Planting Information > How to start an Organic Garden

Many thanks go to John Box, one of our long serving members, for sharing his tips on how to start an organic garden.

Getting Started

This is the reason most people become a member of the Brisbane Organic Growers, and that is to become an experienced organic grower, to be able to walk into your back yard and pick delicious vegetables to feed your family.

Growing vegetables is very labour intensive, the reason being there is a lot more detail and some many duties to perform; however you must make sure it is a labour of love. In other words you must enjoy your gardening. I can't stress enough you must be a happy gardening. Because a happy gardener will grow top quality vegetables. Now to be happy in your work you must make sure the garden does not become a burden. To do this consider how much time you have to garden. It is obvious that a couple both working a 5 day week should have a smaller garden than a couple in retirement so the size of the garden is important.

Plan the Garden

You should find a well drained position in full sun. Your bed should be 1 Metre wide and as long as you require. By having your beds a metre wide you can service it without walking all over it. It is very important that you first check the pH of the soil because if your pH is not okay the soil will not absorb the nutrients so it is futile adding '' goodness'' to your soil if the soil does not respond. There are many Kits available to test the pH of your soil. I recommend "MANUTEC" and follow the instructions. In my opinion a pH of 6-7 is ideal for growing vegetables.

Prepare the Soil

This is the most important part of being a successful grower. Healthy soil will grow healthy plants. Spend a lot of time getting your soil ready!, dig well to a spade depth, remove all weeds, add Dolomite [ 1 handful per square metre]. Four weeks later add a generous helping of Organic Extra [2 handfuls]. Then two weeks later add Compost. I suppose by now your are thinking how long will this all take? Let me tell you straight about gardening Patience is the last tool in your Kit. If you do it right you will succeed! Do not hurry! The following vegetables I grow direct from seed: Beetroot, Carrot, Beans, Peas, Cucumber, Zucchini, Pumpkin, Shallots ,Oriental Vegetables, Radish. Others, I grow mainly from seedlings are: Tomato, Cabbage, Cauliflower and Broccoli and Lettuce.

Sow the Seeds

Before sowing seed I make sure the planting bed is quite moist, water well the day before. Make a line, the smaller the seed the thinner you sow. After planting firm down well and keep moist. With carrots and other such seeds I keep the ground moist until germination, this sometimes means watering 3 times a day. I go and make a big job of counting out the seedlings and also with the seeds I want to grow well the day before. With the trays of seedlings I soak them well with 1/2 strength Fish Emulsion before transplanting. I make a line and then with my dibber I make a hole to which I fill the hole with worm castings, then make another hole in the worm castings. Worm castings are an important part of my ''planting out''. I have a worm farm that produces the castings. After planting out my seedlings I water them with the remainder of my fish emulsion. I then place a plastic yogurt container over the seedling to protect it from the Cut Worm I then mulch the bed with home made compost. From then on I fertilize every 2 weeks with Seaweed Extract.

Pest Control

Nemotodes: A week before planting out tomatoes, capsicum and eggplant, I saturate the bed with Molasses [20mls per litre- break down with hot water]. Use a watering can to apply.

Cabbage Moth: I use Dipel Fruit Fly - I use the Q fly wicks, and spray double strength garlic spray.

All other insects: I use Pyrethrum and I always add wet sulphur to all my sprays. It is very difficult to grow vegetables in S E Qld during the months of December, January and February. Start your pest control program every year in March.

Books: I suggest you read are Companion Gardening in Australia by Brenda Little and Organic Gardening by David Heaton. Both books are available at the BOGI Library.

Home-made Compost

One polystyrene (bean) box with holes in the bottom, it has to be deep, and place gauze over the holes. Fill the box with .8" (20cm) of compost and a handful of worms obtained from a worm farm. This box is placed on bricks in the shade, no sun whatever. Put a wet hessian bag or old carpet on top and keep moist at all times. Feed the worms twice a week with kitchen scrapes (no meat) that have been put through the blender, and every 2-3 months feed with 1/2 handful of dolomite. Over a period of 6 months the contents of the box will have risen in height. To round up the worms add 1 dessertspoon of bran in one corner of the box , leave a day or two, 80-90% of the worms will eat the bran and you should be able to scoop up the worms. Have ready another box to start all over again. Your compost should now be ready. If any new BOGI members have any questions on "How to start your Organic Garden " give John a ring on (07) 3820 8301 and he will be happy to help you.