5 Organic Vegetable Gardening Tips the Food Companies Don’t Want You to Know
It’s no secret that organically grown vegetables taste WAY better than the processed, chemically grown, stuff.
In fact, I have a friend who owns an upscale restaurant and his customers *rave* about the food when his chef uses organic vegetables.
So why exactly do organically grown vegetables taste so much better?
Here’s the biggest and most important reason: they don’t have all that chemical fertilizer and pesticide poisons all over them!
Myth Exposed: Organic Gardening Is More Difficult Than “Regular” Gardening
You’ll hear plenty of commercial companies (especially the “big guys” who want to sell you their chemicals!) go on about how difficult and time consuming it is to grow organic vegetables.
Truth is, it’s not difficult and won’t take any extra time at all as long as you follow some simple steps!
So here are the “secrets” you need to know if you’re going to get your organic vegetable garden started the right way.
Secret Tip #1: You *Must* Plan Your Organic Garden Out!
First things first, gardening is NOT one of those areas where you can just bolt outside without thinking, throw some seeds and water at the ground and be done with it.
(As obvious and funny as that last statement sounds, I have friends who have done just that!)
…Can you imagine if a construction crew started building a house without blueprints?
…What about if a car company just ‘went to work’ putting a new car together without plans?!
Take my word on it, planning your vegetable garden *first* will save you headaches down the road and make your garden easier to manage.
Common Planning Mistake: Make sure the plot you chose for your garden is close to a water supply!
Beginners will often start by placing their garden in the “nicest looking” spot of the yard.
They forget that veggies need access to lots of water to grow!
Secret Tip #2: Make Sure Your Garden Is Always Facing *South*!
Why should my vegetable garden face south, you ask?
Because it will get plenty of sun.
Here’s the ‘inside scoop’ on sunlight: a vegetable garden needs a minimum of 6 hours sunlight to produce the best crop.
Of course, you’ll need to make sure there are no shadows covering your garden – i.e. trees, sheds or even your house!
Just don’t get this sunlight part wrong — if you do, then it won’t matter what else you do right, your garden will fail!
Secret Tip #3: Getting Rid Of Weeds The ‘Organic’ Way
Before you plant even a single seed, you’ll need to make sure your vegetable garden is completely free of weeds.
(Of course, you don’t want to use chemical weed killers – that would contaminate your organic crop!)
Unfortunately there’s no “fancy pants” way to get rid of weeds… my suggestion? Just yank the suckers out by hand when they creep up!
You’ll definitely want to use a shovel or weeding tool to help you get the roots out. (This way more weeds won’t crop up!)
I’ve had people come and tell me: “Surely there *has* to be a better way to get rid of weeds!?”
Well, I have good news. There is…
Do your best to prevent the weeds from growing in the first place!
Secret Tip #5: Some *Awesome* Weed Prevention Tips…
1. Get Some Free Fertilizer From Starbucks!
Those left over espresso grounds make an amazing natural fertilizer that’s actually healthy for your vegetable plants.
No need to be shy about asking – the Starbucks corporate offices have actually instructed their employees to promote this “freebie” as a way to recycle coffee grounds!
2. Clean Like *Crazy* After You “De-Weed” Your Garden.
It’s unbelievable how the smallest weed spore can fall from your glove, or tools and re-deposit itself into your garden.
That’s why you need to go nuts after weeding your garden and clean your gloves, knee pads, tools,.. even your shoes!
3. When In Doubt, Use Good Ole’ Cornstarch.
Spreading cornstarch on the ground adds nitrogen to the soil – it’s like a natural fertilizer to your plants with the added bonus of killing weeds!
4. Give “Big Bird” A New Restaurant To Eat At…
If you’ve got bird feeders too close the left over seeds can sprout into weeds!
Bird feeders should be at a minimum distance of 20 feet away from your vegetable garden.
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