Want some guidance on planning an organic vegetable garden? Tim from Earth connection School of Wilderness and Survival Skills covers the basics. In this clip (watch on YouTube) Tim explains how you can benefit by planning your planting properly so that your organic vegetable crops will grow eight or nine months of the year.

Tim gives a brief introduction on organic gardening, and what this actually means. In essence, an organic gardener avoids using synthetic chemicals as fertilisers or pesticides. Tim points out that before the artificial revolution of the 1900’s all gardens and crops were cultivated organically. Organic gardening is a traditional way of producing food using natural methods to benefit the crops and soil to achieve healthy plants and help them grow.

The key question of what to plant and when can be considered during the winter months. Seed planting for ‘cool weather’ vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, spinach, chard, lettuce and so on, may start around February. At this point in the year you can plant the seeds in trays. (Protect from extreme temperatures or heavy frosts). After approximately one month the seedlings will be ready to transfer into the ground. Tim makes the point that you should write down all your gardening activity in a calendar so that you have a record of what you’ve done, as well as planning your next actions.

‘Cool weather’ crop seeds should be planted in January or February which allows one to two months growing time before planting into the ground. These vegetables can survive a little frost or a mild freeze which could occur in March/April.

‘Warm weather’ vegetables and fruit such as peppers, tomatoes and berries should be planted a little later once the danger of frost is significantly reduced.

Your plan can cover each season so that at the end of summer in August, the ‘cool weather’ crop seeds may be planted again. They will need to be protected from extreme heat and commonly may be covered by a shade cloth if temperatures are high. The seedlings can be planted a couple of months later into the garden or containers.

Organised, careful planning will help you maximise the amount of vegetables you grow whilst minimising the risk of natural damage due to temperature fluctuations. Your reward will be the tastiest nutritious organic fruit and vegetables around.

Filed under: Organic Farming

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