If your buying a plant from a nursery be aware that many nurseries carry conventional plants that were raised on pesticides and traces of these chemicals can find their way to your garden.
Make sure you closely inspect any plants you purchase before you take it home to plant.
Look for signs of insects or damaged leaves.
Inspect the roots of the plant to make sure it looks healthy.
Now its time to plant.
Before planting make sure that your plants get a good drink of water.
A moist plant root will help your plant adjust to its new garden and avoid transplant shock.
When digging holes for you plants make sure the hole is just as deep and at least twice as wide as the root of the plant.
Back-fill the hole with soil and water.
If you have organic seeds, water them thoroughly they day before you plant them.
Follow the directions on the back of the organic seed packets before planting.
All seeds are different.
Once all your seeds and plants are planted, layer your garden with at least three inches of organic mulch.
Be sure to not get the mulch too close to the plant stems as it can rot away the stems.
Organic mulch can be in the form of organic shredded bark, leaves, grass clippings or compost.
This helps retain soil moisture, cuts down on weeds and improves the soil quality in your garden.
Remember to mark your garden with the types of vegetables you planted.