up from the ground a guide to basic organic vegetable, flower, and herb gardening for new gardeners By Robin Mittenthal mittenth “at” gmail.com Version 1.1, March 2007 This work may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any purpose, either commercial or non-commercial. No credit need be given to the author. 2 Table of Contents Introduction to the guide How to use this book.................................................................................................................................................... 4 An important note for all users of this book.................................................................................................................. 4 Why write yet another guide for gardeners?................................................................................................................ 4 About the illustrations................................................................................................................................................... 5 Getting started as an organic gardener .................................................................................................................. 5 The absolute minimum amount you need to know ...................................................................................................... 6 Why garden?................................................................................................................................................................ 7 What does “organic” mean?......................................................................................................................................... 7 Why garden organically?.............................................................................................................................................. 9 Weeds .......................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Weeds – an introduction........................................................................................................................................ 9 Why are weeds such a problem? .......................................................................................................................... 9 What makes a plant a weed? ................................................................................................................................ 10 How to manage weeds .......................................................................................................................................... 10 Hand weeding........................................................................................................................................................ 11 Weeding with a hoe ............................................................................................................................................... 11 What to do with weeds once you’ve pulled them out ............................................................................................ 11 How obsessive should you be about weeding? .................................................................................................... 11 Grass weeds – a special case............................................................................................................................... 12 Weeds through the season.................................................................................................................................... 12 Perennial crops and weeds ................................................................................................................................... 12 Where should the garden be?...................................................................................................................................... 12 How big should the garden be? ................................................................................................................................... 12 Planning what to grow.................................................................................................................................................. 13 Your first few days in the garden ................................................................................................................................. 16 The garden through the season................................................................................................................................... 16 Spring and early summer – getting started with planting ...................................................................................... 16 Summer and early fall – planting and harvest ....................................................................................................... 16 Fall – preparing for frost and dealing with it when it comes .................................................................................. 17 Late fall -- preparing the garden for winter ............................................................................................................ 17 Winter and early spring – resting and planning ..................................................................................................... 18 Getting seeds and plants ............................................................................................................................................. 18 Getting seeds......................................................................................................................................................... 18 Getting transplants and other non-seed plant materials ....................................................................................... 19 Glossary Beds ............................................................................................................................................................................. 20 Compost....................................................................................................................................................................... 20 What is compost? .................................................................................................................................................. 22 Why compost?....................................................................................................................................................... 22 Conditions needed for composting........................................................................................................................ 22 Choosing ingredients for the compost pile ............................................................................................................ 23 Some materials for possible use in composting .................................................................................................... 24 Building a compost pile.......................................................................................................................................... 24 Fertilizer........................................................................................................................................................................ 25 An introduction to elements essential for plant growth.......................................................................................... 26 Why use organic fertilizers? .................................................................................................................................. 26 Buying organic fertilizers ....................................................................................................................................... 27 Applying organic fertilizers..................................................................................................................................... 28 Floating row covers ...................................................................................................................................................... 29 Garden plans................................................................................................................................................................ 31 Hybrid vs. open-pollinated plants................................................................................................................................. 32 Laying and removing plastic mulch.............................................................................................................................. 33 Mulch............................................................................................................................................................................ 32 Materials to use for mulch ..................................................................................................................................... 34 Pests ............................................................................................................................................................................ 36 Preparing a bed for planting......................................................................................................................................... 38 Why do any special preparation? .......................................................................................................................... 38 2 3 Timing of preparation............................................................................................................................................