17 Best Gardening Tips For Beginners And Experts Alike

Have you ever tried to grow a garden but failed? You can change your usual routine by adding some important gardening tips. "We say all the time that people kill plants with love," says Moby Weinstein, head gardener at the New York Botanical Garden, which specializes in outdoor gardens.

Depending on your space and gardening experience, your garden can be a complex production of rows of cabbage, squash, and herbs, or it can be as simple as a bowl of lettuce in your backyard. "I always encourage people to get into gardening because it allows them to grow their own food," says Ashley Nussman-Berry, founder of the Black Planters Facebook group, a virtual collective of more than 42,000 people that serves as a safe space. . for black gardeners. . .

While it's also exciting to get your hands dirty and grow your own food, it can be frustrating when your lettuces wither, your cucumbers fail to bear fruit, or the Christians reach for the juicy tomatoes in front of you. Whether you're a pro or a beginner, add these gardening tips to your repertoire to avoid headaches and make the whole process more enjoyable.

How do I decide where to put my vegetable garden?

First, choose a location for your garden. Choose the location of the garden based on several considerations, such as the amount of sunlight (at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight is best) and consider how the soil drains (if you see large puddles, this is not a garden area):

Another less technical but equally important point to consider is whether your garden is in an area you frequent. Far from the eyes far from the heart. This old adage is very true for vegetable gardens. Farmer Bryn Bird of Bird's Haven Farms in Granville, Ohio says, "Your garden is part of your life, not something you sit in a corner and don't do every day." A great place is one that you walk by every day and that won't be a burden to visit regularly.

What if I don't get full sun?

Full sun is important for many crops, but not all. Don't be afraid if you can't find a place in direct sunlight to grow your vegetables. Greens like lettuce, spinach and herbs grow well in shady, cool places. Weinstein explains that sometimes there are ways to create more sunlight, such as planting a dead shade tree or cutting down a live tree. If there is a wall near your house, you can also try painting it white to reflect sunlight.

How to prepare the land for planting?

Once you've selected your site, it's time to work on the ground. Remove weeds and debris from the area, remembering to remove large rocks as you go. Weinstein strongly recommends testing your soil for clues; "You can be in a virgin area and think your land is completely safe, but it's not, especially if you're growing food." Lead, although a serious hazard, especially to children, is a major concern when it comes to soil contamination.

Soil analysis also provides information about the condition of the soil. For example, analyzing your soil's pH and nutrient levels will determine what supplements you need to add to your soil, for example. compost or organic matter.

Many public universities, especially land-grant universities, have agricultural extension offices that offer soil testing. The US Environmental Protection Agency also maintains a list of laboratories included in its National Major Laboratory Accreditation Program.

After testing, check the quality of your soil. For example, do you have clean sand or clay and when it rains the area dries up? Adding organic matter, such as compost, is important, according to Weinstein. "Organic matter is close to the magic solution, and when plants start growing in it, the environment improves and everything starts moving."

What about the bunk bed?

If you find lead or other contaminants, your soil is poor, and you want to grow indoors, raised beds may be a good option. They are also great for ergonomic gardening and can be built around wheelchair height or mobility aids.

The size of the raised bed depends on your space. For a small space, buy or build 2x4 or 2x6 foot boxes as they fit into different spaces. If you have the space, boxes 3-4" wide and 6-8" tall are more standard. Just remember. Raised beds should be narrow enough that you can easily reach the middle of the bed.

After building your raised beds, level the soil under the beds and line the bottom of the boxes with mulch to prevent weeds from growing in your garden. This step is especially important if you have contaminated or poor quality soil.

What should I plant?

Even if your neighbor grows cucumbers or radishes, don't plant them if you can barely eat them. Bree Arthur, bestselling author and gardener, suggests growing practical crops, meaning what you eat every week. She recommends writing down the foods you cook and eat for a week or two so you can see what you're eating all the time. From these products, choose the one that works well in your climate. For example, his family eats a lot of garlic, potatoes and onions, so he grows a little. “Then when I go to the store, I don't have to buy these things every week. It really means gardening provides a tangible solution,” he says.

What plants grow well where I live?

Not all crops are suitable for all regions. Determine which plants will work in your forest by looking at the planting zone, a geographic area based on average winter temperatures. Ashley Nussman-Berry says a common mistake novice gardeners make is planting the wrong crops. "I can't grow citrus in zone seven, even if I really want to," he says. "You have to grow what will survive in your space, otherwise you're setting your garden up for failure."

