Basics of Organic Gardening in 15 minutes! Jan Garrett, M.S., Botany PhD, Ecology Auburn University Organic Vegetable Production Research Owner, manager Sunbright Farm garrecj@auburn.edu
All the World s Problems Can Be Solved in a Garden - Geoff Lawton, permaculture consultant, designer and teacher.
Gardening is especially relevant today Economic recession, Increasing fuel and food prices, High unemployment, Soaring obesity rates, and Increasing feelings of helplessness to do anything about these problems. Growing your own food can help empower individuals.
Sun Good, fresh, healthy food Exercise Multiple Benefits of Organic Gardening Save Money Save the planet Family Fun Educational
Why Organic? Organic is Safe Safe for Wildlife Safe for the gardener Safe for children
Organic is Educational Based on cultivating and exploiting nature s complex relationships among different species of plants and animals.
What is Organic?
Most people know what it isn t
But what is it? Organic gardening is a production system that: Promotes Ecological Balance focuses on interrelationships
Conserves Biodiversity diversity of life
Supports Biological Cycles
Enhances Soil Biological Activity Plant diversity above ground stimulates diversity in the soil.
Fosters Cycling of Resources
Maximizes Use of Local Resources
The Garden is viewed as an Ecosystem A community of organisms interacting with the environment.
Plants Connect the Below Ground Community with the Above Ground Community
Below Ground Community Soil Livestock The plants are on a whole foods diet (organic matter). Soil livestock = the plants teeth and digestive system.
Above Ground Community Includes Many Plant Partners Pollinators
Beneficial Insects Predators that attack crop insects and mites by chewing them up or sucking out their juices Lacewings larva eating caterpillar
Beneficial parasites commandeer pests for habitat or food tomato hornworm parasitized by braconid wasp Trichogramma wasp parasitizing eggs of European corn borer
Beneficial Organisms = Garden s Immune System Plants have many partners in protecting themselves against pests & disease Spined soldier bug eating Colorado potato beetle larvae
So Before You Squash that Bug Learn Your Insects Not all bugs are bad bugs. Correct identification of the insects in your field is critical to developing a management plan. Good bug or bad bug? Stink bug Predaceous stink bug
How to Manage the Organic Ecosystem: Restore, Maintain and Enhance Ecological Harmony.
Diversity is the key Below Ground Build a healthy, diverse soil food web Above Ground Provide a diversity of species, life stages, and structure for beneficials
Set yourself up for success Provide Optimum Conditions for Plant Growth Soil fertility start with soil test Build healthy soil Provide right amount of water Use good seed Plant at proper time Plant spacing Well-adapted crops Resistant varieties Control weeds Manage pests and disease
Focus on Feeding the Soil Livestock Feed the soil; not the plant Feed them organic matter
Food for soil livestock: Compost Nutrients Inoculates the soil with beneficial organisms Cover crops Energy source, nutrients, organic matter Mulch As cover crops Maintains an optimum soil environment
Soil Livestock Food Compost
Compost Enhances soil fertility: Adds nutrients: Improves physical properties Inoculates the soil with beneficial organisms: Increases soil microflora diversity and populations. Enhances plant growth.
Cover Crops Optimum method of beginning organic garden Energy source, nutrients, organic matter Soil fertility legumes nitrogen Austrian winter pea Crimson clover Hairy vetch
Benefits of Cover Crops Weed suppression Disease suppression Beneficial habitat Nutrient retention Nitrogen accumulation Builds soil organic matter On farm resource Never leave soil bare!
Cover Crops for Weed Control Rye/Austrian winter pea Rolled rye Tomatoes planted into rolled rye
Mulch Soil Livestock Food Conserves soil moisture Adds organic matter
Organic Pest Control
Premises of Organic Pest Control Few Pests Healthy Plants Healthy Soil
Healthy soil = Healthy plants Build soil fertility to produce healthy crops that can withstand pest pressure Compost Cover crops
Be Proactive; Not Reactive Design diversity into the garden. Many beneficials are dependent on pollen and plant juices to tide them over when their prey are scarce. Often found near spring and summer-flowering shrubs and weeds.
Farmscaping Plants Attract and Support Beneficial Insects Have something blooming all the time Flowers are prime food & mating sites for wasps. Important to have a well fed, mated female beneficial! Green House use to Jump-start garden areas.
Plant it and they will come!
Keep a standing army of beneficials at your garden at all times, ready for attack on pests. Incorporate flowers Alternative food sources Pollen Nectar Provide Shelter cover crops, perennials Overwintering perennials, cover crops
Grow a variety of flowers in or around your garden
Sunflower Family Asteraceae Cosmos Sunflower
Sunflower Family Goldenrod Yarrow
Carrot Family Apiaceae Dill Caraway
Carrot Family Cilantro Queen Ann s Lace
Mustard Family Brassicaceae Broccoli flowers Sweet Alyssum
Cover crops Clover Buckwheat
Perennial herb and flower border
Incorporate Herbs
Mixtures of flowers, herbs, and vegetables
Functional as well as beautiful
Biodiversity: The Key to Healthy Farming Systems
Biodiversity What does biodiversity look like? Spatial diversity different types of plants in different areas. Genetic diversity different varieties. Temporal diversity different species or growth stages throughout the season and from year to year. crop rotation and cover crops.
Biodiversity Key to Personal Health
Diversified Planting Intermingle different kinds of plants to make it harder for insect pests to travel from one preferred host to another. Do not encourage insect pests by planting a single crop in a straight row. Mix up crops or use companion plants.
Companion Planting garlic and lettuce
Crop Rotation Rotate crops that are closely related to different parts of your garden each year. Don t plant tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, or potatoes in the same location in successive years. These plants are in the same family (Solanaceae) and attract similar insect pests, and absorb the same nutrients from the soil. Follow any of these crops with squash, cucumbers, corn, beans, etc.
Scouting the Garden Scout the garden regularly, at least once per week. Examine enough plants to let you know what pests are present and how much damage is being done. Learn to identify pests and distinguish them from beneficial insects.
Exploiting Beneficials Effectively Identify which beneficial organisms are present. Understand their life cycles and resource requirements Change your management to enhance populations of beneficials.
Look for 1/4 to 1/3 of the plants with beneficial insect (adult wasps, beetles, larvae, cocoons, pupae, mummies, partially eaten egg masses, etc.) activity or plants should be fairly pest free. Aphid mummies tomato hornworm parasitized by braconid wasp
Look closely for eggs or small larvae Ladybug Colorado potato beetle
Shift focus away from pest to having a healthy population of beneficials as the primary focus. Prevention is primary.
Use insecticides only as a last resort Insecticides kill beneficial insects as well as pests. If beneficial insects are killed pest insect populations can increase to very high numbers. You can reduce or eliminate the need for insecticides in the home garden by using a variety of techniques.
Biodiversity: Key to Healthy Farming Systems
Biodiversity: Key to Healthy Families
Happy Gardening!
Make Parting Room for Thought Wildlife!
References Alieri, M.A. and C. Nicholls. 2005. Manage Insects on Your Farm. A guide to Ecological Strategies. online publication. www.sare.org/publications/insect/insect.pdf. Zehnder, G. 1998. Garden Bugs. Alabama Cooperative Extension Service Publication. ANR-1045. online publication. www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/a/anr-1045/.
Online Resources http://www.ipmimages.org http://www.attra.org/ http://www.aces.edu http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/biocontrol http://www.sare.org/publications/insect/inse ct.pdf http://www.rain.org/~sals/bugs.html