If you want to start an organic garden, having a huge backyard and plenty of planting space certainly would be handy. Even if you’ve got limited space, you can successfully grow an organic garden. You just need creativity and resourcefulness.
Why Are Organic Gardens So Popular?
Exactly why has this hobby become so popular in the last few years? Gardening has always been a favorite pastime of people all over the world but what makes organic gardening different? Organic gardening refers to growing plants without using artificial fertilizers and pesticides. Research has demonstrated that crops grown using the organic method contain much more nutrients and are healthier for human consumption. Aside from health reasons, many people have started their own organic gardens because of the financial benefits. You don’t have to spend money on fruits and vegetables if you can grow them yourself in your backyard.
Where Can You Get Organic Fertilizer?
There are nurseries selling organic fertilizers but it is much better if you make compost yourself. It’s not that hard and there are no special materials needed. Dig a compost pit in a corner of your backyard. You can place fruit and vegetable rinds, grass clippings, dried leaves, and other organic stuff from the garden and the kitchen in the compost pit. Mix these materials every now and then so they rot evenly. They may emit a slight odor of decomposition. If you don’t like the smell, put a lid over the pit. When the compost materials have rotted to a dark, earthy material, they can be mixed in with the soil and used as fertilizer.
What If You Don’t Have a Backyard?
If you have no backyard, you can still start an organic garden beside a south-facing window or on your balcony or porch. Take advantage of pots, planter boxes, hanging baskets, wooden barrels, and any other container you can use for planting. Choose plants that don’t take up too much space and thrive even in small containers, Tomatoes, beans, lettuce, peppers, spring onions, eggplants, radishes, and carrots are good plants to grow in containers. Place the containers in areas in your home that get the most sunlight. These plants are not very high-maintenance, but you do need to water them regularly.
If you want to maximize the limited space you have, you can try a method called square foot gardening
Don’t forget about composting regardless of how big or small your organic garden is. Composting is a vital element of organic gardening that will make your plants reach their full growth potential. Instead of digging a hole in the ground, use a covered bin for your compost pit. Place the compost bin in a corner of the balcony or in the garage.
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