Organic gardening focuses on the health and feeding of the soil, not the plant. Organic gardening doesn't mean you have to share your apples with the worms, but you will probably have less than pristine looking plants and produce. Organic gardening is a constantly evolving dance that allows you to be a full participant in your garden. Organic gardening is all about balance between the soil and its nutrients, the water, the air, and of course your plants.
Those who are involved in their own gardening will visit garden centers and nurseries, will do research with books and internet sources, and will read the catalogues that are sent to them each year. Make your own natural plant fertilizer and contribute to a greener lifestyle with a kitchen or outdoor composter

Soil fertility is maintained by the use of green manures and composted vegetable matter and minerals. Soils with a low pH (acid) can be corrected using limestone, ground oyster shells, wood ashes, or dolomitic limestone. Soil testing should be done every two years to determine total nutrients within the soil. Soils low in organic matter often crust or seal over after a heavy rain, which prevents water and oxygen infiltration to the root system of growing vegetables. Soil is often divided into various categories, such as clay, sand, silt, loam, and peat, although there are actually an infinite number of soil varieties.

Plants in the wild often grow close together because they share a mutually beneficial relationship. Plants may not get along in the garden for various reasons. Plants who's roots are colonized with mycorrhiza fungi have higher mineral quantities, have vibrant colors (higher vitamin content), produce high quality fruits / flowers / tubers / roots each year, have resistance to environmental stresses, and have higher resistance to soil diseases and destructive insects. Plants are a major group of living things of about 300,000 species. By growing and alternating a wide variety of plants, the organic gardener can create a mini "eco-system" that will maintain a healthy balance. Organic pest control involves the cumulative effect of many techniques, including:allowing for an acceptable level of pest damageencouraging predatory beneficial insects to flourish and eat pestsencouraging beneficial microorganismscareful plant selection, choosing disease-resistant varietiesplanting companion crops that discourage or divert pestsusing row covers to protect crop plants during pest migration periodsrotating crops to different locations from year to year to interrupt pest reproduction cyclesUsing insect traps to monitor and control insect populations. Mulch acid-loving plants with a thick layer of pine needles each fall. It produces healthy plants, which are better able to withstand disease and insect damage. If gourmet cooking is in your plans, organically grown herbs make wonderful landscape plants. Use plants in your landscape that are either native to your area, or were imported from areas with similar climate and soil. When buying annuals or perennials, select plants that are budded but not yet in bloom, so their energy the first two or three weeks in your garden will be directed toward making larger and stronger plants with better-developed root systems. To increase water conservation, look for drought-resistant plants. Usually these plants have silver leaves, deep taproots and small leaves. Beneficial insects such as ground beetles, ladybugs, fireflies, green lacewings, praying mantids, spiders, and wasps keep harmful insects from devouring your plants. They also pollinate your plants and decompose organic matter. Plant newly purchased plants during the late evening or on a cloudy day. Some crops such assalad greens, potatoes, endives, however, tolerate or prefer someshade provided by taller plants. Ifthere is little space around the garden, the plants can betrained to grow up onto a support such as a chicken wire fence. As the seedlingsgrow, the weaker plants can be taken out and eaten leaving theneeded space for the best plants. By understanding the basics of how plants grow, you will understand how to maintain nature's balance and thus keep your roses healthy. Sustainable gardening Composting bins Solar power energy Water conservation Using a wormery Recycling grey waste water Rainwater butts Keeping animals & wildlife Keeping chickens Attracting birds Attracting insects Keeping geese Keeping pigs Keeping bees Environmental landscaping Drought tolerant plants Native British planting Local material sources Recycled garden materials Reed beds water features Alternative garden materials Traditional techniques Growing plants from seeds Traditional gardening tools Kitchen gardens Gardening techniques Gardening courses & gifts Gardening courses Gardening gifts New garden ideas. Hybridization and other meddling has added many beautiful colors and other traits, but has often created weaker plants. Other soil organisms form symbiotic relationships with roses and other plants. Mycorrhizal fungus creates an important symbiotic relation with roses and other plants. Mycorrhiza attaches itself to the roots of your roses and other plants. It uses some of the carbohydrates stored by your plants to grow, but helps your roses and other plants by making minerals more available. In a healthy soil environment, the mycorrhizae attached to one of your roses will grow and become interconnected to the mycorrhizae of other roses and plants. In effect, it provides a secondary root system for your garden plants. Roses and other plants also release exudates from their roots that attract beneficial organisms. Companion plants are an important factor in any garden. Organic growers recognize that pathogenic attacks are an indication that the plant or plants are out of balance. Commonly used chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides destroy soil organisms and throw roses, flowers, and other plants out of balance. Roses really do love garlic, as well as other plants of the onion family. When you are deciding on companion plants for roses, check to see when they bloom. Mulching around your roses and other plants will make them very happy and reduce pathogen problems. The soil is a resource that is biologically active and dynamic, providing vegetable plants with nutrients, water and oxygen. Carbon dioxide from decaying organic matter brings minerals of the soil into solution, making them available to growing plants. Fresh manure should not be applied directly to growing vegetable plants and should not be applied within 120 days of harvest of any vegetable. Water during the day so plants are not wet at night.

It's a good idea to: know your vegetables, and the insects that attack them in your area. Fast-growing crops such as radishes (22 days), scallions (40days), leaf lettuce (40 days) can be sown between slower growing vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, egg plant, etc. It is a very easy way to start growing organic vegetables without taking up much space in the garden.

Compost improves soil structure, texture, and areation, and increases the soil's water holding capacity. Compost is what happens when leaves, grass clippings, vegetable and fruit scraps, woodchips, straw, and small twigs are combined, then allowed to break down into a soil-like texture. Compost balances both acid and alkaline soils, bringing PH levels into the optimum range for nutrient availability. Compost introduces and feeds diverse life in the soil, including bacteria, insects, worms, and more, which support vigorous plant growth. Composting manure stabilizes the nitrogen and reduces the viability of weed seeeds that may be in the manure.