Organic Gardening calls for organic fertilizers to enrich the soil. They may be organic fertilizers that you yourself make, or you may purchase organic fertilizers. The key is to avoid chemical additives when making the soil rich for your organic garden.

Organic fertilizers require no more work than synthetic versions, and make the soil healthy so that it will feed your plants well. Your yield will increase, making each hour of work worth more to you.

It is important to add organic fertilizers to your garden at least twice a year, working them well into the soil. Spring is the more obvious time to enrich the soil, but fertilizers should be used at the end of the growing season also.

Types of Organic Fertilizers

There are several types of organic fertilizers. Each makes a specific contribution to the soil. Some will contribute potassium while others add phosphorous. You will want to have the soil of your organic garden tested so that you know what to add.

Animal-based Organic Fertilizer

You know this fertilizer as manure. Most animal-based organic fertilizer is composed of animal droppings. You cannot use manure from predator animals such as cats, since their digestive systems contain bacteria that cause disease in humans. You may use the following animal-based organic fertilizer.

* bat guano
* chicken manure
* cow manure
* horse manure
* rabbit manure
* worm castings

When using animal-based organic fertilizer, be sure it is aged or composted. This will remove dangerous bacteria such as E. coli. You can add composted organic fertilizer in either liquid or solid form. Work it into the soil until a good loam is achieved. After adding manure, wait several weeks before planting.

Plant-based Organic Fertilizer

Besides the dung of animals, you can use organic fertilizer made from plants. Seaweed and kelp, purchased dried and processed, are good organic fertilizers as are cover crops that are later plowed into the soil. The latter is known as “green manure” and it usually a nitrogen-fixing crop such as soybeans.
If you are unsure as to what type of organic fertilizer is best for your needs, ask a local nursery or garden store that offers Organic Gardening supplies.

Commercial Organic Fertilizers

In addition to regular, unprocessed animal and plant-based organic fertilizers, commercial organic fertilizers provide for specific soil needs. For example, “Heart and Soil pH+Plus” is an organic fertilizer that sweetens soil to the proper pH. This helps plants grow and get strong. It makes it easier for their roots to drink in nutrients. “Heart and Soil pH+Plus” uses wood ash from trees to make an organic fertilizer that contains potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and other essential nutrients.

Commercial fertilizers can be organic fertilizers, and not chemical, but be sure you read the labels and ask questions.

One of the most common Organic Herbs grown in the home is basil. Basil is the well-known name for “Ocimum basilicum”. It is a sweet herb of the mint family. Basil is used in cooking. It is also used by some for medicinal purposes.

Basil is a tender, tropical herb, and does best in an indoor Organic Herb garden, at least until the weather is warm.

This Organic Herb can be grown easily from seed. If you intend to put it in an outdoor Organic Herb garden, start it indoors under fluorescent or HID plant grow lights.

Planting Basil

Plant this Organic Herb in medium rich to rich organic soil. Be sure the soil is well drained. If you are growing basil in an indoor Organic Herb garden, plant seeds in individual pots. Thin plants to 10″ apart when they are about 2″ tall. Outdoors, plant seedlings (started indoors) about 9 to 12 inches apart in full sunshine.

Indoor Organic Herb Garden

When planting this Organic Herb indoors, set your pots on a windowsill facing south (northern hemisphere) or north (southern hemisphere). Avoid drafts, and be sure the plants have plenty of natural light or fluorescent/HID grow lights. Water your basil regularly, but be careful not to give it too much water. If the leaves look wilted, basil needs more water. Water it thoroughly, and place it in sunshine immediately. It will usually recover.

Pinching Flowers

Basil produces small purple or white flowers. This Organic Herb is not known for its flowers, however, except to bees, birds, and butterflies. It is grown for its leaves. Flowers should be pinched from the stems of this Organic Herb so they will not slow or stop the leaf growth. A few may be left for their beauty - or to produce seeds.

Pinching Leaves

The leaves of this Organic Herb are green, or green with a purple tinge. They are cut during the growing season, used fresh, or bundled to hang until dry. Pinching basil leaves to use fresh will make your Organic Herb grow more leaves. This will keep basil in an indoor Organic Herb garden producing continuously.

Using Healthy Basil in Cooking

This Organic Herb is delicious in green salads. It is also good in recipes that combine tomato and cheese. Basil is the main ingredient in Italian pesto, which is a mixture of basil, pine nuts, and parmesan cheese. Try fresh basil in egg white omelets to perk up the flavor.

In addition to being delicious, this Organic Herb protects the body’s cell structures and chromosomes from radiation and oxygen-based damage. Basil protects, too, against unwanted bacterial growth.

Buying Basil Seed

A good source of basil and other Organic Herb seeds is Main Street Organic Seeds - which we review on this website. To read our review of Main Street Organic Seeds, click here or on the blue Organic Seeds tab at the top of this page.

Increasing numbers of people are experiencing the pleasure of growing Organic Herbs indoors. They are easy to grow year-round, and they need little space. They can be plucked fresh for favorite recipes, or used for medicinal purposes.

Organic Herb gardens indoors call for proper lighting, of course. Unless you have a greenhouse, they will not get sufficient natural light throughout the door. In winter, especially, indoor Organic Herb gardens need artificial lighting.

What Kind of Light

Your Organic Herb gardening effort requires light, but what kind of light? You might choose from incandescent, fluorescent, or high intensity discharge (HID) lights. Which would be best?

* Incandescent: Your Organic Herb garden will not do well with incandescent bulbs. “Grow lights” that are incandescent are poorly labeled. They are too hot for plants and can “sunburn” your herbs. If you want to use them as display lights, keep them at least 24″ above your Organic Herb garden to prevent burning.

* Fluorescent: This is a much better choice for Organic Herb gardens. Fluorescent bulbs are readily available, inexpensive, and provide full-spectrum lighting. You should set up fluorescent lights on chains that can be adjusted upward as the plants grow. Be sure standard fluorescent lights are kept 2″ to 4″ above the tops of your Organic Herbs. Keep high-output and compact fluorescent lights approximately one foot above Organic Herbs.

* High intensity discharge: Perhaps best for Organic Herb gardening are high intensity discharge (HID) lights. HID lights are available in two types: MH (metal halide) and HPS (high pressure sodium). MH lights are much like the noon sunlight on a midsummer’s day. They give light in the blue part of the light spectrum. This light will stimulate your Organic Herb garden. HPS lights give light in the orange part of the spectrum, much like evening light. This type of light encourages flowering and fruit production. Choose according to whether you are growing Organic Herbs such as Lavender, from which you want blossoms, or thyme, from which you want leaves. Combination HID lights are available, and convertible HID lights. Convertible lights allow you to begin your Organic Herbs under MH light, and switch to HPS light for flowering. Keep all types of HID lights 2 to 4 feet above Organic Herbs, depending on bulb wattage.

How Much Light

Most Organic Herbs enjoy full sun when grown outdoors. Grown indoors, Organic Herbs grow satisfactorily under standard fluorescent lamps. Most grow exceptionally well under high output fluorescent, compact fluorescent, or high intensity discharge (MH or HPS) plant growing lights. Remember the cautions given above regarding distance between lights and Organic Herbs.

Helpful Tip

Use an oscillating fan set on lowest speed to stir Organic Herb seedlings. Let the fan blow near the seedlings for at least 2 hours each day. This will result in sturdier and more natural Organic Herbs.