plant raising and growing in containers - garden organic · 2014-03-23 · growing media an organic...

Plant raising and growing in containers

17www.gardenorganic.org.uk

Seeds and other planting materialStart with good quality sowing and planting material to help ensure healthyplants. Organic seeds, plants, tubers and other planting material are available,but growing your own is ideal where possible.

Best organic practice – the first choice

Home saved seed, from disease-free parent plantsHome-grown transplants, preferably bare rootSeeds, tubers, sets, bulbs, plants and transplants with an organic symbolfrom an approved organic certification body

Acceptable organic practice

Seeds, tubers, sets and bulbs from non-organic sources, where notavailable as organic. They must not have been treated with fungicidesafter harvestContainer grown plants and transplants in peat-free growing media, but without an accredited organic symbolNatural hormone products, such as seaweed extract, to promote rooting of cuttings

Acceptable, but not for regular use

Container grown plants and transplants in peat-based growing media, but without an accredited organic symbol

Never acceptable in an organic garden

Plants taken from the wildGenetically modified seeds and planting material, should they become availableSeeds, bulbs, sets and tubers treated with fungicides after harvestSynthetic hormone rooting powders

Cleaning structures and containers see page 24

Growing mediaAn organic growing medium – seed, potting, or multipurpose compost – has, asits main ingredient, biologically active material, such as composted plant wastes.Seed compost should be low in nutrients. Other mixes should provide plantswith nutrients for as long as possible, to limit the need for liquid feeding.


Make your own growing media using home made garden compost andother bulky organic ingredients from those listed in the Soil Care section


Loam from the garden as an ingredient in growing media, returned to thegarden after use Organic fertilisers, including animal by-products, as ingredients ofgrowing mediaCommercially available growing media, with an organic symbol, orwording, from an approved organic certification organisationCommercially available growing media containing materials listed in theSoil Care section of these guidelines


Coarse grade seaweed meal for moisture retention Sulphur chips to lower pH (increase acidity)Horticultural sand and gritVermiculite and perliteCoir Bought in loam (topsoil)


Growing media containing materials not approved in these guidelines,including non-organic fertilisers and peatPeat, other than recycled/reclaimed peat

Garden Organic factsheets

Make your own potting compost Hanging basket liners

18 Tel: 024 7630 3517 • [email protected]

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19www.gardenorganic.org.uk

Plant raising and growing in containersThe basis of organic growing is a healthy, biologically active, soil, which suppliesplants with all their needs. Plants growing in the restricted environment of a potwill always be more reliant on additional feeding and watering, and be moreprone to pest and disease. Growing directly in the ground is recommendedwhere possible.


Use an organic growing medium (see page 18)Use the largest appropriate container size to reduce the need foradditional feeding, and the risk of drying outHome made paper pots, wooden trays, foodstuff and other reused andrecycled containersHanging basket liners made from recycled, biodegradable materials such as moss from your lawn, hay or a pure wool jumper.Cleaning containers with steam, hot water, scrubbing and high pressure hose


Reused plastic pots and trays; clay potsBiodegradable hanging basket linersCommercially available pots made from paper, plant wastes and otherbiodegradable materials, excluding peatPlant tonics and biostimulants as on page 23 of these guidelinesComposted organic materials and organic fertilisers for additional feeding Organic liquid feeds


Strong plastic pots and trays, preferably made from recycled plastic, thatcan be reused many times


Tyres as a container for growing food crops, unless lined firstMoss gathered from the wild for hanging basket linersHydroponic systems Peat pots

Liquid feedsOrganic liquid feeds provide nutrients in a more readily available form thancomposts and fertilisers, but do little to encourage soil flora and fauna. For thisreason, in organic gardening they are only used on plants growing in a restrictedenvironment such as a container – seed tray, pot, growing bag, hanging basketetc – or in a greenhouse or polytunnel soil border. The major supply of nutrientsshould always come from the compost or soil in which the plants are growing.See also : Plant tonics, stimulants and microbial products, (page 23)


None


Home made liquid feeds made from comfrey leaves, nettles and otherplant wastesLiquid from worm composting systemsLiquid feeds made from manures from livestock kept in the garden or allotmentLiquid feeds based on plant products approved in these guidelines,preferably with an organic symbol, or wording, from an approved organic certification organisation


Liquid feeds made from brought in animal manures that are acceptableunder these Guidelines (see page 14)Commercially available liquid feeds based on animal by-productsapproved in these Guidelines, preferably with an organic symbol, orwording, from an approved organic certification organisationProducts containing trace elements to correct deficiencies that cannot becorrected in any other way (see page 16)


Fish emulsion, unless based on waste products of organic fishing industryProducts containing artificially produced nutrients


20 Tel: 024 7630 3517 • [email protected]

plant raising and growing in containers - garden organic · 2014-03-23 · growing media an organic...

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