organic gardening

[tyboo]

Hi,

I am going to plant organic seeds. Any suggestions for beginners.

Soil preparation, where to buy seeds, etc?

[Revvell]

Much of that depends on where you live, what kind of soil you have; how much room you have, how much $$ you have, etc. You might wish to check out the gardening (fasting) section on this forum. More answers there. :)

[carolg]

www.rareseeds.com

Great gardening forum there besides seeds from Baker Creek.

Soil is key. I get lots of free coffee grounds for garden from Starbucks and work it into soil.

How is soil conditions?

I love, love tomatoes so all heirloom I aim to buy...nursery is good place too...can buy organic seeds too....

Enjoy your gardening journey. Now you will be hooked!

carolg

[ltcartwright]

carolg, the zone I live in is similar to Florida, I think that's Zone 11-13??
With the coffee grounds, is it necessary to use peat moss and/or black Kow composted organic manure? I have the peat moss, but haven't purchased any of the organic manure as yet.

Also, the seeds I currently have are lettuces, tomatoes, onions, sweet corn, pumpkin, swiss chard, beans, bell pepper mix, spinach, winter squash....and I forgot what else. Can I use the coffee grounds with ALL of these, and if you'd be so kind as to tell me how to prepare using the peat moss, coffee grounds and/or black kow organic manure?? (i.e. quantity peat moss:grounds:manure)

Thanks!
PS - I live in The Bahamas.

[goobygirl]

Always good to check with the state's extension service, they can tell you what grows where you are.

[carolg]

The coffee grounds I mix into my existing soil. I am always looking to build up my soil with matter and compost throwing my fruits/veggies and leaves when I can get them on top of the ground to break down. It's called Lasagna method and books for that too.

I don't use peat moss, but EKO puts out through Home Depot a gardening soil you can look at. I can't remember if it is called a compost. Of course in bags it does get pricey. May see if you can find a rabbit poop place and it doesn't burn the plants they say. Other stuff may be hot to use on the plants and require aging.

I love, love my latest found tomatoes: oxheart tomatoeshttp://www.tomatogrowers.com/Oxhearts.htm

--big, plumpy, like Roma's is one kind I have, gorgeous like a heart shape too...these are winners for me for next year too...

Great seeds plus great forum for gardening here:
http://rareseeds.com/


carolg

[kaybee]

if you live in the bahamas, you probably have access to seaweed? seaweed is the best fertilizer you can get, as it has a pretty complete mineral profile. its better than animal manure and it also doesnt contain the toxins that are in animal manure as a result of them being regularly "dosed" for worms. manure is great if thats all you can get, but if you have access to seaweed, you are even more golden. i dont know what shape your soil is in or if it is fertile now or when your growing seasons are, but the course i just went to here on ground preparation for next year or even in areas youre planting in over the winter, if you are using seaweed or fresh manure, shovel out some of the soil, then put a layer of seaweed or fresh manure, then cover back up with the soil, then plant youre seeds in the soil. the instructor said that its fine to do this with fresh manure and you can do it with seaweed as well. the manure or seaweed will then break down over time. only aged manure can be used directly around plants. you can also plant "green manure" crops on soil that you are not currently using; this will keep out weeds, and then is tilled back into the soil to add fertility.

[carolg]

I have not used a tiller in a few years now. For my weed control, it's my Action Hoe from Home Depot for about $15. It is the greatest invention and I plug it whenever I can. I just love, love, love it to the MAX. Quick and simple to use so to me that is the best sellings points. When I see weeds I immediately start taking action with my Hoe and it is so quick to get rid of.

http://www.vigoro.com/ProductCategories/Garden+Tools/ActionHoe/

Look at How to Use area at link too. Yes, so true.

Don't compromise for another brand. You want this one only. The picture looks like my hoe too.

carolg, hooked on the Vigoro's Action Hoe sold at Home Depot

[ltcartwright]

thanks kaybee, there is an abundance of seaweed here, and the best part, IT'S FREE!!! i'll definately do as you suggest, dig, place seaweed, soil then plant! Does this work in containers also?? I probably should try and let you know how it goes. will keep you posted.

[kaybee]

dont see why not. we also put a layer of seaweed on TOP of the soil after we planted; basically, we mulched with it. it helped keep down weeds and keep water in (as if we NEEDED to keep ANY more water in in this country!!fields have been flooding already! but it did help in the greenhouse. ) ive heard some people say to only put the seaweed around the plant after its of substantial size or it will "burn" it, but im not convinced about that. the guy i worked on the greenhouse with here says he just moves the seaweed aside a bit to plant the seeds. this top layer of seaweed is not going to break down quickly or easily on the top layer like this, and im not sure how many minerals it will deliver to the plant, but it works good as a FREE and healthy mulch, AND it can be worked further down into the soil next year. oh yeah, and if you start a compost, "finished" compost can be applied around any plants at any time, as far as i know. some might tell you to avoid it touching the leaves you are going to eat raw because compost has ecoli in it, but then same people told us not to use nettle-water for the same reason, and we had used it in previous years and never got sick from that either... (though there is alot of rain so might have washed it off...) YEP i LOVE using the seaweed. especially when your collecting these big, thick kelp rods and they are SO strong, makes me really wanna use them in my food to make ME strong! BTW if you have clean beaches around you, sea veg is another free food and its SUPER mineral rich. use fresh or dehydrate. i prefer it dehydrated, except green sea-lettuce i can get away with fresh in salads.