We are taking the idea of eat local to a whole new level…just kidding!
We now have a small vegetable garden in our backyard. I know it’s a little late because the summer in North Florida seems to be at its peak right now. But hey, better late than never, right?
Anyway, we have planted 3 Japanese eggplants, 3 sweet peppers, 3 tomatoes and a bunch of parsley and mint. I am using a mix of simple top soil and cow manure in an attempt to stay away from heavy fertilizers. Not sure how it is going to turn out, but I want to give it a shot.
The main goal behind this garden is to get our twins interested in growing plants. I am hoping it would further increase their attachment to fruits and vegetables. They are beginning to show a little interest in getting water out of our rain barrels every evening to feed the plants and flowers. They also like to dig up the soil and make a mess everywhere! We are thinking of getting them a set of new colorful garden tools.
If you have a vegetable garden, I would love to hear your advice and suggestions about managing without synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Please leave a comment below.
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Mulch to prevent weeds. My FIL uses grass clippings, or you could use regular hardwood mulch. Not only will it keep weeds down, but prevent your plants from drying out. And check the garden frequently for weeds and pull them by hand before they get out of control.
For stubborn weeds, you can mix white vinegar with a squirt of dish liquid and use that in place of Round Up or other chemical weed killer. But it also kills grass and plants, so spray carefully.
Planting marigolds among your plants will keep nematodes away. I've used diluted tea tree oil as a spray for fungus on leaves, and we water mostly with recycled water that is usually slightly soapy, so that keeps other pests away. For spider mites, dilted mouthwash in a spray bottle works great too.
And once your tomato plants get large, stake them. Letting them sprawl is easier, but it provies coverage for pests and increases the likelihood of veggie rot.
Good for you! Our season in northern WY is just starting, and I'll have the opposite problem that you have – it might not get warm enough long enough (or at all!) to really grow the things in my garden! We don't use any pesticides, but we also don't really have a bug or pest problem here.
Good luck with your garden! My kids get really excited about eating the food that we harvest. And it's really so much better than the blander equivalents we buy in the grocery store!
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