by Tanja Kern, SHOP.COM Home Editor

 

 Grow your own delicious food at home! Take a stroll through the organic produce section at your local market and you’ll probably get sticker shock. Home cooks often say the extra price of organic fruits and vegetables is worth it because they taste better and are better for you. Organic gardeners  don’t use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides on their plants, opting instead for natural additives that boost the nutrient content of soil and eco-friendly solutions to ward off unwanted pests.

Scientific studies have been conflicting; it’s not a given that organic is automatically better for you. Growing your own fruits, vegetables and flowers organically does offer another perk: satisfaction. It’s a great way get kids excited about eating greens and add a wider variety of produce to your daily cooking.

Tips to start your own organic garden:

Soil: Check the quality of the soil you plan on planting in before you begin. You can do this with a home soil test kit or by taking a sample to your local agricultural extension office. PH levels range from 1 to 14, and most plants grow well in the middle of that range from a 6.0 to 7.0. Don’t forget to add compost or humus to aid in drainage.

Design: Give some thought to how you will arrange your plants. Take note of how much sun each section of the garden will receive and choose your plants accordingly. There are many books and software  available to help you plot out a perfect garden.

Plant: Purchase plants and seeds from reputable growers. Opt to buy from companies that don’t use artificial fertilizers. Add compost to planting holes to improve the soil’s structure, provide nutrients, and activate the beneficial microbes.

Maintain: Gardens need constant care. During growing months, keep an eye on moisture levels and water as needed. Weed early an often so that your plants don’t get strangled by unwanted plants. It’s also a good way to watch for pests.

Spotlight on Organic Gardening

Green Reads: The best way to learn about organic gardening is by picking up a few books that will give you step-by-step instructions to help you get started. Shop organic gardening books.

Container Gardens: Tight on space? Try your hand at organic gardening with a container garden! Shop container gardens.

Home Composting: Reduce stress on landfills and feed your garden at the same time by composting organic kitchen waste. Shop home composting products.

Organic Fertilizers: The nutrients from organic fertilizers are released slowly and are unlikely to burn plant roots or be washed away by water. A single application could last a whole growing season. Shop organic fertilizers.

 

Organic Gardening Basics

 Soil Test Kit  - An inexpensive soil test kit featuring a capsule system to test for PH, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium levels. Also included is a chart of PH and NPK levels on over 100 plants. Kit Includes complete instructions for adjusting soil conditions so no experience is required. 

Kids’ Gardening Kit  - This  gardening set is perfect . Kids can grow fresh herbs or flowers in just days. Environmentally friendly, the  product is made from 100% recycled plastic milk jugs- Phthalate-, lead- and BPA-free products. The nine piece set is sure to get your little one excited about the Green movement. 

Good Bug, Bad Bug  - With thirty-six bugs in all, this amusing book helps you quickly identity the most beneficial or most common insects. She also gives great strategies for dealing with new bugs that show up as a result of climate change.

Wolf Garten Garden Trowel  - A great garden trowel with heavy gauge steel blade for planting and transplanting. The comfortable handle grip  is ideal for small planting jobs and preparing holes around the garden. 

Easi-Grip Garden Fork  - This easy grip ergonomic garden tool helpfully takes the strain away from discomfort on hands and wrists. The cleverly angled handle keeps the hand and wrist in a natural position while soft non-slip grip prevents the tool from turning in the hand and is especially good for wet conditions. 

Angle Weeder  -  This tool will get at your weeds no matter what angle. The barbed tip is perfect to clear out sidewalk or to snag roots from beneath the soil. No one enjoys removing weeds but with this tool it’ll be over before you know it.

 Hoe Garden Pro  -   With super tough coating the contoured handle, when using this hoe you’ll turn into a garden pro. Use this tool for hilling; piling soil around base of plants. 

Envirosax Organic Cotton Bag - This comfortable organic cotton tote is great for garden aficionados. The clever “sowing seeds of change” logo is sure to catch a true gardener’s attention.

Fiskars Bypass Pruners  - Known for their simple ergonomic design Fiskars’ tools are great in the garden. This non-slip grip pruner is great for stripping thorns or crushing stems. 

Womans Work Rose Gauntlet Gloves - Stay protected  when using these high quality cotton gloves with lyrca for flexibility and comfort decorated with a pretty rose print pattern.  Available in White, Pink, Red, Green, Yellow.

Compost Tumbler - This smartly designed tumbler is effective and easy to use with garden refuse. The stabilizing inner crossbar helps breaks up compost during turning and the black color absorbs heat. Fill it up, slide the door closed, and give it a turn every couple of days and you’re ready to go. 

Revolution Planter Organic Replenishment Kit  - This kit is an easy and inexpensive way to grow tomatoes. The kit includes a soft poly growing bag with capillary matting, 1 lb of All-Organic Tomato Fertilizer, 1 moisture-level indicator, and a 20-quart bag of an organic self-watering container mix.