Start Your Own Organic Kitchen Garden (I)

Nothing can beat freshness and taste of homemade produce, - particularly, organically grown one.

Organic kitchen gardens have great universal appeal to all of us; they can be of any type, shape, or size.
They help us grow free & healthy food, and they recycle organic household waste we produce, daily.
Start your own kitchen garden, today; -it's easy and very rewarding!
Below, are a few points to consider.
Step 1 - Choose Location
If you can, situate your garden close to the kitchen, and the house; -convenient for daily maintenance, and it's great fun to be
able to sneak out of the house, to pick your salad, as desired. It will also keep many critters from coming, and nibble on your greens.
Other locations, such as greenhouses, cold frames, patios, decks, backyards, city allotments, balconies, rooftops window boxes, or drought-free, sunny interiors, will also suit the purpose.
Step 2 - Keep It Small
Apart from water and air, it's quality of the soil that makes a garden grow and produce.
It will be easier, cheaper, and more rewarding to cultivate a small garden, particularly if you wish to commit to an organic way of gardening, and work with nature, rather than with chemicals. Use common sense, and size your garden according to your needs.
Step 3 - Build Good Garden Foundations
Outline garden boundary; begin preparing the soil. 
Good, Light Soils.
Turn the soil over with a shovel (or rototiller), and remove pieces of wiregrass, and any other, expansive weeds. Cover with mulch, let
it rest.
Heavy Clay Soils.
Soak lots of newspapers.
Sprinkle new garden area with water.
Place newspapers over the soil (make several layers). Weight it with lots of mulch. Leave it for about a month or longer, till paper decomposes.
Moisture, natural heat of mulch, and lack of sun will all enable decomposition of weeds, and softening of the soil. Once it's done, turn the soil over, working decomposed paper, and mulch into the soil; discard any pieces of wiregrass, that may have survived.
Please, note: decomposition of mulch will still continue, -further improving the soil.
Container Garden
Larger size containers will be best. Line them with pebbles for drainage. Add a layer of soil, another one of dry leaves or shredded newspapers, followed by a layer of soil, then another one of organic kitchen waste, and cover with more soil on the top. Water, cover to seal the air, and sunlight off and let nature do the rest, for the next few weeks. Keep the pots outside, during that time.
Step 4 - Build the Soil.
The easy and effective way of building good soil is to give it organic matter, regularly.
Kitchen and garden waste will attract microorganisms that love feeding on it; as they do, they will replenish soil's nutrients, and structure.
Fluffy, and rich soil enables your plants to eat, breathe, and drink, well.
Organic soil is actually great well beyond one's tomato patch. Its ability to take, and hold the moisture, stop soil erosion, so common, yet so bad for our environment. So, let's keep recycling our organic waste, benefit from fertile soil, sustainable erosion free, environment, and money saved on buying food, and fertilizers.
-to be continued.
In Part 2 (March), we will discuss details of what, and how to compost. We will also design the layout of our organic kitchen garden, and more, - so stay with us!

Back to GARDENER'S PASTIMES IN FEBRUARY page

Feedback - contact.tcg.now@gmail.com
References
Special Thanks
Special Thanks to Town & Country Gardens Contributors: dive-angel (Karin), Jasmine&Roses, Rita Crane Photography. Rita Crane, daughter of LIFE magazine photographer Ralph Crane. Her work can be seen on Flickr at Rita Crane Photography or on her website., TMR Davies, W.D. Williams

Gardener's Pastimes in March

MARCH POETICAL

ABOUT SPRING

MARCH GARDENING PROJECTS

MARCH INTEREST PLANTS

KITCHEN GARDEN PART 2

WOODLAND GARDENS

KITCHEN GARDEN ESSENTIAL - SORREL

CLASSIC HERBS - ROSEMARY

PROPAGATE ROSEMARY 

MARCH RECIPES

Feedback - contact.tcg.now@gmail.com
References
Special Thanks
Special Thanks to Town & Country Gardens Contributors: Becky Matsubara/CC 2.0, dive-angel (Karin), Jasmine&Roses, Rita Crane Photography. Rita Crane, daughter of LIFE magazine photographer Ralph Crane. Her work can be seen on Flickr at Rita Crane Photography or on her website., W. D. Williams

Organic Kitchen Garden, Part 2

Source of quality produce, a recycling center for organic kitchen & garden waste, and most of all, a great place to relax, and enjoy fruits of one's labor; -Kitchen Garden is simply a 'must have'.
Let's start one, today!
SELECT THE AREA
Select small area, next to the house; clear it. If you intend to grow directly in the ground, then prepare (ref: February, D.I.Y., Step3), test, condition, and level the soil.

