Hi Everyone,

First time gardener from Ohio need your help. TIA.

I am planning for vegetable plants in a (container) wooden boxes of size 4 foot x 4 foot x 8 inches (=~ 11 cubic foot). Four of these boxes makes 45 cubic foot approximately.

I filled these four boxes with the soil less medium as following:
Coarse Vermiculite – 15 cubic foot
Sphagnum Peat Moss – 15 cubic foot
`Compost kind of` – 15 cubic foot (1 cubic foot each of below)

I have searched 50+ of garden centers locally (zip code: 45040) and
couldn’t find so called “COMPOST”. For next year I will be preparing
my own compost so this question won’t arise. But, to begin my first/
fresh vegetable garden; in the place of compost I used the following
mix. I mixed them *VERY* thorough spending a week.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Question: is the following mix ‘OK’ to begin my garden? Am I sort of
something here? Am I going to kill the plants with Over dosage? Any
other suggestions/ideas to help myself is greatly appreciated.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

My `Compost kind of` – 15 cubic foot is:

1.Mother Nature’s – SWEET PEET – Composted soil conditioner – 1 cubic foot
2.Nea’s – POSY POWER – Powerful soil booster – 1 cubic foot
3.Premier Horticulture – PRO MIX – Growing mix – 1 cubic foot
4.Nature’s Helper – MUSHROOM COMPOST – Organic soil – 1 cubic foot
5.Garden Magic – COMPOST AND MANURE – Peat & Manure – 1 cubic foot
6.Ace – COMPOSTED MANURE – Loosens soil – 1 cubic foot
7.New Plant Life – MUSHROOM COMPOST SOIL – Soil amendment – 1 cubic foot
8.Garden Scape – PEAT HUMUS – Decomposed Organic … – 1 cubic foot
9.Garden Scape – COW MANURE – will not burn – 1 cubic foot
10.Organic Valley – HUMUS – ready to use – 1 cubic foot
11.Organic Valley – COW MANURE PLUS ORGANIC COMPOST – Ready to use – 1 cubic foot
12.Organic Valley – ORGANIC COMPOST PLUS MANURE – Compost & manure – 1 cubic foot
13.Garick – MOO NURE – Organic Compost with Cow Manure – 1 cubic foot
14.Country Stone – COMPOSTED COW MANURE – Soil conditioner – 1 cubic foot
15.Earth Gro – ORGANIC HUMUS AND MANURE – Soil amendment – 1 cubic foot

Thanks & Regards
Ganesh

In detail (if you are still reading this post ) Assuming the
product is what the cover says.

1.Mother Nature’s – SWEET PEET – Composted soil conditioner – 1 cubic foot
Organic material made from wood shavings, farm manure & plant fibers (USCC)

2.Nea’s – POSY POWER – Powerful soil booster – 1 cubic foot
All Organic: Horse manure, sphagnum Peat, Brewer’s Grain, Gypsum & lime
0.7% 0.45% 1.0%

3.Premier Horticulture – PRO MIX – Growing mix – 1 cubic foot
Compost Enrich (from shrimp, seaweed, softwood bark), Microrise
inside, Sphagnum Peat Moss, Peat Humus (OMRI)

4.Nature’s Helper – MUSHROOM COMPOST – Organic soil – 1 cubic foot

5.Garden Magic – COMPOST AND MANURE – Peat & Manure – 1 cubic foot
Reed sedge Peat, Manure
0.1% 0.1% 0.1%

6.Ace – COMPOSTED MANURE – Loosens soil – 1 cubic foot
0.5% 0.5% 0.5%

7.New Plant Life – MUSHROOM COMPOST SOIL – Soil amendment – 1 cubic foot

8.Garden Scape – PEAT HUMUS – Decomposed Organic … – 1 cubic foot
A decomposed organic forest peat fiber

9.Garden Scape – COW MANURE – will not burn – 1 cubic foot
1% 1% 1%

10.Organic Valley – HUMUS – ready to use – 1 cubic foot

11.Organic Valley – COW MANURE PLUS ORGANIC COMPOST – Ready to use – 1 cubic foot
0.05% 0.05% 0.05% (USCC)

12.Organic Valley – ORGANIC COMPOST PLUS MANURE – Compost & manure – 1 cubic foot
0.05% 0.05% 0.05%

13.Garick – MOO NURE – Organic Compost with Cow Manure – 1 cubic foot
0.2% 0.2% 0.2% (USCC)

14.Country Stone – COMPOSTED COW MANURE – Soil conditioner – 1 cubic foot
Cow manure, Peat and Humus
0.05% 0.05% 0.05%

15.Earth Gro – ORGANIC HUMUS AND MANURE – Soil amendment – 1 cubic foot
90% organic humus (peat, compost, forest products) and 10% manure
0.05% 0.05% 0.05%

Sounds okay. Not sure about items 2 and 3 but they don’t sound like anything that would hurt. For not finding "compost" you have a lot of compost in there. I think your garden should grow great.

