Meadowlark
Member
- Location
- East Texas
- Hardiness zone
- 9a
Everyone has their own definition of Organic Gardening, and it can vary widely. I was asked for mine recently and here is my response in simple question-and-answer form:
How do you keep your garden beds thriving through the weather changes?
I garden 365 days a year... i.e. always have something growing whether its veggies and/or cover crops. I make heavy use of green manures, chop and drop organics, and composted cow manure in addition to legume cover crops and grow veggies without synthetic fertilizers or non-organic treatments. My soil consistently tests out "No N, P, K required" with this approach.
Do you rotate crops?
Yes, absolutely and have been raising veggies in the same location for over 4 decades consistently providing over 90% of the veggies consumed by my family. I use cover crops in rotations including fall/winter cover crops as well as spring/summer cover crops.
I might add I also make extensive use of companion plants, trap plants, repellant plants, and pollinator attractors.
Do you protect plants from the cold?
Yes, when necessary, I use drop cloths on some raised rows and sometimes move HK containers to protection. Its winter here currently and I have tomatoes, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels, onions, potatoes, carrots, radishes, turnips, etc. going strong. Winter cover crop currently includes turnips, radishes, cereal rye, clover and others and I do not provide any projection to those.
Do you add anything special to the soil?
Yes, but only what I source from my land...with very few exceptions e.g. fish emulsion. My principal soil additive is well composted cow manure which I source from my own cows/hay.
I do not use any synthetic fertilizers, non-organic pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides.
Any tips for keeping things going year-round would be awesome!
Of course, your specific climate is the primary influencer on year-round growing, but I'm convinced that nutrient dense soil amended by heavy use of organic materials provides a significant buffering effect to the ravages of climate... cold or hot, wet or dry...not to mention healthy, nutrient dense, outstanding tasting veggies.
How do you keep your garden beds thriving through the weather changes?
I garden 365 days a year... i.e. always have something growing whether its veggies and/or cover crops. I make heavy use of green manures, chop and drop organics, and composted cow manure in addition to legume cover crops and grow veggies without synthetic fertilizers or non-organic treatments. My soil consistently tests out "No N, P, K required" with this approach.
Do you rotate crops?
Yes, absolutely and have been raising veggies in the same location for over 4 decades consistently providing over 90% of the veggies consumed by my family. I use cover crops in rotations including fall/winter cover crops as well as spring/summer cover crops.
I might add I also make extensive use of companion plants, trap plants, repellant plants, and pollinator attractors.
Do you protect plants from the cold?
Yes, when necessary, I use drop cloths on some raised rows and sometimes move HK containers to protection. Its winter here currently and I have tomatoes, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels, onions, potatoes, carrots, radishes, turnips, etc. going strong. Winter cover crop currently includes turnips, radishes, cereal rye, clover and others and I do not provide any projection to those.
Do you add anything special to the soil?
Yes, but only what I source from my land...with very few exceptions e.g. fish emulsion. My principal soil additive is well composted cow manure which I source from my own cows/hay.
I do not use any synthetic fertilizers, non-organic pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides.
Any tips for keeping things going year-round would be awesome!
Of course, your specific climate is the primary influencer on year-round growing, but I'm convinced that nutrient dense soil amended by heavy use of organic materials provides a significant buffering effect to the ravages of climate... cold or hot, wet or dry...not to mention healthy, nutrient dense, outstanding tasting veggies.
