How To Start an Organic Garden

Starting an organic garden is a rewarding way to grow your own fresh, chemical-free produce. This gardening method uses natural materials and techniques to grow healthy plants without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. In the video above, This Old House landscape contractor Jenn Nawada explains the key elements of organic gardening and shows how to create themed organic planters.

What Qualifies Plants as Organic?

Every element of your garden must be certified for a garden to be truly organic, including all containers and planters, fertilizers, pest control methods, seeds, and the soil.

Nawada emphasizes the importance of looking for the certified organic label on all gardening materials. This label confirms that no synthetic chemicals or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are a part of their production.

Getting Started With Your Organic Garden

First, you need to decide on the right spot for your garden. Select a spot that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. Choose an area that’s easy to get to and maintain, as well as one that’s in close proximity to a water source so you can get your plants hydrated during droughts. Also think about wind protection. Don’t pick a location where your plants will get battered.

One of the most important things to consider when deciding on a spot is soil quality and drainage. We don’t recommend a spot at the bottom of a hill, as water will pool and potentially rot the roots.

Preparing Your Soil

Healthy soil is the foundation of a successful organic garden. If you’re not using planters, you’ll need to prepare the ground. You’ll first remove existing vegetation and debris. Then, you’ll dig out the area to a depth of 8–12 inches. Replace the removed soil with certified organic soil, and mix in organic compost to improve soil structure and fertility.

For container gardens, use certified organic potting soil specifically formulated for container plants.

Selecting Organic Seeds and Seedlings

As Nawada points out, your seeds and seedlings should have a certified organic label. When choosing your seeds, keep these factors in mind:

• Companion planting strategies
• The amount of space available
• Your culinary preferences
• Your local climate and growing season

Creating Themed Organic Planters

Creating themed organic planters is a practical way to organize your garden. This approach allows you to group plants with similar needs or culinary uses together. Nawada demonstrates how you can create themed organic planters.

Italian Herb Planter

Italian-centric planters are perfect for those who love cooking Italian cuisine. Nawada shows an Italian-themed planter containing herbs such as basil, chives, and oregano. These herbs complement each other well and commonly unite in Italian cuisine.

Aromatic Herb Planter

Aromatic herb planters can enhance your garden’s olfactory and visual appeal. Another themed planter Nawada creates focuses on aromatic herbs, including lavender, rosemary, and thyme. These fragrant herbs smell both sweet and savory and attract beneficial pollinators to your garden.

Advanced Planting Techniques for Organic Gardens

Learning some advanced techniques can further improve your garden’s health and productivity.

Companion Planting

Companion planting is a gardening technique where different plants are grown close to each other to create a beneficial relationship. The practice is based on the idea that certain plants can improve each other’s growth, repel pests, attract beneficial insects, enhance flavor, or provide other advantages when grown together.

For example, legumes such as beans and peas have a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in their root nodules, which convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form plants can use. When grown alongside plants such as corn, which are heavy nitrogen feeders, they can improve soil fertility. Likewise, tall plants can provide shade for shorter, sun-sensitive plants. For example, corn can provide support for climbing beans, while beans help stabilize the corn and add nitrogen to the soil.

Popular plant combinations include the following:

• tomatoes and basil
• corn, beans, and squash
• carrots and onions
• cabbage and dill

Crop Rotation

Crop rotation prevents soil depletion and reduces pest buildup. Rotate your crops annually by dividing your garden into different sections and changing the plant families in each section each year. This practice allows the soil to recover and reduces the likelihood of disease.

Soil Amendments

Your soil’s health is key to a thriving garden. To enrich your soil, incorporate organic amendments such as bone meal for phosphorus, coffee grounds for nitrogen, and eggshells for calcium. These supplements improve soil texture and provide essential nutrients for plant growth.

Planting Techniques for Organic Gardens

Follow these steps when planting in containers:

1. Choose organic-friendly materials such as terracotta, ceramic, or cedar.
2. Provide proper drainage by adding holes if necessary.
3. Fill the container with organic potting soil.
4. Gently remove plants from their nursery containers.
5. Loosen the root ball and place the plant in the new container.
6. Fill in with additional soil and water thoroughly.

Here’s what you’ll do for in-ground gardens:

1. Dig a hole twice the size of the plant’s root ball.
2. Mix organic compost into the soil at the bottom of the hole.
3. Place the plant in the hole, ensuring it’s at the same depth as it was in its container.
4. Backfill with soil and compost mixture.
5. Water deeply to help settle the soil.

Maintaining Your Organic Garden

Here are some best practices for keeping your garden healthy and productive.

Watering

Plants benefit from fewer but deeper waterings. That means it’s better to let soil nearly dry out and then do a heavy watering than give plants a little water every few days. This allows plants to take deeper roots. Consider these tips:

• Install a drip irrigation system for efficient watering.
• Use organic mulch to retain soil moisture.
• Water early in the morning or after sundown to reduce evaporation.
• Don’t water plants when the sun is at its peak, as this can actually give your plants a sunburn.

Fertilizing

To nourish your plant, use organic fertilizers such as aged manure, compost of organic materials, fish emulsion, and seaweed extracts. Remember to apply these fertilizers according to package instructions or based on soil test results.

Pest Control

Here are some guidelines for managing pests:

• Apply organic pest control products sparingly.
• Encourage beneficial insects.
• Practice crop rotation to disrupt pest life cycles.
• Use physical barriers such as row covers.

Weeding

Effective weeding methods include using tools such as hoes and cultivators and hand-pulling weeds. You can also plant densely to minimize space for weeds and use organic mulch to suppress weed growth.

Harvesting and Enjoying Your Organic Produce

Once your plants have matured, you get to enjoy the benefits of your hard work. Harvesting at the right time guarantees you the best flavor and nutritional value from your produce. Follow these tips for harvesting and using your homegrown crops:

• Basil: Pinch off leaves as needed, and remove flower buds to encourage continued leaf growth.
• Chives: Snip off the green tops with scissors, leaving about an inch for regrowth.
• Lavender: Cut stems just before the flowers fully open for the best fragrance and potency.
• Oregano: Harvest leaves before the plant flowers for the best flavor.
• Rosemary: Trim sprigs as needed, and don’t cut more than one-third of the plant at a time.
• Thyme: Gather stems just before or early in the flowering stage for the best flavor.

Preserving Your Harvest

To preserve your harvest, use one or more of these techniques:

• Drying: Hang herbs in a cool place until thoroughly dry, then store in airtight containers.
• Freezing: Chop herbs and freeze them in ice cube trays with a bit of water or oil.
• Canning: Use home canning methods for tomatoes and other veggies to preserve them for winter use.

Sharing and Selling Your Produce

An organic garden often produces more than you can consume. Sharing your bounty with neighbors, friends, or local food banks is a great way to spread the benefits of organic gardening. Consider selling surplus produce at local farmer’s markets or community events.