Gardening can be a relaxing and productive activity that can help reduce stress. It also allows you to enjoy fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs that add nutrients to diets.
Although it is best to start preparing your garden in the fall, you can still be successful in spring. Follow these tips from experts to ensure a successful start
Decide what you want to achieve
The first step is to decide what herbs and vegetables you want to grow. This is a decision that many struggle with. It's easy to see why this is a difficult choice when you browse through a catalog or browse online. Every vegetable that you can think of looks delicious but not all work well in your particular area or in your garden.
What grows well depends on the conditions in which you live. Your garden may also have microclimates, or areas that are cooler or drier than the other areas of your garden. The type of soil you choose to use will also affect your choices. It should have a loose, smooth texture that isn't sticky or muddy (clay), or crumbling in your hands (sand). Ideally it should be rich in organic matter. This is accomplished through the use of compost, natural fertilizers, like those made from eggshells, kitchen scraps, fish tank water and epsom salt, and regular tilling of the soil.
Once you've decided what you want to grow make a list of all the seeds you'll need. Check the dates of planting on the seed packets and ensure they are in line with your growing season. Some crops do not like to be transplanted and are best sown directly. This includes root crops such as carrots, beets, beans as well as peas and corn. Squash, pumpkins and cucumbers are also resistant to transplants, so they are usually directly sown.
Choose a Good Location
The success of your garden depends on a number of things, but the location is most likely the most important. Vegetable plants need full sun and access to water, while flowers want well-draining soil. It is recommended to stay clear of areas that are prone to frost pockets because they can hinder growth and even damage plants. If you aren't able to locate the perfect location in your yard There are plenty of alternatives including raised beds and containers.
Start by determining the amount of sunlight that each area gets throughout the day. Consider if nearby trees or shrubs, or even surfaces, create shade during certain seasons and how this affects the sun’s direction. After you've narrowed your options, choose the spot that receives most sunlight during a typical day.
Examine the soil's condition next. If it's silty or sandy you'll have a difficult time growing vegetables than those who have soil that is loamy and rich. It is possible to amend the soil if it's bad however you'll need to do some work first.
In the end, if you have children or other family members who will help in the garden, make plans by including a play area in or near the area you plan to plant. If you decide to go with a tire swing, sandbox or a garden bed for kids, this will keep them entertained while you're tending to the vegetables and flowers.
Be aware of any potential issues, like rabbits and deer that could cause damage to your garden. It's also best to avoid areas where dangerous substances like lead paint or oil might be leaching into the soil, as these chemicals can be found in your food and cause harm to your health. In addition, make sure the location is close to an water source so that you can easily hose down your plants during hot weather.
Prepare the Soil
As with any new endeavor, it is important to start small and build your abilities. Begin with a single bed or container if you want to grow vegetables. You will get accustomed to the soil, and discover how plants react to it. You will also stay motivated and focused when you are limited to work in a restricted area at a time.
Good beginner gardeners (Thegardeningtips explains) are aware that a flourishing vegetable garden starts with healthy soil. The soil is a source of nutrients, stability and moisture to the plants. The best soil is loose, loamy soil that has been modified over time by organic matter, such as compost or manure. This helps to improve the soil's structure to allow for better drainage and air aeration. Gardeners who have experience say that having good soil is the most vital part of a successful vegetable garden.
To prepare the soil for a garden, it is important to get rid of all vegetation. This can be done through tilling, smothering, or a combination of these methods. It is essential to remove the existing vegetation in order to ensure adequate aeration as well as the increase of organic matter to the soil.
After removing any existing vegetation, the soil will need to be thoroughly cultivated. This can be done by digging or tiling soil to break it up and loosen it. A good depth of 6 to 8 inches is ideal. Then, a 3 to 4-inch layer of organic matter must be added and mixed into the existing soil with a garden fork or broadfork. Organic matter can be compost manure, shredded grass, manure newspapers, cardboard, or newspaper. The trick is to include enough organic matter to ensure that the microbes and other beneficial soil-dwellers can easily break it down.
It is also important to ensure that the soil is suitable to plant by checking its texture. It should crumble easily when you hold it. It should not be muddy and wet because wet soil can cause soil compaction that negatively affects the root growth. It is recommended that organic material is added to the soil each year. Organic material is cheaper than using commercial fertilizers that provide quick fixes and can deplete soil quickly.
Plant Your Seeds
Whether you're growing flowers, herbs, or vegetables planting seeds indoors can give an early start to your gardening season. It's also less expensive than buying transplants and usually produces a more vigorous crop. You can learn important information from the seed packets, such as the planting time and soil requirements. Also note how often a plant is able to set seed to ensure you plan in a way. According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, the best way to guarantee the success of your garden is to start with high-quality seeds from trustworthy companies.
Make an inventory of all the flowers and vegetables that you would like to grow. Utilizing the seed catalogs to guide your choices and narrow your options based on what you enjoy eating and what would look nice in your backyard. Think about incorporating tomatoes, cucumbers bell peppers, squash, and others into your menu as well as herbs such as basil and parsley. To create a vibrant yard, choose blooms such as marigolds, zinnias and cosmos. Try to find varieties that are resistant to diseases.
Visit local farmer's market and CSAs to get an idea of the various types of seeds. This is a wonderful opportunity to support local businesses and connect with fellow gardeners. Additionally, you can taste the best of the season.
Most vegetables, including lettuce and beans, can be easily grown from seed. On the other hand certain vegetables, such as tomatoes and peppers require a long growth season and might need to be grown indoors prior the last frost date. Fortunately, a lot of vegetables and herbs can be "direct sown" outside once the threat of frost has passed.
When buying seeds, be sure to purchase them from a vendor that has organic and heirloom varieties. Botanical Interests is a company that sells high-quality seeds with stunning illustrations on their packets. Seed Savers Exchange is an non-profit organization that strives to preserve America's culturally varied but threatened food crops heritage.
You can determine the amount of time you need to plant seeds indoors or outdoors by counting backwards from the average date of last frost. Make sure you only plant the things you can grow. Overcrowded plants will be more susceptible to diseases and beginner gardeners will compete with each with each other for light, water and nutrients.
