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How to Start Gardening

Gardening is a relaxing and beneficial activity that can help reduce stress. It also allows you to enjoy fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs that can add nutrition to diets.

Even though it's best to begin preparing your garden in the fall, you can still be successful in the spring. Use these helpful tips to begin:.

Decide what you would like to achieve

The first step is to determine what vegetables and herbs you'd like to grow. Many struggle when it comes to this decision. When you're flipping through a catalog of seeds or browsing the internet it's easy to see why this is one of the most difficult aspects of getting started in gardening . Every vegetable you can imagine looks delicious but not all work well in your particular area or in your garden.





What you can grow depends on the conditions in which you live. Your garden could include microclimates, regions which are more humid or colder than the rest of your garden. The type of soil you choose to use will also influence your selections. It should have a loose and smooth texture that isn't sticky or too muddy (clay) or crumbling in your hands (sand). Ideally it should be high in organic matter. This is achieved through the use of compost, natural fertilizers like those made from eggshells, kitchen scraps as well as fish tank water and Epsom salt, as well as regular tilling of the soil.

Once you've decided on what you'd like to grow Make an inventory of the seeds you'll require. Check the dates of planting on the seed packets and ensure they are in line with the season you are growing in. Certain crops don't like being transplanted and should be planted directly. These include root crops such as carrots and beets, peas, beans, and corn. Cucumbers, squash and pumpkins do not like being transplanted, and are usually direct sown.

Choose a Good Location

The success of your garden is contingent on a variety of factors however, the location is probably the most crucial. Vegetable plants require the sun's fullest and access to water, and flowers want well-draining soil. Avoid zones where frost pockets might occur, as they can hinder the growth of plants and cause them to be damaged. If you aren't able to locate the perfect location in your yard there are plenty of options like raised beds and containers.

Begin by taking note of the amount of sunlight that each area receives throughout the day. Take note of whether nearby trees or shrubs, or even hard surfaces, create shade in certain seasons and how this affects the sun's direction. After narrowing down your choices, select the location that gets the most sunlight during a typical day.

Make sure to check the soil's quality. If it's sandy or silty you'll have a difficult time growing vegetables than if the soil is rich and loamy. It's possible to amend your soil if it's bad, but you'll need to do some work first.

If you have children or other family members who will be helping in the garden, make plans by including a play area close to or on your planting site. Pick a tire swing, Sandbox, or a garden bed that has been chosen by the children. This will keep them occupied while you tend to the plants and flowers.

Be aware of the potential dangers including deer, rabbits and rats which could ruin your garden. Avoid areas where hazardous substances such as lead paint or oil have leached onto the ground. These chemicals may be found in your food items and could be harmful to your health. Also, ensure that the location is close to water sources so you can easily wash your plants during hot weather.

Prepare the Soil

As with any new endeavor, it is important to start small and gradually build your abilities. Begin with a single bed or container if you wish to plant vegetables. This will allow you to get familiar with the soil, learning how plants react to it and how to prepare for future plantings. raised garden beds will also aid you in staying focused and motivated if you only have a limited amount of space at one time.

A healthy soil is the base of an effective vegetable garden. The soil provides nutrients, stability and moisture to the plants. The best soil is a loose, loamy mixture that has been modified by organic matter over the years like compost or animal manure. This improves the soil structure to allow for better drainage and air circulation. Experienced gardeners say that good soil is the most important element of the success of a vegetable garden.

To prepare the soil to garden, it is essential to get rid of all vegetation. This can be accomplished through tilling or smothering, or by a combination. It is essential to remove the vegetation that is already present to allow adequate aeration as well as the increase of organic matter to the soil.

After removing any existing vegetation, the soil needs to be thoroughly cultivated. This can be accomplished by digging or tiling the soil to break it into pieces and then loosen it. A depth of 6 to 8 inches is the ideal. Then, add gardens between 3 and 4 inches thick. Mix it into the soil with a broadfork or garden fork. Organic matter can come from compost manure, shredded leaves grass clippings, grass clippings, or even cardboard. The trick is to add enough organic matter so that the beneficial microbes and soil-dwellers can easily break it down.

The texture of the soil will also help you determine if it is ready to be planted. It should be dry and easily crumble in your hand. It shouldn't be muddy or wet as the soil that is wet can cause compaction, which can negatively impact the growth of roots. It is recommended to amend the soil each year with organic matter. It is more cost-effective to add organic material rather than use commercial fertilizers, which are quick fixes that deplete soil quickly.

Plant Your Seeds

If you're cultivating vegetables, herbs or flowers beginning seeds indoors is an early start to your gardening season. It's less expensive than buying transplants, and the crop tends to be more vigorous. You can get important information from seed packets, such as the planting time and soil requirements. Also, note how often a given plant sets seed to plan your planting accordingly. According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, the most effective way to ensure a successful garden is to start with top-quality seeds from trustworthy companies.

Then, create a list of the vegetables and flowers you'd like to plant. By using the seed catalogs to guide your choices and narrow your choices by focusing on the foods you enjoy eating and what would look good in your backyard. Think about incorporating cucumbers, tomatoes bell peppers, squash and cucumbers into your menu, along with herbs such as basil and parsley. Select flowers like marigolds, cosmos and zinnias to create a colorful yard. Make sure to select varieties that are resistant to diseases.

An excellent way to get a feel for the different kinds of seeds to choose from is to visit local farmer's markets and CSAs. This is a great opportunity to support local businesses while connecting with other gardeners. It's also an excellent opportunity to experience what the season offers.

The majority of vegetables, like lettuce and beans, can be easily grown from seed. Certain vegetables, like tomatoes and peppers require a longer period 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 after the risk of frost has passed.

When purchasing your seeds, make sure you purchase them from a vendor that offers organic and heirloom varieties. Companies such as Botanical Interests, which is well-known for its high-quality seeds and beautiful illustrations on its packets, or Seed Savers Exchange, a nonprofit that helps preserve America's culturally diverse, but endangered food crop heritage, are excellent places to begin.

Before you plant begin, you must count backwards from the average of your region's last frost date to determine the amount of time you will need to start the seeds either indoors or outside. Be sure to plant only what you can grow. Overcrowded plants will be more prone to diseases and will compete with each with each other for light, water and nutrients.