There is a renewed interest in getting back to basics. Individuals, corporations and governments are focused on finding ways to preserve our natural resources. One way of protecting our environment, and enjoying the best nature has to offer, is by gardening organically.

There are few differences between ‘regular’ gardening and choosing to garden organically. Planting methods are virtually the same. In both types of gardens, plants will have the same soil, sunlight and water requirements. The big difference lies in the control of weeds, insects and disease. In gardening organically, no chemical or synthetic herbicides, pesticides or fertilizers are used. Organic gardening may also result in a more in-depth tending to plants and soil.

Planting an organic garden begins with soil preparation. For the soil to be productive, organic material must be added. Compost is essential to success in gardening organically, as it promotes the health and well being of the plants. You can easily create your own organic compost by saving and mixing fruit and vegetable scraps, fallen leaves, pruned flowers, grass clippings and manure. Ideally, the compost will be dark and sweet smelling, and full of productive earthworms. In gardening organically, you may find that your soil needs more natural nutrients than compost alone can provide. A soil test will indicate the pH balance. If more nutrients are required you can incorporate natural additives like greensand, rock phosphates and bone meal.

Weeds
A particularly frustrating and annoying problem with gardening organically is weeds. Laying organic mulch can provide a natural weed barrier. Layers of construction paper, cardboard or newspaper under the mulch provides added protection. Some organic gardeners swear by spreading corn meal gluten early in the season before planting, as this slows the growth of weeds. Solarization is another option. If you want to get down and dirty with your weeds, roll up your sleeves for some hoeing and hand pulling. Persistence will pay off in your battle against weeds. Use organic mulches and remove what you can by hand. It may take a few seasons, but it is possible to beat the weeds for good.

Insects
If there is one area that tests even the most rigidly organic gardener, it’s the need for pesticides. Insects can seriously harm a plant and, if left uncontested, can wipe out entire crops. Gardening organically does not allow the use of synthetic or chemical pesticides, so your best defense is to take preventative measures. Keep your plants at optimal health and be sure that the soil is not too wet, or too dry. Insects will attack unhealthy plants, but if your crop is healthy it can often outgrow minor insect damage. Keep many different varieties in your garden. If pests wipe out one type of plant, they won’t necessarily take over the entire garden. The best way to defend against insects when gardening organically is to introduce natural predators to the area. Entice frogs, lizard, birds and ladybugs by keeping a fresh water supply available. Growing plants to attract insects that feed on nectar can also help, and you can use plant collars, barriers or sticky traps. Household items such as garlic, hot pepper and insecticide soaps can also help you beat the bugs.

Disease
Gardening organically can make it tricky to avoid and combat plant disease. The best thing you can do is to choose disease resistant varieties, and plant them in their prime conditions. Constant moisture and poor air circulation will cause plant diseases to spread. Knowing where to plant your garden and how often to water it will help keep your organic garden disease-free.

Tending a garden is a wonderful hobby, and gardening organically is particularly rewarding. The plants you grow will be chemical free and naturally healthy. You are what you eat, so having a chemical-free garden is ideal for those growing fruit and vegetable crops. While it may take a little extra time and effort, gardening organically is the best choice for you, your plants, and the environment.

James Williams
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/gardening-organically-98851.html

I would like to start my own organic garden because produce is so expensive and I think it would be a fun hobby because I am home a lot taking care of my brother. My grandma is giving me a compost bin this weekend so I’ll start on that. I have never done a compost or grown a garden so any information you could give me would be great.

I live on a half acre of property in Northern California. We get morning sun in the front yard and afternoon sun in the backyard and have red dirt on our property.

