Answers To Your Questions About Organic Vegetable Gardens
Ken asks…
What is an organic way to keep bugs out of a vegetable garden?
Things like cut worms and tomato worms.
Green Thumb answers:
Happybidz,
You could put up tiny signs that stress no trespassing! 
Seriously, It’s probably impossible to organically, keep all types of insects out of a garden. Certain plants or home remedies may address certain types, but nothing is so universal to keep all bugs away.
I used to plant marigolds to keep lots of insects out, also, you can place glass jar lids in the ground where the lip is level with the soil and pour beer into it. It will kill slugs (they drown in it) and other types of worms. Also, cut garlic placed in certain areas will work for some types of bugs. Introducing lady bugs into the garden will help control aphids and wing-like wasps.
Also, some products like insecticidal soap can work as a deterrent to keeping bugs away, as well as spraying with soapy water.
Good luck
Chris asks…
How can I keep rabbits, racoons, squirrels, etc out of my vegetable/fruit garden humanely and without chems?
I have a small organic vegetable and fruit garden in my yard. I don’t want to hurt any animals, just keep them out of the area and from eating my small crop.
Green Thumb answers:
Can you afford fence around your patch? No barbed wire, but small holed, wire fence would do. If you use plastic fence they will chew thru them like hot knife thru butter.
Or, get hold of some thorny bushes, longer the thorn the better – spread them around the perimeter of the patch. First put down something sturdy about 3′ apart. How large is your veg. Patch – make it strong enough for them not to climb over.
No traps or any tricky things, OK?
I love animals. I hate to see them hurt.
Donna asks…
How can I start a vegetable garden?
I’ve always been interested in growing my own pesticide free organic vegetables, but it always seemed like such a tough thing to just pick up and start.
I live in central Florida on near the coast and its typical florida weather here. Could someone point me in the direction of how to start a vegetable garden particularly full of peppers, cucumbers, and lettuce?
Green Thumb answers:
Oh my stars the best I’ve found is Mel Bartholemew’s Square Foot Gardening. Various books free from the library or order on-line from his website or used through Amazon.com
The procedures in his new book is VERY simple. Take my word from someone who put together 3 box frames and mixed the Mel’s Mix anyone could do it.
Robert asks…
How do you make your own soil mixture for vegetable gardens?
I know that you need organic material but what else is important for that perfect soil?
Green Thumb answers:
Depending on what you want to plant you’ll need to adjust the Ph level, this will require a testing kit to see what it is at and some research as to what you are planting.
Richard asks…
Is there a dish cleanser organic enough to use the leftover grey water to water the vegetable garden?
In any form?
Green Thumb answers:
My grandmother used Ivory Liquid, before they made liquid soap she used boxed-ivory soap. She always threw it out on the flowers or the kitchen garden. If your afraid it’s to strong add a little more water before you water your garden, that will make the soap weaker….God Bless
Daniel asks…
Would it be safe to plant a vegetable garden on an old corn field?
This field on my property once was a farm field. They grew corn and stuff on it. Last year they just grew hay on it. Would there still be nasty pesticides etc on the field? I want to grow an organic garden.
Green Thumb answers:
If that field was just a hayfield last year, it should be okay to grow on this year. Even better if it was planted in alfalfa which would have replenished some of the nitrogen that the corn used up.
If you want to be a certified organic grower, you’d have to prove that no chemicals were used on the field for 3 years or more. But if you’re just growing organically for your own use….go for it.
You may find that you’ll have to spend some time improving the soil, but if you do that by adding compost and using cover crops, the soil will get better and better each year.
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