Organic fruit and vegetable gardening is all about what is left out of the garden rather than what goes in it. Organic gardeners grow plants without the addition of artificial fertilizers, soil additives, pesticides or herbicides, which means their fruits and vegetables won't contain traces of harmful chemicals. Organic gardening also doesn't pollute the ground or water with chemical runoff, making easy-to-grow organic fruits and vegetables a healthier food choice.
Step 1
Plant your garden in a location that receives at least six hours of bright sunlight per day. Fruits and vegetables need more light to thrive than foliage plants or flowers. If you're planting in pots, place them on a sunny patio or windowsill.
Step 2
Prepare the soil in your garden. Add a 3-inch layer of compost to the entire surface. Till it into the existing topsoil with a hoe. Compost adds nutrients and aerates the soil for optimal seed germination and plant growth. If you are growing seeds in pots or planters, fill the containers with organic potting soil and rake 1 inch of compost into the top of the soil.
Step 3
Moisten the soil with water but don't soak it.
Step 4
Plant organic fruit or vegetable seeds at the depth and spacing according to the packages' directions. If you are starting a garden with purchased seedlings, plant them with enough space to allow for future growth. Refer to the instructions on the seedlings' pots or plastic soil markers.
Step 5
Water the plants when the topsoil is dry to the touch. Moisten the soil but avoid over-watering; too much water can cause root rot.
Step 6
Amend the garden soil with a 1/2-inch layer of compost every month, especially on heavy feeder plants such as tomatoes and broccoli. Rake the compost into the top layer of soil around the plants. For potted plants, add 1 inch of compost twice a year and rake it in around the plants' crowns.
Step 7
Keep pests under control with organic pesticides, if necessary. Don't use chemical insecticides or the fruits and vegetables no longer will be organic. Pull weeds by hand rather than spraying herbicides.
Step 8
Harvest the fruit and vegetables when they're ripe to encourage further plant growth.
Things You'll Need
- Hoe
- Organic topsoil or potting mix
- Compost or other organic fertilizer
- Pots or planters (optional)
- Organic seeds or seedlings
- Organic pesticides (optional)
References
- NYCWasteLe$$: Using Compost to Grow Plants
- "The Urban Homestead;" Kelly Coyne and Erik Knutzen; 2008.
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