Enter your zip code on the USDA plant hardiness zone map to find your season and growing zone. This map divides North America into 11 vegetation zones. Take this information when you buy seeds or seedlings (the container should indicate which crop to grow).

What month do you start gardening?

From the start, you want to know if your ground is frozen. "When the frosts are behind you, you can start harvesting fresh crops," advises Weinstein. In some regions it is year-round, but in regions with cold winters, the last frost occurs in March or April.

Weinstein then suggests dividing crops into cool, warm plants. For fresh crops like peas and vegetables, you can start planting when the soil is workable and the air temperature is above 40℉. Warm-weather crops such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and melons need to wait until nighttime temperatures reach at least 60°C.

Where does the seed begin?

Start planting, which of course means the same thing as harvesting by growing some of your new plants indoors. This method is especially important for growing thermophilic plants in cooler climates. When the temperature outside is suitable for planting plants, you will already have seedlings. The general rule of thumb for planting seeds is to plant six weeks before the last frost in your area.

To do this, wet the potting soil and then fill small containers about three-quarters full (use a jar or get creative with empty egg cartons or yogurt containers - just remember to poke a hole in the bottom). Then run your hands over the soil to break up the lumps. Use the information on the back of the seed bag and determine the planting depth for each type of seed. We cover them with a little potting soil and water them a little more. And don't forget to label the seeds so you know what's growing.

Then you need to cover the containers to create a greenhouse environment. Plastic wrap secured with toothpicks works well for this. Seeds need light and warmth to grow. As Weinstein says, "from a weak plant grows a weak plant." Light your plants with grow lights and consider placing a heater under the seed trays. When it's time to transplant them into the garden, put the plants outside for a few days to acclimatize. Finally, plant it in your garden.

What basic gardening tools do you have on hand?

While many gardening basics can be done with your bare hands, there are certain tools that make the entire process much easier. For example, a hand trowel is great for transplanting seedlings and removing weeds. The shovel can also be used to dig bulb holes and mix compost and soil.

All plants need water to survive. There are many ways to water your garden, but the easiest and cheapest way is to buy a watering can. Consider the size and material of the watering can, as even a liter weighs just over eight pounds.

Too much water can lead to the death of the plant. That's why Weinstein also suggests making a rain gauge. This handy gardening tool allows you to accurately measure the amount of rain. "People often think it was raining so they didn't need to water, when it actually didn't," says Weinstein.

Other useful tools are wheelbarrows for moving soil, compost, rocks and mulch around the yard. pruners for pruning dead plants and harvesting; and gloves to cut blisters and thorns.

How much should I water my garden and when?

When it comes to water, people tend to water indoor plants and outdoor plants under water. Growing plants hate irregular or messy watering. Weinstein recommends reading up on the crops you're planting, as some are more drought-tolerant than others. But he generally recommends sticking your finger in the top inch of the soil; if it starts to dry out, it may be time to water. He also recommends one inch of water per plant per week (a rain gauge is useful here to see how much water your plants are getting naturally). This measurement corresponds to about half a liter per square foot.

To avoid excessive evaporation, water early in the morning or late in the day when the sun is not too hot. And try to avoid wet leaves at night, it is a sure way to promote the disease.

What is the easiest crop to grow?

"Believe it or not, garlic is the easiest to grow," says Bree Arthur. "You sow it, it grows for six months, you suddenly harvest it, and that's it." You don't need to water or fertilize while it's growing, just leave it until it's ready. Not only does garlic take up very little space, but you can plant store-bought garlic, Arthur says. It is a plant that has very few problems with diseases and insects. Herbs like chives, cilantro, and rosemary also don't require much attention and are not commonly consumed by animals.

What is the hardest plant to grow?

Crop length makes it difficult to grow some crops. This gives enough time for things to go wrong, which is a shame after months of feeding the plant. According to Ashley Nussman-Berry, for example, asparagus takes years to produce. Also, crops like broccoli and artichokes have special soil needs and require special care.

Here is another delicate crop that will surprise you: the tomato. "Of course, when they say they grow a vegetable garden, it's the plant that everyone thinks of, the pearl of the vegetable garden," says Artur. Not only do tomatoes require a lot of care, they are prone to disease and require almost daily interaction between watering, pruning and harvesting. Also, tomatoes will not set fruit in temperatures above 90℉, which is becoming more and more common in America during the summer. If you're a beginner gardener and want to try tomatoes, start with cherry tomatoes, which are much easier to care for and take less time to harvest.

What if I don't have land to grow a garden?

