Best Gardening Tips For Beginners

The Beginner Gardener Guide:

• Location – Pick a location that receives plenty of natural sunlight. Most plants and vegetables require 5-7 hours of sun per day. Different plants/vegetables require different amounts of sun. For example, peppers and tomatoes require more sun than lettuce and spinach.
• Water – Pick a location in close proximity to a water source (i.e. hose, spicket, sprayer, irrigation system, etc.). Similar to sunlight, different plants require different amounts of water. Make sure your plants and vegetables are watered regularly (especially during a heat wave). Avoid burning out your garden by watering your plants as frequently as they require.  With that said, avoid over-watering your garden.
• Soil – Healthy soil is essential for any plant/vegetable. Remove rocks and debris from soil before planting, and add as much organic material (like crushed eggshells, coffee grinds, etc.) as possible. Consider adding leaf mold, compost or aged manure to your soil to increase nutrients and help the soil both hold moisture and drain well.
• Seeds – Many plants and vegetables can be easily seeded in the garden (including cucumbers, beets, spinach, lettuce and more). But consider transplanting certain vegetables including tomatoes, peppers and eggplants directly into your soil.
• Raised Garden Beds – If you do not have much space for your garden, consider using containers and/or raised garden beds to keep organized. Raised garden beds can also be used if you have rocky soil or solid clay (that will not provide the necessary nutrients for your plants/vegetables).
• Mulch – Mulching provides several benefits to your garden and can help keep your soil healthy. Mulch protects soil from eroding, suppresses weeds, moderates soil temperature and helps conserve/hold water.
• Timing – Plant vegetables that best fit your climate and are in season. Most seeds packets you purchase will come with instructions and will provide the best time of the year to plant that particular vegetable/plant. Planting vegetables outside of their growing season will cause major issues.
• Pollinators – Consider growing pollinator-attracting plants (like annuals, shrubs, perennials) in your growing area to attract bees, butterflies and more. These pollinators will help your vegetables/plants grow and thrive.