1. Start from the ground up. Your soil is the most important part of any garden so be sure you have nutrient rich organic soil.

2. Use lots and lots of delicious compost. Compost can mean the difference between strong plants that bear lots of delicious veggies and sad plants with no fruit to offer.

3. Mulch at least twice a year. Not only does mulch help protect your plants from harsh weather conditions but it will also help keep the weeds down.

4. Make your own compost. You save money by not having to purchase it, and you will also be reusing kitchen waste.

5. Keep your garden weed free. Weeds harbor harmful insects and spread disease. If it is possible, keep at least 300ft around your garden weed free.

6. Only buy organic seeds or plants.

7. Fertilize with compost tea as often as needed.

8. Do not over water!

9. To help control disease, try to water before mid day. If you water at night, you are giving fungus an opportunity to grow. A morning watering cuts down on fungus risk and gives the water an opportunity to be absorbed before the mid day heat.

10. If you live in a humid climate try to install an in ground bubbler system. Fungi love moist leaves. If you water from below you won’t get the leaves wet, thus cutting down on fungus leaves.

11. Don’t touch wet foliage. Many diseases and fungi come from human hands.

12. ALWAYS clean your tools after each use.

13. Practice crop rotation.

14. Use vinegar or other natural solutions to help control weeds.

15. Attract beneficial insects. There is no better way to control pests than with their natural predators.

16. If the beneficial insects aren’t doing their job, use natural remedies, like Neem Oil, instead of commercial pesticides.

17. Plant a little extra so if you do loose some plants to disease or pests, your whole crop isn’t gone.

18. Sometimes your veggies may need a boost. If your soil doesn’t have the proper nutrients use an organic plant food.

19. Make sure you have plenty of earthworms. They do such a great job at keeping the soil rich and aerated.

20. If your plant happens to have a disease, try spraying the leaves with compost tea. Many times the bacteria in the compost tea will help.

21. When your vegetables are ready to be picked or plucked, do it! Don’t let ripe veggies sit in the ground or on the vine.

22. Use things like tea bags to balance your PH balance.

23. Be respectful of the all the living things in your soil. I read once that there are more living things in a handful of soil than there are people on the plant.

24. Don’t get discouraged. Sometimes organic gardening can be a bit frustrating. Sure, organic remedies do sometimes take a little longer to work, but organics are so much better for you and for the earth.

25. Enjoy it. Gardening is a soul soothing experience. Have fun and enjoy every minute.

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