

How to Start an Organic Garden

How To Start An Organic Garden

Till a Sunny Spot

Choose a location that gets lots of sun and access to water. Since there will be no synthetic fertilizers in this garden, it’s critical that the ground be as healthy and rich as possible (Image 1). When making an organic garden, weigh the desire to have organic produce with the extra work that the garden often requires.


Another way to aerate and loosen the soil, especially if there is lots of clay, is to double dig. Pull back the loose soil from the top 1′ of the garden. Then use a garden fork to loosen the lower hard ground (Image 3). Add compost or manure to the hole so it will get pushed into the holes and cracks.


Work in the Compost

Compost is an organic gardener’s best friend (Image 1). Compost is fertilizer, mulch and weed preventer, all in one. If there is not a compost pile to draw from, then compost can be purchased by the bag or truckful. Because an organic garden won’t have the benefit of synthetic fertilizers, the compost must be worked deeply into the soil. The deeper the compost is worked in to the soil, the easier a plant will grow into the soil. Then it can put all its energy into producing vegetables.


The upper soil zone, the first 6″ to 10″, is where most of the small feeder roots grow on vegetable plants. To make sure these roots get the food they need, spread a 2″ to 4″ layer of compost (more if available) over the whole surface of the garden (Image 3). Remember, be generous.


Divide Into Beds

For a large bed or garden, divide it equally into squares, leaving a 2′-wide path between the sections (Image 1). This will create separate deep mounds that are narrow enough to work around and to reach across. The deeper the soil is, the quicker the plants get growing.

One way to keep stray plants and weeds out of the garden is to cover the rows with newspaper and straw. The paper cuts out light and air, and the straw makes it look neater and keeps the paths cooler. Once the papers are down, wet them until they’re heavy and set in place (to keep them from blowing away).

Then apply a 2″ layer of dry straw on top. Landscape fabric is another good way to prevent weeds in garden rows (Image 2). It’s easy to lay out, and it can be pulled at the end of the season, before tilling for your next crop.

Out With the Weeds and Pests



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