Plant an Organic Vegetable Garden

• Step 1 Clear the garden area

  Pick a site for your garden that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. A site close to the house and near an outdoor faucet is easiest to care for.

  Because a garden requires almost daily care, start small. An area of 100 square feet is a reasonable starting size.  Clear all lawn, weeds and other vegetation from the area:

  • If you plan to plant the garden within a few weeks, use a spade or sod cutter to slice out the lawn. Dig one deep-rooted weeds.
  • If you have a few months before you plan to plant, cover the garden area with cardboard, old carpet or a thick layer of leaves and let it sit until the covering smothers the lawn and weeds.

• Step 2 Add organic matter

  Organic matter improves any garden soil's drainage, fertility and workability.

  When the soil is dry enough that a ball of it breaks when you drop it from waist level, cover the garden with an inch or two of organic matter that breaks down quickly, such as compost, grass clippings or finely shredded leaves. Don't use wood chips or bark mulch.

  Use the spade to turn the ground to a depth of 6-12 inches, mixing in the organic matter. Let the garden plot sit for at least a week while the ground settles.

• Step 3 Buy transplants and seeds

  Decide which vegetables to grow in your garden, based on your preferences and what does well in your area. 

  In most cases, it's easiest to buy plants that a nursery already started; be sure to ask for organic plants. Some garden plants, such as sweet corn and beans, are easy to grow from seed.

  Choose plants that show no signs of disease or pests. Check the root ball — it should be dense with white roots. 

• Step 4 Plant seeds and transplants

  

  Plan when to plant each vegetable in your garden: planting times differ based on the crop's cold tolerance — read the plant label or seed packet for recommended planting time.

  Use a garden rake to smooth the soil and break up clumps. 

  Plant seeds at the depth and spacing on the label. Press the soil firmly to ensure good soil contact with the seeds in your garden.
  For transplants, use a trowel to dig a hole about 4-6 inches deep and a few times wider than the plant's root ball (the clump of soil with roots growing in it). Set the loosened soil next to the hole.

  With one hand, hold the plant in the hole so the top of the root ball is even with the top of the hole; use the other hand to fill the hole with the loosened soil.

  Press the soil firmly around the plant, to eliminate air pockets that could dry out the roots.
  

• Step 5 Water, mulch and weed the garden

  Gently water the seeds and transplants. Unless it rains, water the seeds and transplants daily for the first 1-2 weeks while early garden growth starts. When the plants are actively growing and their stems are sturdy, taper off the watering.

  Once the seedlings are about 6 inches tall, cover the entire garden with a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch, such as grass clippings, clean straw, finely shredded leaves or coir. Don't use hay (which contains weed seeds) or wood chips (which take too long to break down).

  Continue weeding your garden as it grows. It's easier, and better for the plants, to pull small weeds every few days than to pull big ones once a month.

• Step 6 Fertilize and fight pests the organic way

  Avoid using fertilizers that contain petrochemicals and other toxic ingredients. Use organic fertilizers such as liquid seaweed and manure in your garden.

  • If using a dry fertilizer in your garden, apply it in a band along rows of plants or in circles around widely spaced plants. Scratch it into the soil surface with a trowel or other small tool and then water the soil.
  • If using a liquid fertilizer, dilute it according to label instructions and pour it over the plants and soil. Don't water for 48 hours.

  Not all garden pests need controlling — beneficial insects usually keep pests in check. Use controls only if pests cause extensive damage. The least toxic way to get rid of garden pests is to remove them by hand or spray them with a strong stream of water. If that does not work, look for organic pesticides such as neem oil.

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