HOW DOES
YOUR GARDEN GROW?
Organic gardeners don't use synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides, which is healthier for the environment and for you (the American Cancer Society has reported a link between the herbicide glyphosate, commonly sold as Round-Up, with a 27% increased likelihood of contracting Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, and Johns Hopkins University has also reported that home gardeners use almost 10 times more pesticides per acre than the average farmer). Organic gardeners also:
Use plants as part of a whole system including the soil, water supply, people, wildlife, and insects.
Minimize and continually replenish any resources the garden consumes.
Regularly add organic matter (compost from the garden, kitchen, and lawn) to the soil.
Choose plants suited to the climate and conditions of the site.
You can start a garden at any time, so long as the ground isn't frozen or soaking wet.
Place your plot in an area that gets six hours or more of sun each day. Typically, this will be in a spot facing due south or southwest.
Place your plot near a water source and your compost pile, if you have one.
Place your plot away from mature trees and underground utility lines.
Place your plot away from solid fences or walls in order to facilitate air circulation and avoid fungal diseases that can attack plants.
It's easiest to start small with a plot that is approximately 5'x5'.
Use a string attached to stakes or a garden hose to mark the perimeter of your plot.
Use a trench or a metal, plastic, stone, or wood border to keep grass from growing into your garden.
Most likely, your garden will be covered with grass. Do not till this grass into the soil as it will only produce thousands of tiny sprigs that will sprout again. Remove the sod with a shovel to a depth of about 4 inches, and cart from the garden. The sod can be used to cover bare spots in the yard or stacked upside down and in layers to turn to compost later. Replace the sod with a mixture of compost and leaves to a depth of 3 - 4 inches. Water this area well for 1 - 2 weeks.
Remove all weeds before you do anything in your plot.
Turn the soil over with a shovel or spading fork. If you have hard soil, water the ground the day before you turn the soil to soften it.
Place some organic compost on the surface of the soil and mix it in well.
Water the soil prior to planting. Plant roots should never come in contact with dry soil.
Using small plants from a nursery is easier for novice gardeners than planting from seed.
Water as soon as you are finished planting to settle the soil around the roots.
Do not add fertilizer until you begin to see new growth.
Situate trelllises on the north side of your garden to avoid shading other plants.
Place trellis poles 24 inches deep in the earth to anchor them.
You can trellis acorn and butternut squash; miniature pumpkins; nonbush varieties of cucumbers, peas, and tomatoes; and varieties of melons, gourds, and pole beans that produce fruit smaller than a volleyball.
Wait until the top inch of the soil in the container is slightly dry (lighter in color and texture), then water deeply, until water runs out of the drainage holes.
If you see root growth out the drainage holes it's time to re-pot into a larger planter. Fall is an excellent time to repot plants that have outgrown their containers.
Bring garden planters inside or insulate them in winter to prevent freezing.
If you are planting in window boxes, follow these additional guidelines:
Fill your window box with a thin layer of shells, charcoal or styrofoam peanuts so it will drain properly even with the heaviest of rains. Loose stones or clay shards often used in patio planters will be too heavy for window boxes.
Fill the box with your favorite soil mixture and wet the soil thoroughly.
Add your seeds or plants—remember to do extra checks for dryness through the hot season, as elevated window planters tend to dry out faster than other planters. Fertilize regularly throughout the growing season and dead-head (remove dead flowers) to keep the window boxes looking their best.
Fruits well-suited for container gardening include blueberries, strawberries, and dwarf varieties of apples, apricots, cherries, peaches, pears, and plums. Nature and Nurture in Ann Arbor (telephone 734-929-0802) sells several varieties of fruit shrubs and trees.
Herbs are typically sun-loving and prefer dry (rather than continually moist) soil that is slightly alkaline.
Some perennial herbs, such as lavender, rosemary and sage, can grow to shrub size.
Herbs can grow outside in the summer and come inside during the winter.
Annual | Biennial | Perennial |
Anise | Caraway | Chives |
Basil | Parsley | Fennel |
Chervil | Lavender | |
Coriander | Lemon Balm | |
Dill | Lovage | |
Summer Savory | Marjoram | |
Mint | ||
Oregano | ||
Rosemary | ||
Sage | ||
Tarragon | ||
Thyme | ||
Winter Savory |
Vegetable |
Recommended Container |
Recommended Varieties |
Beans, lima |
5 gallon window box |
Bush Romano, Bush Blue Lake, Tender Crop |
Beans, snap |
5 gallon window box |
Henderson Bush, Jackson, Wonder Bush |
Beets |
5 gallon window box |
Little Egypt, Early Red Ball |
Broccoli |
1 plant/5 gallon pot 3 plants/15 gallon tub |
Green Comet, DeCicco |
Brussels Sprouts |
1 plant/5 gallon pot 2 plants/15 gallon tub |
Jade Cross |
Cabbage |
1 plant/5 gallon pot 3 plants/15 gallon tub |
Dwarf Morden, Red Ace, Early Jersey Wakefield |
Cabbage, Chinese |
1 plant/5 gallon pot 3 plants/15 gallon tub |
Michihili, Burpee Hybrid |
Carrot |
5 gallon window box at least 12 inches deep |
Short & Sweet, Danvers Half Long, Tiny Sweet |
Cucumber |
1 plant/gallon pot |
Patio Pik, Spacemaster, Pot Luck |
Eggplant |
5 gallon pot |
Slim Jim, Ichiban, Black Beauty |
Lettuce |
5 gallon window box |
Salad Bowl, Ruby |
Onion |
5 gallon window box |
White Sweet Spanish, Yellow Sweet Spanish |
Pepper |
1 plant/2 gallon pot 5 plants/15 gallon tub |
Sweet Banana, Yolo Wonder, Long Red Cayenne |
Radish |
5 gallon window box |
Cherry Belle, Icicle |
Spinach |
5 gallon window box |
Dark Green Bloomsdale |
Squash |
2 gallon pot |
Scallopini |
Tomatoes |
Bushel baskets or 5 gallon pots |
Tiny Tim, Small Fry, Sweet 100 Patio, Burpee's Pixie, Toy Boy, Early Girl, Better Boy VFN |
Growing Hope in Ypsilanti conducts the Community Garden Development Institute program, a series of hands-on classes for groups interested in starting and maintaining organic gardens in community settings. Groups must have at least 5 members, at least 3 of whom must attend all four CGDI sessions. The next CGDI will begin in fall 2007. E-mail for more details.
Plant a Row for the Hungry collects surplus garden produce for local food banks, social service agencies, and soup kitchens. For more information, e-mail Carol Ledbetter or call 877-GWAA-PAR.
Michigan Master Gardeners staff a gardening hotline at 734-997-1819 9am - 12pm and 1 - 5pm Mon. - Fri. from April - October.
Ornamental Plants Plus v. 3.0 has information about trees, shrubs, vines, ground covers, perennials, annuals, houseplants, insects, diseases, and other topics with a focus on plants hardy in Zone 6 or colder. The Web site is a joint venture of the MSU Extension and Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association.