Growing healthy organic plants

Last updated on December 10th, 2024 at 06:24 am

Get good at Growing Healthy Organic Plants. Organic gardening can be a great thing for a healthier diet. Consider your garden an investment of your time and hard work. Many gardeners can get stressed because they’re not quite sure where to start. Here are some solid tips to help you get started.

Killing Weeds Organically

One truly easy organic way to kill weeds in your garden is to use boiling water. Using this method will kill weeds down to the roots. It is important to keep the boiling water away from other wanted plants and yourself.

This method works mainly on young weeds that are just emerging. If the weed is large and has been there for quite some time it will only kill the top portion of the plant. Additionally, It will grow back and produce more seeds thus more weeds!

The best way to remove weeds organically is to pull them out by hand, oh I know it is a tough chore but you could hire someone to do this. After pulling weeds out remember to apply an organic preemergent to keep the weeds from germinating again, and again.

More about killing weeds here at “How to Get rid of Weeds”.

Growing healthy organic plants — Boiling water to kill weeds Image by Annalisa Ideler from Pixabay

Does Vinegar work to kill weeds?

Another easy to kill weeds organically is to use vinegar, salt, and dish soap. Did you know that vinegar is more toxic than Roundup? Especially if they are purchased at local nurseries or greenhouses as most contain up to 20% acetic acid. The grocery store vinegar is typically 5%. It is something to think about before looking in your kitchen pantry for Vinegar to kill weeds. Read more about using Vinegar to kill unwanted plants.

Choose plants that produce high yields

Below is a list of plants that produce high yields. Additionally, there are many more but this list is a good start and will do well in and around the American Southwest.

Tomatoes
Squash
Potatoes
Okra
Peppers
Basil
Chives
Thyme
Mint
Dill

There are normally non-genetically modified plants. If you are starting from seeds look for the “NON-GMO” label on the seed packets. These often give higher yields due to higher survival rates.

Use organic fertilizers to feed your plants

Smart gardeners are switching to organic methods to grow healthier plants without harmful chemicals. Organic fertilizers, made from natural materials like compost, manure, or bone meal, enrich the soil and support strong plant growth. With so many options available, you can choose ones tailored to your garden’s needs, whether it’s improving soil structure or boosting nutrients like nitrogen and potassium. This approach not only benefits your plants but also creates a safer environment for your family and local wildlife. Why rely on synthetic chemicals when organic alternatives prove effective and eco-friendly? Below is a list.

Top 10 organic fertilizers

Bone Meal
Blood Meal
Fish Emulsion
Manure
Corn Gluten
Cottonseed meal
Kelp
Bat Guano
Worm Castings
Compost Make Your Own

One of the best is Fox Farm™ organic fertilizers are good for feeding your plants.

Which is best? There are many factors on which are best. Where you live, soil, weather, rain, and much more. Furthermore, if I had to choose one it would be Fox Farm fertilizers with Bat Guano a close second. Yes, Fox Farm products do have a Bat Guano fertilizer.

What about ornamental plants?

The same thing applies to plants that do not produce edible food. Conversely, Planting and growing bulbs are very simple, and once planted the bulbs will grow for years. It’s important to choose your plants carefully, you could have flower blossom from the first weeks of spring to the end of the summer. How to choose the right plants for your garden.

Mowing your lawn

Mowing lawn — Do not go too low when mowing your lawn

It is a good idea not to trim it too low to the ground. The rule of thumb is to go at about medium level in early spring then move the lever up one notch as time goes on. Eventually at the end of the fall season.

Another good tip is to leave your grass growing a bit longer so that the roots can grow deeper. This results in a stronger lawn and is less likely to dry out. I have seen neighbors, relatives, and friends who cut their lawns low every time, this is not good for your lawn. If the grass is too short that will lead to shallow roots, which will cause a brown/yellowish and dried-out lawn.

How to irrigate your garden

A good drip system is the best way to water your garden whether it is a plant or edible garden drip watering system is the way to go. You can find a good landscaping company that can install drip/sprinkler systems over at angi-list-directory

It’s important to Irrigate your garden efficiently. A soaker hose will save you time because you won’t have to individually water each plant as you do with a regular nozzle or a container that you need to constantly refill.

Turn the water on at low pressure so your delicate plants will not be damaged by the soaker hose. Let the soaker hose do its thing for a couple of hours, and your plants are watered. If you are the type that has a busy lifestyle try using a water timer on your faucet hose,

It takes work, time, and effort to be successful with healthy organic plants. Also, to get the best results, you must stay focused and keep up with it. If you keep all these suggestions in mind, you have taken the right steps towards becoming a successful organic gardener.