Simple Tips to Help you Start Your Garden
Many people don’t ever start their own garden because they think it’s complicated and takes too much upkeep, but it really isn’t that difficult. Gardening has incredible health benefits like exposure to Vitamin D, decreased risk of dementia, it is an enjoyable form of exercise, and gardening is a known mood booster. If you’ve always wanted to grow your own fruits and veggies, but never knew where to start, now is the time! We will go over some simple tips to get you started on your new garden.
Think about what you want to grow.
The first place to start when dreaming up your new garden is to think about what you actually want to grow. If you love certain fruits and veggies, consider adding those to your garden. Likewise, if you despise other fruits and veggies, don’t grow those. You will also need to consider the type of climate you live in and choose plants that make sense for your area. Check out this plant hardiness zone map that helps you understand your local climate and what plants will do best there. Here in San Diego, we are a zone 10, where the lowest average temperatures range from 30-40° F. Check out our recent blog for our spring and summer vegetable gardening guide for San Diego to learn more about what plants grow well here in our sunny climate.
Pick a good spot.
Most vegetables and fruits need about 6 hours of full sun each day, while herbs and other delicate greens do well in partial shade. Spend some time in your yard and take note of how much sun each area gets, then make your decision about what would be the best spot to grow your new fruit and veggie garden. On top of considering the amount of sunlight your garden needs, you should also make sure you put your garden in an area where you will actually see it. Since you are new to gardening, seeing your garden regularly will help remind you to tend to it. It is also smart to place your garden near a water source so watering your plants is easy and convenient. Remember, out of sight, out of mind, so make sure you look at your garden often and tend to it regularly in order to get the most out of it.
Get yourself some basic gardening tools.
Having the right tools for your garden will make the experience enjoyable instead of difficult. While you can find reasonably priced tools, don’t go for the cheapest ones, because they will most likely break quickly. Some tools you should start off with are a garden shovel, garden hoe, dirt rake, leaf rake, and some hand tools. Investing in good tools will help you save time and effort in the long run, while also helping your back.
Plan out your garden beds.
There are plenty of different types of garden beds to choose from, and some are better than others for specific situations and climates. For example, raised garden beds are great for ease of gardening and they look nice, but they can dry out quicker than other types of garden beds. Sunken beds are perfect for really dry areas because they retain moisture longer. Once you figure out what type of garden bed is best for you, consider planting your plants in rows or in a grid pattern to make watering and upkeep simple. Companion plants are great for attracting good insects that will help your garden flourish and they also provide nourishment to your plants. Remember when you are planning where each plant goes that they will get much bigger. Overcrowded plants will struggle and most likely die, so consider how big your plants will get when they mature and plant them with enough space between so they will flourish.
Raised garden beds by Urban Plantations | Photo by Hale Production Studios
Boost your soil.
Add a 2-3 inch layer of organic matter to your soil. This could be compost, decayed leaves, dry grass clippings, earth worm castings, or manure. Mulch is also great to put on the soil surface to retain moisture. You can till the organic matter into the soil or leave it on the surface and it will work its way into the soil after a few months. Most plants prefer a deep, well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter.
Pick your plants and put them in the soil.
Now that you have planned out your garden beds and where they will be, it is time to go get your plants! You can start with seeds or starter plants, but if you’re new to gardening, we say go straight for the starter plants. Some tips for helping you find good starter plants are to look for pots that are around the same size as the plant in order to avoid plants with their roots established and bounded, watch out for signs of stress such as yellow leaves or damage from insects, and ask about whether the plants were treated with harmful chemicals that could hurt pollinators, like bees and butterflies. Now that you have your plants, it’s time to get dirty and put them in the soil! Dig a hole, put them in and fill any open spaces around the plants with soil to keep them secure.
Watering.
A good rule of thumb for watering is that most plants need about one inch of water per week while they are growing. Before you water your plants, stick your finger about one inch down into the soil and if it’s dry, water them, if it feels moist, give it another couple days before adding more water. Keep an eye on your plants and do what is best for them. If you notice your leaves are getting yellow, it is a sign of overwatering, while if the leaves are brown, you are probably underwatering.
We hope these tips were helpful for you! As you can see, gardening is not a science and it takes time and patience to figure out what is best for your plants. The work you put into gardening is worth it when you get your first harvest and you eat your fresh produce. Happy gardening!