A Beginner's Guide to Gardening: Fertility, Cultivation, and Organic Pest Control

At Tanglefoot Farm, we believe a thriving garden begins below the surface—with rich soil, smart cultivation practices, and mindful pest management. Whether you're growing vegetables for your family or flowers for the bees, a healthy, balanced ecosystem is the key to long-term success. Here's how we nurture our garden using organic methods and intentional planning.

Feed the Soil, Feed the Plant

Soil fertility is foundational. We build it by feeding the soil first—with compost as our cornerstone. Whether homemade or purchased, compost provides slow-release nutrients and improves soil texture and microbial life.

For additional nutrition, we use organic fertilizers like AgroThrive (a liquid option great for quick uptake) and Garden-tone, a well-balanced granular blend. We also love alfalfa pellets, which offer a balanced 3-3-3 NPK ratio, while also enriching the soil with organic matter. Alfalfa is especially great for feeding both the soil microbes and your plants.

Another powerful ally is BioSure Grow, a biological soil treatment that unlocks nutrients already present in the soil. When combined with the additives +P (for phosphorus availability) and +M (for mycorrhizal fungi), it can enhance root development and increase a plant’s resistance to pests and disease—boosting plant health from the inside out.

Smart Cultivation = Fewer Weeds, Stronger Plants

Cultivation is both an art and a science. It’s not just about turning soil—it's about timing and technique. A consistent cultivation schedule—based on either crop type or bed location—reduces weed pressure and gives your vegetables a leg up in the race for sunlight and nutrients.

Essential tools for this task include:

• Scuffle hoes for quick, shallow weeding around seedlings

• Wire hoes for delicate work in tight rows

• Tine weeders for light, wide-area cultivation

• Flame weeders for stale seedbeds and between-row cleanup

For high-quality, durable tools, we recommend Johnnyseeds.com. Their lineup includes tried-and-true classics as well as cutting-edge designs developed by growers, for growers.

Pest Pressure? Go Organic and Integrated

Organic pest control is about balance, not battle. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) means observing your crops, identifying issues early, and using a multi-pronged approach. That includes:

• Introducing or attracting beneficial insects like ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps

• Using organic sprays only as a last resort—and selecting the gentlest option available

• Encouraging pollinators with flowering herbs like dill, fennel, calendula, and borage

The more diverse and welcoming your garden is to insects, the better protected your crops will be. Healthy plants, rich soil, and a balanced ecosystem all work together to reduce pest outbreaks naturally.

A Healthy Garden is a Managed Garden

At the end of the day, success comes down to observation and routine. Fertilize regularly with safe, effective products. Cultivate with intention. Use the right tools. And welcome in the natural allies—microbes, pollinators, and beneficial insects—that want to help you grow.

As the old saying goes, “The best fertilizer is the farmer’s shadow.” There’s simply no substitute for walking your rows, checking your plants, and staying present in the process.

Your garden doesn’t need synthetic shortcuts. It needs stewardship, good tools, and a little planning. With these, you’ll be rewarded with strong plants, clean harvests, and a garden that gets better year after year.