How to Plant an Organic Vegetable Garden in Michigan
Growing organic vegetables in Michigan requires slightly different cultivation techniques, compared to conventional vegetable production. Truly organic food is produced without the use of herbicides, pesticides or other chemical sprays and fertilizers. Soil preparation is needed for all types of gardens, but the care of the soil is even more vital when growing organic food. Michigan State University suggest you plan at least one year in advance before starting an organic garden, and to educate yourself. Organic gardening requires additional work, because you need to watch the crops more closely and follow specific guidelines. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Select locations within your yard for specific vegetables. It's easier to grow all of your carrots in one area and radishes in another rather than creating a different row for each type of vegetable in one area. However, this also depends on how much space you have. Separate your vegetables completely, if you have a lot of space. This will make it easier for you to recognize each type of vegetable and rotate crops when the time comes. If you're short of space, use garden labels to distinguish between your crops.
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Remove all weeds. Till the ground 10-inches deep with a garden tiller to mix the soil around and break up clay or tightly packed soil. The soils in Michigan vary greatly depending on where you live. Some areas are more fertile while others have rocky, sandy or clay soils.
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Add a 5-inch layer of compost to the soil. Compost increases soil fertility by adding nutrients.
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Plant depending on the type of vegetable you are planting. Plant cool season vegetables such as onions, spinach, beets and carrots in April, and plant warm season crops in May after the danger of frost is gone. Examples of warm season crops include pumpkins, melons, squash and cucumbers. Plant seeds 4 inches deep and 5 inches apart from other vegetables in rows.
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Monitor your vegetables closely for signs of disease or pests. When your vegetables are growing above the ground, buy 200 or more lady bugs at your local plant nursery and place these bugs in your garden. Lady bugs usually stay around for one or two seasons. These insects protect plants by eating other predator bugs that consume plants. Organic farmers often rely on natural predators rather than pesticides to maintain crops.
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Water your vegetables with 1 to 2 inches of water each week. Drooping or yellow leaves is a sign of over-watering.
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Tips & Warnings
Successful organic gardeners rotate their crops every other year. Crop rotating involves moving crops from one area to another. For example, move carrot crops to the area where beets would normally grow, and place the beets in the soil where you grew carrots.
Harvesting times vary depending on the type of vegetable. Carrots, beets and cucumbers are ready for harvest 60 to 90 days after planting.
References
- Michigan State University: Organic Farming Exchange: Vegetable Production
- National Resource Conservation Service: Michigan Soils
- Department of Agriculutre: Kalaska Sand
- Michigan State University: Vegetable Gardening
- Michigan State University: Garden Planning Calender
- Michigan State University: Soils
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Goodshoot/Getty Images
