No matter what type of plants that you are growing from flowers to fruits and vegetables, there are some plant care techniques that you should be aware of to be able to take care of your plants. https://ecogardener.com/blogs/news/how-to-care-for-your-plants
2. How To Care For Your Plants
Gardening is becoming popular again for
many reasons. The economy has many
people looking for a way to save money
on their grocery bills. In addition, growing
your own organic garden provides you
with a way to know exactly what you are p
utting in your body. There is no need to w
orry about pesticides and other chemicals
being in your food.
With gardening it is important to know
how to properly care for your plants. No
matter what type of plants that you are
growing from flowers to fruits and
vegetables, there are some plant care
techniques that you should be aware of.
3. Location
When it comes to plant
care location is important.
Most vegetable plants will
require full sun. You will
want to find a location for
your plants that gets a min-
imum of six hours Of sun-
light each day.
In order to make sure that all of your plants receive the most expo-
sure to the sun, place the taller plants such as corn, pole beans, and
indeterminate tomatoes on the north or the west side of your garden
so that they do not shade the smaller plants.
The location of your garden is key to your plant care. Choosing the
perfect spot to grow your plants can be the difference of having an
abundant harvest or a small one.
4. Soil
The best soil for vegetables will include a lot of organic matter and
compost. Make sure that you incorporate organic materials into your soil
and that the soil you are planting in is not compacted
or sandy.
When you have a good mixture of soil it will bind together when
squeezed, but it will break apart when it is disturbed. Good soil is
full of living microorganisms to help provide your plants with food.
5. Watering
One of the biggest mistakes that people make with their gardens is over wa-
tering. You should provide your vegetable garden with about an inch of water
each week. This inch should include natural rainfall, so if it rains a lot and then
is sunny, do not water your garden in the same week.
The best way to water your garden is to use a watering system. Soaker hoses
and drip lines will deliver water slowly to your plants. The water is delivered to
the roots where it is most needed. Wetting the foliage of the plants can cause
diseases. Automatic waterers are also a great way to make sure that you do
not forget this important step.
6. Mulch
Organic mulch around your plants can help insulate the soil.
It will keep the soil cool in the summer and warmer in the
winter. In addition, organic mulch will retain moisture and will
suppress weeds. It can also protect your plant from diseases.
When choosing mulch it is important to make sure that you know
where it comes from. There are some mulches that contain harmful
chemicals. The Mulch and Soil Council is a non-profit organization that
certifies bags of mulches to be free of harmful ingredients. If buying
bags of mulch make sure to look for this seal.
7. Pest Control
Almost every vegetable garden will experience some pests. However,
only about 3 percent of insects are actually harmful. If you have taken
the steps to promote healthy plant growth in your garden you have
very little to worry about pest invasions.
It is best to avoid insecticides. There are many
natural ways to remove pests from your garden without resorting to
harmful chemicals.
8. Fertilizing
Another common mistake when it comes to plant care is using too much
fertilizer. Too much fertilizer can provide your plants with lush green growth, but
you will end up with smaller fruit and a smaller harvest in the end.
In addition, there are many fertilizers that contain chemicals that will leech
into your plants. This is not something that you want in the food that you
are going to eat.
One of the best ways to promote plant growth is by using organic compost.
About 20 percent of the makeup of your soil should be organic compost.
When you do this you are supplying your plants with the nutrients that they need
in order to naturally thrive. A good rule of thumb is to feed the soil and then let
that soil feed your plants.
If you use the right amount of compost in your soil you will not need to add any
type of fertilizer to for your plants as they will have all that they need in order to
grow.