How to Raise Organic Vegetables

Overview

Organic vegetables have never been exposed to pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Many people feel organic vegetables are healthier and taste better, while others prefer organic gardening methods because these methods don't add any more chemicals to the environment. Raising organic vegetables requires you to use natural methods of pest control and weed control, and non-chemical fertilizers. The reward for your efforts is fresh, delicious vegetables on your table.

Step 1

Choose a sunny location for a raised bed, traditional dug beds, or a container garden. Plants need six to eight hours of sunlight every day. Avoid planting right beside a busy highway, as car exhaust fumes will defeat your quest for an organic garden.

Step 2

Supplement the soil with natural fertilizers such as rotted manure, bone meal, fish meal and compost. An inexpensive home soil test can help you determine what to add, or opt for compost, which can improve any soil.

Step 3

Choose organic seedlings or seeds that haven't been treated with chemicals.

Step 4

Mulch to control weeds. Use such things as leaves, grass clippings, newspapers, and compost.

Step 5

Control pests without chemicals. Pick off slugs or worm and drown them in oil. Or set out saucers of beer to kill slugs. Kill aphids by dusting plants with diatomaceous earth or sulfur powder. Spray with a mixture of ¼-cup vegetable oil, 1 teaspoon castile soap and 1 quart of water. Or add natural pest control to your garden in the form of lady bugs or praying mantis. Put a toad house in your garden to encourage toads, which eat harmful insects.