In the Desert of Arizona, Organic Gardening is Possible!

Organic food is growing more and more popular as we discover the dangers of the pesticides and petroleum-based fertilizers which are used to grow our foods. However, organic food, especially produce, is likely to be quite a bit more expensive than food grown with modern methods. Consequently, many people are creating their own organic gardens to grow food for their families. Living in the Phoenix area does not exclude you from making an organic garden. While organic gardening in the desert does require some extra attention, it is completely possible and can be a very rewarding hobby.

The first thing you need to do to start an organic garden is select a location. While sunshine is seldom a problem in the desert, you do need to make sure that your plot will have a minimum of six hours of sunlight that will not be interrupted by a shadow from a tree or your house. You will also want to choose an area that is big enough to hold the plants you intend to place in the ground. Remove the weeds, and fence it in by using aviary wire, in order to keep out rodents. You can also build up a planting box if you wish to purchase good topsoil to cultivate your plants.

Carefully Preparing Soil Will Establish a Winning Organic Garden

In this part of the country, the most important problems you will tackle when starting an organic garden are soil conditions and access to water. Desert soil is not necessarily poor quality soil, but it does need to be worked to permit water to drain properly, as it is quite dry. Start your garden by working the soil. The first step is to wet it thoroughly, and this necessitates that you have a water source close to your garden. Then, use a tiller to crumble the soil to a depth of about one foot. Then, combine your organic fertilizer into the area you have prepared. Now you are ready to begin planting.

Once you put in your garden, be sure to provide your plants a good watering. Make sure they stay watered and fertilized. If you garden gets a lot of direct sunlight, you may want to put a shade cloth over your plans after the lunch hour. Of Course you will want to fertilize your plants with organic material. Using compost from your own compost pile is the most environmentally friendly. You can use any organic material such as eggshells, grass clippings, and waste products from the kitchen. The compost pile needs to be stirred around regularly so that the items will decompose more quickly. This provides an organic fertilizer that will add needed nourishment to your garden.

Organic Gardens Need Organic Pest-Fighting Choices

If you find that your organic garden becomes infested with pests that are eating your plants, there are many organic methods that can be used to battle those pests. One of the most organic lines of attack to fight insects in your garden is with other insects. Research the types of insects that will prey upon your pests, and then add them to your garden. You can also use plants like thyme, tansy, nasturtiums and basil to deter insects from eating your other plants. These all grow well in Arizona's climate, and serve to either repel bugs or attract them away from the other plants in the garden. This is far healthier than using pesticides, and you will have the advantage of growing delicious herbs while you keep your garden insect-free.