CHOOSE LAYOUT

Row by Row Garden.
These gardens can be very prolific, provided, rows, and paths are wide enough to make growing, and maintenance, easy. Use row space wisely, and apply companion planting. Try the Three Sisters approach.
In this Native American method, Corn is planted with Peas (or Beans), and Squash. Corn supports Peas. Peas enrich soil with nitrogen, and Squash keeps the roots shaded, soil moist, and weeds at bay, a great example of efficient space utilization.
Plant Marigolds, and other annuals to attract bees, and better pollination.
Build raised rows, they will enable more air, and drainage. If location's hilly, direct rows across, not downhill; this will keep soil erosion under control, and good, top soil in your garden, where it belongs.
In late Summer, and early Fall, plant your Winter crops, such as Spinach, Broccoli, Kale, and Cabbages.
Designate Winter resting part of the garden, and sow Winter cover crops there. They add nutrients to the soil, and keep weeds away. See references, below, and please, read document published by Rodale Institute. It details why growing cover crops is vital, as well as provides listing of best cover crops for your area.

Raised Beds Garden 
Great, small garden solution. Supported by timber or other type of frame, these beds are often situated directly on the ground.
For weed-free beds, concentrate on keeping their surroundings, clean.
Use layers of wet newspapers, or dark landscaping fabric to cover all areas between, and around beds. Top these up with mulch or pebbles, to further block the light, and possibility of new weeds emerging. Personally, I prefer paper and mulch combination. It stops weeds in the short term, and as it decomposes, it also improves quality of the soil; which is good for your plants, and easy weed control in the long run.
Areas with hard surfaces, such as tiles, paving stones, etc., make good location for Raised Beds, too.
Make them 2-3 feet deep. Choose landscaping fabric that is not waterproof, so it will not retain too much moisture. Use it to line inside, particularly, bottom of the bed, and stop soil from getting washed away by water, later on.
Since they are raised, these deeper, off the ground beds, are practically weed-free, and more accessible to gardeners with restricted movement. They are also handy for everybody else, I like sitting on these frames while "gardening".
Beds situated directly over ground are good to grow just about anything.
Beds that are off the ground, are probably not best for growing root vegetables, such as carrots, since they usually require depth to develop, to a decent size. Plan to grow herbs, greens, chives, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, leeks, and broccoli, instead.

Parterre Garden
These gems of horticulture, are quite spectacular.
They are defined by permanent structure, made of low, evergreen hedges (knotted, or not) grown in variety of shapes, and situated in symmetrical patterns.
As seasons change, so do contents of these minute, hedge embraced, garden areas.
Perfect gardens on any side of a house, Parterre Gardens bring old fashioned charm, while being neat and versatile.
Variety of different plant material could be suitable for hedging, including, Boxwood, Japanese Holly, Rosemary, etc. Select plants that will do well in your climatic area.
Within these evergreen boundaries, erect pyramid shaped obelisks to support beans, cucumbers and nasturtiums. Situate raised pots for Prostrate Rosemary, and accent flowers. Grow greens, and
herbs, as edible ground covers. Perfect for displaying plants, as well as objects of arts, and crafts; Parterre Gardens change, and captivate, season, after season.

Container Garden
Small size, big visibility. These miniature gardens often prove a great asset to any interior, and exterior space. Many different plants can be grown in containers.
Plant Strawberry in hanging baskets with Marjoram, and Lettuce, as companions, or if you prefer, grow them with Borage, and Beans, also good companions, in larger containers.
Citrus, and Olive Tree will grow in containers. They will produce fruit, and look spectacular. Garden centers, and nurseries offer great selection of containers, these days, and you may like to spent a little, to get exactly what you want. Enjoy being creative. Look around your own yard, particularly, for the so called 'objects of curiosity'. Rustic looking wheelbarrows, and other containers, can (with a few drainage holes) provide original, yet practical location, for your growing arrangements. Half barrel makes great home for a Blueberry bush, while an old wooden ice making bucket, looks stunning planted with Chives, Thyme or Basil.
Seek variety; mix old, new, sophisticated, and primitive, and make your garden uniquely, yours. Try grouping different shapes, and sizes of plants, and containers, for greater "lush garden" feel. Situate individual plants in a simple containers, and on their own, if you wish to give
them more visibility, while creating feeling of calm, and space of the surroundings, at the same time. Fertilize, and water regularly. Since their growing space is strictly limited, Container Garden, especially in sunny location, outdoors, will be more dependent on regular watering, and fertilizing. Rich, quality soil, and a

good layer of mulch on top of the pot, will help stay moist, longer. Do not suffocate your plants; give them room to grow.
As they begin to outgrow existing, move them to slightly larger containers, and refreshed soil.

Back to Gardener's Pastimes in March page,

Feedback - contact.tcg.now@gmail.com
References
Special Thanks
Special Thanks to Town & Country Gardens Contributors: Forde Abbey and Gardens / CC 2.0, Craig Dietrich / CC 2.0,  dive-angel (Karin), Jasmine&Roses, Rita Crane Photography. Rita Crane, daughter of LIFE magazine photographer Ralph Crane. Her work can be seen on Flickr at Rita Crane Photography or on her website., TMR Davies, W.D. WilliamsNina Pope - see her current "garden" projects she's working on, in London., Paul Kentish