| Every spring, whether northern or southern | | | | How to Make an Organic Garden - Step #4 |
| hemisphere, many people begin to think about | | | | Order seeds, using information about your climate |
| gardening. Some have been gardening every year | | | | and soil. Be sure you order certified organic seed so |
| since they were old enough to help in the family | | | | that you can have an authentic organic garden. A |
| garden back of the house. Others have begun | | | | good online seed supply source is Main Street Seed |
| gardening only recently. Most have questions, though. | | | | and Supply. You can buy as little as a teaspoon of |
| How to make an organic garden is a question that | | | | seed for a small organic garden, or pounds of organic |
| arises more frequently these days, as people | | | | seed for farming. While ordering seeds, be sure to |
| become more concerned about health issues. They | | | | include onions, garlic, and marigold flowers. These |
| want to know that the produce they are eating is | | | | plants can be a first line of defense in an organic |
| good for their health and safe for their families to | | | | garden's pest control program. |
| eat. They want to begin an organic garden. | | | | How to Make an Organic Garden - Step #5 |
| Many books have been written about how to make | | | | While you wait for your seeds to arrive, you need to |
| an organic garden, and we cannot compete with | | | | prepare the organic garden bed. If there is grass |
| them in one article, but we offer here 7 basic steps | | | | growing in the location, removed it first. Use a sharp, |
| for beginners. | | | | flat-edged spade to slice out the sod. Shake off as |
| How to Make an Organic Garden - Step #1 | | | | much soil as you can, and remove the grass from |
| Begin your organic garden by learning your plant | | | | the area. Till the soil to a depth of about 12", and |
| hardiness zone. You will need to know your climate, | | | | work in organic fertilizer, checking your soil analysis to |
| and what organic produce will grow best there. If | | | | know what amendments are needed. |
| you live in the United States, you can access the | | | | How to Make an Organic Garden - Step #6 |
| USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map on many gardening | | | | If you have organic seedlings to plant, water them |
| sites or seed websites. Planting directions on seed | | | | well the day before you intend to plant them in the |
| packets are based on the average last frost date. | | | | organic garden. The best time to set them in the |
| The last frost date for your area will be the last | | | | garden is a still, overcast day. If you must plant on a |
| spring day when you might have a killing frost. | | | | sunny day, take care not to stress the plants more |
| How to Make an Organic Garden - Step #2 | | | | than necessary. Use the seedlings' pots to determine |
| After you have determined your local climate, it is | | | | how deeply to plant them. |
| time to choose a location on your property for your | | | | If you are planting seeds in your organic garden, |
| organic garden. The area most convenient to your | | | | follow instructions that come with each type of seed. |
| back door may not be the best for an organic | | | | How to Make an Organic Garden - Step #7 |
| garden. Look for a location that never has standing | | | | Apply organic mulch soon after planting. Mulch |
| water. Your plants need good soil drainage. Check to | | | | conserves water, cools soil, and keeps weeds at bay. |
| see if the plants will be protected from the wind. Will | | | | If you use compost, chipped bark, shredded bark, |
| your organic garden be close to water so you can | | | | shredded, shredded leaves, or straw, your mulch will |
| easily care for it? | | | | also improve soil quality in your organic garden. Apply |
| How to Make an Organic Garden - Step #3 | | | | 2 to 4 inches of mulch, being careful not to get it too |
| Next, you will need to test the soil for your organic | | | | close to the plant stems. Mulch can rot the stems. It |
| garden. In the U.S., check online for your county or | | | | can also become a hideout for nibbling little garden |
| state Home/Agricultural Extension Service. They will | | | | mice. |
| guide you in taking soil samples from different areas | | | | Organic Garden Tip: |
| of the location you chose for your organic garden. Be | | | | Label your plant rows and keep a record of your |
| sure you label each sample of soil as to part of the | | | | garden's progress. Save seed information for |
| garden, and send it to be analyzed. This analysis will | | | | everything in your organic garden. A garden journal, |
| help you know what to add to the soil for a great | | | | with photos throughout the gardening season, will |
| harvest. Remember, one of the basic things you will | | | | help you know what you want to repeat or change |
| do in your organic garden is to feed the soil so the | | | | in next year's organic garden. |
| soil can feed the plants. | | | | |