Organic vs Conventional Grown Vegetables

Which is Best:  Organic or Conventionally Grown Vegetables?

When you’re starting a garden, you should consider the differences between organic vs conventional grown vegetables.  Things are not always the way you think they should be. 

Certification:  One of the major differences between organic vs conventional grown vegetables is certification. If you’re selling them, organic vegetables need to be certified.  In order to get your vegetables certified, you have to go through a process, and nothing non-organic can be used on your organic land for three years.  There are papers to complete and records to keep.  Conventionally grown vegetables don’t have to be certified. Fertilizers and soil amendments:  Another one of the major differences between organic vs conventional grown vegetables is fertilizers and soil amendments. Most people think the difference between organic and conventionally grown vegetables is that organic vegetables are not fertilized with chemicals.  That is not precisely true; certain approved chemicals can be used on organic vegetables. 

Pesticides:  Most people believe that when you’re growing organic vegetables you cannot use pesticides.  Again, not quite true.  NOP (National Organic Program) approved, non-toxic pesticides and natural pest controls can be used on organic veggies.

Crop rotation:  Here’s one I’ll bet you didn’t’ think of when considering organic vs conventionally grown vegetables.  In organic gardening, you are required to rotate crops.  In conventional gardening you can use chemical fertilizer to replace nutrients in the soil.  In organic gardening, crop rotation is the way you prevent nutrient depletion of the soil.

There are a lot of things to consider when comparing organic vs conventionally grown veggies.  Growing organic veggies is more work.  It’s regulated and monitored.  The market for organic vegetables is growing, though.  And organic gardening is better for all of us, especially our children, and for the environment.