If you could explain to me like you’re talking to an idiot that would be great thanks

I am sure that you are not an idiot. Gardening organically takes time and effort but is worth it. I don’t know if they still publish or not, but if they do; look for "Organic Gardening" magazine. It is produced by Rodale Press. Most of my gardening abilities were learned from that wonderful little magazine. In a nutshell, here are some ideas:

Decide on the size and shape of garden you want and mark the corners with stakes.
Either dig or rototill the ground to loosen it.
Cover the ground with several inches of grass clippings, leaves, straw, etc and work it deep into the soil.
Plant your garden using the spacing noted on the seed packages. As your soil gets richer through years of composting, you can cheat the plants closer together.
As the plants come up, thin them to the correct spacing and keep them free of weeds.
Mulch them in with leaves, grass clippings, newspaper, straw, etc to keep the weeds out and moisture in.
Try to keep insects under control by picking them off by hand, using organic sprays, spraying soapy water on the plants, or by putting a handful of the culprits into a blender and mixing the paste with water and spraying it on your plants.
Good Luck!

I have moved into a new house and the garden is really uneven, slopes from back to front and left to right. The builder gave me some turf he had laying around which i used to turf half the garden. It was a rushed job though as I knew the turf had to be laid quick and looks awful on the slope and has lots of gaps undereneath. I really want the garden to look nice, so was planning on taking the turf up and rotavating the soil (this will be april time, when dryer), as it is made from clay and is uneven, sticky and waterlogged. i will eventually buy new turf for the centre as plan to put borders, decking and patio’s in places. I have read that clay soil needs mixing with organic material like compost to help break it up. Can i use the old turf? Any other advice on clay soil and how to get it level would be great. Thanks

Stack the old turfs grass side down and leave them. You can then use it once it has rotted down. Would not be a good idea to use it with the grass still in the turf as the grass will grow. They will rot down into very good soil conditioner. With clay soil, the more organic "stuff" you can get into it the better. Any old potting compost – (gardening shops sometimes sell of last years’ bags cheaply), well rotted manure (horse stables and private individuals with horses sometimes leave signs outside their properties), home made garden compost. If the soil is waterlogged, you’ll need to dig in sharp sand to improve drainage and if it’s prone to flooding, then you may have to lay land drains. Don’t rotavate anywhere you plan to have hard landscaping – it’s a waste of time and will just bring up lots of weeds from deeper in the soil. As for levelling your site, it depends on how sloped it is and what you plan to put where. Decking and patios will look better if they are level. Lawns and borders can have a gently slope without looking out of place. However if the slope is dramatic, you may have to tier your garden.

Organic gardening is the way of growing vegetables and fruits with the use of things only found in nature.

Why would one want to indulge in organic gardening?

1. One can easily make compost from garden and kitchen waste. Though this is a bit more time-consuming than buying prepared chemical pesticides and fertilizers, it certainly helps to put garbage to good use and so saves the environment.

2. Organic farming does not use chemicals that may have an adverse affect on your health. This is especially important when growing vegetables. Chemical companies tell us that the chemicals we use are safe if used according to direction, but research shows that even tiny amounts of poisons absorbed through the skin can cause such things as cancer, especially in children.

On the average, a child ingests four to five times more cancer-causing pesticides from foods than an adult. This can lead to various diseases later on in the child’s life. With organic gardening, these incidents are lessened.

Remember, pesticides contain toxins that have only one purpose – to kill living things.

3. Less harm to the environment. Poisons are often washed into our waterways, causing death to the native fish and polluting their habitat.

4. Organic farming practices help prevent the loss of topsoil through erosion.

The Soil Conservation Service says that an estimated 30 – 32 billion tons of soil erodes from United States farmlands every year.

5. Cost savings. One does not need to buy costly chemical fertilizers and pesticides with organic gardening. Many organic recipes for the control of pest and disease come straight from the kitchen cupboard. Sometimes other plants can be grown as companions to the main crop. An example of this is the marigold, which helps to repel aphids from vegetables.

Mixing 1 tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap and 1 cup of cooking oil can make a cheap garden pest spray. Put 3 tablespoons of this mixture in 1 quart of water and spray on plants.

6. A simple mulch of pine needles will help to suppress the growth of weeds as well as keeping the moisture in.

7. Organic gardening practices help to keep the environment safe for future generations.

Nicky Pilkington
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/seven-ticks-for-organic-gardening-10022.html