Organic gardening is better for the planet and for the soil, and, if you are a vegetable gardener, it can be better for you, too. It's simple to get started; there are many alternatives to toxic chemicals to help your garden grow! The tips contained in this guide will help you learn how to plant an organic garden.

There are a number of aspects to planting an organic garden You need to manage soil preparation, fertilization, weed control, and pest control using natural methods. This place will review what you need to do in order to plant an organic garden.

(Creative Commons photo by *Susie*)

• Healthy top soil contains microorganisms, plant nutrients, and organic matter. It is dark in color, and loose and easy to work. Insects and microorganisms in the soil feed on the organic matter, so it needs to be replenished annually, to keep the soil healthy. You can enrich the soil by"

1. Adding mature compost in the spring.
2. Mixing in grass clippings and other yard waste in the fall, tilling it in to the garden and allowing it to compost in place over the winter.
3. Planting cover crops after the last summer crop is harvested, and tilling them into the soil before they go to seed the next season.

• Before using any fertilizer, you want to have your soil tested. Your local cooperative extension office can help you arrange for the test. Commercial fertilizers contain nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash. The test will let you know what type of enrichment your soil needs.

1. Nitrogen can be added with blood meal or fish emulsion
2. Cottonseed meal also enriches the acidity of the soil, with a nutrient ration of 7 percent nitrogen, 3 percent phosphorus, and 2 percent potash.
3. Manure is a balanced fertilizer, with equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, an potash.

1. The simplest way to control weeds organically is by laying down a thick layer of mulch around the plants, so that weeds cannot sprout.

2. Corn gluten can be spread on the soil to deter weeds from sprouting.

3. Plastic, newspaper, or organic mulch all work well.

4. You can also remove weeds mechanically, by pulling or hoeing.

• Keeping the soil healthy, and pulling out diseased plants, and keeping the garden free of debris are the first two steps in organic pest control. If you notice insects munching on your plants anyway, there are organic methods to control garden pests:

1. Start by handpicking off insects. Dispose of them in a sealed container, away from the garden.
2. Rotate crops. many pests are specific to a certain plant, so if you remove their food source for a year, they will move on.
3. Add beneficial insects, such as ladybugs, lacewings, or beneficial nematodes to your garden.
4. Use homemade sprays containing water, vegetable oil, and a natural dish soap to cover and suffocate soft-bodied insects.
5. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around the edges of the garden to kill pests before they can attack the plants.

• Introduction
• Step 1: Enhance the Soil Organically
• Step 2: Fertilize the Garden Organically
• Step 3: Deter Weeds Organically
• Step 4: Get Rid of Garden Pests Organically