Even though not everyone has been blessed with a green thumb doesn’t mean that you can try growing a garden. There is nothing better than growing your own vegetables, fruits and herbs because you are not only saving money and the environment but you are also distressing. But there are some things that every beginner needs to know when starting a garden. Here are 12 tips for beginners.Â
Know Where to Grow It
One of the most important things you will need to know is where to plant your garden. Depending on what you are planting and how much sun it needs you will pick the best place to plant it. The best way to find out what your plant will need is to check the package for information.Â
Test the Soil
The next important thing is to test the quality of your soil. To do so you will want to take a soil sample and send it to your local nurseries to perform the quality test. If there is no nursery that does that there are many home testing kits available. The test will show you how acidic or alkaline your soil is which will affect how the plants you plant will absorb the nutrients.Â
Start with Plants That Are Easy to Grow
One of the easiest things to plant is vegetables. They are a great thing to plant when you are a beginner because they don’t take much time to grow. Another great beginner plant is sunflowers, they grow quickly and tall and they are really beautiful.Â
Map Out Your Space
Once you have your soil tested and you have your plants picked out, you should map out your garden space. Plan out what plants will go where and how your garden will look like. It is important that you map it before going all-in because it is really easy to miscalculate when you are planting them right away.Â
Get Propper Gear
Just like with anything that you do having popper tools will make everything much easier and faster. Some of the essentials are water-resistant gloves. A garden fork, a spade, a rake, a hoe, hoses etc. But if you are serious about your gardening getting everything for a vertical garden is the way to go. To make a proper vertical garden you should get a hydroponic system and it will take your gardening to a whole another level.Â
Use Seed Starter Kits
When you are beginner seeds might be terrifying. That is why there are seed starter kits to help you with sprouting seeds. They allow you to begin the growing process even when it’s too early to plant outside and then when the conditions are good you can plant it in the ground.Â
Label EverythingÂ
Because you are probably going to be planting different types of seeds it is easy to forget which one is which. To avoid any disasters, you should label everything as you are planting it. Â
Keep Notes
Notes and journals are not just for your emotions and lists. They can both be used to keep track of things in your garden. There is no better way to keep track of your garden than writing things down. It is also a great way to be prepared for your garden next year.Â
Don’t Plant Them Too Close Each Other
Just like people, plants need their space in order to grow. If you plant them too close to each other you will stunt their growth and spread disease if one gets sick. Unless they are companion plants you should keep them separated.Â
Mix Them Up
Being a beginner doesn’t mean that you should restrict yourself to planting vegetables or herbs. Feel free to mix it up and plant whatever you want to have in your garden. There is nothing spotting you if you want to plant some herbs in your vegetable garden. Some plants like to have companions and it doesn’t need to be the same type of plant.Â
Try Composting
If you are looking to have something to help your plants grow there is no better thing than compost. Compost is organic materials and it can be anything from coffee grounds to eggshells. By adding those things, you the soil helps it fight pests and disease, retain moisture as well as stimulate the growth of good bacteria.Â
Always Pull the Weeds
There is nothing that will kill your crops faster than weeds. That is why they need to be kept out. They are so bad for them because they eat all the nutrients out of the soil that other crops need in order to grow.Â
Growing your own produce and herbs will not only help you live a healthier life it will help protect the environment. There is nothing more fulfilling than going down to your garden and picking up what you will have for lunch. Vegetables that are picked straight from your garden have even more vitamins and minerals that your body needs to thrive.Â