focus shot of a beet vegetable
ECOgardener

When you have decided to plant an organic garden there are several things that you should consider. First, it is important to know the types of organic plants that grow in your area as these will have the best chance of producing high quality vegetables.

Second, it is important to learn about what types of plant diseases are common in your area and whether or not there are vegetable varieties that are resistant to these diseases.

When using organic plants in your garden you will not be using any pesticides or other chemicals. This means that you will need to find remedies for common diseases and other issues in your area in order to plant a garden that will provide your desired results.

Finally, it is important to consider the care that the organic plants are going to need. Planting an organic garden is going to take some work and you want to make sure that you are choosing organic plants that you can properly care for.

Some plants, such as organic tomato plants do not require as much care as other organic vegetable plants. Only choose plants that you are going to be able to care for properly.

Planting Your Organic Garden

vegetable garden

Once you have chosen your organic seeds and plants it is time to plant your garden. You will want to make sure that you properly prepare the soil for your garden. Organic plants need plenty of nutrients in the ground in order to grow.

Once the soil is prepared and the seeds are planted you will want to prepare compost to use in your organic garden. Compost is a great way to provide your organic vegetable with the nutrients that they need and it will also help prevent weeds.

Common Plant Diseases

It is important to become familiar with some of the common organic plant diseases that could affect your organic garden. There are 4 main types of disease that affect plants: bacteria, viruses, fungus, and nematodes.

Each of these can be treated with synthetics, but an organic gardener needs to try to prevent them from occurring.

Organic gardeners have a few bactericides and fungicides available, but often these are more damaging than they are helpful. Some of the common types include copper sprays, Bordeaux, streptomycin, sulfur, and lime sulfur.

Make sure that you read the instructions on the label before you use any type of chemical treatment. As an organic garden, prevention is key.

Fungus

The best way to fight off fungus is to keep your garden clean and prevent fungus from spreading in the first place. If your garden is infected with fungus, chances are that it is too wet. Try to water your garden less and remove any fungus that appears.

Viruses And Bacteria

Viruses and bacterial infections can spread quickly through your garden. If you see a plant that is infected it is important to remove it from your garden immediately. If you wait too long the virus will spread to your other plants. An infected plant will have leaves that are discolored and distorted and will be stunted.

Nematodes

Nematodes are often listed as a disease, but it is actually caused by a small worm. Plant diseases will enter your garden through the small holes that are made by the nematodes.

This can harm or even kill your plants. One way to keep nematodes out of your garden is to plant marigolds. Marigolds repel nematodes and will keep them away from your vegetables.

Keeping Yourself Clean

gardener wearing gloves

Many people do not realize that when they are gardening they could actually be carrying bacteria, viruses, and fungus on their hands and feet that could spread to their plants. Make sure that you wash your hands before heading to the garden.

It is also a good idea to make a bleach spray to use on the shoes that you wear in your garden. The bleach solution should be one part bleach to nine parts water. Put it in a spray bottle and spray the bottom of your shoes before entering the garden.

You can also use this spray on your gardening tools before you use them. Another option is to purchase antibacterial wipes to use on your tools and your shoes.

While this will not kill every harmful disease, it can help slow down the spread of germs that could be harmful to your plants. This is especially a good idea if you have had sick plants in your garden that you have had to remove.

Water is one of the main carriers of disease so make sure that you are not touching plants that are wet. If you touch a wet plant make sure that you wash your hands before you move on to the next organic plant.

Standing water on your organic plants is a great home for rot and mildew. When you water your garden do it in the morning so that the sun will dry off the water from the leaves throughout the day. If you water in the evening the water will stay on the plants over night and can cause mildew and mold to form.

When harvesting vegetables it is important to put all vegetables in a clean bucket or basket. Make sure that you wash your hands before harvesting and clean your vegetables using cold, clear water.

Conclusion

When you are purchasing organic plants and seeds for your garden it is important to make sure that you are doing what you can to prevent diseases. You will want to keep your garden as clean as possible at all times.

With organic plants prevention is the key to success. You want to make sure that you are doing everything that you can to prevent disease in your garden so that you have a successful harvest.

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