Organic gardening can be described as growing plants in harmony with nature.
These days the word "organic" is associated with the concepts of "natural, natural, no synthetic additives", often used in connection with food, cosmetics and household cleaners, but what does that really mean? In simple terms, organic gardening can be described as growing plants in harmony with nature, without the use of artificial fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, or other chemicals that disturb the balance of the ecosystem.
Organic gardening in Russia it is more than just not using artificial feeding. This is, first of all, to observe the natural processes of living nature and imitate them as accurately as possible.
And the most reliable way to do this is to analyze the composition of the soil in your area and give it what it lacks, "feed and moisten" the soil, not the plants. Clay, sour, sandy soil types need supplements to restore balance, and plants on them need mulch.
To take care of the land, a person must regularly regenerate the resources that are consumed by plants by adding organic matter to the soil. This is the creation of compost pits, and the cultivation of cover crops, which are called "green manure", which will return to the ground.
Compost Is a nutrient and microorganism-rich composition obtained as a result of the natural decomposition of organic products. The organic garden itself is the source of many compost ingredients, including grass clippings, plant waste, and shredded leaves.
As well as food waste such as vegetable and fruit scraps, peels, coffee grounds, tea leaves, eggshells, dead houseplants.
Do not add droppings, meat scraps, fermented milk and milk waste, as these may contain unwanted pathogens or attract pests to the compost pit.
Never dispose of diseased or infested plants by placing them in a compost heap - the disease will spread through the humus.
A significant part of the waste in the summer cottage consists of fallen leaves, which are a valuable source of organic nutrients from the environment.
Organic gardening is about more than just not using artificial feeding.
Collect fallen leaves and pack them, shredded or whole, in large plastic bags. Moisten them, seal the bag securely, and store in a cool, dark place. In a couple of years, you will have wonderful leaf mold humus that will literally work wonders for your flower beds, garden and vegetable garden.
If you have a vegetable garden, add fallen leaves to the soil in the fall - they will decompose before planting next season. You can speed up the decomposition of dead leaves by mixing granular fertilizer into the ground.
Adding compost as fertilizer means healthier soil, and eating fruits and vegetables grown in healthy soil means healthier people. But choosing the right plant for the right place is also part of organic gardening.
This means growing plants that are adapted to your climate and the conditions on your site. Such plants are less susceptible to stress, grow better and are more resistant to insects.
A moisture-loving plant, planted in a dry and hot area, will survive only with your help and great effort on your part, but this will create constant tension - will it not die, have you paid enough attention to it.
Variety helps, plant different types of plants - trees, shrubs, grasses, flowers, berries, fruits and vegetables, and thoroughly study their features to notice the first signs of ill health.
Choose those plant varieties that will be resistant to pests and diseases that thrive in your area and the characteristics of your site, drain and mulch the soil to slow weed growth and retain moisture.
If you know when seasonal infestations of specific insects are likely, you can use protective equipment in advance to prevent the laying of eggs and larvae.
Use a variety of methods to control infestations - phytoncides, pest repellents and insecticides. Be mindful of beneficial pollinators, attract them and avoid anything that might harm them. Then you will fully experience what organic gardening in Russia is.
