Organic Gardening Tips

These organic gardening tips will help you grow the most beautiful organic basil. Once you start growing basil you will discover that it is very easy to grow and care for. As long as you provide adequate water and sunshine and care for your basil plant it is very easy to keep the plant organic because there really isn't much else you need to do.

If you want to be extra certain that your basil plant has been organic from the start, start your own plants from organic basil seed.

There are a few basic things to keep in mind when starting an organic garden. These organic gardening tips will help to ensure your success.

When you are preparing your planting bed, be sure that any soil, soil enhancers, compost or fertilizers that you add are organic and do not contain chemicals.

Also, keep in mind that not all bugs are bad. For example, worms are actually a good thing to have in your garden soil. If you see them, don't remove them. Research the potential pests for everything that you will be planting. If a pest appears, be prepared with the best organic solution.

It is also very important to start with organic plants or seeds. One of the best organic gardening tips is to develop a good relationship with your local nursery. Ask questions to be sure that you feel confident in their methods. Purchasing your planting materials from a trusted source that is certified organic is a great start.

Growing organic herbs is a great way to get started in organic gardening because herbs are very easy to grow without any additives or growth-enhancers. The Organic Veggie Patch is a fantastic site that provides all sorts of helpful organic gardening information, including a great section on organic herb gardening.

Organic Pest Control for Basil

You can find a lot of products claiming to be organic pest control. I don't know about you, but when it comes to keeping things truly organic, I don't want to spray anything onto my precious basil, even if it does claim to be organic.

If you are having a problem with pests, you could try any of the common suggestions that you will find in gardening books, magazines and blogs, including...

• broken eggshells
• hot pepper flakes
• oils or vinegars
• beer

All of these organic solutions have their place, but in all the years that I have grown basil there really has only been one pest problem that I have ever had....Japanese Beetles. These guys love basil and when they find your plant they tend to appear in droves.

I have done a lot of research and tried many methods for ridding my basil of these pesky critters. I have found that the best solution is simple perseverance.

As soon as I notice that small holes are beginning to appear in my basil leaves, I know that the beetles have found my plant. At that point, I begin checking my plants 2 to 3 times each day. If I see any beetles on the plant I remove them. I continue to do this every day for several days in a row until the holes stop appearing.

Japanese Beetles seem to dislike this disturbance. After a few days of being disrupted by me, they move on. I have done this with my basil plants for the last several years, and it has worked each and every time.

I hope that you have found these organic gardening tips helpful and that you will get out there and start growing!