Question: "My little garden just had started to grow. Our spring was too cold. I planted kolhrabi, carrots, chives, onions, sunflowers, and other plants this year to help save on the grocery bills. Another reason was to make sure that our food is fresh. The plants are just coming out of the ground and are still so small. Can anyone help me figure out what I can add to the soil to help my garden garden grow naturally without pesticides, herbicides, chemicals?"

Answer: Getting and keeping good soil is one the best ways you can ensure a good vegetable crop. I suggest that you use a soil kit to find out what your soil’s composition is. Planters Pride Soil Testing Kit works well. It measures pH and key nutrient levels in the soil to determine the ideal nutrient and fertilizer requirements. Tests are colour-coded and give you readings for pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash content. You can determine what your soil’s need are for the crops you are growing and then amend it accordingly.

The best way to ensure a good garden is to add as much organic matter (such as compost) as possible. The more, the better. If you don’t have access to your own compost, all garden centres sell various types to amend your soil with.

As for fertilizers, rather than using chemicals, I prefer to use fish emulsions. There is a wide variety on the market.

Dealing with bugs can be a challenge, but there are natural ways of dealing with them. Try companion planting; locating plants near one another that detract the insects away from your crops. For example, many bugs do not like the taste or smell of marigolds. A few marigolds planted in your vegetable garden not only look pretty, but they help to keep the bugs at bay, too. If you do have an infestation, try an equal mixture of liquid dish soap and water sprayed onto the top and bottom of the plants’ leaves. Some gardeners mix chili powder or pepper with water and sprinkle it over the plants to deter bugs. Sometimes when the pests are large (such as tomato horn worms) just picking and squishing is the most environmentally friendly way to go!

Answer provided by Veronica Sliva, Regional Director, Garden Writers Association.

This column was originally posted on the Foodtv.ca Eating Well site.

Gardening Advice is featured on Style Sheet on Tuesdays.