Organic Vegetable Gardening

Organic gardening is claimed, by some, as the only way to grow vegetables with the safety of the environment in mind. This is at least partly correct, but there are some commercial and synthetically designed products that are just as environmentally safe when applied correctly. In many cases, it's getting harder to distinguish between organic and inorganic compounds.

Manure has been a popular fertilizer choice for years. The nitrogen that it provides is essential for growing healthy vegetables. There is some downside to this type of fertilizer, including the odor and the possible toxicity to humans. Parasites and viruses are often found in animal droppings and can prove harmful to humans and other animals. Manure is still an excellent choice, though, if handled properly.

Many people prefer to use a compost mixture made from leftover food, grass, leaves and straw. The main disadvantage of compost piles is the number of insects that they attract. Keep this in mind if you choose to take this route.

Organic gardeners will also utilize various biological control methods to control pests. Certain predators can be introduced to devour the harmful insects in your garden. This eliminates the need for chemical controls that may cause problems of their own. You'll need to do your homework and determine which ones are right for your circumstances when considering this method.

Trap crops are another form of biological control that will help protect your vegetables. These plants will be sacrificed to draw the insects away from the plants you want to save. This method will also reduce the need for chemicals. On the other hand, growing these plants will require as much time and material as growing the actual vegetables.

Many of the chemicals and insecticides that are used for insect control are also made from natural sources. They all contain at least a small amount of some natural substances. All commercial and synthetic gardening formulas are derived from something found in nature.

An example of this is pyrethrum, which is the main ingredient in many insecticides. It is found in many insect related applications, including most wasp and insect sprays. The blossom of the pyrenthrum flower (Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium) is where this is found. This is obviously based on a natural plant, even though it's commonly thought of as an artificial insecticide.

On the other hand, a completely natural organic insecticide is nicotine. Although it does it's job well, it's also very toxic to humans and other animals. This is an example of when natural organic doesn't necessarily mean safer. Nicotine should be handled with great care because of this.

There are several natural organic mulches that will protect your soil by retaining water and forming a barrier against weeds and insects. Examples of these are wood chips and leaves. Black plastic is an artificial mulch that is also very effective for this purpose. It's non-toxic and doesn't decay and is excellent for weed control. It can even increase solar irradiation, thus improving pest control.

Personal preference, as well as your individual needs, will determine which method is the right one for you. There has been much advancement made in the field of chemistry in the last 50 years. This has made available a number of environmentally healthy options for gardeners. The traditional organic methods are still very effective today as well. Today's gardener is probably best served by trying to incorporate a little of the old and some of the new as well. Finding the balance between the two may help you produce the best vegetables you've ever grown.

         

Introduction to Vegetable Gardening