How to Start Gardening
Gardening provides a relaxing, productive activity that can ease some stress. It also allows you to enjoy fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs that can add nutrition to your diet.
Although it is best to start planning your garden in the fall, you can be successful in spring. Follow these expert tips to get started:.
Choose What You Would Like to be Growing
The first step is to determine what vegetables and herbs you want to grow. This is a task that many struggle with. It's easy to see why this is a difficult decision when you flip through a catalog or go online. Certain vegetables won't grow well in your garden or in your area.
The climate you live in can have a significant impact on what will grow well. Your garden could also have microclimates, or areas that are cooler or drier than the rest of your garden. Your choices will also be influenced by type of soil. It should have a loose and fine texture without being sticky or difficult to work with (clay), or crumbling in your hands (sand). It should be high in organic matter, and this can be achieved by using compost and natural fertilizers like made from kitchen scraps and eggshells, fish tanks water, and epsoms salt, and regular tilling of soil.
Once you've decided what you want to grow, create an inventory of the seeds you'll require. You should check the dates of planting on the seed packets and make sure they match the season you are growing in. Certain crops aren't able to be transplanted and are best sown directly. This includes root crops like carrots, beets, beans peas, corn, and beans. Squash, pumpkins and cucumbers also dislike being transplanted which is why they are typically direct-sown.
Choose a Good Location
The performance of your garden depends on a few things, but the location is most likely the most important. Vegetable plants need plenty of sun and access to water, whereas flowers want well-draining soil. Avoid areas where frost pockets may occur, as they can hinder the growth of plants and cause them to be damaged. If you're unable to find an ideal spot in your yard there are plenty of options like raised beds and containers.
Start by looking at the areas of your property that are sunny and determining how much sun they get throughout the day. When you're doing this, take note of whether nearby trees, shrubs or even hard surfaces provide shade at certain periods of the year and how this influences the path of the sun. After you've narrowed your options, choose the one that receives the most sun during a typical day.
Examine the soil's condition next. If the soil is sandy or silty you'll have a tougher time growing vegetables. It's possible to amend your soil if it's bad but you'll have to first do some work.
Finally, if you have kids or other family members who will be helping in the garden, make plans by creating a play space in or near your planting site. If you decide to go with a sandbox, tire swing or a garden bed for kids, this will keep them entertained while you're tending to the flowers and vegetables.
Finally, be aware of the potential dangers, such as rats, deer and rabbits, that could destroy your garden. It is also recommended to avoid areas where dangerous substances like lead paint or oil may have leaked into the soil, as these chemicals can be absorbed into your plants and harm your health. Be sure the area is near a water source to allow you to easily wash your plants in hot weather.
Prepare the soil
As with any new endeavor it is crucial to start small and gradually build your abilities. If you are planning to grow your own vegetables, consider starting with a single bed or containers at first. This will give you the opportunity to get familiar with the soil, and learning how the plants react to it and how to prepare for plantings in the future. It will also keep you focused and motivated when you are working with only a small amount of space at one time.
Gardeners who are knowledgeable know that a thriving vegetable garden begins with healthy soil. The soil provides nutrients, stability and moisture to the crops. The best soil is a loose, loamy mixture that has been modified by organic matter through time, such as compost or animal manure. This helps to improve the soil structure to improve drainage and the aeration. Experienced gardeners say that good soil is the most vital aspect of the success of a vegetable garden.
To prepare the soil for gardening, it is necessary to eliminate any vegetation that is already present. This can be done by tilling, smothering or any combination of these methods. It is essential to remove the vegetation that is already present to allow adequate aeration and the growth of organic matter to the soil.
After clearing all vegetation, the soil should be thoroughly cultivated. You can accomplish this by digging the soil or tiling it to loosen and break it. A good depth of 6 to 8 inches is ideal. Then, you add a layer of organic material between 3 and 4 inches in thickness. Mix it into the soil using a broadfork or garden fork. Organic matter can include compost, shredded grass, manure, newspaper, or cardboard. It is important to add sufficient organic matter so that soil microbes can easily break it down.
It is also important to make sure the soil is prepared to plant by checking its texture. It should be moist and easily crumbles in your hands. It should not be wet and muddy because the soil that is wet causes compaction, which negatively affects root growth. It is recommended that organic material is added to the soil each year. Organic material is more economical than commercial fertilizers that offer a quick fix and deplete the soil quickly.
Plant Your Seeds
If you're planting flowers, vegetables, or herbs, starting seeds indoors provides a jumpstart to the gardening season. It's less expensive than buying transplants, and the crop generally grows more vigorously. You can learn important information from seed packets, for example, the time of planting and soil requirements. It is also important to note the frequency at which each plant produces seeds to help you plan your garden in accordance with the time of year. According to The Old Farmer's Almanac the best way to guarantee a successful garden starts with high-quality seeds from reputable firms.
Then, create an inventory of the fruits, vegetables and flowers you want to grow. You can narrow down your choices by using seed catalogs. Concentrate on what you enjoy eating and what you think will look nice in your backyard. Think about incorporating cucumbers, tomatoes bell peppers, squash and cucumbers into your menu and also herbs like basil and parsley. Select flowers like marigolds, cosmos and zinnias for a colorful landscape. Try to choose varieties that are resistant to disease.
A great way to discover the types of seeds available is to visit local farmer's markets and CSAs. This is a fantastic opportunity to support local businesses and make connections with fellow gardeners. In addition, you will be able to sample the best of the season.
gardening vegetable are easy to grow from seeds, including beans and lettuce. Certain vegetables, such as tomatoes and peppers require a longer season of growth, and may need to be indoors prior to the time of the last frost. Fortunately, a wide variety of vegetables and herbs can be "direct planted" outdoors once the danger of frost has passed.
When buying seeds, be sure to buy them from a company that offers organic and heirloom varieties. Botanical Interests is a company that sells high-quality seeds with beautiful illustrations on their packets. Seed Savers Exchange is an non-profit organization that strives to protect America's culturally diverse but threatened food agricultural heritage.
Before you start planting start counting backwards from your region's average last frost date to determine how much advance notice you must give to plant your seeds outdoors or indoors. Remember to only plant what you can grow. Plants that are overcrowded will be more susceptible for disease and will be competing with each one for light, water and nutrients.