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Thread: Organic Gardening

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    Veteran Member LadyLuck's Avatar
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    Default Organic Gardening

    I know we have some organic gardeners around here so here is a thread for all things related. Especially Q&A stuff!
    There never was a good war or a bad peace.

    Benjamin Franklin

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    Veteran Member LadyLuck's Avatar
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    Default Re: Organic Gardening

    I'll go first with a question.

    What is the best way to use peppermint oil for general pest control?

    Right now I have some sunflowers that are getting some kind of web creature. They are in full sun along a back wall.

    I also just transplanted tomato plants from an indoor sunroom to outside to a med. shade area.

    I plan at some point to have some hot pepper plants indoor to start and then add to the garden.

    All my plants are in containers by the way. Except the lavender, which is doing fine. The ground/climate here is just not suitable for alot of planting and will be zeroscaped in the fall.

    I've got aout 2 oz of pure peppermint oil on hand and have heard it's good for pests but don't know what exactly to do with it.
    There never was a good war or a bad peace.

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    Banned Melonie's Avatar
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    Default Re: Organic Gardening

    Excellent thread topic !!!!

    For homemade pesticide I mix 1/2 ounce of peppermint oil, along with 1/2 ounce of garlic powder, into a 1 gallon watering can. The two ingredients tend to cancel each other out from an odor standpoint, and it's fairly effective.

    In general, spiders are an organic gardener's friend more than enemy (reference to webs in your sunflowers). I have a few spider webs in my greenhouse, and they help cure any potential insect problems before they have a chance to get started. For the most part, ants are an organic gardener's friend too - since they help to eliminate aphids and some other pesky parasites from plant leaves.

    Peppers and Tomatoes are good 'companions', and can be planted close to each other. In fact, if you want to plant some sweet basil in the same area, it will help repel pests from the peppers and tomatoes ! I'm fully convinced that the concept of 'companion planting' works fantastic ... here's a list that one of my upstate NY 'neighbors' put together ...



    PS I'm jealous of your climate re growing lavender (which I can never get enough of). I have tried both tall blossom French lavender and normal 'bushy' Provence lavender, but neither do very well for me planted outdoors. In fact, my lavender 'problem' was one of the major reasons for deciding to install a greenhouse this year.

    If it matters, my grandmother raised me while organic gardening - so she and I both learned a lot of things about organic gardening via the 'school of hard knocks'.

    ~
    Last edited by Melonie; 06-27-2008 at 03:05 PM.

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    Veteran Member LadyLuck's Avatar
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    Default Re: Organic Gardening

    Cool. So I just use the garlic and peppermint mix when watering? How often do you recommend repeating that?

    I love, love me some lavender too. It's like a drug or something. I have several bushes through out the front and back yards. They do really well out front where I have slow drip water sytem and zeroscaping. We're probably not doing the auto drip system out back though. Thinking of doing some rain harvest during the short raining season however.

    Have you seen those globe thingys that you stick in plants for a short term self watering? They are blown glass I believe. They look interesting.
    There never was a good war or a bad peace.

    Benjamin Franklin

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    Banned Melonie's Avatar
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    Default Re: Organic Gardening

    as to the garlic and peppermint insecticide ... maybe once a week max. If you don't see a pest problem don't use it !

    As to lavender, it is a very powerful herb with lots of potential uses. You may be on to something with the automatic watering ... my greenhouse has a water mist system whereas my outdoor garden depends on the weather (or a sprinkler that only gets turned on in desparation).

    Yes I have seen the vacuum ball plant waterers. Personally speaking, if your garden is small I would lean towards 'soaker hoses' or even a drip system, as the vacuum balls don't hold very much water and will be an ass pain to keep filled !

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    Veteran Member LadyLuck's Avatar
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    Default Re: Organic Gardening

    Oh I wouldn't use them all the time but they would be good for some smaller indoor stuff when away on vacation or something. Just thought them nifty.

    Thanks for the help on the peppermint. I let you know how it goes.

    We should get FBR in on this topic since he spoke about starting a garden
    There never was a good war or a bad peace.

    Benjamin Franklin

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    God/dess FBR's Avatar
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    Default Re: Organic Gardening

    Quote Originally Posted by LadyLuck View Post
    We should get FBR in on this topic since he spoke about starting a garden
    LOL I just plowed the ground under. Baby steps. I still have a lot to learn from you and Melonie.

    FBR
    Once again I have embraced my addiction and have put off the moral dilemma to another day.

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    Veteran Member LadyLuck's Avatar
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    Default Re: Organic Gardening

    This winter I want to add a small hydro set up in my sunroom. I think going to try some of the products made by this company:
    and specifically I want to try their growstones

    Anyone here used their stuff yet for either a hydro set ups or as potting soil enhancer? Got any reviews tips, ect. ?
    There never was a good war or a bad peace.

    Benjamin Franklin

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