ORGANIC GARDENING TIPS
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| 51. Pick your peas regularly - it will encourage the plants to grow more of them. |
| 52. Wash edible blossoms first in salt water, then rinse in cold water to remove dirt and insects. |
| 53. Pick flowers early in the morning for best results for fresh arrangements or preserving. |
| 54. Use native plants in your landscaping whenever possible. They grow naturally in your climate and are less susceptible to insects and disease that occur in your area. |
| 55. Rotate your crops each year to help reduce pest and disease problems, as well as correct nutrient deficiencies and excesses. |
| 56 Divide plants in the cool of the evening to avoid dehydration. Replant as soon as possible. |
| 57. Check the labels on seed packets and new plants - "sun" means direct sunlight at least 8 hours a day. "Shade" means less than 4 hours of sunlight, and "partial sun" means between 4 and 6 hours of sunlight a day. |
| 58. Coffee grounds make excellent mulch around acid-loving plants. |
| 59. A plant not receiving enough sun will be misshapen, won't bloom, and is likely to die. A plant receiving too much sun is burned, stressed, and also likely to die. |
| 60. Monochromatic gardens often make the most harmonious gardens. You can choose a dramatic bright color such as vivid orange, a soothing soft color such as soft lavender or white, or any shade in between. |
| 61. Boundaries of fences, stone walls, and hedges give order and design to your garden. Paths are important for movement and maintenance. |
| 62. Think ahead when planning trees. Think of how big they will be in 20 years, where their roots will grow and how their shade will fall. |
| 63. Don't pile mulch against tree trunks. It spreads disease and pests. |
| 64. Bats are the best weapon against insects you can find. Many in North America feed exclusively on insects and eat more than birds and bug zappers combined. |
| 65. Use height, contrast and color to draw the eye to a particular part of your yard or garden you want to draw attention to. |
| 66. Start tomato seeds indoors and plant the seedlings outdoors after all danger of frost has passed. Plant them in rich soil with a trellis or stake to climb. They also like full sun. |
| 67. A garden soil that has been well mulched and amended periodically requires only about a 1" layer of compost yearly to maintain its quality. |
| 68. The longer the growing season, the more compost is needed in the soil. A longer growing season requires more nutrients and organic matter in the soil. |
| 69. When you water, try to water deeply and thoroughly. Frequent, shallow waterings train your plants to keep their roots near the surface, making them less hardy and more likely to suffer when deprived of water even for a short period. |
| 70. Plants such as garlic, onions, chives and chrysanthemums scattered around the yard and garden help repel insects. |
| 71. Plant something new every year. You never know what you might really enjoy and you get to learn something new every season. |
| 72. Mulch prevents weeds. |
| 73. When planting a new tree, look for the dark mark on the trunk that indicates how deeply the tree was set in the soil at the nursery and plant it at the same depth. |
| 74. Don't cut foliage from bulbs that have flowered and faded. The faded blooms may be cut, but the foliage provides food to the bulb for next year. |
| 75. Work compost into the soil you plant amaryllis in, and feed it with worm tea. They both contain nutrients to promote strong bulbs and lead to larger blooms. |
| 76. Use a fan to blow a gentle breeze over seedlings indoors. The breeze increases air circulation, which decreases disease problems and helps build stronger stems. |
| 77. When bringing houseplants indoors after the summer season, be on the lookout for unwanted pests and insects that have taken up residence in the plant. Clean the plant well and be ready to fight back with least-toxic insecticides. |
| 78. After starting tender seedlings such as tomatoes and peppers indoors, gradually harden them to the outdoors before setting them out full-time. Start with a few hours outdoors each day during the warmest part of the day and gradually add hours until they are hardened enough to stay out all night. |
| 79. Try pumpkin seeds as mouse bait in mouse traps; mice love them! |
| 80. Mulch around tree trunks is protective as well as decorative; it keeps the tree trunk from being nicked by lawn mower blades. Be sure to avoid piling the mulch up around the base of the tree trunk as that spreads disease and harbors insects, however. |
| 81. Another reason to use natural and organic fertilizers and soil amendments: earthworms love them! Earthworms are extremely beneficial to the soil and plants, increasing air space in the soil and leaving behind worm castings. Do everything you can to encourage earthworms in your soil. |
| 82. Healthy soil doesn't require chemical fertilizers. |
| 83. Use barriers against pests instead of insecticides whenever possible. Some pest barriers include floating row covers, netting, copper slug and snail barriers, protective collars, and Tanglefoot Pest Barrier. |
| 84. Hide an ugly chain link fence with climbing flowers such as morning glories or sweet peas, or tall flowers such as hollyhocks or sunflowers. |
| 85. Plant varieties of shrubs and plants that produce seeds, berries, nuts or other food to keep birds in your garden year-round. |
| 86. Compost animal manure thoroughly before adding to your garden. This avoids odors, burning plants, and kills weed seeds contained in the manure. |
| 87. Plant fast-growing evergreens and tall deciduous trees to block prevailing winds if they are a problem. |
| 88. If you can't use finished compost for a while, cover the pile with a tarp to avoid leaching the nutrients out of the compost. |
| 89. Rainy climates often require more compost than drier climates, as the nutrients leach away into the soil faster with the rain. |
| 90. Harvest onions when the tops have fallen over. Let the soil dry out, harvest, and store in a warm, dry, shady place until the tops dry. Cut off the foliage down to an inch, then store in a cool, dry place. |
| 91. Avoid tired, sore muscles at the beginning of gardening season by getting in shape beforehand. |
| 92. Tri-level wire baskets usually used for fruits and vegetables are great for hanging baskets. |
| 93. Pull weeds after a rain or watering - it is easier on your body and you are more likely to pull the entire root. |
| 94. Keep dirt off lettuce and cabbage leaves when growing by spreading a 1-2 inch layer of grass clippings (untreated by pesticides or fertilizers) around each plant. Make it mat by spraying with water. This also helps keep the weeds down. |
| 95. Stick a few rusty nails into the soil of your African Violets to help them thrive. |
| 96. Feed your indoor seedlings with dilute fish fertilizer, unless the odor is a problem. If so, worm tea works well; it is gentle and won't burn tender seedlings. |
| 97. Microwave hard squash and pumpkin about 3 - 5 minutes before trying to slice it. It softens the peel, making it much easier to slice to cook. |
| 98. Some vegetables actually become sweeter after a frost, including kale, cabbage, parsnips, carrots, and Brussels sprouts. |
| 99. Stay in control of whiteflies using sticky traps and organic sprays such as pyrethrum or neem. |
| 100. When transplanting tomato seedlings, cover the stem with soil up to the first set of leaves. This encourages root growth, making a stronger, healthier plant. |
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