That
depends on the context. In simple terms, growing organically could be described
as growing in harmony with nature, without using synthetic fertilizers,
pesticides, herbicides or other such products that upset the balance of the
ecosystem. For farmers or commercial growers, however, it can be quite complex.
Happily
for gardeners, organic gardening at home is a personal choice, so it’s a lot
more straight-forward – and much more fun. Here’s how the managing editor of
Organic Gardening magazine, Therese Ciesinski, describes it:
“Organic gardening is more than simply avoiding synthetic
pesticides and fertilizers. It is about observing nature’s processes, and
emulating them in your garden as best you can. And the most important way to do
that is to understand the makeup of your soil and to give it what it needs. If
anything could be called a ‘rule’ in organic gardening, it’s this: feed the
soil, not the plant.”
To
feed the soil, gardeners must restore the resources their gardens consume, by
adding organic
matter. That includes adding compost, and possibly growing cover crops –
so-called green manure – that are tilled back into the soil. You can use
compost as a replenishing additive, to make both clay and sandy soils more
plant-friendly, or as a mulch on top of your garden beds.
Compost
is the microorganism- and nutrient-rich soil produced from the aerobic
decomposition of organic matter. The garden itself is the source for many of
the ingredients in compost, including grass clippings, plant waste, and
shredded leaves in fall. You can also add kitchen waste such as vegetable and
fruit scraps and peelings, coffee grounds, eggshells, and dead houseplants to
your compost pile, and, if you wish, chicken, cow or horse manure. (Don’t add
dog or cat droppings or dairy and meat products, however, as they may contain
unwanted pathogens, or attract pests to the pile.)
Plants
that aren’t already stressed are better equipped to withstand insect
infestations, too. That doesn’t mean there won’t be damage to your plants.
Organic gardeners generally allow for a certain amount of pest damage, because
they understand that they are all part of a natural system that includes
wildlife – even bugs.
Diversity
helps. Don’t make life easy for the bugs by planting large swaths of one crop,
but instead interplant different kinds of plants. And know your plants. Many
organic gardeners find that they can keep damage to an acceptable level by
checking their plants regularly for early signs of trouble.
Some
insects can be controlled just by hand-picking. Potato plants, for example, can
be defoliated by potato beetle larvae, but Burpee horticulture manager Bill
Rein reports that walking through your potato plot once a week can solve the
problem. Just turn over the leaves to check for bright orange larvae, and pinch
off the leaves on which you find them. Dispose of the leaves safely (not in the
compost pile).
It
helps to know which bugs are beneficial, and which are destructive pests, and
when they are likely to arrive in your garden. Often, the beneficial insects,
such as lady beetles, are predators that eat the eggs or larvae of pest
insects, such as aphids – and when the two have similar seasons, it creates a
nice balance in nature, and your garden. Also, if you know when seasonal
infestations of particular insects are likely, you can use other defenses:
floating row covers to prevent moths from landing and laying eggs, sticky traps
to capture airborne insect pests, or collars (tinfoil works well) around the
base of plants to deter borers, cutworms and similar bugs.
If
all other methods fail, organic gardeners may need to use some deterrents that
won’t harm the environment or other living creatures. Most experts recommend
the natural bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt, to get rid of caterpillars
and other leaf-eaters – but do keep in mind that some caterpillars develop into
desirable butterflies. You can also use insecticidal soaps or horticultural oil
to get rid of pests, and sometimes just a good spray of water will do the
trick.
Don’t
forget that good gardening techniques apply whether or not you are gardening
organically. So, choose disease-resistant plant varieties that are right for
your garden’s conditions, mulch your garden beds to retard weed growth and keep
moisture in the soil, and never dispose of diseased or infested plants by
putting them in the compost pile.
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