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So you want to start a vegetable garden? I’m going to warn you that once you start you just can’t stop! At least that’s how it’s been with me. Gardening is a great thing that helps to feed your family and keep you healthy at the same time! So what are we waiting for?
Here are my top tips for the beginner gardener:
Plan & Research
Believe it or not, January is the best time to start planning your garden. First you will need to determine some basic things such as:
What USDA Hardiness zone do you live in?
USDA Hardiness Zone Map
What is your last frost date?
Average Date of Last Freeze
These will help you determine when to plant. You will also need to figure out how big of a space you have and what you want to plant. Do as much research as you can about what you want to grow so that you are setting yourself up for a successful experience, but keep in mind that not everything is in your control such as weather, disease and pests. Another great resource is your local extension service. They are a wealth of information on what grows well in your area.
Keep it Simple
It’s easy to get excited and plant way more than you can handle when your first starting out. I suggest choosing 2-4 different vegetables that you know your family eats frequently and focus on those. Some quick and easy things to grow include:
Lettuce
Beans
Cucumber
Squash
Zucchini
Take Notes
I highly suggest keeping a notebook with a sketch of your garden layout. You can then jot down what you planted when and how things did throughout the season. About.com has a great free printable garden notebook to help get you started, but you can just use a simple spiral notebook if you want. These notes will help you to improve each year and show what works and what doesn’t.
Make Friends
It’s great to have another gardener to turn to when your in tears about the horn worms destroying your tomatoes because non gardeners just don’t understand!
Having a garden buddy can help to build your confidence and knowledge base. Striking up a conversation at your local farmer’s market or nursery is a great way to meet like minded people!
Enjoy the Process
While gardening is a lot of work, it’s also relaxing and therapeutic. Watching a tiny seed grow into a mature fruit bearing plant that feeds your family is truly an amazing thing! We all have certain expectations for our garden, but try to relax and realize that it will all work out in the end! Or it won’t and you will just have to go the farmer’s market :).
I hope I’ve encouraged you and given you confidence as you are just starting out. Let me know if you have any questions and be sure to follow me on Instagram to see pictures of my own garden!
What a blessing to find your post this morning! I have been dreaming all winter about a garden but terrified to take that first dive in. Thanks for this info and for making it look not as daunting. :) Pinning this!
I found you at the Growing Home link-up. Blessings!
My husband and I are talking about starting a garden and I have been looking at different tips and ways for a complete novice to start! I really enjoyed this! Thanks!
I'm so glad you were encouraged! It can be intimidating when your just starting out, but the best way to learn is to just jump right in! Good luck and let me know if you have any questions. :)
I found your website from the link-up on raisinghomemakers.com. I really like your post! I love to garden, but have some struggles that I am working through and writing about the process on my blog!
I would like to invite you to HomemakingHearts.com on Fridays for a brand new link-up; it would be a delight to have you join us!
Hi Donna here
I am growing Roma tomato plants quite successfully from seeds indoors. I live in South East Michigan. My concern is they are getting tall, about 8 to 10 in. The stems are thick. They are under light 12 to 14 hrs. They are planted in 4 Oz solo cups with a hole in bottom. I still have 7 more weeks before I can go outside with them. I'm worried I won't be able to keep them alive they long.
Hi Donna! I am having the exact same problem this year! I've never had my plants grow so large and like you said the stems are thick so they are supporting themselves. The only thing that I can think of is that I used Miracle Grow potting soil this year and so they are getting extra fertilized. The only suggestion that I have is to either put them in larger cups or plant them in a large pot in "groups" up to their lowest leaves. I've decided to put mine out in the garden a couple of weeks early and take the chance because they are just getting too tall. Good luck!
My husband and I are attempting our second try at it this year. This year we decided on buying plants that have been started. So far we got beef tomatoes . Leeks. Cucumbers . Watermelon. Strawberries. Hot peppers. Next week we decided on getting few more .
© Dusan Kostic / Dollar Photo Club
I found you at the Growing Home link-up. Blessings!
Kristen
www.faithfulsteps.net
I would like to invite you to HomemakingHearts.com on Fridays for a brand new link-up; it would be a delight to have you join us!
Gabriella
Thanks for sharing at Green Thumb Thursday
Hugs,
Valerie
Cottage Making Mommy
www.lovingmyheartandhome.blogspot.com