Growing the Organic Way
By Robin Stanley
UC Cooperative Extension/ El Dorado Master Gardener
Publication Date: March 18, 2005
Every time you got to the grocery store, it seems like there are more organic products available. Whether you are in the organic section of the produce department, looking for bread made with organic wheat, or headed out to a farmer’s market, you’ll find that there has been a huge increase in the demand and supply of organic groceries. There are lots of good reasons for that. Concerns about food safety and contaminants in soil have made many people stop and think about what they are putting on their plates and in their mouths. But what about going organic you want to grow your own fruits and vegetables? If you are a vegetable gardener, or you want to become one, you’ll want to consider what you are putting into your soil and onto your plants. The time is right to become an organic gardener; today, making the decision to grow organically is easier than ever.
Organic gardening is different from conventional gardening in two important aspects:
· Soil preparation and fertilization
· Management of pests and diseases
Soil
Preparation/Fertilizing
Just as in traditional gardening, you need to be aware of the nutrients that your soil needs to produce healthy, vigorous plants. The three numbers you are used to seeing on a fertilizer bag signify the nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) content. Those nutrients are still important, but you will be incorporating them into your soil differently once you begin using organic practices.
One of the basic ways to get nutrients into the soil in an organic garden is by amending the soil, using “naturally” occurring matter. This could be things that you create or find on your property, such as compost, manure and leaf mold. They could also be things that you purchase, such as bagged compost or organic soil amendments, such as bone meal or rock phosphate. These soil amendments serve two purposes:
1. They improve the texture of the soil, adding small and large particles that increase the ability of your soil to hold water and nutrients. Whether you garden in the heavy clay soil of Camino or the rocky terrain of Rescue, organic material incorporated into your soil will help your plants develop strong root systems and vigorous foliage and fruit.
2. They also have a small percent of one or more of those three essential nutrients (NPK), as well as some of the trace minerals that help your plants grow. While their nutrient level is much lower than most chemical fertilizers, the nutrients are more naturally available to the plants and more easily incorporated into the soil.
These amendments are in a constant state of decay, and it is during this slow decaying process that they release their nutrients. Because the nutrients in organic matter are released over time, they are less likely to burn plants and can provide their nutrients over an entire growing season. A cautionary note for the use of manure: fresh manure can burn plants, so manure should be aged or incorporated into a compost pile rather than added directly to the soil. Organic material also improves the “microbiological” activity (or the life of the soil), allowing other organisms that support plant life to flourish.
Pests and Diseases
Dealing with pests and diseases in an organic garden can seem to be a big challenge to people who are used to reaching for a quick chemical spray. Weeds are more likely to be prevented and eliminated by physical means, such as mulching or hand pulling. Weed burners can be used during the rainy season, but aren’t really an option during the hot days of summer and fall. There are really no organic substitutes for herbicides, so you do need to commit to hand-powered week control.
As for pests of the winged and crawly varieties, there are some organic treatment methods, such as Bacillus thuringiensis, a pesticide specifically formulated for caterpillars. While many organic gardeners are more likely to hand pick caterpillars than to spray them, it’s good to know that there are safe options. Soap sprays can be used for smaller insects, such as aphids or leafhoppers. There are lots of other commercially available pesticides that are organic. No matter what the product, insecticides should only be used as needed and only as directed on the label. There are also home-made organic sprays using soap and plant-based materials; look on the internet or in reference books for these recipes. The verdict is still out on whether plants grown organically are better able to withstand the onslaught of pests, but no matter what your approach, plants that are growing vigorously are more likely to “outgrow” the damage from pests and thus require less treatment.
Following these simple guidelines can help you get started growing organically. There is lots of information about organic gardening available these days online and in books. You can also get information from the UCCE Master Gardeners who are on duty from 9-noon on weekday mornings at the same address. Master Gardeners can be reached by phone at 621-5512.
