In this post, we are going to talk about how to plant an amazing garden. Figuring out what will work the best for you. In this post, we are going to cover different topics related to beginner gardens. Garden location, size, easy growing plants, tips and tricks, supplies that you will need, and knowing when to grow. Let’s jump in and get started!
Garden Location
Picking the perfect location for your vegetable is very important. Make sure wherever you decide to plant there will be enough direct sunlight for at least more than half your day. Also, make sure your ground is flat, If you can avoid it, do not plant on a hillside. You want to be sure the ground drains well. To wet soil can damage your crops and for some may not even grow.
Garden Size
Vegetable gardens can get pretty overwhelming at times. Especially when it’s time to harvest. So start small and add on each year. Try a few different vegetables each year. Remember that some vegetables produce TONS and others you may have to stagger out over your planting season. Make sure you only plant what you and your family will eat. Sometimes we can become too adventurous and plant everything!
what are easy growers?
What are easy grower vegetables? Easy growers still require watering and TLC but not near as much as some. Here is a list of the easy growers that I enjoy. There may be more out there, this is just my opinion.
- Lettuce
- Green Beans
- Radishes
- Tomatoes (bush or cherry)
- Zucchini (less is more!)
- Peppers
- Beets
- Carrots
- Chard, Spinach, or Kale
- Peas
Some Tips and Tricks
Here are some tips and trick that I have found very helpful.
- Only Plant what you like
- Don’t overplant
- Know what plants will produce all season and what plants you will need to stagger.
- Think about the expense of planting each vegetable. Will it cost more to plant instead of buying from the store?
- Vegetable gardens are like babies, they take a lot of work and dedication. Take the time to care for your garden to be successful.
- Buy high quality seeds
- Plant marigolds this flower will help keep pest out and pollinators in!
Making plans
Planning is very important for a successful garden. Make sure you have everything mapped out. I have a notebook I keep track of what I want to plant when to plant, how much to plant, and how long it takes to mature and harvest. Some people do companion planting.
I didn’t do it last year and never noticed a big problem other than my vine plants. My cucumbers and zucchini grew way too fast and got way too big. They spread out left to right and were attached to all my other plants. I had to end up pulling both plants halfway through the season just so my other crops wouldn’t suffer.
Gathering Supplies
Not only do you need your plants/seeds. You also need to take some time to get your supplies in order. Here is a list of supplies I use in my garden.
- Tiller
- Garden gloves
- shovel (small)
- garden stakes
- string
- row markets (make your own)
- any containers if you choose to plant small plants (cherry tomatoes) closer to the house.
Knowing your zone
Knowing your Planting zone is so important. You will need to know this information to be sure you are planting at the best time for your zone. For spring and fall planting you will need to know your frost dates and what to plant during these times. Check out this website for helpful information regarding your planting zone. https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/
In Conclusion
The first two years of gardening for me weren’t pretty. It took two years for me to realize that maintaining your garden was just as important as planting your garden. I barely got anything from my garden. Thank heaven my mother-in-law had one as well. (She planted for fun and didn’t preserve any). My gardens were also far enough away where it was an inconvenience. I hated having to drive down the road just to check the garden. So last year I made a change. With the help of my husbands uncle I put a garden right in my front yard! It was great! I enjoyed walking out to the garden every chance I had. I was able to leave the kids in the house while I worked on it. I cared greatly for my garden and I was able to get so much from it. My point being, if you truly want a beautiful garden that you are able to harvest and preserve for you and your family then, caring about all the details are so important.
In the next few months as spring (hopefully arrives), and summer comes shortly after we can talk more about each topic that I have mentioned. I want to blog about my journey with gardening and I would love to hear about yours. If you are unsure where to start please contact me. I will help walk you through any steps that I can.