Starting Your Own Home Garden
Eating fresh vegetables from your own home garden is one of life’s greatest pleasures. There is nothing sweeter than savoring your own freshly grown tomatoes or cucumbers, but starting out can be a scary task. Whether or not you were born with a green thumb, there are some rules that will help ease the path to home grown success.
The first thing that many potential gardeners need to decide is what time of year to grow, Different crops require different season of the year in which to plant so it’s important to decide early on what, and when you would like to plant.
When starting out on this new and exciting adventure, it’s easy to get carried away. It’s easy to imagine yourself as the next Tom Thumb or Johnny Apple seed. Visions of juicy, ripe tomatoes, and bright green sugar snap peas dance through your dreams. It all seems easy. Try not to get carried a way and bite off more than you can chew.
Most beginning gardeners tend to clear a location that is too big, then can't handle the maintenance that the size requires. Remember that the area you clear and plant, you must also tend. This includes weeding on a regular basis, as well as fertilizing and watering. A large area may not be feasible for may people who have a lot of other responsibilities. Start out slow with your garden and when the time is right, grow it from there.
One of the most important things to consider with your new home garden is location. Always pick a spot that has a lot of light. All crops need ample sunlight to grow so location is key. It’s a shame when new gardeners work long hours to clear out a spot that looks scenic, but then later realize that the spot receives too much shade. Try not to worry so much about making the garden picturesque; instead, focus on proper placement. A well-lit spot will help ensure that your vegetables get all the sunlight they need to grow healthy.
Soil quality is another thing to consider before planting. If the soil in your chosen spot is too clay-like in consistency or too sandy, it will prevent your crops from receiving enough water and nutrients. These types of soil don’t allow for proper drainage. If the soil is to sandy or clay-like, water may sit on top and not drain through. This could potentially drown your crops. If this is the case, a gardener may want to purchase topsoil.
Some crops for a new gardener to consider growing are radishes, peas, carrots, and potatoes. Radishes are especially rewarding because they grow so fast and require little maintenance.
Peas are easy as well, but do take a little more work than radishes. Remember to keep netting over your peas, especially in the beginning. Rabbits and birds will find this a lovely treat and will not be able to resist.
Another easy and hearty crop is potato. They can be grown in the open or in barrels. Recycling an old barrel to grow potatoes is also a good way to be eco-friendly. The only bad thing about growing potatoes is that you will have to do dome digging to get them out of the ground. On the up side, this could be a great exercise as well!
It’s always a good idea to keep a gate or netting around your garden to keep out animals and even children. The sight of your lovely homegrown veggies may be too much for some to resist. Also, by keeping netting over your crops, you are helping to keep birds out of your garden.
Buying good quality seeds is a must when gardening. Don’t go cheap on seeds, as this will affect the outcome of your crops. As with most things, look for quality. Make sure that your seeds are not past the best buy date. Buying seeds that are old is a recipe for disaster.
Keep on eye on any insect damage that may be attacking your crops and act promptly. Waiting too long will ensure that your crops will be eaten by a variety of bugs and the outcome will not be pretty. Buy a good insecticide that is safe for your particular type of crops and spray regularly.
Gardening should be a rewarding and peaceful experience. Growing your own food is an exciting experience, so enjoy your garden and all the pleasures it will bring.