All is not lost if you don't have a yard or are dealing with a small space. Find a spot where the sun is setting. think porches, patios, windows and walkways. Try gardening in pots in all those places. Moby Weinstein suggests buying bags to hang on your door to grow strawberries, herbs, or even cherry tomatoes. "People can start small or stay small. There is always a way out," he says.

What are the themes of the garden?

Theme gardens feature a variety of fun plants and inanimate objects, each of which supports a specific theme. For example, a pizza garden consists of the herbs and vegetables needed to make pizza, such as basil, tomatoes, and possibly peppers, oregano, and other herbs. Add a wooden sign and voila "get your pizza here"!

Theme parks are a great way to get kids involved. Have them draw each element of the garden with markers and add whimsical elements such as small statues or colorful rocks.

Other simple theme parks:

Pollinator Gardens, featuring native plants loved by bees, butterflies and other pollinators.
Garden Salsa with tomato, pepper, onion, cilantro and garlic. Everything you need to make salsa.
Three Sisters Gardens, a type of plantation that includes corn, beans, and squash, plants important to many Native American communities. These plants complement each other and work well together.

How to get rid of insects and pests in the garden?

Walking into a garden with diseased plants or lots of pests like cabbage moth is scary. Ashley Nussman-Berry advises people to make smart decisions before problems arise, starting with choosing disease-resistant plant varieties.

As your plants grow, check them regularly. Look carefully at the tips of the leaves, at the bottom of the leaves, along the stem; anything can go wrong anywhere. Moby Weinstein says, "It's good to catch something early because you can often win the fight, it just takes a little persistence."

If you find an insect, try to pick it up, put it in a plastic bag or take a picture, and take it to your local garden for identification. Once detected, you can search for the best protection method. Weinstein says most pests can be controlled with soap unless there is a large infestation.

Beneficial insects, such as aphid-eating ladybirds, can help prevent pest infestations. Nussman-Berry recommends taking care of your yard, removing debris and weeds, so pests have less of a chance.

How can I keep rodents and animals out of my garden?

One thing you can do to keep animals away is to plant grass strategically. Adding basil, rosemary, oregano and mint to your garden borders will help keep animals away. Arthur is quick to point out that mint is invasive and spreads like wildfire, so be sure to plant it in pots throughout your garden. (He explains that the two main ingredients in store-bought pet repellants are usually mint and garlic.) Along with animal flavors, many people dislike the spicy taste and are put off by the first taste of red peppers sprinkled on vegetables. . leaves

Arthur also uses them to repel animals. However, they are all very specific (one for cats and dogs, one for deer, one for squirrels, etc.), so it's important to know who is visiting your yard.

If all else fails, build a fence to keep animals like deer out of your yard. But remember that burrowing animals such as moles and moles are treacherous, so you need to dig a trench in the garden and add fine mesh to the surface. If the animals only choose a few plants, try placing them under a shed or metal garden netting.

What should I do if I see yellow leaves or black spots on my plants?

It's not always your bathroom, and that's easy. For example, yellow leaves mean that the plant is experiencing stress, but this can be difficult to determine. those leaves can mean anything from overwatering to nutrient deficiencies and disease: Black spots can also be a sign of overexposure to the sun, fungal infections or pests: Нусман-Берин diagnoses the problem before treating the plant. if I don't see this, I try to reduce the watering or shade the plant from the sun and see if the problem is solved».

As with pests, take pictures of your problems and ask at the university or your garden centre: In general, the best way to keep track of what is happening in your garden is to watch your plants carefully and regularly: This way you can detect changes. and problems as soon as possible:

What's so amazing about how I can grow:

Did you know you can grow your own grain: Arthur is on a mission to get more gardeners thinking about growing corn, rice, sorghum and millet: He admits it takes a few square meters to grow large quantities, but "Iros are very big." effective, beautiful, and very easy to grow, and they are not really part of home gardening."

Right now, he has an 850-square-foot bed on his front lawn and harvests about 20 pounds of ground meal from it: He says neighbors come to experience the harvesting, mowing, and cutting process because it's so new: in the fall, "When it turns into wheat." е сат, people lose their minds»:

What is one of the best gardening hacks:

Some of the best gardening tips save you money: Núsman-Berin added cardboard and garden waste (leaves, dead grass, sticks) to the bottom of her raised beds to save money on soil, because filling garden beds is expensive: this technique reduces your Amount of Land Needed: This refers to the importance of trial and error in gardening, as well as the knowledge you gain each year as you try to grow food. "If something didn't work out one year, try to fix that problem the next year," he says: With a little patience and practice, you'll be well on your way to a successful garden at home:

Originally appeared in Architectural Digest

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