The Gardening Advice and Information Blog

Gardening tips and information. Advice and articles on organic gardening, wildlife gardening and growing fruit and vegetables. The green cuttings garden blog. Stories of my gardening antics and also information about my gardening failures and successes.

Friday, September 28, 2007

Organic Options For Fertilising Your Vegetable Garden

By Eric J Smith


I have often been asked what is the best organic fertiliser to add to the soil of a vegetable garden. Its not the sort of question that has an easy answer, but its not a complicated solution either. There is really no exact answer to a "best" product when it comes to organic nutrients.


Organic gardening is more about a system of gardening - Crop rotation, mulching, composting, vermicast, and companion planting all form a part of an Organic Gardening System.


The best place to start is to create 2 or 3 compost heaps in your backyard.


Whether you use a Compost Bin, Tumbler, Stack or Compost bays – the end result will still be the same - A nutrient rich soil conditioner and mulch ready to add to your vegetable garden. You should always ensure your compost heap receives sufficient heat in order to destroy seeds that may be present from lawn clippings and weeds.


Suitable ingredients for your compost heap includes – old hay or straw, vegetable scraps, shredded paper, lawn clippings & animal manure. Avoid things like Orange peel, onion skins and meat scraps.


If you live in a unit or have a small backyard, you might have vegetables growing in pots. An ideal way to make compost in these situations is with a small worm farm. The worms create enough compost (called vermicast) to feed your potted vegetables throughout the year. All your household scraps and waste paper can be added to the worm farm.


This is an ideal start for creating an Organic Garden System.


Eric J. Smith is an Organic Gardener and passionate Environmentalist. He is dedicated to promoting the need for an Organic, Natural World. Find out more on http://www.milifestyle.net Organic Personal Care Products here


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_J_Smith


http://EzineArticles.com/?Organic-Options-For-Fertilising-Your-Vegetable-Garden&id=474918