For questions about organic gardening or when an organic solution is required.
2
votes
2answers
52 views
How do you organically handle lubber grasshoppers that destroy gardens?
Last summer I had a problem with black grasshoppers with yellow stripes on them, which I identified as Lubbers. Now I grow everything organically and all my plants are heirloom varieties, so last year ...
7
votes
2answers
97 views
What's in eggshells that makes a good fertilizer?
I would like to know why eggshells are good for flowering plants!
4
votes
3answers
121 views
Is it safe to make a vegetable garden where there may have been lawn chemicals?
I moved into a new house (built 1979) this past fall and I would like to convert some of the grass area to a vegetable garden. I don't know how the previous owners took care of their lawn, but is ...
3
votes
1answer
161 views
Can anyone give advice related to growing an Ayurvedic Herb Garden?
I'm currently growing a few herbs and spices in pots on my terrace using Natural/Organic gardening techniques. Turmeric, Basil (Tulsi), Lemon-Grass, Omum are few herbs.
I'd like to transition to ...
3
votes
1answer
80 views
Nutsedge nightmare. Is there an organic solution that will rid my lawn of ever spreading nutsedge?
I have been battling purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) and yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) as long as I've had a lawn. These weeds grow from tubers. The tuber networks are connected by a baby ...
3
votes
1answer
101 views
Why there are no organic fertilizer in powder?
Just wonder why most of the organic fertilizer are in granules. Yes, fish emulsion is liquid but there are no organic fertilizer is in powder form.
Wouldn't it be easier if they crush the granules ...
5
votes
1answer
482 views
How do I kill couch grass organically prior to sowing a lawn?
The area of yard I intend to sow as lawn is around 150sqm, and has just been levelled by machinery which removed much of the plant material. Most parts of it have just had a shallow layer scraped off ...
2
votes
1answer
85 views
What should I do before applying organic fertilizer to ensure no bugs or smell?
Does all organic fertilizer require decomposing? I would like to focus on fertilizer available in gardening shops instead of unprocessed urine or manure from mammals.
As far as I know, decomposing of ...
2
votes
1answer
586 views
Which organic fertilizer should I use to encourage flower growth?
I heard that some plants need fertilizing every two weeks in order to encourage flowering. I prefer organic fertilizers because I feel they provide better nutrients, however they are in granules and ...
6
votes
3answers
2k views
How much fertilizer do I need for my vegetable garden?
Today I received the results for my garden soil test, which show that I have only 5 ppm of nitrogen.
So my research (here, and elsewhere) has suggested that the best way to (organically) raise the ...
6
votes
2answers
165 views
What can I plant to attract butterflies and other pollinators in Minnesota?
A lot of plants can pollinate themselves.
Fruits: Tomatoes, Strawberries
Vegetables: Peppers, Eggplant, Snap Beans, Lima Beans, Lettuce, Endive, Peas,
Cabbage, Broccoli, Beets, Kohlrabi
...
8
votes
1answer
232 views
Efficacy of “willow water” for improving propagation of cuttings
"Willow water" is a term for water that has had willow soaked in it to extract compounds that improve the chances of a cutting growing roots. Here's a fairly descriptive article on it.
I tried it ...
6
votes
1answer
102 views
How do I prepare and sow a lawn organically?
Sowing a lawn organically seems to have 2 problems that need solving:
Killing the weeds prior to sowing
Avoiding weed growth after sowing
Once the soil is levelled, I'm considering trying the ...
9
votes
3answers
287 views
What is the best way to grow vegetables without using chemical insecticide?
I am looking for tips and recommendations because I do not want to use any pesticides.
I am in Jamaica where insects are a big problem.
I am using a combination of dish soap and hot pepper.
Any ...
12
votes
5answers
5k views
How to get rid of insects on basil while leaving the leaves safe to eat?
With reference to this question: Insect infestation on my pepper plant, what do I do?
I have these insects in my indoor "kitchen window sill" basil and they do seem to be chewing it fast enough to ...
16
votes
3answers
2k views
How large a cultivation area to feed one person?
Consider a project like the Earthship. Supposing one would like to grow food (organic polyculture) indoors in such a habitat (i.e. in a green house). How many m² would be required to feed one person ...
16
votes
2answers
2k views
What's an organic way to discourage crabgrass from a large “lawn”?
I have a large area that's infested with crabgrass. I'd like to use organic methods to encourage the grass mix over the crabgrass.
The fact that it's a large area means I can't afford to apply (nor ...
7
votes
1answer
338 views
Pest control using nematodes
I have a pest situation on my apricot tree caused by the beetle Capnodis tenebrionis (see this question). I am averse to using chemical pesticides, and I read that nematodes can be used to control C. ...
4
votes
1answer
831 views
How can I organically prevent green caterpillars from eating up my kale plants? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is an effective organic pesticide to use against aphids or cabbage loopers?
So these little green caterpillars have been eating most of my kale plants. What can I ...
15
votes
9answers
395 views
What is the best organic way to defeat slugs?
Most of the seedlings I have planted out this year have been eaten by slugs within a day.
I have my final two runner bean plants that need to go out.
How can I prevent these from being the next ...
15
votes
2answers
1k views
What are some natural ways of killing ground ivy (creeping charlie)?
We have ground ivy (creeping charlie) that is trying to take over our back yard. We are against using pesticides, as we have a young son. Are there natural/organic ways of beating it (other than ...
22
votes
8answers
1k views
What is an effective organic pesticide to use against aphids or cabbage loopers?
I have a vegetable garden that bugs just love. Since my family is going to eat these vegetables (and I'd prefer that the bugs do not), what organic pesticide is most effective? The main culprits are ...
18
votes
14answers
6k views
Is it possible to kill a large area of weeds organically/naturally?
We've got a ~4500sq/ft back yard that's probably 90% weeds. Is there an organic/natural way to kill off all the weeds so we can start from scratch?
With kids and dogs and a swimming pool right beside ...
